Back-to-School Resources — Courage to Caregivers

Back to school transitions can be hard and stressful in a "regular" year. Factor in a global pandemic, and it is traumatic. Add in any type of difference: learning difference, developmental disability, or even mental illness, and the feelings, emotions, and decisions - well, it is complicated. We've compiled a list of our favorite back-to-school resources. Our hope is that you find what you need. If we can be of support to you, please reach out and let us know how we can best support you. Know that you are never alone.

We also know that during these weird, difficult, and uncertain days of the pandemic, what we are experiencing is grief from a variety of losses. Don’t forget about our navigating grief and loss resource page.

Community Alliance Resources

ADAMHS Board of Cuyahoga County shared a resource from Partnership to End Addiction on the 5 Things Parents Need to Know About Back to School & Mental Health

Julie Billiart Schools provides 5 tips for a successful return to school this fall

LifeAct shares resources for educators to assist in promoting teen mental health

MetroHealth Virtual Health Talk: Coping with Back-to-School Stress During COVID-19

Community Supporter Resources

Cleveland Clinic: How to Help Your Child Adjust To Going Back To School This Year

Connecting for Kids provides COVID-19 Family Resources including podcasts and videos to help families during closures, special education resources including this podcast

Dr. Lisa Damour offers one-page mental health resources in Spanish and English. Topics include how to manage a meltdown, managing stress and anxiety during Covid-19, and what to do when a teenager’s friend is in crisis. Dr. Damour also wrote a New York Times article How to Support Teenagers as They Head Back to School.

Helping your Anxious Child Prepare for School by Cate Brandon, PsyD, from Kenneth A. De Luca, PhD & Associates, Inc.

National Alliance of Mental Illness: Ask the Expert Webinar: Supporting the Emotional Needs of Youth During COVID-19

NAMI also offers resources for teens and young adults regarding how to help a friend, how to meet new people, and how to manage mental health throughout college

Positive Education Program offers Six Tips to Get the Most out of Your Child's Routines

Urban Community School shared that the Ohio Governor's Imagination Library is starting a new chapter in early childhood literacy in Cuyahoga County. Through their partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, every child in Cuyahoga County ages birth through five years old can enroll to receive a free book every month. (For Cuyahoga County residents in need).

National Resources

Boston Children's Hospital offers resources to parents on how to manage cyberbullying during the pandemic.

Centers for Disease Control provides resources for school and program administrators and families and caregivers, as well as their Decision-Making Tool for Parents, Caregivers and Guardians.

Child Mind Institute provides resources for going back to school, for parents, for young adults, and for educators.

Encuentra Qué Decir has information about mental health, how to support someone with depression, and how to talk to children.

Greater Good Science Center: Greater Good in Education - science-based practices for kinder, happier schools. Supporting learning and well-being during the coronavirus crisis, including practices for educators and parents to support student mental health and well-being, educator mental health and well-being and practices for staying connected.

JED Foundation empowers teens and young adults to grow into healthy thriving adults with resources for parents, high school and college students, and high school educators and higher education professionals. Their Set to Go Program focuses on the transition to college regarding mental health and wellness. Navigating hard conversations with friends you might be concerned about: Seize The Awkward. Webinar on Parenting During the Pandemic: Challenges, Strategies and Tips for Empowering Families of Teens. JED Foundations also provides assistance with tips for when someone you know is down and and helping someone who is stressed and anxious.

The JED Foundation’s Mental Health College Guide, created in collaboration with NAMI, is particularly beneficial for those heading off to college and looking for support in relationships, self-care, self-advocacy, mental health, and more.

JED Foundation in partnership with The Steve Fund produced the Equity in Mental Health Framework with actionable recommendations for colleges and universities to improve support for the mental health and emotional well-being of students of color.

Mental Health America 2021 Back to School Toolkit helps students, parents and school personnel navigate the uncharted territory of COVID-19. This year’s toolkit includes: Fact sheets for parents/teachers as well as fact sheets for children/teens.

FACT SHEET: How Trauma Impacts School Performance (PDF)

FACT SHEET: Safety at School: Physical and Emotional (PDF)

FACT SHEET: Supporting Students at Home (PDF)

FACT SHEET: Supporting Students Facing Trauma (PDF)

FACT SHEET: When Home Life is Hard: Understanding Abuse (PDF)

WORKSHEET: Feeling Safe (PDF)

WORKSHEET: Preparing to Share (PDF)

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has a variety of resources available specific to children who have trauma, including those who are dealing with migration and separation issues.

National Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health website and Facebook page shares resources for parents and caregivers to use at home. These include educational resources, activities and more that can support families of children and youth who have mental health and substance use needs.

National Institute on Mental Health provides resources on child and adolescent mental health.

OhioMHAS provides mental health resources for educators and parents.

OhioMHAS - Supporting School Wellness Toolkit.

PBS shares numerous resources for parents and children on how to transition to school this fall.

A Project by Shine offers resources to deal with COVID-19 anxiety.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Back to School During COVID 19; they also provide a Behavioral Health Impacts During & After COVID-19: What to Expect and Ways to Prepare for the Return to In-Person.

US Surgeon General’s Protecting Youth Mental Health Advisory - including a section on what family members and caregiver can do.

WE Teachers provides resources and courses for teachers to help them address the changing needs of their classrooms.

Podcasts

Ask Lisa - The Psychology of Parenting with Lisa Damour, PhD. Episode 44 - Seriously?! How Do I Face Back-to-School 2021?, Episode 1 - Parenting During a Pandemic, and Episode 2 - Back to School During Coronavirus

Cleveland Clinic Podcast: Episode 8/5/20 - Coping With Back to School Uncertainty and Anxiety with Dr. Ethan Benore, Episode 8/12/20 - How to Support Your Teen During the Pandemic with Dr. Ellen Rome, Episode 10/7/20 - Managing School Anxiety During COVID-19 with Dr. Ethan Benore, Episode 4/28/21 - How to Deal with Social Anxiety in a Post-Pandemic World with Dr. Dawn Potter, Episode 6/9/21 - How to Talk to Your Kids About Anxiety with Dr. Ethan Benore

Flusterclux With Lynn Lyons: For Parents Who Worry - Season 4 Episode 1: Back to School! 4 Ways to Boost Your Kids Mental Health

Kids Health Cast - Weill Cornell Medicine - Episode 8/2/21 - Managing Back to School Anxiety During COVID-19 with Dr. Sherry Huang