Healthy Children +Healthy Families = Healthy Communities

Good emotional health helps children learn and succeed socially and academically. Students who need mental health services but lack access are not as likely to succeed academically. Community collaboration is necessary to improve student access to care, and to address issues of ethnic and economic diversity within the school community. The AISD SHAC works with the district and community partners to promote cultural competence, collaboration, and equity in access to help all families achieve and maintain social and emotional wellness.

Why is emotional health important?

Good social and emotional health supports: (School Psychologists Role in Mental Health: Possibilities and Potential, National Association of School Psychologists, Government and Professional Relations Committee)

• Clear thinking
• Communication skills
• Learning
• Emotional growth
• Resilience, flexibility and adaptability
• Self-esteem
• Safe school environment

AISD Initiatives supported by SHAC (Developing a Continuum of Student Support Services)

• Positive Behavior Supports (PBS) to reflect national best practice, and provide mechanism for monitoring and evaluation to reflect measures of social well-being on each campus.
• District protocol outlining campus and community agency procedures for those agencies (such as CPS, Juvenile Justice) that are mandated to provide student contact/service on AISD campuses.
• AISD goal that AISD Principals and Staff be trained in this protocol for SY 06-07 with implementation of the protocol across all campuses during SY 06-07. This will improve equity in access for students.
• Strategic Planning with the Child and Youth Mental Health Planning Partnership of the Community Action Network.
• AISD Intervention Specialist position in Student Support Services.

How can I help?

Join the AISD School Health Advisory Council (SHAC) Social and Emotional Well Being Committee. Join PTA. Form a Campus Wellness Committee. Become informed about the issue. There are many tools, resources and organizations to help you.