United: Identifying Bullying Behaviors and Prevention Strategies

According to the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Study, 19.5% of high school students in the United States reported being bullied while on school property during the previous 12 months. In Arkansas, that percentage was even higher at 22.6%. Statistics for cyberbullying are similar in that 15.7% of American students reported being bullied electronically within the past 12 months and 17.4% of Arkansas students reported experiencing cyberbullying. Bullying has negative effects on those who engage in bullying behaviors, those who are targets of bullying behaviors, and those who are witnesses. This course addresses how educators can help.

Host Christina Muñoz leads a discussion about the issue of bullying with three Arkansas professionals who work in and around schools and children. Together they provide necessary information for educators and schools and discuss bullying behaviors, those who are affected by bullying, the signs, and ways to combat bullying in schools. 

This course meets the anti-bullying training requirements of ACA 6-17-711.

Paradigm Shift: Seeing Students Through a Trauma-Informed Lens

Research has shown that adverse childhood experiences, or ACEs, are more common for children in Arkansas than any other place in the nation. Children who have endured one or more ACEs are at a greater risk for health complications as they age, but they are also at a greater risk of struggling in school and social settings. Students with adverse childhood experiences or childhood trauma can benefit immensely from teachers and administrators who work through a trauma-informed lens. Just one caring adult can change a child’s life.

In order to implement trauma-informed practices in schools, we must first change our perspectives surrounding trauma. This course aims to create a paradigm shift in school personnel by discussing the biological ways trauma impacts the brains and bodies of growing students, then increasing understanding and empathy for students who have endured childhood trauma and adversity. It will also compel educators to ask different questions, be curious, and engage with students using a new mindset.

By taking this course, school personnel, counselors, nurses, and administrators can better understand how to lead trauma-informed practices within any school setting. While we learn that being trauma-informed is crucial in leading a successful educational experience, we also discuss just how important it is to take care of yourself. Because having empathy and compassion can be exhausting, this course highlights forms of self-care and self-compassion to ensure that you’re providing a healthy environment for your students.

Let's Talk About Mental Health: Building Strong Relationships for Student Well-Being

Credit Hours: 2.0

Vendor: ADE

The American Academy of Pediatrics and other organizations have recently declared that our need for mental health support has reached a crisis level. In the United States, emergency department visits for mental health emergencies, including suicide attempts, have been on the rise.  

Educators' responsibilities extend beyond teaching content. They play a crucial role in fostering a supportive environment where students' mental well-being can thrive. Because teachers see students every day, they are in the unique position of being able to advocate for students’ mental health needs.

In this course, teachers will explore practical strategies and insights to effectively recognize, understand, and respond to the mental health needs of their students. The goal of this course is to help teachers create classrooms where every student feels seen, heard, and supported, and to help recognize when a student might need to be directed toward mental health resources, including professional help.

This course meets the mental health component of ACA 6-17-708.

Dyslexia: A Three-Part Professional Awareness

Please Note: Referral policies for school districts may vary. Before making a referral, please investigate your school's policies and follow them accordingly. 

In this three-part dyslexia professional awareness program, we look at some of the indicators of dyslexia, the need for screening and early intervention, and important processes like Response to Intervention and referral for evaluation. We hear from students, parents, and various professionals in the fields of medicine, psychology, and education regarding the importance of the science behind teaching a student who is dyslexic. Experts and students themselves say it takes patience, long hours, hard work, and practice to overcome dyslexia. It is our hope to whet your appetite and to instill in you the desire and a sense of urgency to learn more about Specific Learning Disabilities, especially dyslexia, and how to make a lasting impact in the life of each student, every day.

Bullying Prevention: Moving from a Culture of Cruelty to a Culture of Caring

This course is comprised of four modules on the subject of bullying. It was designed and created specifically for educators by the Connect With Kids Education Network. Stacey DeWitt is the Founder and President of Connect With Kids Education Network. The Connect with Kids team has gone above and beyond what has been asked of them to create a program that not only looks at the problem of bullying and why it is occurring, but to help us decide what we are going to do about it, and to see how the interventions are working in other communities and schools.

This course meets the anti-bullying training requirements of ACA 6-17-711.

The Jason Foundation: Suicide Awareness and Prevention - 'Choices'

This course meets the requirements of ACA 6-17-708. This stand-alone, JFI training is an overview of the problem of youth suicide. Information is given about the magnitude, awareness and prevention of the problem and includes statistical data, signs of concern of possible suicidal thoughts, elevated risk factors and resources for help. (The "Choices" video is included in this module.) 

The mission of the Jason Foundation is to confront the "Silent Epidemic" of Youth Suicide by equipping young people, educators, counselors, and parents with information, tools, and resources to identify and assist at-risk individuals.

This course meets the suicide awareness and prevention components of ACA 6-17-708.

The Jason Foundation: Suicide Awareness and Prevention - Making a Difference

This course meets the requirements of ACA 6-17-708. This stand-alone, JFI training is a more in-depth study of the problem of youth suicide and how teachers/youth workers can make a difference by gaining the tools and resources to help an at-risk student. It uses the educator’s tools of observation, identification and intervention to hopefully direct a positive future for a young person who may be suffering from suicidal ideation. Information from experts is included as well as a discussion of some of the mental health issues surrounding suicidal ideation. 

The mission of the Jason Foundation is to confront the "Silent Epidemic" of Youth Suicide by equipping young people, educators, counselors, and parents with information, tools, and resources to identify and assist at-risk individuals. 

This course meets the suicide awareness and prevention components of ACA 6-17-708.

The Jason Foundation: Suicide Awareness and Prevention - A Plan of Action

This course meets the requirements of ACA 6-17-708. This stand-alone, JFI training module gives teachers and youth leaders practical information to establish a plan of action for the school and the teacher if suicide ideation is suspected or identified in a student. Suggestions for designing protocols of action to promote a safe environment and what actions to take for the teacher and the school at large are included. Prevention is the key and this module is a guide to being proactive in establishing the best possible attributes for the prevention of youth suicide or suicide attempts. 

The mission of the Jason Foundation is to confront the "Silent Epidemic" of Youth Suicide by equipping young people, educators, counselors, and parents with information, tools, and resources to identify and assist at-risk individuals.

This course meets the suicide awareness and prevention components of ACA 6-17-708.

The Jason Foundation: Suicide Awareness and Prevention - History of Suicide Prevention

This course meets the requirements of ACA 6-17-708. In this stand-alone, JFI training module, Dr. Kenneth Tullis shares his own story and extensive research into the history of suicide prevention. He shares how religion, the law and science have all played a part in developing suicide prevention efforts. You will find this study to be interesting and informative. 

The mission of the Jason Foundation is to confront the "Silent Epidemic" of Youth Suicide by equipping young people, educators, counselors, and parents with information, tools, and resources to identify and assist at-risk individuals.

This course meets the suicide awareness and prevention components of ACA 6-17-708.

More Than Sad: Teen Suicide / Depression - Prevention and Awareness Programs

This course meets the requirements of ACA 6-17-708. This course, provided by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), is designed to help teachers and other school personnel learn more about teen suicide and how they can play a role in its prevention. This course features two films and their supporting documents. The first film, “More Than Sad: Preventing Teen Suicide”, educates teachers, counselors, other school personnel about the causes of youth suicide as well as warning signs and steps they can take to get help for students. The second film, “More Than Sad: Teen Depression”, features four vignettes- each designed to present to teens as a recognizable picture of depression, reduce fears and misconceptions about treatment, and promote help-seeking behavior. Both films were produced by AFSP in conjunction with the award-winning Break Thru Films. 

Special thanks specifically to the Arkansas Chapter of AFSP for their contribution of the films. Schools interested in obtaining a free copy of the More Than Sad films can find contact information at the end of the each video.

This course meets the suicide awareness and prevention components of ACA 6-17-708.