How Schools Became Hubs of Resilience After Disaster

🌱 One Year After Disaster: Schools as Anchors of Resilience When communities face crisis, schools become more than places of learning — they become havens of hope, belonging, and strength. In the region hit by the storm, school leaders leaned into that role, turning recovery into transformation. 🔍 Key take‑aways for school principals: Schools embraced a deeper role: beyond academics they became community hubs, supporting students, families, staff and neighbourhoods together. Recovery efforts prioritized belonging and adaptability: for example weekly whole‐school assemblies, student‑driven arts projects transforming trauma into purpose, and awarding agency to learners. The work is anchored in cycles of improvement (Plan→Do→Study→Act) across themes like mental‑health supports, system partnership, credential pathways and community integration. True resilience isn’t just rebuilding what was lost — it’s re‑imagining how schools work, how they connect with families, how they serve learning and belonging in challenging times. 🎯 What you can do as a leader: Reflect on how your school serves as a connector in the community — families, neighbours, support services — especially when times are hard. Embed practices that build belonging: routines or rituals where everyone (students, staff, support) participates, where voices are heard, where relationships matter. Use a continuous‑improvement mindset: pick one small change (e.g., check‑in routines, student‑led community project, cross‑team collaboration) and iterate. Prioritise care and capacity for staff and learners: trauma, disruption, change take a toll — resilience includes healing and growth at the same time. ✨ When schools lead with care, connection and community, they don’t just recover — they become stronger, together. https://lnkd.in/gYKS3nvn #SchoolLeadership #Resilience #CommunitySchools #EducationRecovery #BelongingInSchools #LeadershipInCrisis

Growing Our Foundation | Navigating Headwinds with Hope At Parent Teacher Home Visits (PTHV), we’re proud to share steady growth that positions us for lasting impact. • 3,147 educators trained this year — sustaining strong momentum and showing educators’ deep commitment to building authentic relationships with families. • 424 school sites now implementing PTHV — a 22% increase from last year. • Expanded reach to Alaska, Indiana, and New Jersey, joining a growing network across the U.S. and Canada While overall home visits declined to 30,662 due to funding reductions in some large districts, we saw inspiring growth in Detroit, Washoe County, Cajon Valley, and New Jersey’s iLearn system, which conducted 500 visits in its first year. Even amid challenges, school communities are finding creative, sustainable ways to fund home visits and keep relationships at the center of their work. Each visit represents a bridge built, a partnership strengthened, and a student better understood. https://lnkd.in/gpYaDUx7 #FamilyEngagement #Education #PTHV #HomeVisits #RelationalTrust #TeacherLeadership #PublicEducation

When the pandemic upended schools, out-of-school-time intermediaries stepped in, connecting schools, families, and community partners to meet students’ needs in real time. Now, those partnerships are showing their long-term value. From tackling chronic absenteeism to supporting mental health, OSTIs and schools are proving that collaboration can outlast a crisis. Read about how Chattanooga 2.0 and Hamilton County Department of Education built a model for enduring partnership and what it can teach other communities. https://bit.ly/43KCmy6

With proven models and a growing national network, National Mental Health Corps stands ready to partner with schools, nonprofits, and agencies to tackle the student mental health crisis head-on—building workforce capacity and sustainable systems of care. “I feel like since COVID, we've kind of been in a mental health crisis,” said Michelle Boss, executive director of the Connecticut School Counselor Association. “We know that this is a very real problem for kids. … Students in Connecticut are struggling.” "Hundreds of Connecticut educators have seen students face increased stress, anxiety and depression, reduced concentration, increased aggression, and more distraction over the past few years, according to a recent survey by the Connecticut Education Association. “Schools are a natural place to address behavioral health needs for students,” said Jeana Bracey, associate vice president of school and community initiatives at the Child Health and Development Institute, a nonprofit." 📰 Quotes from Natasha Sokoloff’s reporting for CT Insider (Hearst Connecticut Media Group). Read more at https://lnkd.in/eernsT7E Child Health & Development Institute (CHDI) Jeana Bracey Connecticut Education Association #CTMentalHealth #SchoolFunding #BehavioralHealth #CTEducation #MentalHealthMatters

This week, our School & Community-Based Services team led two Professional Development trainings focused on building compassionate, grief-informed school communities. At Newton Public Schools’ Thrive 25 Professional Development Day, Program Coordinator Claire Blackford presented “Compassionate Communities: Forming a Grief-Supportive Culture in Your School,” a session open to all educators from teachers to paraprofessionals, counselors, and social workers, coming together to learn and share what grief support looks like in their community. Claire also presented “Supporting Students Who Are Grieving: Tools and Resources for Social Workers” for Cambridge Public School social workers, offering practical strategies and resources to help them support students navigating loss. We’re grateful to both Newton and Cambridge for inviting us to be part of their continued efforts to create school environments where every student feels seen, supported, and understood. #ChildrensRoom #GriefSupport #GriefEducation #CompassionateCommunities #SchoolPartnerships

Out-of-school-time intermediaries stepped up during COVID-19—coordinating resources, staffing learning hubs, and reconnecting disengaged students. Today, as schools face rising mental health needs, chronic absenteeism, and staffing shortages, these partnerships are more critical than ever. An article by Wendy McClanahan, Brandon Hubbard-Heitz. and Tracey Hartmann highlights how Chattanooga 2.0 and Hamilton County Department of Education transformed emergency response into enduring partnership. Some takeaways from their partnership? Develop a shared vision, build infrastructure for collaboration, and invest in two-way partnerships that center youth needs. Read the full story: https://bit.ly/4omtU0y

Excited to share the second in a three part-series on intermediaries. This article focuses on on how OSTIs partner with school districts and highlights the innovative work of Chattanooga 2.0.

Last year we started working on a plan to start an Impact Life Recovery Hub in, or around the University of Delaware campus in the City of Newark, Delaware. We are excited to announce that we will be bringing this dream to fruition over the next two months! A few weeks back we found the perfect space and we finally move in this coming week! Located in the heart of Newark, just steps from the University of Delaware campus, the Newark Recovery Hub will offer a safe, welcoming space for students, community members, and families to connect, heal, and grow. Modeled after our four recovery community centers, the Newark Recovery Hub will provide peer support, recovery resources, workforce development, and wellness programming, all rooted in compassion, connection, and kinship. Why it matters: • More than 1 in 5 college students (≈ 21%) meet criteria for a substance use disorder each year—yet less than 5% receive treatment. Those students need support in their journey and we are here to help! • Full-time students aged 18-22 report illicit drug use around 22% and alcohol use over 60% each month. We aim to be a safe, sober space that provides information and resources so people can make informed decisions and get help if, and when then need it. • Students engaged in collegiate recovery programs (CRPs) experience graduation rates near 90%, compared to about 61% across the general student population-yet only a small fraction of campuses offer these programs. At Impact Life’s Newark Recovery Hub, we’re stepping in to fill the gaps: creating a dedicated, inclusive space where students, neighbors, and families can access evidence-informed support and build recovery capital together. Because recovery isn’t just what happens after treatment, it’s a lifelong path built on belonging, purpose, and connection. 🌐 For more information, visit https://lnkd.in/eJJSFPiK #Recovery #CollegiateRecovery #CommunityWellness #PeerSupport #UDelaware #NewarkDE #ImpactLife

The Cranford Board of Education recently highlighted significant progress in student achievement, community grant funding, and ongoing construction projects. Leadership changes include the retirement of Superintendent Dr. Scott Rubin and the appointment of Mark Cantagallo as his successor, with Dr. Gina Donlevie named new high school principal. The district also celebrated $45,258 in grants supporting innovative programs and confirmed that full-day kindergarten is on track to launch. - CFEE awarded grants for 21 projects, including podcasting equipment and literary backpacks. - Student wellness initiatives like “Wags for Wellness” therapy dogs continue to support students. - Construction funded by a recent referendum is progressing despite challenges, with full-day kindergarten opening as planned. Cranford schools are advancing academically and operationally while fostering strong community partnerships. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dYmeJ2-b #PRESWERX #NewJerseyConstruction

Our teens and young adults deserve opportunities to grow beyond the school system. Not because schools aren’t trying — but because independence is built in real environments, not just classrooms. 🟡 School teaches information. 🟡 Community experiences build confidence. 🟡 Repetition and real-life practice build independence. I’ve seen it firsthand as a parent and as an advocate: Students can know the steps… but still freeze when it’s time to use those skills in public, around new people, or in unfamiliar environments. That’s why community-based life skills programs matter. That’s why partnership matters. And that’s why our young people need more places, more practice, and more opportunities to rise. I’m calling in: • Transition teachers • High school transition counselors • Inclusive college programs (IPSE) • Workforce readiness programs • Nonprofits serving young adults • Community partners who believe in independence, dignity, and access Let’s build the environments where teens and young adults can practice life out loud… and step into the future with confidence. If you support life skills, transitions, or neurodiverse young adults, I’d love to connect. #TransitionEducation #PostSecondarySuccess #InclusiveCollege #CommunityBasedLearning #LifeSkillsPrograms #WorkforceReadiness #IndependentLivingSkills #Neurodiversity #YoungAdultSupport #SpecialEducation #IEPSupport #FutureReady #CareerPathways #LifeSkillsMatter #BuildingIndependence #EducationPartners #CommunityImpact #YouthPrograms #NonprofitLeadership #EmpoweringYoungAdults