Mental health remains a significant concern for students, families, and schools. Recently, Kax̱dig̱oowu Héen Elementary School in Juneau took a proactive step to connect families with mental health resources by collaborating with local organizations, Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) and the Juneau chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), to organize a family night. Families had the opportunity to enjoy food and engaging reading activities with their children, facilitated by the staff of the Sealaska Heritage Institute’s Baby Raven Reads program. In addition, parents were invited to participate in a mental health discussion led by Aaron Surma from NAMI.
Partnering with schools can help organizations like NAMI achieve their mission while lightening the load on school staff and strengthening the network of support for families. What organizations in your community or region might you help connect students and families with?
If you know of families who could benefit from more information about helping children facing mental health challenges, NAMI Alaska offers an asynchronous six session NAMI Basics program. The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium also has a number of great resources for students and families at www.iknowmine.org.