Health and Physical Education (PE) teachers use the NJ Health Learning Standards to guide the content, activities, assignments in the classroom and overall school wellness programming in their districts. All the dimensions of well-being (emotional, social, physical and more) are covered.
Bergen’s Promise Community Resources Director, Kathryn Werheim, presented a workshop at the 100th Annual Convention of the NJ Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. The presentation used theConnecting with Our Communities Teen Service Project to inform the Health and PE teachers of the no cost, in home services provided by their local Children’s System of Care partners to support their students that may be experiencing challenges in their emotional, behavioral, social wellbeing. She also informed them of the Youth Mental Health First Aid Training available throughout the state, and the Stigma Free coalitions that may exist in their counties – both of which can complement their lesson planning throughout the year.
Connecting with Our Communities is a community service project that helps to get youth talking about issues that impact teen's mental/emotional wellbeing, reduce stigma, and connect with a local resource they find in their local ResourceNet that support families of youth with these issues. This project meets NJ Health Learning Standards and is a great project to complete and submit to their local CIACC (Children's Inter-agency Coordinating Council) to spotlight for May is Mental Health Awareness Month!
