Not receiving our newsletter by email? Let us know and we'll include your email address!

Check below for the most current newsletter. You can view them in the drop-downs below or download the pdf version.

For archived newsletters, see the below tabs at the end of the accordion.

Click on the below image for the full document or download the newsletter.

Click on the below image for the full document or download the newsletter.

Click on the below image for the full document or download the newsletter.

Click on the below image for the full document or download the newsletter.

View the below May 2021 newsletter or download the pdf version.

May 2021

May 2021 Hurricane Preparedness (Courtesy of Lone Star College) Hurricane season runs from June 1 – November 30. We want you to be prepared, both at work and at home. Please take the time to review these valuable resources to keep your family safe and prepared: Hurricane Preparedness Flyer CDC 2020 Hurricane Season During COVID-19 National Weather Service Houston/Galveston Hurricane & Severe Weather Guide CSSS Happenings CSSS Member Spotlight: Galena Park ISD's Mental Health Intervention Team Galena Park ISD’s Mental Health Intervention Team (MHIT) is an interdisciplinary team comprised of Licensed Mental Health/Substance Abuse Professionals, Social Services Specialists and VOCA Crisis Intervention Specialists.  The MHIT provides an array of services for students, staff and parents including: campus visits to support the growing mental health and emotional needs during a crisis event;  prevention and intervention mental health and substance abuse services; and ongoing training and support on important topics related to mental health and substance abuse (including community members.) As a team, they provide ongoing training and support to staff, students, parents, and community members on important topics related to mental health and substance abuse. As a team, they are committed to reducing the stigma surrounding mental health and substance use disorder. The MHIT’s goal is to foster the mental health and wellness of GPISD’s students, parents and staff by creating a safe space for them to share their experiences and thoughts with a sense of reassurance, compassion, trust and optimism. The MHIT works collaboratively with campus administrators, counselors, and district-level staff to support the district’s mission statement to prepare students to become productive citizens and lifelong learners.  Team Members: Dr. Karen Haynes, LPC-S Frankie Buggs – Social Services Specialist Melody Burr – District Substance Abuse Counselor Bianca Cardenas – Social Services Specialist Rene Hernandez – Social Services Specialist LaToya Jordan – VOCA Crisis Intervention Specialist Shawn Langellier – VOCA Crisis Intervention Specialist Andrea Rojas – VOCA Crisis Intervention Specialist Climate and Culture Mental Health First Aid Training Why take a Mental Health First Aid course?  Mental Health First Aid teaches you how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. This training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to the appropriate care.  According to Mental Health First Aid: One in five American adults experience a mental health disorder in a single year.  Almost half of all Americans will experience a mental illness during the course of their lifetime. More than 20 million Americans, ages 12 and older, will face an addiction.  Save the dates CSSS will offer Youth and Adult Mental Health First Aid trainings on the following dates:  Adult Mental Health First Aid  Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2021 Youth Mental Health First Aid  Wednesday, May 19, 2021 Wednesday, June 23, 2021 These courses include a self-paced, 2-hour training component in addition to a 4-hour live virtual component for a total seat time of six hours. Take Care Tuesday Podcast The Center for Safe and Secure Schools’ “Take Care Tuesday” podcast debuted in June 2020 and has performed phenomenally. In addition to our listeners in the United States, we’ve had listeners from Ireland, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, Germany and Singapore.  Available now: Jarad Davis (Director, Wraparound Services for HISD) discusses with Cierra Nickerson, “Nurturing the Whole Child” (New!) Access current and prior podcasts. Listen Now BJA STOP School Violence Grant Grant-Supported Professional Development Training Social Media and Online Threat Assessment Training In 2021, the BJA STOP School Violence grant will focus heavily on providing social media and online threat assessment trainings during the first half of the year. Youth Mental Health First Aid  Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Walk It Like You Talk It: Building and Restoring Connections before Content This 1-1/2 hour training engages participants in building strategies to establish community in the classroom (virtually or face-to-face). Mindfulness for Teachers: How to Incorporate Mindfulness in the Classroom This 1-hour workshop will provide participants will the fundamentals of mindfulness, meditation, self-awareness, and various active mindfulness exercises to promote healthy well-being. Intro to Restorative Practices This training allows participants to experience the impact of a virtual Restorative Circle. Participants will have an opportunity to experience a community building circle process and develop the skills to plan and facilitate a virtual Restorative Circle.   Upcoming Trainings / Save The Date Virtual Workshops: May May 19 – Youth Mental Health First Aid (8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.) June June 1, 3, 8 and 10 (4-Days) – Implicit Bias Awareness Series (4 - 6 p.m.) June 9 – Threat Assessment Planning: Looking Through a 20/20 Lens (9 a.m. - noon). June 23 – Youth Mental Health First Aid (8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.) In-Person Workshops: June June 8 – Basic ICS for Campus Administrators (9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.) June 10 – Basic NIMS for Campus Administrators (9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.) June 22 – Basic ICS for Campus Administrators (9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.) June 24 – Basic NIMS for Campus Administrators (9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.) Center for Safe and Secure Schools | A Division of Harris County Department of Education  6005 Westview, Houston, TX 77055 View as Webpage

See below or download the pdf version.

Register Today.

Week of April 26, 2021 Upcoming Workshops and Events Basic ICS for Campus Administrators This course introduces Incident Command System (ICS) and provides the foundation for higher level ICS training. It describes the history, features, principles and organizational structure of the system. This course explains the relationship between ICS and NIMS and covers single resources and initial action incidents designed to teach personnel how to operate efficiently during an incident or event within the Incident Command System (ICS). This part of the course provides training on and resources for personnel who are likely to assume a supervisory position within the ICS. There will be tabletop scenarios in the training to illustrate how ICS is used in the school emergency response environment. Workshop location: Zoom Meeting platform Date: June 8, 2021 Time: 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. REGISTER NOW Date: June 22, 2021 Time: 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. REGISTER NOW Threat Assessment Planning: Looking Through a 20/20 Lens This workshop will feature a presentation from law enforcement focusing on reducing confrontation with police. The emphasis will be on being smart about how you incorporate police officers in the threat assessment process and social media law concerning threats made away from the school building. The workshop will provide a proactive, evidence-based approach for identifying individuals who may pose a threat and for providing interventions before a violent incident occurs.  Date: June 9, 2021 Time: 9 a.m. - noon Workshop location: Zoom Meeting platform REGISTER NOW Note: The Basic ICS training is a prerequisite for this course. Basic NIMS for Campus Administrators This course provides an overview of the National Incident Management System (NIMS). NIMS defines the comprehensive approach guiding the whole community - all levels of government, nongovernmental organizations (NGO) and the private sector - to work together seamlessly to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to and recover from the effects of incidents. The course provides learners with a basic understanding of NIMS concepts, principles and components.   It also covers an introduction to National Response Framework (NRF) where the goal is to provide guidance for the whole community. Within this broad audience, the NRF focuses especially on those who are involved in delivering and applying the response core capabilities. Workshop location: Zoom Meeting platform Date: June 10, 2021 Time: 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. REGISTER NOW Date: June 24, 2021 Time: 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. REGISTER NOW Youth Mental Health First Aid This course teaches professionals and caregivers how to identify, support and respond to a young person in crisis and non-crisis mental health situations. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of adolescent development, common signs and symptoms of mental health needs and a five-step action plan to address/support a young person in need. Date: June 23, 2021 Time: 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Workshop location: Zoom Meeting platform REGISTER NOW Implicit Bias Awareness Series This 4-day series will allow participants to reflect on the idea of public schools as supportive and inclusive environments where students' intellectual, social and emotional well-being are safeguarded by every adult who comes in contact with them. Dates: June 1, 3, 8 and 10, 2021 Time: 4 - 6 p.m. Workshop location: Zoom Meeting platform REGISTER NOW Center for Safe and Secure Schools | A Division of Harris County Department of Education  6005 Westview, Houston, TX 77055 View as Webpage