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Aug 05, 2023

Treat yourself to wellness: Helping kids overcome back to school challenges

Returning to school is not what it used to be. As parents shop for school apparel, they will find trends, fashions and styles have changed for 2023. Relaxed pieces are being paired with cultured

Returning to school is not what it used to be.

As parents shop for school apparel, they will find trends, fashions and styles have changed for 2023. Relaxed pieces are being paired with cultured touches such as long jackets, blazers, tall boots, loose pants, leather, form-fitting tops, beanies and yes, don’t forget the cross-body bag.

The vibe can be whatever you want it to be, however, for some kids, going back to school is not all glitz and glamour.

These days, parents have a lot of anxiety about sending their kids back to school, teachers are concerned and underpaid, and some of our youth are not aware of the possible dangers.

According to the annual Colorado State of Education report, school funding is a major issue.

Like many other states across the nation, Colorado’s education system is in a state of crisis, leaving many teachers feeling overworked and underpaid.

Colorado educators make about 36% less compared to other professionals with the same amount of education, the report stated. Many educators worry that the systemic issues connected to underfunding are hurting their students.

Colorado schools have lost $10 billion in funding over the past 13 years as a result of a mechanism state lawmakers use to balance the state budget by cutting school funding. This is causing teaching vacancies in our schools, and in some cases, educators are doing double the workload.

How do these issues affect our students?

Schools with limited budgets aren’t able to offer smaller class sizes or better programs, which can lead to lower student achievement and students being unable to reach established performance benchmarks.

Underfunding in our schools in the United States can impact students’ success in future jobs, which can impact their income, mental health and even criminal records.

So, what’s the solution?

According to the Colorado Education Association, Gov. Jared Polis has promised to eliminate the budget stabilization factor to schools, returning Colorado to 1989 inflation-adjusted per-pupil spending.

Educators say that in the future, they want their voices at the center of education legislation.

Another issue affecting youngsters is mental health and wellness.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that children and teens have been suffering mental issues for years prior to the pandemic with feelings of sadness, hopelessness and suicidal thoughts, and these behaviors have increased by 40% in the U.S.

Our children and teens not only faced academic isolation during the pandemic, but many of them also lost caregivers, friends and loved ones to COVID-19.

Are mental health professionals doing enough? I hope so.

One avenue for seeking mental health for your child is to utilize telehealth therapy.

Every home and every school has telehealth equipment, such as WiFi, cellphones, tablets or laptops, which makes it easier for parents and youth to meet with clinicians during a lunch break, before or after school.

All of the above issues, plus the fear of mass violence, have our teachers and students concerned.

Parents should make a point to become familiar with their kids’ schools’ policies for the new school year. The Weld RE-4 website defines their policies and protocols on mental health, wellness, safety and security for each school.

As a mental health professional who has contributed to our community and our school system, my aim is to keep our children healthy and safe.

The school district provides mental health staff, training and awareness to educators and students regarding mental health. The district states, “The safety of our students is top priority, both in our schools and online,” and it works closely with local first responders to develop protocols for security and safety which are reviewed annually.

Weld RE-4 also has four dedicated police officers through its School Officer Resource Program, with multiple drills taking place throughout the year as well as annual training completed by staff.

I strongly suggest all parents review these policies as a way for kids to “know before they go” back into the classrooms.

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