Community Wellness Task Force Update - 11.5.19
The Community Wellness Task Force convened its second meeting to continue the work of aiding and facilitating recovery for our affected students, staff, families, and first responders. As we continued planning a course of action to strengthen existing prevention measures and programs, we recognize that our whole community has been affected. Along with an outpouring of support, comes the need to have multiple voices involved in developing the next steps forward.
This work is an ongoing conversation. The Community Wellness Task Force is expanding community involvement, with representation from our PTSA’s, organizations like the Riverview Education Foundation, local faith-based leaders, and experts in mental health counseling and community crisis response. This Task Force will see its work develop, as we support the continuation of offering training & workshops to learn healthy coping skills and build resiliency. Additionally, the Task Force is working towards seeking student involvement, in a healthy way, and helping implement age-appropriate programs throughout the district.
With our first “Open House” event last Wednesday during parent/teacher conferences at Cedarcrest High School, an important PTSA community forum held on Friday afternoon at Tolt Middle School, and the first “Grief and Loss” workshop held last Saturday in Duvall, we are bringing healthy learning opportunities into the community.
GRIEF AND LOSS WORKSHOP – NOVEMBER 9
The Community Wellness Task Force is pleased to provide additional offerings of the “Grief and Loss” workshop. The next event will be held Saturday, November 9th, at the Sno Valley Senior Center in Carnation. We strongly encourage parents and teens (preferably ages 13-and-up) to attend. The “Grief and Loss” workshops take place from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and attendees will have access to a number of mental health experts, gaining insight into the grieving process and learning invaluable information.
A Facebook event page is available here: https://www.facebook.com/events/739989466479694/
YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID – NOVEMBER 16 (CARNATION) | NOVEMBER 23 (DUVALL)
The Task Force is pleased to announce we have partnered with the Snoqualmie Valley Community Network, as they provide two offerings of the “Youth Mental Health First Aid” course in our area. These trainings are designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge, or is otherwise in crisis.
The first opportunity to participate will be held in Carnation on November 16, 2019. More information is available at this link: https://ymhfafall.eventbrite.com/.
The next offering of the “Youth Mental Health First Aid” course will take place on November 23, 2019, at the Duvall WRECK Center. Event page: https://ymhfa-fall-duvall.eventbrite.com/.
The events above are hosted by partners in the Community Wellness Task Force and we are happy to share these details with you. A number of community events are occurring from organizations and individuals working apart from the Task Force. We encourage students and families, staff, and community members to attend any event they feel will be helpful to them.
Shaun Tozer & Mike Ward Community Wellness Task Force