Coachella Valley Unified School District students learn invaluable social-emotional skills
When educating today’s youth, it is no longer enough to teach reading, writing and arithmetic. National statistics show that there is an increased need in teaching our youth about their mental health, which includes social, emotional and behavioral needs.
In response to the increased need to support the whole child, the Coachella Valley Unified School District, using teams of educators, therapists, parents and community partners, has developed the “Transformational Model,” which addresses building the capacity for all students to understand and develop skills to adapt to the ever-changing world, connect with members of their various communities and restore relationships within those communities.
As an educational institution, it is vital to provide applicable knowledge and skills for students to become self-regulating in dealing with their emotions and behaviors.
Every student from grades TK-12 at all 21 CVUSD schools participate in social emotional learning lessons.
These lessons provide instruction in four main components: Emotional Understanding and Regulation; Social and Behavioral Skills; Building Connections between Self and the Community; and Restorative Practices if harm has occurred.
Students work on identifying and understanding their emotions as well as strategies and coping skills in how to self-regulate when emotions become overwhelming. These strategies include regulated breathing, grounding exercises, stretching, use of fidgets or manipulatives to name a few examples.
Each week specific social skills, such as waiting their turn, or asking for permission are targeted districtwide. Stories are used to teach students how they are interconnected and that each of them has significant value and to honor and respect those differences that make each student unique and to restore those connections if harm has occurred. Elementary schools receive SEL instruction daily, and all middle and high school students participate in these lessons weekly.
In response to an increased need for support at our secondary schools after returning from the pandemic, the district developed and implemented wellness centers at all middle schools and high schools. These centers are staffed by a certificated wellness lead teacher, a behavior technician and most centers include a mentor.
Centers are open daily, providing a safe/brave space for students who need support in identifying emotional or behavioral triggers; learning coping skills and strategies through guided lessons; or who are having difficulty self-regulating within the classroom and need support in bringing themselves back to the best emotional zone for learning. Wellness staff also provide a variety of classes, on topics such as “Building healthy relationships,” “Balancing school and life,” “Healthy living” and many more. Students may self-refer using a QR code or may be referred by a staff member.
For students needing more intensive or clinical support, the Coachella Valley Unified School District has established a partnership with the Riverside County Latino Commission to provide at least one licensed therapist at every school site. High schools have two therapists and the district has a crisis therapist to travel to emergency situations anywhere within the district. All middle and high schools also have an assigned substance abuse counselor.
Coachella Valley Unified School District Director of Student Support Services Julisa Hernandez manages the district’s mental health and wellness response. Her email is Juhernandez@cvusd.us
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: CVUSD students learn invaluable social-emotional and wellness skills
