Mental Health Services

South Hadley Public Schools

SEL & Caregiver Engagement

Schools, Caregivers, and Social Emotional Learning

What is SEL?

SEL stands for social-emotional learning. According to the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), SEL is the process through which we learn and apply social-emotional knowledge, attitudes, and skills for understanding and managing emotions, setting and achieving goals, establishing and maintaining relationships, and feeling and showing empathy for others. In the South Hadley Public School district, these skills for life effectiveness will be intentionally taught and modeled in a safe, supportive, and culturally responsive environment.

Social-Emotional Competencies

SEL comprises five competencies: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making.

Further explore the CASEL competencies HERE

Self-Awareness

The ability to understand one’s own emotions, thoughts, and values and how they influence behavior across contexts. This includes the ability to recognize one’s strengths and limitations with a well-grounded sense of confidence and purpose.

Such as:

    Integrating personal and social identities
    Identifying personal, cultural, and linguistic assets
    Identifying one’s emotions
    Demonstrating honesty and integrity
    Linking feelings, values, and thoughts
    Examining prejudices and biases
    Experiencing self-efficacy
    Having a growth mindset
    Developing interests and a sense of purpose

Check out this video from PBS Learning Media for more information.

Self-Management

The ability to manage one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors effectively in different situations and to achieve goals and aspirations. This includes the capacity to delay gratification, manage stress, and feel motivation and agency to accomplish personal and collective goals.

Such as:

    Managing one’s emotions
    Identifying and using stress management strategies
    Exhibiting self-discipline and self-motivation
    Setting personal and collective goals
    Using planning and organizational skills
    Showing the courage to take initiative
    Demonstrating personal and collective agency

Check out this video from PBS Learning Media for more information.

Social Awareness

The ability to understand the perspectives of and empathize with others, including those from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and contexts. This includes the capacity to feel compassion for others, understand broader historical and social norms for behavior in different settings, and recognize family, school, and community resources and supports.

Such as:

    Taking others’ perspectives
    Recognizing strengths in others
    Demonstrating empathy and compassion
    Showing concern for the feelings of others
    Understanding and expressing gratitude
    Identifying diverse social norms, including unjust ones
    Recognizing situational demands and opportunities
    Understanding the influences of organizations and systems on behavior

Check out this video from PBS Learning Media for more information

Responsible Decision-Making

The ability to make caring and constructive choices about personal behavior and social interactions across diverse situations. This includes the capacity to consider ethical standards and safety concerns and to evaluate the benefits and consequences of various actions for personal, social, and collective well-being.

Such as:

    Demonstrating curiosity and open-mindedness
    Learning how to make a reasoned judgment after analyzing information, data, and facts
    Identifying solutions for personal and social problems
    Anticipating and evaluating the consequences of one’s actions
    Recognizing how critical thinking skills are useful both inside and outside of school
    Reflecting on one’s role to promote personal, family, and community well-being
    Evaluating personal, interpersonal, community, and institutional impacts

Check out this video from PBS Learning Media for more information.

Relationship Skills

The ability to establish and maintain healthy and supportive relationships and to effectively navigate settings with diverse individuals and groups. This includes the capacity to communicate clearly, listen actively, cooperate, work collaboratively to problem solve and negotiate conflict constructively, navigate settings with differing social and cultural demands and opportunities, provide leadership, and seek or offer help when needed.

Such as:

    Communicating effectively
    Developing positive relationships
    Demonstrating cultural competency
    Practicing teamwork and collaborative problem-solving
    Resolving conflicts constructively
    Resisting negative social pressure
    Showing leadership in groups
    Seeking or offering support and help when needed
    Standing up for the rights of others

Check out this video from PBS Learning Media for more information.

Social Emotional Tips for Every Grade Level at Home

Support for Parents and Caregivers

Care Solace

Introducing Care Solace

South Hadley Public Schools has partnered with Care Solace to support the well-being of students, staff, and their family members. Care Solace is a complimentary and confidential care coordination service that can help you quickly find mental health or substance use treatment options matched to your needs, regardless of circumstance.

If you would like to use Care Solace to help you find a provider: Call 888-515-0595

They are available 24/7/365 in any language.

Need support? Students and/or caregivers may ask a school counselor to submit a referral to Care Solace on their behalf during school hours.

Visit www.caresolace.com/southhadley and either search on your own OR click “Book Appointment” for assistance by video chat, email, or phone.

Caregiver Resources for Technology & Social Media Use

Boston Children's Digital Wellness Lab

The Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School studies the positive and negative effects of the digital media that children and young people use and how they use them.

Common Sense Media

This trusted website includes reviews and ratings for movies, shows, video games, and apps to help guide caregivers in making screen time choices.

Mental Health Apps

When used in conjunction with other mental health interventions, these apps might offer teens a little peace of mind.

NetSmartz

When used in conjunction with other mental health interventions, these apps might offer teens a little peace of mind.

Center for Humane Technology

Working to align technology with humanity’s best interests.

Your Undivided Attention Podcast

In this podcast, explore the unprecedented power of emerging technologies, including how they fit into our lives and how they fit into a humane future

Smart Social

The Smart Social Program teaches parents and educators how to navigate social media with their students.

Operation Parent

Operation Parent is a website geared towards supporting parents by providing real-world information, connections, and hope.

CHD Support Groups

Elementary SEL Book Suggestions

Here is a list of early childhood and elementary school-appropriate books to read aloud with your student. These books introduce or review social-emotional skills and topics in a fun way. These books are perfect for provoking meaningful reflection and discussion with your young learner.

Please visit the South Hadley Public Library online catalog to reserve a book today! Any library member can reserve a book from any CWMars library and it will be sent to South Hadley for you to pick up.

Gateway, CHD's Community Behavioral Health Center

Gateway, CHD’s new Community Behavioral Health Center in Chicopee, provides:

An outpatient behavioral health clinic
24/7 mobile crisis services
Crisis stabilization for youth and adults in person and via telehealth

The CBHC program delivers these services as an alternative to hospital emergency departments. It also offers respite, outreach, medication management, and peer-level support to ensure that family members are taken care of on every level.

Community Behavioral Health Center (CBHC) and Crisis Services

Handle With Care Initiative

Handle with Care (HWC) is a program designed to enhance communication between law enforcement, community mental health services, and schools regarding children’s exposure to traumatic events. HWC is aimed at ensuring that children who are exposed to crime, violence, and abuse receive appropriate and timely intervention so that they can be supported and succeed in school to the best of their ability.

The overall goal of this initiative is to prevent children’s exposure to trauma and violence, mitigate negative effects experienced by children’s exposure to trauma, and increase knowledge and awareness of this issue.

Resources for More Information

Handle with Care Website

Children's Advocacy Center Website

Handle With Care FAQs

More on Childhood Trauma and ACEs Scores

Associated Website: https://traumasensitiveschools.org/