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We Help Update – Back to School 2022-23

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We Help Update – Back to School 2022-23

we help update back to school flyer

We know that the start of a new school year can be a challenging time for parents, caregivers, and students. We continue to deal with the impact of the global health pandemic while returning to school, which we know brings new routines, uncertainties, and heightened emotions.

In response to the challenges students and their families may face, HWDSB will be offering various webinars, workshops and treatment groups to students and their caregivers.

Find a full list of offerings in our We Help Update for Back to School 2022-23. In addition to groups and workshops, students and families can also explore links to a wide range of mental health and well-being resources. We are also using this opportunity to share tips for a positive return to school as well as some information about our Reimagining Wellness 2.0 initiative.

In case of crisis, call 911 or visit your local hospital emergency room. For urgent support, contact Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868; www.kidshelpphone.ca; text CONNECT) or COAST Hamilton (905-972-8338; www.coasthamilton.ca).

Transcend Youth Group
Transcend is a social and support group for transgender, non-binary, gender non-conforming and gender questioning children and youth from HWDSB schools. Group meetings are held once per month for two hours and are facilitated by peer leaders with lived experience. Transcend meetings are a welcoming environment which allows youth to develop social connections with others who share some aspect of their identity, so that they can help and support and learn from each other and from the facilitators.
Please contact [email protected] for more information.

AFFIRM
AFFIRM Is an eight-session Cognitive-Based Therapy informed treatment group specifically for Two Spirit and LGBTQIA+ youth to develop coping skills for anxiety and stress related to experiences of discrimination as a result of their sexual and gender identities. The goals of AFFIRM are to decrease unhelpful thoughts, feel better about yourself and lives, and to make healthy choices for sexual and mental health.
Register online at projectyouthaffirm.org/ or contact [email protected] if you have any questions.

TRAILS Anxiety and Depression
TRAILS (Transforming Research into Action to Improve the Lives of Students) groups are designed to help children and youth (grades 4 to 6, 7 to 8, and 9 to 12) who struggle with moderate symptoms of stress, anxiety, and/or depression by teaching evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and mindfulness skills.
For more information, please contact the Principal/Vice-Principal or Social Worker at your school or Social Work Services (905) 527-5092 ext. 2806.

Teen Activation Group (TAG)
TAG is a treatment group for youth (grades 9 to 12) struggling with depression and anxiety who are not ready to access other treatment options. The group is based on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Behaviour Activation Therapy. The goal of the group is to help children and youth to reduce their depressive and anxious symptoms and increase their overall activity level, so they can access other treatment options or so they no longer require treatment.
For more information, please contact the Principal/Vice-Principal or Social Worker at your school or Social Work Services (905) 527-5092 ext. 2806.

mental health resources for students pdfMore Resources for Students

Community Supports and Mental Health Resources for Students

Use HWDSB’s Community Supports and Mental Health Resources for Students list to find:

  • Individual Supports
  • Group Supports
  • Provincial Resources
  • Crisis Services
  • Community Supports
Session Title Date Time Link to Register/Attend
Separation Anxiety September 14 6 p.m. hwdsb.info/Separation-Sept14
Emotion Coaching September 14 6:30 p.m. hwdsb.info/EC-Sept14
Separation Anxiety September 16 12 p.m. hwdsb.info/Separation-Sept16
Emotion Coaching October 5 9:30 a.m. hwdsb.info/EC-Oct5
Families Worrying Less Together October 18 1 p.m. hwdsb.info/FWLT-Oct1pm
Families Worrying Less Together October 18 6 p.m. hwdsb.info/FWLT-Oct6pm
Emotion Coaching November 24 6:30 p.m. hwdsb.info/EC-Nov24
Emotion Coaching December 13 3:30 p.m. hwdsb.info/EC-Dec13

Learn more about Groups and Workshops

Separation Anxiety

If you are the parent/caregiver of a child in grades JK to 2 who is taking longer than expected to adjust to the school year or struggling to separate from you, join us via MS Teams. HWDSB will be sharing strategies that will help to set your child up for a good day and make for an easier school drop off. Please register using the following links:

Emotion Coaching

As we continue to face the realities of living through a pandemic and moving into a new school year, we know that this can be a challenging time for parents and caregivers supporting children and youth through new routines and uncertainties.

In response, Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board, and Hamilton Family Health Team invite parents and caregivers to explore Emotion Coaching in a 90-minute webinar, and if interested, a six-week parent/caregiver group for further learning. Click the following links to register for one of the 90-minute webinars:

To register for the six-week parent/caregiver group, please call the Hamilton Family Health Team, Mental Health Groups line at 905-667-4852. We encourage caregivers to participate in a webinar before joining the caregiver group, however, it is not required.

What is Emotion Coaching?
Emotion Coaching is a communication strategy that can calm the brain in as little as 60 seconds, and help improve relationships. Emotion Coaching has two steps:

  • Validation: Letting someone know we understand why they feel, think or act a certain way.
  • Support: Then, we provide emotional and practical support using strategies like reassurance, limit-setting, redirecting, collaborative problem-solving, teaching skills, etc.

Learning in Webinars

  • Introduction to Emotion Coaching and how it can improve relationships with your child/youth
  • Understanding the role of emotions
  • Linking Emotion Coaching to neuroscience
  • Reviewing Emotion Coaching approaches

PDF Flyer: Emotion Coaching Flyer – Fall 2022
Parent/Caregiver Cheat Sheet: Emotion Coaching Cheat Sheet for Parents and Caregivers
Video: Learn more about Emotion Coaching at HWDSB

Families Worrying Less Together

If you are the parent/primary caregiver of a student in grades JK to 8 who is excessively shy or has intense worries and fears, come learn about the Families Worrying Less Together program. This program will give you practical strategies to help your child learn to cope differently. Please note: This program is for parents and primary caregivers, children do not attend. Please register using the following links:

October 18 from 1-2 p.m. – hwdsb.info/FWLT-Oct1pm
October 18 from 6-7 p.m. – hwdsb.info/FWLT-Oct6pm

City of Hamilton Parenting Groups

Flyer: Parenting Group Poster Sept-Dec 2022

Find descriptions of Hamilton’s parenting groups below, or visit the City of Hamilton website for more information.

Parenting with LOVE

Parenting with LOVE is a group for parents of children six years and under. Parents share ideas and discuss concerns about parenting.

The group is open to parents who are:

  • involved with either the Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton or the Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Hamilton
  • recommended to take a parenting course

Program consists of:

  • Two hour sessions for eight weeks
  • Bus tickets to get to the group and return home
  • Certificate of participation at the end of the program

Session & Registration Information

Parenting with LOVE groups run for eight weeks and each session is two hours long. Sessions are free, but you must register to attend. Various dates, times and locations available. Please call Health Connections at  905-546-3550 for more information and to register.

Group Triple P

For parents of children two to six years age. Parents share ideas and discuss concerns about parenting.

Topics include:

  • How to build a positive relationship with your child
  • Ways to help your child behave well
  • Responding to challenging behaviour

Program consists of:

  • Six weeks of two-hour group sessions and three weeks of 20 minute phone calls
  • Bus tickets to get to the group and return home
  • Certificate of participation at the end of the program

Session & Registration Information

Group Triple P includes six two-hour group sessions and three 20-minute phone calls over nine weeks. Sessions are free, but you must register to attend. Please call Health Connections at  905-546-3550 for more information and to register.

More Resources for Parents

Community Supports and Mental Health Resources for Parents and Caregivers
mental health resources for parents
Use HWDSB’s Community Supports and Mental Health Resources for Parents list to find:

  • Individual Supports
  • Workshops & Groups
  • Resources by Topic
  • Provincial Resources
  • Crisis Services
  • Community Supports

Reimagining Wellness 2.0
As we return to school, we recognize the importance of creating safe, inclusive, and welcoming spaces where student identity and experience are centered. In response to this need, elementary classrooms across HWDSB are focusing on building positive relationships through Reimagining Wellness 2.0 lessons. Students and educators will focus on relationship building through activities themed around Community and Team Building, Physical Activation, and Social Emotional Skills Development.

Click here for more information about Reimagining Wellness 2.0.

Updated on Friday, September 16, 2022.
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