Message from The Huron County Prevention Coalition
Our Mission:
The Huron County Prevention Coalition strives to support, empower, and advocate for the youth and families of Huron County by building resilience, promoting mental health wellness, and preventing substance abuse through collaborative programs and education.
February 7-11 is National School Counselor Week
National School Counseling Week 2022 was created to focus public attention on the unique contribution of school counselors within U.S. school systems. National School Counseling Week highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.
National School Counseling Week is a week to advocate for your program. This is a time to brag about all of the great things you’ve done this year for you, your students and your school!
This year's theme is School Counseling: Better Together. Please see below for ideas on how to celebrate this very important week for School Counselors and the work they do every day.
Day 1: All in For Students
This is your chance to tell everything that you do for students. If it falls under the umbrella of serving students, talk about it!
Day 2: Professional Development
Share professional development have you taken as this is a great opportunity to talk about all of the great things you have learned. Remember that professional development can be podcasts you listen to, books you’ve read, webinars you’ve attended, among others.
Take this opportunity to think about what professional development can you provide. Don’t sell yourself short here!
Day 3: Collaboration
Take those professional development opportunities with other school staff to ask questions, better understand staff roles and experiences and identify ways to collaborate that best helps students.
Day 4: Building an Equitable and Inclusive School
This is a chance to explain how as a school counselor you work to make sure every voice is heard. This is especially important to students who may be considered a minority group. In what ways are you able to accomplish this?
Day 5: Celebration!
All educators and students have weathered quite a storm this year. We didn’t “abandon ship.” At times we might have been afraid we were about to capsize, but we dropped our anchor and held on! But school counselors and educators alike provided a port within the storm. We provided a harbor, or a safe place. That’s something to be celebrated.
Below you will find a "Certification of Appreciation" that can be used to show your appreciation to School Counselors and the work they accomplish daily for their school and students.
Self-Care
As we all know, these past couple of years have been challenging and we know all school counselors, others school personnel and professionals can often neglect their own mental health. We recognize the importance of self-care and would like to to take this opportunity to share some ways that you can practice self-care.
Ways to practice self-care
Write in a journal
It is important to take time for positive activities you enjoy
Limit working outside of your scheduled work day, if possible
Talk to family, friends, supervisors, or a trusted coworker about your feelings and emotions
Practice breathing and relaxation techniques such as yoga and meditation
Maintain a healthy diet and get adequate sleep and exercise
Know that it is okay to draw boundaries and say "no"
Avoid or limit caffeine and use of alcohol
Remember... we are all different and what may work for someone may not work for someone else, and that is okay. The important thing is for YOU to find somethings that takes care of your OWN needs.
To All Huron County School Districts:
Be on the lookout for Youth Summit information that will be coming in the next couple of months! This will be for grades 9-12 and, preferably, have three students from each school district. More information will be coming soon!
The Developmental Asset for February is Self-Esteem. Help youth feel good about themselves and optimistic about their future.
For more information, please visit: huroncountyprevention.org to access live Binders.
