Cairn Guidance

By Antionette Meeks of Cairn Guidance, a Dove Self-Esteem Project Partner Growing up can be quite the adventure for today’s youth. Some of us, reading this blog, grew up prior to or just as the cell phone or the internet came to be in existence. Then there is the explosion of social media platforms. Today’s youth are growing up surrounded by all kinds of technology. They “game” with people they do not know who may live in another country, inviting them into their personal spaces. Youth are Read ▸ about I Want To Look Like That: The Era of Media and Social Media and Its Impact on Appearance Ideals

Fall is amongst us, and with that comes pep rallies, Friday Night Football games, and bonding with family and friends who cheer on their favorite team, band, and supporting cast! As fans, parents, and students we give our utmost energy and support trying to rally our teams to victory on the field, and we should also continue our encouragement off the field. In this blog, you’ll read of students who exemplified what it meant to be the #1 fan of mental health awareness and education in their Read ▸ about Plainville Pep Club Shines Light on Depression During Football Matchup

In a story about equity and inclusion, Professor Richard Lapchick, Founder of the Institute of Sports and Justice, uses the “huddle” as a metaphor for communities that care about all’s needs.The huddle in sports is when teammates and like-minded individuals gather to share the game plan, congratulate each other, or gain encouragement for the next play.The huddle is an environment that accepts all, with an understanding that those surrounding each other have sacrificed for each Read ▸ about Creating the huddle: Healthy School’s Manager Sterling Ta’Bon, shares insights on Center of Equity and Inclusion facilitator intensive.

Many educators across our country can understand the weight of having to manage academic, emotional, physical, and social development within their classrooms. Implementing curriculums and changing a school‘s culture can be a daunting task, but  Shine Light on Depression can be used to fill in the gap. Tim Johnson, MSW is the Behavioral Health Services Coordinator for Des Moines Public Schools in Des Moines Iowa. In this role, he supports initiatives that create school environments that Read ▸ about Breaking Down Barriers to Spread Awareness Around Mental Health for School-aged Children and Adults.

By Antionette Meeks of Cairn Guidance, a Dove Self-Esteem Project Partner I loved to teach. I loved to see my students learn. I enjoyed seeing their faces light up and their eyes sparkle when they would grasp a new concept, share an opinion, or participate in small or large group activities. I celebrated with them as they enthusiastically shared about an event or accomplishment outside of school. When we laughed together, it could be quite the bonding moment. When they suffered a personal Read ▸ about Why I Became an Educator

The Cairn Guidance team is very excited to share a variety of training events and opportunities this Fall. As always, please reach out if you have any questions. Deep Dives into the Health Education Standards This week is the last opportunity to sign up for this awesome training series, starting on Monday, October 2, 2023. We have offered this multiple times for clients and opened it up to others around the country! We will be co-facilitating this with RMC Health. Each of the eight Read ▸ about Upcoming 2023 Fall Events and Opportunities!

By: Stacie Nessa, Shine Light on Depression Ambassador Shine Light on Depression creates multiple avenues for educators, students, and communities to gain awareness of mental health language and skill sets to combat tough moments. You may believe this can be a daunting task, but Iowa's Shine Light on Depression Ambassador, Stacie Nessa, highlights an Iowa middle school educator who shows otherwise.  Cassandra Cruz supports Tier 3 students and families at one of the largest middle Read ▸ about Little Effort, Big Impact

The 2021 Oregon Legislative Assembly, passed a House Bill that included the expectation each public school in the state must provide age-appropriate instruction in oral health to be included within the health education curriculum. As a result, we were hired to write a K-8 and High School skills-based health education oral health curriculum for the Healthy Teeth, Bright Futures Coalition, which is comprised of representatives from philanthropic organizations, health plans, the education Read ▸ about A New K-12 Oral Health Curriculum!