Partnerships

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!

Author: Sterling Ta'Bon, Healthy Schools Manager As I prepared for Cairn Guidance’s Shine Light on Depression Ambassador Retreat, I reflected on our theme, “Illuminating the Light”. The opportunity to gather Ambassadors from across the country to one single location for one single purpose brought its special light. We are privileged to have Ambassadors representing the states of Iowa, Missouri, North Carolina, Kansas, South Carolina, Texas, and Washington.The retreat was established to Read ▸ about R&R with Shine Light on Depression: Retreat and Recharge

Written by Allison Sabb-Glenn, Shine Light on Depression Ambassador, School Counselor, South Carolina This past school year, I met with my girl's group in South Carolina and we began the curriculum for Erika's Lighthouse on Mental Health. I met with 20 6th-grade girls to discuss the topic of Mental health and depression. We began by bringing in the school's Mental Health Counselor to discuss her role here at the school and the services she provides to the students. We then began with Read ▸ about Girls Empowerment Group

Cairn Guidance is excited to work on a new project with Shine Light on Depression to raise awareness around childhood and teen depression and suicide. Shine Light on Depression offers no-cost, key-turning resources to support the mental health of youth in both in-school and after-school settings.  2022 Shine Light on Depression Ambassadors As mental health advocates, Cairn Guidance hired and trained ambassadors who are “boots-on-the-ground” to further support the work with the Shine Read ▸ about Shine Light on Depression

By Liz Thorne, VP of Policy and ProgramsI had been anticipating the grand opening of Faubion K-8 School, in Portland Oregon, this Fall for both personal and professional reasons. Most importantly, it is our neighborhood school. My daughter will be starting kindergarten there next year. As someone who works in school health and public health, the opening of Faubion also embodies so many of the practices we know are effective in supporting the health and academic achievement of young Read ▸ about Making School the Heartbeat of the Community

Mike Miller and Jamie Sparks Jamie and I were invited by Mike Miller, a former colleague of Jamie's at the Kentucky Department of Education to a beautiful reception at a private residence in Louisville last night to celebrate 10 years of growth for the University of Louisville's LGBT Center. It was an honor to be invited among 150 other guests celebrating the support of sexual minorities on campus.Over the years, the Center has been Read ▸ about LGTB Center at University of Louisville

By Liz ThorneLast week I had the pleasure to facilitate a school based health center partnership meeting in Deschutes County (central Oregon). County organizers wanted to focus on youth engagement and have young people be involved in the meeting. Partners from county public health, SBHC clinics, health systems, dental providers, mental health providers and the school districts were all in attendance.  Members from the Sisters High School Youth Action Council (YAC) sat on an expert panel and Read ▸ about From Engagement to Partnership: How do organizations build youth-adult partnerships?

As 2015 gets its groove on, Cairn Guidance is becoming increasingly busy again after a nice respite during the holidays. Our focus is to continue to develop, revise and implement programs, practices and policies to increase our reach of healthy youth and staff, build sustainable partnerships, diversify our client-base and work, increase our advocacy efforts, model health ourselves and continue to thoroughly enjoy work!Some new exciting projects we are working on moving ahead...Eat Read ▸ about Cairn Guidance Update!