Our role is to blaze a path to student success as guides for schools and community partners to implement the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) approach. We share a common goal with school, family and community stakeholders to ensure that each student is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged to achieve their full potential. Over the last 4 years, we have been working with the Kentucky Department of Education on their 1801, Improving Student Health and Academic Read ▸ about Blaze Approach Components at Work!
Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child
Introducing… Blaze Approach!
We share a common goal: ensuring each student is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged to achieve their full potential. But the path to implementing the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) approach can be challenging–that’s where we come in. Cairn Guidance has developed their facilitated journey to support schools and districts implementing a Coordinated School Health Approach, also called the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child framework. Blaze Approach Read ▸ about Introducing… Blaze Approach!
Core Capacity for Focusing on the Whole Child
When we talk about what schools might do during and even after a pandemic to shift our thinking and prioritize the health and well-being of our kids and staff, I’d suggest considering the pieces I see as core capacity activities. I’ve described these core capacity pieces below. Stay tuned for a public launch of our new product, called Blaze Approach in which we offer support (professional development and technical assistance) in these areas below, to schools, districts and Departments of Read ▸ about Core Capacity for Focusing on the Whole Child
Sustaining Healthy Schools beyond COVID
Written by guest blogger, Michelle Rawcliffe (a middle school teacher in Woodstock CT) “This is the time for the mental health staff (counselors, social workers and psychologists), health services staff (school-based health centers and school nurses), Health Educators, Physical Educators, Staff Wellness Leads (HR), Nutrition Services, Custodians & Facilities Managers to assess and work collaboratively on the physical and emotional safety of the school environment.” Read ▸ about Sustaining Healthy Schools beyond COVID
Supporting Trans and Gender Non-Conforming Students with Pride (ASCD Webinar)
Super glad I was on ASCD’s webinar today on supporting transgender and gender non-conforming students in schools. It was great to see people sharing where they were joining in from in the group chat - from all over the world!Two speakers led the webinar- Becca Mui from GLSEN and Vanessa Ford, a Board member of the National Center for Transgender Equality. They started by defining key terms to get everyone on the same page. Read ▸ about Supporting Trans and Gender Non-Conforming Students with Pride (ASCD Webinar)
Leveraging Every Student Succeeds Act $$ to Support the Whole Child
Tomorrow, Liz Thorne and I will be headed to our first ESEA Conference in Kansas City. The National ESEA Conference is an annual project of the National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators and the largest conference focused on federal education programs for disadvantaged students. The Conference emphasizes the critical nature of doing what’s right and what’s needed today – to help every child succeed and achieve at high levels.Our workshop proposal, Leveraging Every Students Read ▸ about Leveraging Every Student Succeeds Act $$ to Support the Whole Child
We Can Affirm AND Challenge Young People
By Liz ThorneA recent article in the Atlantic explored gender and the intersections of adolescent development, medical care, and parenting. Through the experiences of young people, trans and gender non-conforming folks, families and researchers, the article explores the central question of how to balance providing young people the support (from family support and mental health services to puberty-blocking drugs, hormones and/or surgery) they need while keeping in mind that adolescence is a time Read ▸ about We Can Affirm AND Challenge Young People
Negative Social Determinants of Health; How Can We Make an Impact?
By Samantha LoweAt-risk youth have strong negative Social Determinants of Health (SDoH), which include conditions in which you are born, grow, live, work and age. SDoH include biology and genetics, individual behavior, social environment, physical environment, and access of health services.Supporting at-risk youth is of the utmost importance as they are less likely to have access to health care, health education, and formal sex education. Educating and equipping youth with personal safety, Read ▸ about Negative Social Determinants of Health; How Can We Make an Impact?