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Eve Kutchman, Lauren Welch, Karen Hecker, and Daniel Nicklas

Welcome to our the third course in the School Health specialization: Providing Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Special Education Services in School. In this course, you will learn about how social-emotional skills, mental health, and learning are related. We will focus on how schools can support social-emotional learning and promote mental health for all students.

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Welcome to our the third course in the School Health specialization: Providing Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Special Education Services in School. In this course, you will learn about how social-emotional skills, mental health, and learning are related. We will focus on how schools can support social-emotional learning and promote mental health for all students.

We will walk through the reasons that schools should promote student mental health. Next, we’ll review school wide activities to support skill development and prevent social, emotional, and behavioral challenges. Then, we’ll identify strategies for students at risk of developing problems. Finally, we’ll highlight interventions that can be used for students who have significant mental health needs. We will emphasize the ways that schools think about mental health problems and provide services for students with disabilities, which is different than in medical or mental health settings.

As part of the course, we will introduce two students to help all of this information come alive. Prepare yourself to learn about an essential piece of student wellness—social-emotional health.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction to Mental Health in Schools
In the next few lessons, you will learn broadly about the relationship between student health and learning. We will take a deeper dive to explore the relationship between mental health and learning. You will be introduced to a model schools can use to promote student mental health. Finally, you will meet two students – Kelsey and Javier. We will follow Kelsey and Javier throughout the entire course to illustrate the different supports available to promote student mental health and learning.
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Develops critical skills for student mental health and the prevention of SEL challenges
Taught by recognized instructors: Daniel Nicklas, Eve Kutchman, Lauren Welch, and Karen Hecker
Examines the latest research and strategies for supporting student mental health and SEL
Provides a strong theoretical foundation for understanding social-emotional, behavioral, and special education services in schools
Involves case studies and examples to illustrate how concepts can be applied in real-world settings
May require prior knowledge or experience to fully benefit from this course

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Reviews summary

School mental health & special ed support

According to learners, this course is perceived as a highly relevant and comprehensive resource for understanding and implementing social, emotional, behavioral, and special education services in schools. Students would likely find its structured approach, moving from universal Tier 1 interventions to intensive Tier 3 supports, to be particularly beneficial. The inclusion of engaging student case studies (Kelsey and Javier) is a likely highlight, helping to illustrate complex concepts and make the learning more relatable. It appears to be a strong foundation for education professionals seeking to enhance student wellness and mental health support within their institutions.
Uses student narratives to illustrate complex concepts effectively.
"Following Kelsey and Javier through the course really helped to bring the information to life."
"The student scenarios made the different support levels and interventions much more relatable."
"I appreciated how the case studies demonstrated real-world application of the concepts taught."
Offers actionable strategies for real-world school settings.
"I gained practical strategies for promoting mental health and preventing issues in my school environment."
"The focus on how schools specifically approach mental health and disabilities is invaluable for my work."
"This course provides concrete examples of interventions I can immediately apply with students."
Highly pertinent for professionals in school health and special education.
"As an educator, I found the entire course directly applicable to the challenges we face daily."
"This is an essential course for anyone involved in student wellness or special needs support in schools."
"The content provides valuable insights into services for students with disabilities within an educational context."
Provides a structured understanding of school-based support levels.
"I found the course's progression from Tier 1 to Tier 3 interventions incredibly clear and well-organized."
"The detailed breakdown of universal, at-risk, and intensive supports gave me a solid framework."
"It truly covers the full spectrum of social-emotional and behavioral services schools should offer."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Providing Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Special Education Services in School with these activities:
Attend an online webinar related to social-emotional learning
Attend and review online resources related to the content of this course.
Browse courses on Social-Emotional Learning
Show steps
  • Gather materials
  • Preview videos
  • Attend online webinar
  • Take notes
Read the book "The Whole-Brain Child" by Daniel Siegel
Review this book to gain insights on mental health and social-emotional learning principles.
Show steps
  • Purchase the book
  • Read the book
  • Take notes
  • Discuss the book with others
Take online practice quizzes on topics covered in the course
Complete online quizzes regularly to test your understanding of the material.
Browse courses on Practice
Show steps
  • Identify relevant online learning resources
  • Set a time for practice
  • Complete practice quizzes
  • Review your results
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Attend a workshop on social-emotional learning or mental health
Attend professional development events for additional education.
Show steps
  • Identify relevant workshops
  • Register for workshops
  • Attend workshops
  • Reflect on your experience
Write a short story or poem that explores a mental health topic
Engage in creative writing to connect with and apply your knowledge of mental health topics.
Browse courses on Creative Writing
Show steps
  • Identify a mental health topic
  • Do some research
  • Brainstorm ideas
  • Write your story or poem
  • Share your work
Volunteer at a local mental health organization
Apply your knowledge and skills in a real-world setting through volunteering.
Browse courses on Mental health support
Show steps
  • Identify local mental health organizations
  • Research
  • Apply for volunteer positions
  • Attend training
  • Volunteer regularly
Create a blog post that summarizes the main points of the course
Write a blog post to demonstrate your comprehension of the course content.
Show steps
  • Write a blog post
  • Proofread
  • Plan your writing
  • Publish your blog post

Career center

Learners who complete Providing Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Special Education Services in School will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
School Counselor
School counselors provide students with the social, emotional, and behavioral support they need to succeed in school and in life. This course can help you develop the skills you need to provide these services. You will learn about how to assess students' mental health needs, develop and implement interventions to address these needs, and collaborate with teachers, parents, and other school staff to support students' mental health and well-being. Take this course to prepare for your role as a school counselor.
School Psychologist
School psychologists are responsible for assessing and treating students with mental health problems. This course can help you develop the skills you need to provide these services. You will learn about how to conduct psychological assessments, develop and implement treatment plans, and collaborate with teachers, parents, and other school staff to support students' mental health and well-being. An understanding of mental health and well-being in schools can help you thrive as a school psychologist.
Special Education Teacher
Special education teachers provide instruction to students with disabilities. This course can help you develop the skills you need to provide these services. You will learn about how to assess students' needs, develop and implement individualized education plans, and collaborate with parents and other school staff to support students with disabilities. Take this course to prepare for your role as a special education teacher and to learn more about mental health in school.
Social Worker
Social workers provide support to individuals, families, and communities. This course can help you develop the skills you need to provide these services in a school setting. You will learn about how to assess students' needs, develop and implement interventions to address these needs, and collaborate with teachers, parents, and other school staff to support students' mental health and well-being. Learn about the needs of students with mental health concerns to be a more effective social worker.
Guidance Counselor
Guidance counselors provide academic, career, and personal counseling to students. This course can help you develop the skills you need to provide these services. You will learn about how to assess students' needs, develop and implement interventions to address these needs, and collaborate with teachers, parents, and other school staff to support students' mental health and well-being. After taking this course, you will be better prepared to help students overcome academic, career, and personal challenges.
Educational Psychologist
Educational psychologists apply psychological principles to help students learn and succeed in school. This course can help you develop the skills you need to provide these services. You will learn about how to assess students' learning needs, develop and implement interventions to address these needs, and collaborate with teachers, parents, and other school staff to support students' academic success. Take this course to prepare for your role as an educational psychologist and to better understand how mental health impacts learning.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Child and adolescent psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health problems in children and adolescents. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in pursuing a career in child and adolescent psychiatry. You will learn about how to assess students' mental health needs, develop and implement treatment plans, and collaborate with teachers, parents, and other school staff to support students' mental health and well-being.
Marriage and Family Therapist
Marriage and family therapists provide therapy to individuals, couples, and families. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in pursuing a career as a marriage and family therapist. You will learn about how to assess students' mental health needs, develop and implement treatment plans, and collaborate with teachers, parents, and other school staff to support students' mental health and well-being.
Clinical Psychologist
Clinical psychologists provide therapy to individuals, couples, and families. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in pursuing a career as a clinical psychologist. You will learn about how to assess students' mental health needs, develop and implement treatment plans, and collaborate with teachers, parents, and other school staff to support students' mental health and well-being.
School Administrator
School administrators are responsible for the overall operation of a school. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in pursuing a career as a school administrator. You will learn about how to create and maintain a positive school climate, develop and implement school policies, and collaborate with teachers, parents, and other school staff to support students' learning and well-being.
Curriculum Developer
Curriculum developers design and develop educational materials. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in pursuing a career as a curriculum developer. You will learn about how to develop and implement curriculum that is aligned with state and national standards, and how to incorporate social-emotional learning into the curriculum.
Educational Researcher
Educational researchers conduct research on teaching and learning. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in pursuing a career as an educational researcher. You will learn about how to design and conduct research studies, and how to use research findings to improve teaching and learning.
Policy Analyst
Policy analysts research and analyze public policies. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in pursuing a career as a policy analyst. You will learn about how to conduct policy analysis, and how to use research findings to inform policy decisions.
Nonprofit Manager
Nonprofit managers oversee the operations of nonprofit organizations. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in pursuing a career as a nonprofit manager. You will learn about how to manage a nonprofit organization, and how to develop and implement programs that meet the needs of the community.
Youth Advocate
Youth advocates provide support and guidance to young people. This course may be useful for you if you are interested in pursuing a career as a youth advocate. You will learn about how to work with young people, and how to provide them with the support they need to succeed in school and in life.

Reading list

We've selected ten books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Providing Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Special Education Services in School.
Provides practical strategies for teaching social-emotional skills in the classroom. It valuable resource for educators who want to learn how to create a more positive and supportive learning environment for their students.
Provides an overview of brain development and how it relates to children's behavior. It valuable resource for educators who want to learn more about how to support children's social-emotional development.
Provides an overview of emotional intelligence and how it can be taught to children. It valuable resource for educators who want to learn more about how to help children develop their emotional skills.
Provides an overview of mindfulness and how it can be used in the classroom. It valuable resource for educators who want to learn more about how to reduce stress and improve their own well-being.
Provides an overview of special education and the different ways that schools can support students with disabilities. It valuable resource for educators who want to learn more about this topic.
Provides an overview of 504 plans and how they can be used to support students with disabilities. It valuable resource for educators who want to learn more about this topic.
Provides a variety of activities and exercises that can be used to teach social skills to children. It valuable resource for educators who want to learn more about this topic.
Provides a variety of strategies that can be used to manage anxiety in teens. It valuable resource for educators who want to learn more about this topic.
Provides a variety of strategies that can be used to manage depression in teens. It valuable resource for educators who want to learn more about this topic.
Provides an overview of mental health and how parents can support their children's mental health. It valuable resource for parents who want to learn more about this topic.

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