Discussion about entry: Best Self Series: The Elijah Foundation School Enrichment Services
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This is discussion about Best Self Series: The Elijah Foundation School Enrichment Services.
This is discussion about Best Self Series: The Elijah Foundation School Enrichment Services.
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This is a really impactful initiative, especially since we’ve never heard of books written to raise issues around mental health awareness at such an early age. We would really like to learn more about the partners you’re working with and if you’re partnering with organizations that look at early prevention. Are you working with any other organizations that are helping develop modules with teachers? Also, are you building a network, or is this being done on your own? We believe that this is a sustainable initiative, but we wanted to also hear about your plans to deal with different issues. As the generations get older, how will the organization change and adapt? Thanks for a great entry!
- Naveen Shakir, Ashoka’s Changemakers
Thank you Naveen for reading our entry. We have a very diverse Board of Directors that keep us plugged-in to community efforts involving children. We are also networking with the National organizations for Mental Health (DBSA, NAMI, NIMH). There are no other organizations that are currently helping us with our modules, but the special education teachers that are on our board are assiting in the development of these modules. Our network is growing with our involvement in the mental health conferences both national and international.
Our organization develops stories and programs for children coping with many Life Challenges. We are currently working on books and programs for Asthma and Diabetes. Our list of topics is approximately 70 issues long. As the generations get older, we plan to provide more diverse resources including chapter books, board games, video games and essay contests to hear from our clients. We want to know what they are struggling with and what resources have been the most helpful.
I am so glad that you enjoyed our entry and look forward to answering all of your questions.
-Sharon Liddle, The Elijah Foundation
I think this is a really neat idea. I'm interested in the concept of providing friendly and comforting ways to discuss life's challenges, mental illness or otherwise, with children. I think it's great you are continuing to develop books for additional illnesses. Good for you for coming up with a way to meet this need!
I notice in your entry you focus on the bipolar disorder book/lesson plan you created and wider dissemination of it. Why is that? I'm just trying to think of numbers here and how many children in a given school might be afflicted with BPD. Do you think a school district might be more receptive to the idea if you went in offering an overall program on coping skills that could be helpful to ALL students, and then underneath that you offered additional support on specific disorders if needed, if students within that student population are affected? Or has your experience been different? Or is this presentation only for affected children?
Have you also thought about extending your work outside of school offerings to parenting programs and parent support groups? It seems like a neat way to help parents who may, as you note on your website, have difficulty answering questions and finding the right words to communicate with their child about their illness, whatever it may be.
Finally, have you worked with experts in each illness who have reviewed the material in each book? I'm wondering whether school districts outside of your area who are considering adopting your curriculum would want to see that the material you have created has somehow been reviewed or endorsed by outside experts in the disorders on which each book focuses as well as child development experts (aside from the people within your organization).
Keep up the good work!
Katherine Stone, Postpartum Progress, http://postpartumprogress.typepad.com
Thank you Katherine. We started with Bipolar Disorder because it was our first signature book from our company. Like I mentioned, we will be integrating many topics in to the curriculum to enrich the classrooms on all of Life's Challenges. Our approach will be one of educating everyone in the classroom about each topic and teaching empathy for fellow students, self-esteem skills and coping mechanisms for all who may experience any challenge regardless of the specific topic on hand. We will be addressing one topic at a time but embracing all challenges. We have spoken to a few parent groups and hope to expand that area. I have had 2 radio interviews which has broadened my reach nationally. Our book shave been reviewed and continue to be reviewed by schools, libraries and professionals in the field. The curriculum is still new and being introduced. The few schools we are working with are thrilled to have this enrichment brought into their classrooms. I really appreciate your support. - Sharon Liddle, The Elijah Foundation
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