Social and emotional learning (SEL) gives children the tools they need to feel more safe, secure and confident. This helps them grow, mature and become more successful in school and their daily lives.

Here you’ll find school-based resources to support the physical and mental health, behavioral and emotional needs of your child and family.

Supporting School Success For Your Child

Whether your child will be learning with us in school or off-site/remotely, this start of school will be unlike any other. Here are some ways you can help support your child before and during the school year. 

Source: Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Read more tips for a successful start to the school year at the CDC website.

• School will look and feel different this year (e.g., desks/work spaces will be further apart from each other, face coverings will be required, teachers and other staff will be staying at a physical distance, lunch and other breaks may be happening right in the classroom.) Talk with your child before school starts about what they might expect. Our principals and teachers have included many of these details in their welcome letters to you and will be taking time at the start of the school year to help orient students to the new way of doing things. 
• Check-in daily with your child about how school is going and about interactions with classmates and teachers. Learn how they are feeling about their new school setting and routine and reassure them that you, their teachers and school staff are ready to help them work through any uncomfortable feelings they may be having.
• Changes in your child’s behavior may happen. Watch for changes like crying or irritation, excessive worry or sadness, unhealthy eating or sleeping habits, difficulty concentrating, which may be signs of your child struggling with stress and anxiety. Reach out to your child’s teacher or school social worker or counselor for support.
• Try to attend school activities and meetings. Our schools may offer more of these virtually. As a parent/caregiver, staying informed and connected may reduce your feelings of anxiety and offer a way for you to express any concerns you may have about your child’s school. But, you don’t have to wait for scheduled meetings to reach out to your child’s teacher, principal or support team. We’re here at any time to talk with you and help make school work well for your child. 

Calming Corner 

Take a tour around these virtual Calming Corners, created by Capital Region BOCES School Social Workers Lisa Ash and Jennifer Coso, filled with simple and fun ways to work a little relaxation and calm into your child’s (or your own!) days. Click on the items you see to link to activities to try: 

Calming Corner for Older Children/Teens:

Family Emergency Support and Counseling Resources 

24/7 Crisis and Mental Health Support

Children, families and adults experiencing emotional and/or behavioral crisis.

• Northern Rivers – 518-292-5499
• Suicide Prevention Hotline – 800-273-8255 or call 911
• NYS COVID-19 Emotional Support Hotline – 844-863-9314

Grief Support Services

No cost support is available for grieving children, aged 3-17, who may have experienced the death of a family member or friend due to natural causes, illness, suicide, homicide or accidents. 

• Community Hospice – 518-724-0200 or www.HospiceGriefServices.com

24/7 ChildHelp National Child Abuse Hotline

Reach a professional crisis counselor who—through interpreters—provides assistance in over 170 languages 24/7 in the U.S. and Canada. All calls are confidential. Services include crisis intervention, information, and referrals to thousands of emergency, social service, and support resources.

• 800-4-A- CHILD or 800-422-4453 or ChildHelp Hotline Website

National Domestic Violence Hotline

Advocates are available 24/7/365 to talk or text confidentially with anyone experiencing domestic violence, seeking resources or information, or questioning unhealthy aspects of their relationship. 

• 800−799−7233 or Domestic Violence Hotline online

COVID-19 Resources 

The following resources were compiled by our School Support Team. 

• Talking to Kids About the Coronavirus
• Helping Kids Manage Anxiety Around the Coronavirus
• Talking to Children About Coronavirus: A Parent Resource  
• Bereavement and Grief: Coping With Loss
• Talking to Children About Tragedies & Other News Events
• Helping Children Cope with Death, Loss and Grief: Tips for Teachers and Parents 
• Considering Stress and Trauma During the COVID-19 Pandemic – Implications for Administrators, Teachers, Parents and Families