ACKNOWLEDGE ALLIANCE

THE RESILIENCE CONSULTATION PROGRAM, SERVING K-8 SCHOOLS, PROVIDES A UNIQUE APPROACH TO HEALTHIER SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTS, IMPROVING SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL) COMPETENCIES AND REDUCING THE IMPACTS OF MENTAL HEALTH FOR SCHOOL LEADERS, TEACHERS, AND STUDENTS. THE WORK WE DO WITH THIS POPULATION INCLUDES TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL SUPPORT THROUGH ONE-ON-ONE COACHING, TRAININGS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, CLASSROOM OBSERVATIONS; 3RD - 8TH GRADE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL) LESSONS; AND STUDENT COUNSELING. MANY OF THE SCHOOLS WE SERVE ARE UNDERPERFORMING WITH A LARGE MAJORITY OF THE STUDENTS ON THE FREE OR REDUCED MEAL PLAN. STUDENTS MAY BE FACING ADVERSITIES SUCH AS EXPERIENCING EARLY CHILDHOOD TRAUMA INCLUDING DEVELOPING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, LIVING IN HOME ENVIRONMENTS WITH STRESS AND ANXIETY, AND EXPERIENCING POVERTY, HUNGER, AND STRESS THAT EACH INHIBITS A POSITIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE.ACKNOWLEDGE RESILIENCE PROGRAM STAFF, COMPRISED OF A TEAM OF MENTAL HEALTH AND EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS, MEET WITH TEACHERS IN THEIR CLASSROOMS AND PRINCIPALS TO OFFER SUPPORT AND IMPLEMENT WAYS TO MAKE SCHOOL A HEALTHY, POSITIVE PLACE. OUR DIRECT WORK WITH EDUCATORS HELPS THEM DISCOVER THEIR UNIQUE STRENGTHS IN THE PROFESSION AND PROVIDES THEM WITH THE TOOLS TO WORK WITH STUDENTS IN AN EMPATHIC, EFFECTIVE, AND STRENGTH-BASED WAY. 95% OF THE TEACHERS WE SERVE ARE EXPRESSING POSITIVE CHANGE: "ACKNOWLEDGE STAFF HELP US WORK THROUGH OBSTACLES & CHALLENGES THEY MAY BE FACING REGARDING EVERY ASPECT OF STAFF-STUDENT RELATIONSHIP."SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL) IS THE FOUNDATION OF SUPPORT NEEDED TO ACQUIRE THE SKILLS FOR LIFELONG EFFECTIVENESS. IN EDUCATION, SEL CREATES A SUPPORTIVE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT WHERE STUDENTS ARE RESPECTED, CARED FOR, AND CONNECTED. THE RESILIENCE PROGRAM INCLUDES SEL CURRICULUM FOR ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL TO TEACH STUDENTS HOW TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE EMOTIONS, MAKE RESPONSIBLE DECISIONS, ESTABLISH MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS, AND ACHIEVE GOALS. OUR STAFF FACILITATES THESE LESSONS TO THE ENTIRE CLASSROOM, INCLUDING THE TEACHER, TO MAKE IT A COLLABORATIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AND SUPPORT THE EDUCATORS' SEL SKILLS. RESEARCH LINKS SEL TO IMPROVED ATTITUDES ABOUT SCHOOL, ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, AND REDUCTIONS IN AGGRESSION, MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS, AND SUBSTANCE USE.TEACHERS, NEXT TO FAMILY, SPEND THE MOST TIME WITH YOUTH AND CAN HAVE AN INCREDIBLE INFLUENCE ON THEIR LIVES. ACKNOWLEDGE ALLIANCE HELPS MAKE THIS HAPPEN, CHANGING LIVES IN A POSITIVE WAY. THIS PROGRAM SERVES 20 SCHOOLS IN SAN MATEO AND SANTA CLARA COUNTIES, IMPACTING 412 TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, AND ADMINISTRATORS, AND OVER 10,000 STUDENTS.

THE COUNSELING PROGRAM FOR AT-RISK AND UNDERSERVED MULTI-CULTURAL YOUTH AT BEECHWOOD SCHOOL IN SAN MATEO COUNTY SERVES STUDENTS WITH COMPLEX TRAUMA, FACING SIGNIFICANT LIFE ADVERSITIES - VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC AND COMMUNITY VIOLENCE, POVERTY, RACISM, AND UNDIAGNOSED LEARNING AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. OUR LICENSED MFT PROVIDES ON-SITE (AND TELEHEALTH) MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING. OUR UNIQUE LONG TERM THERAPY MODEL IS STRENGTHS AND RELATIONSHIP-BASED AND PROMOTES SELF-REFLECTION AND INTERNAL CHANGE THAT LEADS TO POSITIVE OUTCOMES. WE BELIEVE IN THESE YOUTH, AND THEIR ABILITIES TO GROW AND THRIVE. WE HOLD HIGH EXPECTATIONS OF THEM SO THEY, IN TURN, WILL BELIEVE IN THEIR ABILITY TO SUCCEED. THROUGH CULTURALLY SENSITIVE, TRAUMA-INFORMED INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY SERVICES, WE FOSTER PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF SKILLS NECESSARY FOR YOUTH TO SAFELY PROCESS TRAUMA AND ONGOING ADVERSITIES AND BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD IN THEIR LIVES.THE YOUTH WHO RECEIVE OUR COUNSELING SERVICES GAIN INSIGHT INTO HOW THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCES DRIVE THEIR THOUGHTS, FEELINGS, AND BEHAVIORS; LEARN TO REGULATE THEIR RESPONSES TO EMOTIONAL STIMULI; BECOME MORE EMPOWERED TO SPEAK UP AND ADVOCATE FOR THEMSELVES APPROPRIATELY; DEVELOP INCREASED TRUST AND THE ABILITY TO CHOOSE HEALTHIER RELATIONSHIPS; IMPROVE THEIR SCHOOL ENGAGEMENT; FIND COMPASSION FOR THEMSELVES AND EACH OTHER; AND EXPERIENCE RENEWED HOPE AND A GLIMPSE OF A FUTURE WITH NEW POSSIBILITIES. WITH OUR SUPPORT AND SERVICES.