Suicide Prevention Trainings Posted for School Staff this Spring

The Maine Suicide Prevention Program (MSSP) and NAMI Maine are offering a series of training opportunities for the school community over the next two months. If you have not developed or revised your suicide prevention and management protocols for your district, this may be the last chance to train a team from your school district before the deadline of June 2020. These trainings are all funded through the MSSP and offered at no or little costs.

The trainings offered during March and April include:

Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training: Multiple Dates and Locations

This day-long training prepares school personnel for their role as a suicide prevention resource for their school community. Though a non-clinical training, it provides the basic information and resources to identify risk and engage in an intervention to connect a student to appropriate help. Each district is required to maintain a minimum number of Gatekeepers based on the size of their student body. The requirement is at least 2 Gatekeepers, and for districts with more than 1,000 students, an additional person for every 500 students. It is recommended to have a Gatekeeper in each school building.

Advanced Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training for School Personnel: Multiple Dates and Locations

The Suicide Prevention Gatekeepers must renew their training at least every 5 years. Those who were trained in the foundational Gatekeeper Training 5+ years ago are due for renewal. This session offers an opportunity to deepen your knowledge and skills in suicide prevention for school personnel renewing their training.

Suicide Prevention Protocol Development Training: Multiple Dates and Locations

The process of developing a school or district protocol managing suicide prevention, intervention and postvention requires several conversations with personnel across a district. This 5-hour workshop offers an opportunity for a small team from the district to get started on the process. Training includes templates, model forms and added resources to support your efforts.

Non-Suicidal Self Injury management in a school setting: March 10, 2020

Non-suicidal self-injury is the direct, deliberate destruction of body tissue in the absence of suicidal intent. It has been on the rise over the past decade There is significant connection between self-injury and suicide risk that must be understood and addressed. This training will review demographics, risk factors and warning signs of self-injury as well as recommendations for assessment, intervention and management of self-injury in a school setting.

Collaborative Safety Planning in a school setting: March 24, 2020

Best practice recommendations for addressing and managing suicide risk include use of a good assessment tool for determining risk and guiding intervention. A vital next step is the collaborative development and use of a Safety Plan to help an individual to manage themselves during and following periods of crisis. A Safety Plan is a tool and a process for working with a student and family to identify and increase the use of coping skills, social and family support and professional resources. It is an excellent tool for use with anyone at risk for escalating crisis. This session will provide the tools and process for implementing safety planning for supporting students at risk in Maine schools

Suicide Prevention Training of Trainers (to learn to present the required suicide prevention staff training):

All school staff across the district are required to attend a 1-2 hour Suicide Prevention Awareness Session. The TOT session is for school staff who are Gatekeepers and offers them the support and access to the materials to support their delivery of the staff awareness sessions for their school or district. Plan to send at least 2 staff!

The full range of training dates and registration links are available through the suicide prevention Training Calendar at NAMI Maine.

MEDIA RELEASE: Maine Launches Innovative Bicentennial Curriculum Initiative; An Opportunity 200 Years in the Making

The Maine Department of Education (DOE), in collaboration with the Maine Bicentennial Commission (maine200.org) and the Maine Historical Society has launched an online resource designed to help Maine teachers integrate Maine’s Bicentennial into their classrooms. The Bicentennial Curriculum Initiative enables educators to share their own lesson plans, download lesson plans created by other Maine teachers, and access new curriculum resources and primary documents related to Maine, its history, and culture.
This Initiative is supported by funding from Jane’s Trust and the Maine Bicentennial Commission.

Available through the Maine Memory Network, the statewide digital museum created by the Maine Historical Society features historical items, online exhibits, and stories contributed by 270 organizations across Maine, the Bicentennial Curriculum Initiative is a resource designed to encourage and support Maine’s pre-k through adult educators in sharing ideas and best practices for implementing engaging and effective lessons to commemorate Maine’s Bicentennial with Maine students. Educators are invited to visit the Bicentennial Education Initiative web page to search by grade level, topic, content area, standard, and other fields for incredible ideas on how to commemorate our State’s Bicentennial with students of all ages.

Today’s launch of the Bicentennial Curriculum Initiative opens the site for your contributions. Please consider uploading a lesson plan, browse the initial lesson plans that have been added to the site, and explore extensive Maine history content. Check back frequently: the site will grow throughout the year and become a permanent resource for teachers.

To submit a lesson plan, educators can visit mainememory.net/lessons/submit to complete a simple submission template, and then upload additional resources. Once uploaded, lesson submissions will be reviewed for completeness and then placed on the Bicentennial Curriculum Initiative web page, where other educators from across the state can access them.

Educators who participate by sharing resources will have their names entered into a random monthly drawing (February 2020 – December 2020) for $400 in cash for use in their classrooms. Participants for this program are intended to be public and private school educators for grades pre-k to 12, Career and Technical Educators, Adult Education Instructors, and Post-Secondary Instructors.

By participating in this unique collaboration, not only are you are setting the stage for present and future Mainers to learn more about our great state, you can also share and learn from the collective brain of educators around Maine.

For more information or to ask questions about the process, please contact Kathleen Neumann kneumann@mainehistory.org.

Maine FFA State Officers Attend Maine Agricultural Trades Show

Pictured: Maine FFA State Officers Ava Cameron (Secretary-Treasurer), Graham Berry (President) and Camryn Curtis (Vice President) stand above the many agricultural organization displays for the 2020 Maine Agricultural Trades Show.

Student State Officers of the Maine FFA Association—formerly known as “Future Farmers of America,” with name changed simply to “FFA” to reflect increased diversity in agriculture including horticulture, natural resource management and other areas—participated in the 2020 Maine Agricultural Trades Show at the Augusta Civic Center on January 14^th & 15^th.

Maine FFA State President, Graham Berry, State Vice President, Camryn Curtis, and State Secretary-Treasurer, Ava Cameron, toured the many displays showcasing organizations and growers involved in Maine agriculture. Accompanied by their State FFA Advisor, Doug Robertson, from the Maine Department of Education, student Officers were impressed by the extent of agricultural entities and opportunities. They also attended the Commissioner of Agriculture’s Luncheon, with guest speaker Governor Mills, as well as a legislative reception hosted by the Maine Potato Board, and held a meeting for interested students from prospective Maine FFA chapter Maine Academy of Natural Sciences, Hinckley.

Maine’s State FFA Officer team was pleased to see in attendance at the Trades Show representatives from so many of their active sponsors including the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Maine Agriculture in the Classroom, Farm Credit East, Johnny’s Selected Seeds, Maine State Grange, Hammond Tractor, Maine Beef Producer’s Association, and many others.

Maine FFA provides leadership trainings, competitions and awards to students grades 7 to 12 enrolled in courses related to agriculture and natural resources, including science courses with practical applications through school gardens and greenhouses. Maine FFA is affiliated with the National FFA Organization, the largest youth leadership organization in the United States.

For more information on establishing a local FFA chapter, please contact: Doug Robertson, Maine Department of Education, doug.robertson@maine.gov (207) 624-6744.

Maine FFA State Officers visit grant supporting organization, Maine Agriculture in the Classroom (Program Assistant Kelsey Fortin in center)

Maine FFA State Officers visit with Jameson Little, Credit Analyst at Farm Credit East, a major Maine FFA sponsor

Governor Mills speaks on importance of Maine agriculture at the luncheon hosted by Maine Commissioner of Agriculture, Conservation & Forestry, Amanda Beal

Maine FFA State Officers meet Craig Flood, Research Technician and Amy LeClair, Charitable Giving / Outreach Coordinator, at display for Johnny’s Selected Seeds

Maine DOE Launches Culinary Video Series to Support School Nutrition Programs

The Maine Department of Education (DOE), in collaboration with the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry, recently launched two sets of videos to help support Maine school nutrition programs around the state. Links to the two sets of videos are available below:

Farm to School Videos – showcase the partnerships between farms and schools in an effort to grow the Farm to School movement.
Culinary Videos – assist school nutrition professionals in scratch cooking and utilizing local products. The videos can help build culinary skills in a variety of areas such as fruit and vegetable preparation, food safety, time management, and using local ingredients in school recipes.

The Team plans to continue building the video series by incorporating Maine dairy and seafood, among other proteins, in school recipes as well as other educational videos in the near future.

The Department would like to extend a special thank you to the people who made these videos a success:

Chef Samantha Gasbarro (Consultant)
Mike Flynn (School Nutrition Director for RSU 12)
Alisa Roman (School Nutrition Director for Lewiston Public Schools)
Chef Heidi Parent (Culinary Arts Instructor from Capital Area Technical Center)
Josh Girard (Girard Farm)
Kelby Young (Olde Haven Farm)
Trent Emery (Emery Farm)
Ryan Roderick (Chef and Wellness Coordinator for RSU 14)
Justin Deri (School Garden and Greenhouse Manager from Falmouth Schools)
Martha Poliquin (School Nutrition Director, Falmouth Schools)

In addition to the videos, the Child Nutrition Team also offers in-person and webinar trainings. The next culinary training will be on February 21^st and will be geared towards new and trending school breakfast ideas. Check out all their training opportunities in the Child Nutrition calendar, you can also stay up-to-date on child Nutrition news by joining the Child Nutrition email list.

All of the the videos are available on the Maine DOE’s website here: www.maine.gov/farmtoschool. For more information about the Farm-to-School Program, please visit this website.

50+ School and District Leaders Come Together to Enhance Student Support and Instructional Practice

Collaboration and support was the primary focus of three recent technical assistance session held in Ellsworth, Brewer, and Augusta between 50+ school and district leadership teams and the Maine DOE ESEA Federal Program team members.

During the half day sessions, the 100+ participants worked alongside DOE staff, including school leadership coaches, to explore innovative approaches to leveraging federal funds through blending and braiding of ESEA Federal Program allocations, school-wide authority, and additional Title I school improvement funds to supplement and enhance current student support and instructional practice.

“We had great turnout, great conversation, and enthusiasm at these meetings and we are encouraged as we move forward,” said Janette Kirk, Maine DOE Chief of Learning Systems.

Maine Youth Action Network Offering Free Trainings Focused on Youth Engagement, Social Emotional Learning, and more!

For the 2019-2020 academic year, Maine Youth Action Network (MYAN) is hosting 26 free Continuing Education Trainings that are focused on Youth Engagement, Social Emotional Learning, and more. Each of these trainings are free to attend, offer CEUS, and provide lunch.

Transforming Knowledge into Action

Participate in a learning cohort with other emerging leaders in the youth engagement field. This three-part series provides participants with train-the-trainer content on youth mentoring best practices, engagement & retention strategies, and youth facilitation strategies. You’ll leave with training materials, strengthened skills, and deeper connections to other youth workers in your community.

This series follows a cohort model. Over the course of the three trainings, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with a consistent community of professionals in your field to share strategies and challenges, build connections, and develop new skills to take back to your work.

For those unable to commit to a cohort, each training will be offered individually in the Augusta area:

Emerging Best Practices of Youth Prevention

Join the MYAN team for a three-part series focused on leveraging prevention best practices to effectively engage youth within our communities. Learn the neuroscience behind why scare tactics miss the mark in adolescent brains, strategies for directly involving youth in prevention-focused research, and how to grow and sustain lasting, supportive relationships with any young person.

For those unable to commit to a cohort, each training will be offered individually in the Augusta area:

Two-Day Intensive Workshops

Join us for four certificate based training programs designed to offer in-depth and youth-focused learning opportunities for Maine adults. Learn advanced facilitation skills, how to help adolescents through mental health challenges, incorporate restorative based practices into everyday work with youth, and learn how to navigate differences in culture and identity along with their impact on youth engagement.

Youth Mental Health First Aid
Bangor Feb 25-26 – Bangor Registration
Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.

Advanced Youth Facilitation Skills
Portland Jan 28-29 – Portland Registration
Bangor Feb 11-12 – Bangor Registration

Fill your toolbox with activities, skills and facilitation strategies intended to grow your practice working with youth groups. Learn the skills to help groups solve complex problems, leverage diverse points of view, practice social-emotional skills and build engaging sessions for your team.

Practicing with a Restorative Lens
Bangor Mar 3-4 – Portland Registration
Portland Mar 24-25 – Bangor Registration

Are you incorporating social emotional learning into your teaching practice? Working with colleagues to build a trauma- or healing-informed approach? Join fellow educators and youth facilitators in layering a restorative lens onto youth engagement practices. Workshop participants will explore restorative frameworks, build foundational skills, and strategize opportunities to promote restorative approaches in relationships and communities.

For further information visit the MYAN Continuing Education web pages or contact MYAN.

Keep Kids Moving, Keep Kids Learning!

During these cold winter days of cabin fever in the classroom, we want to support educators with resources to keep kids moving and engaged. Evidence suggests a positive impact of physical activity on academic achievement and in reducing behavioral challenges. Active recess time, physical education classes, and utilizing action-based learning strategies in the classroom can all be part of the regular school day.

We share the following as a resource.

Programs to explore

Healthy Kids Healthy Futures: Staff can learn about the benefits and best practices of physical activity in child care and early education (including pre-school) settings. Physical activity habits learned in early childhood can last a lifetime.

Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program: This guide is for schools and school districts to develop, implement, and evaluate comprehensive physical activity programs. School-age youth should participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day, and schools have a significant role to play in helping students achieve this recommendation. This guide will help schools identify how to establish more active school environments.

Let’s Go: Let’s Go! is a childhood obesity prevention program found across Maine and in Mt. Washington Valley, New Hampshire. These programs use evidence-based strategies to increase healthy eating and physical activity among children from birth to 18. The foundation for change is the 5-2-1-0 healthy habits message, developed in Maine and recognized nationally.

Explore Physical Activity: School staff can learn about the five components of a comprehensive school physical activity program and how this new national model can support a culture of physical activity at your school.

I Can Do It (ICDI): The “I Can Do It” program is a strategic physical activity program for students with disabilities in the K-12 school setting designed to provide access, equity, and facilitate and encourage opportunities for students with disabilities to be physically active for 60 minutes a day.

Specific Class Motor Break Ideas

Classroom Exercise Breaks for Elementary Students: Classroom exercise break suggestions for elementary school classrooms.

Reading: Literacy and movement suggestions to engage middle school students in acquiring knowledge. The suggestions require minimal materials and teacher preparation.

Scholastic Teachers: Suggestions for combining both exercise and movement in early childhood classrooms across the content areas.

Math: quick physical activity games: Movement suggestions to engage students while improving number sense.

Physical Activity Math Games: A list of possibilities for supporting kinesthetic learners during mathematics instruction.

Classrooms in Motion : A review resource hub for teachers committed to infusing movement into their instructional plans.

For more information or to share ideas, contact Jean Zimmerman, Health and Physical Ed. Consultant, at Jean.zimmerman@maine.gov or 207-624-6687.

Reminder: Register for Maine School Winter Wellness Summit on Jan 31

Life is Good, Wellness Makes It Better! The goal of the Winter Wellness Summit is to prepare and empower participants to create healthy, positive and safe schools for all school personnel and students by promoting policies and environmental practices that support healthier schools, improve personal health and well-being, and enhance academic achievement.

When: Thursday, January 30 and Friday, January 31
Where: The Samoset Resort, Rockport, ME
Audience: Any Individual and/or Wellness Team interested in tools and resources for supporting the health and well-being of Staff, Students and the School
Communities
Cost: Early registration until Dec 27 – $125/person*
Regular registrations after Dec 28 – $145/person *

~~ Contact Hours Awarded ~~

*Morning refreshments and lunch both days and dinner Thursday evening included in all registrations.

Sessions will address Physical-Emotional-Mental-Social-Spiritual & Occupational
dimensions of health with a special emphasis this year on Mental Wellness for all!

Engaging Workshops on Personal Wellness Practices
Programs & Leadership Skills
Action Planning
Positive School Environments
Wellness Exhibit Expo
Worksite Wellness Program Planning

Check out info on the two outstanding keynotes, Murray Banks and George Manning along with up-to-date details and a draft agenda for the 2020 Maine School Winter Wellness Summit on the Maine DOE Website’s Employee and Student Wellness web page.

Time is built into the schedule to practice taking care of YOU and to network with colleagues and professionals from across the state who value schoolsite health promotion and wellness.

DON’T MISS THIS AWESOME PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY!
Join us for the first Winter Wellness Summit, a component of the Maine Schoolsite Health Promotion Program, a program of the Maine Department of Education!

Register here for the Winter Wellness Summit

Accommodations:

Accommodations are on your own, but we have secured a block of rooms at an excellent rate at The Samoset Resort for the State per diem rate of $122 prior to taxes for Single/Double Occupancy. Please note that in order to be tax exempt you must bring documentation.

To book a room at The Samoset Resort:
1 – Click on this link: The Samoset Resort (Do not call for reservations)
2 – Enter the date(s) of your reservation, have a credit card ready
3 – Ignore the next two dropdown buttons
4 – Click on the SEARCH button
5 – Proceed with instructions
The last day to book from the block of reserved rooms is Friday, December 27, 2019.
After December 27, the rate will be honored if rooms are still available.

For more information and questions contact Susan Berry, Maine Department of Education Health Education and Health Promotion Coordinator at 207-624-6695 or susan.berry@maine.gov.

School-Based Services Training Survey, Due December 31.

In partnership with our colleagues at Department of Health and Human Services(DHHS), we are asking special education directors to complete a brief survey regarding MaineCare, so we can better tailor professional development for special education providers.

MaineCare will be proposing a new section of the MaineCare Benefits Manual, Section 106, School-based Services. We anticipate the rule will go into effect July 1, 2020. To help ensure successful implementation of this rule, MaineCare is offering a series of trainings to school district personnel, agencies, and any other stakeholders who would like to know more about what health-related services may be billed to MaineCare through this new section of policy.

We are asking all school-based services providers to complete a survey regarding training needs. The survey results will allow MaineCare to provide access to support and resources, and adequate training prior to implementation.

In-person trainings will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis, and grouped geographically whenever possible. Because there are over 200 school districts and hundreds of stakeholders who need training, we will do our best to meet the needs of your staff. Preference will be given to current MaineCare providers. We will also provide two online, self-directed MaineCare Basics trainings, along with an updated MaineCare in Education Pre-Implementation Training Guide for Providers, which will be posted and available on the day that the new Section 106 policy is legally adopted. The online MaineCare Basics self-directed trainings will be prerequisites for individuals attending the in-person training.

Please complete the School-Based Services Training Survey by December 31, 2019. Please, only one response per agency or school administrative unit. One of the questions asks you to identify the number of staff in need of each of the training courses offered. Please refer to the Section 106 Policy Guides, Presentations, and Training document for the training descriptions on the MaineCare in Education webpage.

Please contact Trista Collins with questions.

Trauma Informed Readiness and Response Workshop

The Maine Department of Education would like to send one last reminder that the applications for the Trauma Informed Readiness and Response Workshop are due Friday, December 20, 2019.

From the competitive pool of applicants, 65 teams will be selected for an interactive workshop with their team of three. The day will be focused on Trauma Informed Practices and Culture, with the outcome of each team developing their own plan, or Road Map, that will help guide their schools. Selected teams are eligible for mileage reimbursement and stipends for any substitutes needed for this event. As this event is slated to reach capacity, unfortunately, only teams of three can participate so that we can maximize the number of school teams.

Trauma Informed Readiness and Response Workshop Agenda

8:00 – 8:30 Registration / Coffee

8:30 – 9:00 Welcome and Introduction

9:00 – 10:00 Trauma Informed Perspective and School Culture

Outcomes: Shared language and understanding of Trauma Informed Culture and best practices.

10:15 – 10:30 Break

10:30 – 10:45 Trauma Informed Readiness and Preparation Road Map Overview

Outcomes: Using an existing understanding of Multi-Tiered System of Supports to employ Road Map in identifying Trauma Informed practices and needs.

10:45 – 12:00 Using the Road Map w/ School Teams

Outcomes: Teams will employ Road Map tool to capture existing supports and their relationship to an overall Trauma Informed Culture for their specific school.

12:00 – 12:45 Lunch with Keynote

12:45 – 1:30 Report out from individual groups

1:30 – 3:00 Using the Road Map w/ School Teams

Outcomes: Teams will develop a practical overview of Trauma Informed Culture for their school that will outline concise steps in the form of a unique Road Map. The Road Map they develop will be a tool to help guide their school in continuing the process towards implementing Trauma Informed Perspectives.

3:00 – 4:00 Closing Reports Out

APPLY NOW!