Health and Safety
Emergency Preparedness
EP POLICY CLICK HERE
Student Health & Well Being
Free MedicAlert Bracelets MedicAlert identification goes everywhere your child goes ensuring that important medical information is accurately and clearly communicated. Elementary schools in SD #71 are part of this program. The financial support of the Government of Canada and Lions Clubs allows students to receive the MedicAlert membership for FREE. Ask for a brochure at your child's school office. http://www.nochildwithout.ca/
Anaphylaxis - POLICY CLICK HERE Is your child's Epi-pen indate? Does the teacher know where to find it?
Risk Rescue Kits are being used in the Elementary schools in Comox Valley. These are set up to contain physician's information and life saving medication for allergies, asthma, etc. They are easily taken on field trips. To view this product, here is the link: Risk Rescue Kits
Head Lice - POLICY CLICK HERE,
Eat well, Move Well Programs - CLICK HERE
Nutrition
Family Issues and Parenting
http://blogs.ubc.ca/newdealforfamilies/
Parenting Expert Dr. Allison Rees: www.lifeseminars.com
(Dr. Rees spoke at Aspen Park School in Comox on June 16, 2012 !! She is amazing. )
Fighting Student Hunger
Blessings in a Backpack: http://blessingsinabackpack.ca/
Comox Valley has soup kitchen that operate Monday to Friday. There is also a free Sunday meal in front of the Courthouse at 3:00 pm. all year around.
Cyber Safety
Children's Life Online - Avi Luxenburg's Children's Life Online about internet safety, DPAC's favourite from one of our own teachers!
Solos - Safe On Line Outreach Society presented to DPAC and SD71 in May 2008
Learn BC & Steve Dotto - protect your kids in Cyberspace with Steve Dotto
Dr. Ross Laird - Addictions and the Cultures of Technology
Facebook for Parents: The free Guide is designed to teach parents how to help their teens use Facebook safely and constructively and can be downloaded at www.FBparents.org
Document: Parents' Guide to Facebook
Safer Internet Day - On February 7, 2012, countries around the world will bepromoting safer and more responsible use of online technology and mobile phones, especially among children and young people. In Canada, the CanadianCentre for Child Protection has created a unique, one-stop Internet safety website – The Door that’s Not Locked – to help parents,teachers and anyone else with children in their lives learn about ways to keep kids safe. Visit http://www.thedoorthatsnotlocked.ca/ for more information.
BC School Fruit and Vegetable Program
Information from the Victoria Confederation of PACs weekly newsletter:
The BC School Fruit and Vegetable Nutritional Program is expanding this September with an addition of 50 k-12 schools and 25 First Nations schools. Application forms are available on-line at: http://www.sfvnp.ca/apply.php and are due by April 1.
BCCPAC's Vision of Advocacy
"BCCPAC Advocacy helps DPACs work toward this vision. DPACs are shown how to provide information and support to parents, and to promote fair, impartial, and consistent resolution of issues."
Children' Mental Health - ***This is not a complete list***
Mind Check: This website was created in order to assist young people to identify and understand mental distress they may be experiencing and to link them to sources of help that will enable them to learn skills and strategies to manage these problems. Being able to recognize early signs and finding ways to deal with them increases the chances of better long-term outcomes and positive mental health across the lifespan.
Mental health challenges and substance use problems often start in adolescence and the young adult years. http://www.mindcheck.ca/
The ABC's of Mental Health is a resource for parents and teachers. www.hincksdellcrest.org/abc
Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre: BC's Information Source for Children, Youth & Families: www.keltymentalhealth.ca
The F.O.R.C.E. Society for Kids' Mental Health: As a "Parent in Residence", I am available to parents of children and youth with mental health concerns (ranging from anxiety to psychosis) and can act as a guide through the health and school systems. At the FORCE, each of the 15 provincial reps has had the lived experience of a child with mental health concerns so we know the challenges and the stigma. We act as non-judgemental support, advocates and navigators for parents dealing with the overwhelming situations they find themselves often facing, from dealing with Independent Education Plans to finding professional care to 'just listening' - probably one of the most important things we do.
There is no fee for this service and we are highly respected in the areas we serve. The FORCE is new to the Comox Valley so it is likely not known to you although has existed for over 12 years. Please check out our website for more information.
My intention as your local resource for the FORCE is to connect with parents in your region to inform them this is available - at no fee. From my experience as a parent, because of the fear, stigma, guilt and many other barriers, parents are hesitant to seek help. We want to help these families to become stronger and healthier.
Fiona MacInnes
Parent in Residence, Nanaimo, Vancouver Island
The F.O.R.C.E. Society for Kids' Mental Health
Corporate Address: PO Box 91697, West Vancouver, BC V7W 3P3
email: fiona@forcesociety.com
phone: 604-878-3400 As families, we've been there'
Colleen Clarke is the new FORCE respresentative for Comox Valley. Contact information to follow.
Information for Parents on Youth Gambling: www.bcresponsiblegambling.ca
A humorous video about the development of the human brain in the teen years.
What makes us healthy?
www.cchn.ca/links.shtml We are healthy (or not so healthy) due to our social status, income, literacy, education, development in infancy and childhood, physical environment.....Access to health care just one aspect of what makes us healthy. EDUCATION is important for so many reasons....
Family Resources in the Community
Mental Health Resouces available to Comox Valley Residents
The F.O.R.C.E. Society for Kids' Mental Health; http://www.forcesociety.com/; Comox Valley rep is Colleen Clark
Christine Middleton, B Ed, BA (CYC) ~ Suicide Prevention Presentation Facilitator; 250-650-1607 (cell)
Helpline for Children: 310-1234 (no area code needed)
Safe, Caring and Orderly Schools: A Guide (BC Ministry of Education, 2008)
Youth Against Violence Toll free line: 1-800-680-4264 This is a safe, confidential way for youth to pass on information to prevent fights, receive assistance with harassment, bullying and sexual assault, and leave information about drug and criminal activity
Vancouver Island Crisis line 1-888-494-3888 - - Helps families sort out where to turn to next. 24/7
Comox Valley Girls Group - is celebrating its 15th year in the Comox Valley. We run 4-6 groups per year (Winter, Spring, Fall) in 2 age groups: 11/12; 13-15. Groups run after school weekly for 8-12 weeks. Most groups operate out of Comox Valley Transition Society, #202-576 England Avenue. Other community locations are utilized at times. Our website is www.comoxvalleygirlsgroup.com Also on Facebook.
www.hincksdellcrest.org The ABCs of Mental Health provides two free, web-based Resources - one for teachers and one for parents – to help answer these questions. The Resources include ideas for promoting the mental health of children and adolescents, information about how children change as they get older, descriptions of behaviours that might indicate a problem, and practical suggestions for steps to take.
www.teenmentalhealth.org/ - a site specifically about how the teenage brain works. Tons of resources, including information about the importance of SLEEP, Dr Suzuki's "Surviving The Teenage Brain" (Nature of Things), anxiety, mental disorders, and much more !
www.mindcheck.ca/ - has information about substance use, moods, stress
www.forcesociety.com Comox Valley has a representative serving families and youth; Colleen Clarke provides confidential information and support, and promotes children and youth mental health.
www.keltymentalhealth.ca/ BC's mental health resource for children, youth and families.
August 23-24, 2012 Conference: The 3rd annual Summer Institute will bring together teachers, school counsellors, school support staff, school administrators, district staff, parents, students and school community partners to exchange knowledge and ideas about how to build school connectedness and improve student mental health and well-being.
www.mooddisorders.ca/program/check-up-from-the-neck-up - a site that provides an online quiz so that you can help evaluate your own mental health.
Educational Resources for Home
www.letstalkscience.ca Lets talk science is an award-winning, national charitable organization. Established in 1993, by Bonnie Schmidt, PhD. Click on the Families Tab.
Math sites via the Navigate Website: http://sites.google.com/site/mymathsites/
Khan Academy: http://www.khanacademy.org/ Learn almost anything for free!
Online Family Resources
www.EducationPlanner.ca - search engine, plan post-secondary pathways. Learners can compare undergraduate and apprenticeship programs offered through BC
Children's Life Online Essential Information for all Parents! Concept, design, structure and content by Avi Luxenburg, one of our own secondary school teachers.
www.witsprogram.ca A program that is used in SD 71. Helps elementary school children deal with bullying and peer victimization. Aimed at K - Grade 6. Offices are in Victoria.
www.rocksolid.bc.ca A charity that helps deliver the WITS program to schools in B.C. Focused on conflict resolution and violence prevention.
http://www.kidsinmind.com/ Teachers and parents can look up a movie and see rating for the amount of profanity, nudity, violence, etc.
www.commonsensemedia.org American Website for Media information - so that families can have a choice and a voice about the media they consume.
K - 12 Curriculum in B.C.