Resources to Support Wellbeing and Connectedness

The external resources below are not endorsed by the Colorado Department of Education. They are included here to help district and school leaders identify and evaluate options for supporting student and staff wellbeing and connectedness.

Connectedness

• Adolescent Connectedness
• Fostering School Connectedness from the CDC describes strategies and actions school administrators, teachers, and school staff can take to increase school connectedness.
• How a Diverse School District Is Using a Strategy Usually Reserved for ‘Gifted’ Students to Help Everyone Overcome COVID Learning Loss
• How ‘Empathy Interviews’ Help Us Cope with COVID
• School Connectedness from the CDC provides links for several fact sheets.

Family Support

• COVID-19 Resources for Schools, Students, and Families
• Ten Positive Behavior Support Strategies to Support Families at Home

School and District Policy

• Online Learning for Students with Disabilities: Considerations for LEA Policies, Practices, and Procedures (PDF)
• Roadmap to Reopening Safely and Meeting All Students' Needs (PDF)

Students Who are English Learners

• Providing Services to English Learners during the COVID-19 Outbreak
• Distance Learning: Challenges Providing Services to K-12 English Learners and Students with Disabilities during COVID-19

Students Who are Gifted and Talented or Twice-Exceptional

• Soothing the Souls of our Gifted Learners
• Twice Exceptionality: A Resource Guide

Students with Disabilities

• Center on Online Learning and Students with Disabilities
• COVID-19 and Special Education: Colorado Department of Education
• Distance Learning: Challenges Providing Services to K-12 English Learners and Students with Disabilities during COVID-19
• Evidence-based practices for Students with Severe Disabilities
• School Leadership for Students with Disabilities

Wellbeing

• CDE - Wellbeing and Connection During COVID-19
• How Teenagers Can Protect Their Mental Health During COVID-19 gives adolescents strategies for dealing with emotions and making connections.
• Parenting in a Pandemic offers tips to "keep the calm at home."
• Social, Emotional, and Cultural Anchor Competencies from the Center for Reaching and Teaching the Whole Child (CRTWC)
• The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) provides ideas about Helping Children Cope with Changes Resulting from Covid-19

CDE Contacts

CDE staff provide resources, tools, and training on a variety of wellbeing and connectedness topics. Information is accessible in several ways including on the CDE website, during telephone/video office hours, and through email/phone conversations.