Our Integrated Student Supports and Wellness Services aim to foster a holistic approach to student well-being. Our department offers a comprehensive range of programs and support services to districts and school communities, focusing on enhancing the physical, mental, and emotional health of students. For additional information about our services view our
brochure. To make a request please contact Christine Henninger at
[email protected].
We invite you to click on the image below to explore our latest newsletter and to click the links on the side bar for helpful tips and information.
Relationship Smarts Program (Formerly known as Teen Pregnancy Prevention)
Our Integrated Student Supports sexuality education program is grounded in the Developmental Assets Model. This evidence-based curriculum not only meets state mandates but also emphasizes essential topics such as healthy relationships and effective communication. By fostering critical skills, we empower students with the tools and knowledge they need to make informed decisions, set boundaries, navigate reliable sources of information, understand peer influence, and develop assertive communication skills.
Family Engagement Series
The Integrated Student Supports and Wellness Team is kicking off the year with an exciting array of program offerings. In collaboration with Mentor and Morley libraries, we are launching a new three-part Family Engagement Series that will explore important topics such as Early Literacy, Bullying, and Chronic Absenteeism.
Youth-Led Prevention- Our Youth-Led Prevention Program is exactly as it sounds. Youth telling adults what issues they
face, and advocating for their ideas on how to fix them. The adult leader or allies’ role is to help guide the process of identifying the problem, determining the capacity to change the problem, developing solutions, implementing ideas, and
even evaluating the impact of their solutions.
Digital World- Our Digital World program helps children grow to become happy, healthy, and successful adults.
The ESC of the Western Reserve, with the support of Geauga Job and Family Services, has identified a need to address the developmental, social, and emotional impact of the digital world on youth, their relationships, and their future.
- This program is geared towards grades 6-8.
- The program focuses on safety, digital vs. interpersonal relationships, and social media’s impact on mental health.
- The program is a total of one to three classroom sessions.
Family and Community Partnership Liaisons- Family and Community Liaisons are employees of the ESCWR who work with school districts to assist school staff, students, and their families. It is the liaison’s role to serve as a link between families and schools and to broker community resources that offer a network of support. Click
here to learn more.
Sources of Strength Suicide Prevention- Ohio law requires districts to provide education in suicide prevention. Sources of Strength is a national wellness program for middle and high schools that uses a team of Adult Advisors and Youth Peer Leaders to influence their community through the power of connection.
This program is geared toward staff, students, and parents.
We’re excited to introduce Kindland to our ESC of Western Reserve schools and partners! Kindland is your all-in-one resource for fostering a culture of kindness in your school, and it’s at ZERO COST! After registering as a Kindland school, you will receive a “starter kit” that is packed with engaging activities, lessons, and tools that will inspire students and staff to lead with kindness and spread kindness throughout your school. From Validation Cards to Acts of Kindness challenges, the provided materials make it easy to integrate kindness into daily school life and create a more supportive, connected community. Sign up at
https://www.viafdn.org/kindland-school-programmingMark your calendars for the Kickoff for Kindness event on February 6, 2025! This exciting event will inspire students across the nation to embrace kindness and feature the announcement of the winners of the Kickoff for Kindness Video Contest. Plus, the event will launch the start of the next Kindness Games, a program designed to bring your school together by challenging your staff and students to do and recognize the most acts of kindness.
Connect CLE: Collaborative Learning Environment- The ESC of the Western Reserve was invited by the Prevention Action Alliance to oversee the Northeast Ohio Regional Learning Collaborative of the Ohio Youth-Led Prevention (YLP) Network. The goal of YLP in Ohio is Youth Empowerment “ the ability of youth to influence the social and political systems that affect their lives." The goal of the Northeast Ohio RLC is the expansion of quality/evidence-based Youth Led Prevention Programs across all 16 counties in Northeast Ohio and to collaborate on common regional problems using the Youth-Led Model.
Peer Mentoring- High School mentors participate in an interactive, hands-on Mentoring Training, where they learn what being a peer mentor is all about. Mentors learn about relationship styles and the type of leader they are and train on how to develop a peer mentoring relationship with their mentees, communication and active listening skills, how to handle sensitive topics, and activities they can use as mentors!
Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Program- Our two DFC Programs are federal grants that support increasing mental health and decreasing substance use/misuse within Berkshire Local Schools/Cardinal Local Schools in Geauga County and multiple schools within Lake County. The DFC coalitions are comprised of 12 community sectors to address data regarding the areas of mental health and substance use.
Creating Caring Communities- Our Creating Caring Communities Program collaborates with a variety of community
service agencies and schools to implement evidence-based strategies to directly address school needs identified through data collection.
NOTE: The site is partially under construction.