What is a SELS?Social Emotional Learning Specialist

Many people ask: What is a social-emotional learning specialist? To students, I answer "I am here to help your head and heart to get to graduation, and make sure nobody walks alone." And, my more formal answer would be: my role is to provide universal and targeted supports to students and families to help them acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions (Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)). Through universal and targeted activities, I help Chatfield Chargers learn and develop competencies that include knowledge, skills, and attitudes that affect the quality of students' interactions with one another and their ability to adapt to and successfully navigate the complexities of daily life.

At the high school level, and as a building-based position, we are targeting a number of activities: Sources of Strength as a universal intervention for prevention suicide, improving mental health, reducing risky behaviors, and building positive climate. At CSH, I also conduct targeted groups (with 10-20 students in them) during access on topics such as anxiety, mindfulness, dealing with depression and trauma, grief, and more. I also provide wellness workshops (one-time trainings) for students and staff in classrooms, PD, and during access or lunch.

At CSH, I work with classroom teachers, coaches, and community partners to bring skills and competencies to our students and community. I do this through individual interventions, targeted groups, drop-in workshops and events, classroom and evening parent activities. For a list of community events upcoming, please check out tinyurl.com/SELSevents. Have questions? Feel free to call me at 303-982-3921 or email drarich@jeffco.k12.co.us.

As a result of House Bill 2019-1120 and the SELS role being a universal behavioral health support, all students can access the support of a SELS at Chatfield with no formal referral or permission being required.