Resources

Community Resources & Mental Health

Below is a list of various community and mental health resources.  *Disclaimer- This is merely some information to assist you. Lakeland School District does not endorse any specific practice or practitioner.  You will still need to verify your insurance coverage with the agencies. * For a more comprehensive directory please visit your insurance provider's website and search the online provider directory.* 

Community resources:

• • • Kootenai County Mental Health & Community Resource Guide: Contains various, local resources.

    • 2-1-1 Idaho Care Line: A division of the Department of Health and Welfare.  It is a free information and referral service.  Dial 2-1-1 or 800-926-2588.

    • North Idaho Connections: A directory of North Idaho resources, made possible by Kootenai Health.

    • North Idaho Services Directory: A directory of North Idaho resources that are added and updated throughout the year.

    • Community Action Partnership: Provides programs and assistance with employment, housing, utilities, and food.

    • Live Better Idaho: A division of the Department of Health and Welfare.  It is a resource that connects individuals to services such as finance, healthcare, food and nutrition, childcare, work, education, and more.

    • Rathdrum Food Bank:  Food assistance for eligible families.

Crisis resources:

• Idaho Crisis and Suicide Hotline: Call 800-273-8255, text 208-398-4357, or chat online.

• Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call 988

• Crisis Text Line: Text Home to 741-741

• North Idaho Crisis Center: Specialists are available to discuss crisis situations and resources.  Located at 2195 Ironwood Court in Coeur d'Alene, or call 208-625-4884.

• Kootenai Behavioral Health: Located in Kootenai Health Hospital.  Located at 2003 Kootenai Health Way in Coeur d'Alene.

• Children's Behavioral Health: A division of the Department of Health and Welfare.  Provides mental health services and programs for children and their families.

Bullying

Bullying behavior is repeated, on purpose, and there is a power imbalance.  Our safety curriculum utilizes the sequence of "recognize, refuse, report", which can also be used to respond to bullying. 

If you or your child think bullying behavior is happening, please report it.  As school staff, we will always and immediately investigate and intervene, but we first need to know that something is happening.

Coping & Calm Down Skills

Students learn and practice coping strategies primarily during classroom counseling lessons, but also during group and individual counseling sessions.  Coping skills are learned in conjunction with the Zones of Regulation (see below).  We read books, play games, role-play, participate in stations, and more- all in order to practice and reinforce various coping skills. Calming strategies include, but are not limited to:  deep breathing, count to 10, talk to someone you trust, listen to music, use positive self-talk, use a stress ball, use play-dough or thinking putty, take a walk, get a drink, take a break, color or draw, stretch, exercise, write in a journal, etc.  There are many, many different coping strategies and they can look different for each student; students will prefer certain strategies over others.

Emotional Regulation

Our district utilizes the Zones of Regulation program to teach students emotional regulation and strategies.  Through the Zones we learn to categorize feelings based on intensity and level of control.  We then learn about appropriate coping strategies to get us back to a more comfortable level (the Green Zone).  

I teach the Zones in the shape of a thermometer, with slower moving feelings at the bottom, and feelings getting progressively bigger and more out of control as we move up the thermometer.  It's important to remember that all the Zones are okay, and we go in and out of different Zones throughout the day.  However, the Green Zone is the most comfortable and it's where we learn best.  In order to get back to the Green Zone, we utilize our appropriate coping skills (see above). 

• • • More About the Zones of Regulation

Grief & Loss

Below are some helpful websites in helping you and your child deal with grief and loss.  Grief/loss is a common topic I work with students on, both individually and in small groups depending on the need.  Grief/loss can take many forms ranging from the death of a family member or pet, to moving and leaving behind friends and comfort.  If I can help you or your child through the grief process, please reach out.

• • • Tips for Supporting Grieving Children

    • The Dougy Center- The National Center for Grieving Children and Families

Listening & Learner Skills

In the younger grades, we teach and then practice foundational listening skills- eyes watching, ears listening, voices quiet, bodies still, and brains thinking.  Additional learner skills include being able to focus, using positive self-talk for learning, and using assertiveness. 

McKinney-Vento

McKinney-Vento is a homeless assistance act.  Below is the Lakeland School District pamphlet explaining more.

• McKinney-Vento Pamphlet 

Personal Safety

A personal safety unit is taught during classrooms lessons.  Some of the topics we cover include the steps to staying safe- "Recognize, Refuse, Report", the "Always Ask First Rule", safe/unsafe/unwanted touches, assertiveness, trusted adults, and more.  Before teaching these lessons, I always send home a district-wide permission letter.  Below is a link to the Second Step Child Protection Unit, which is the board approved curriculum Lakeland School District elementary schools use to teach personal safety.

• • • Curriculum

      • • Second Step- Child Protection Unit

Problem Solving & Conflict Resolution 

We use the Second Step curriculum to teach problem solving skills.  We use the acronym "STEP" to teach the process of problem solving.  In addition, we also use a problem solving wheel.  This helps to give problem solving and conflict resolution options, when students may not be able to think of them on their own.  If students are unable to solve the problems on their own, or if the problem keeps continuing, the next step is to always report to an adult for help.

School-Wide Expectations

We call our school-wide expectations are:

• • • Be respectful

    • Be responsible 

    • Be safe

Section 504

Section 504 is a civil right statute that protects students with disabilities so that they can adequately access their learning and school environment.  Below is the Lakeland School District pamphlet explaining more about Section 504.

• • • Section 504 Pamphlet