Students, families and educators at Fairview Elementary School in Normal are getting increased behavioral health support funded by a McLean County Health Department grant.
The Baby Fold — a nonprofit and community partner to the school already — will use the roughly $12,000 for regulating student behavior.
Baby Fold Manager of Prevention and Early Intervention Laura Beavers said many children still feel emotional imbalances — or dysregulation — that became apparent during the pandemic. The grant will primarily fund training centered on how educators and a child's caretakers can help the child better regulate their emotions.
“We don't want to just work with teachers," she said. "We want to also work with families so that everybody has the same information — that we're all in that same boat rowing that same way."
When applying for the grant, Beavers said the Baby Fold found research suggesting this approach is best for the children and families.
The Baby Fold's therapeutic specialist and consultation supervisor Kelsey Kercheval is providing training to Fairview. Kercheval said initiating self-regulation for kids can be difficult.
“A lot of it is starting with the adult being regulated, but then giving them the tools to move through that with the student and … to be that source of comfort and strength for the student as they are dealing with these big emotions,” she said.
Baby Fold’s Lead Community Care Coordinator for Fairview Elementary School Rebecca Kinsey said there are a lot of emotions swirling at Fairview, and there have been since the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We're all adjusting to being back in school, and what we're seeing at Fairview it’s not — it’s certainly not unique to Fairview,” she said. “It's kind of what we're seeing nationwide.”
Kinsey said she was excited when the grant was announced because it fit Fairview’s values as a community school. Community schools are public schools that partner with their neighborhood communities to address student needs.
Since 2013, a Lead Community Care Coordinator has been at Fairview, addressing the four pillars: expanded and enriched learning time opportunities, active family and community engagement, integrated student support, and collaborative leadership practices.
There has been one training session so far and more will be scheduled in the coming months. Kinsey said they’re still determining the scope, but the goal is to have some training catered to each grade level because different ages require different instruction.
The first session was introductory for staff. Since then, surveys have gone out to determine what training staff feel would benefit them and their students.
Trainings are set to stop at the end of the year, as funding is limited to around $12,000.
In November, Kinsey will help lead a wellness event for families. She said the focus is to teach caretakers some tips and tricks for dysregulation.
“Some strategies to use as a parent, when you aren't at school, when maybe you aren't at home where you have calming spaces. When you're at Walmart when things just go very overwhelming, something you can use in the moment,” she said.
Kinsey called it a “healthy minds, healthy bodies” event.
Of the roughly $12,000 grant money, Beavers said around $5,000 will go toward sensory supplies for students. There will be calming areas in classrooms, a quiet room and a motor-sensory area.
Kercheval said the motor area will have stimulating items for students who need them. This will be helpful for kids who have trouble sitting still at a desk, she added as an example.
“If we have a kiddo who really struggles to sit through class and maintain attention, some of what the staff might do is utilize that space, go into that space, get some movement in,” she said.
Some money will also be set aside for teachers to purchase their own supplies.
