Resources for Promoting Resilience and Building Protective Factors During Times of Stress

In our current public health crisis, we have the potential for high levels of stress among adults and students, and we know that the economic impact and potential for grief and loss could create prolonged impacts on our community. It’s important for educators to prioritize our own wellbeing so that we can continue to be present for students in the weeks and months ahead. We again encourage staff to seek out resources to assist in your own coping, including the Employee Assistance Program. You might also try this simple, research-based strategy, which can help teachers experience greater happiness and positively impact your work and relationships.

Southeast Polk families will be impacted by this pandemic in a variety of different ways, and our students will not all respond in the same way due to their different circumstances. While we can’t control many of our students’ risk factors, we can enhance some protective factors that lead to resilience. We have the opportunity to help students grow their adaptive coping skills so they are better equipped to handle not only our current situation but future adversity in their lives.

The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard lists four primary factors observed in the contexts of children and adolescents who are able to cope with adversity:

1. The presence of at least one supportive adult relationship 
2. A sense of self-efficacy and perceived control over circumstances 
3. Emotional self-regulation skills 
4. Connection to a source of hope, faith, or cultural tradition 

Your connections with students is the factor that matters most. While it’s challenging to connect right now, any contact you can make with students, whether through emails, videos, phone calls, or virtual class meetings, make a difference. When we reach out, we show students we care, and we can share messages of hope. It is critical that students, especially those with more risk factors, hear and understand that our current situation is temporary. It will not be like this forever.

Here are some additional ways to promote resilience:

1. Encourage students to look for 3 positive things each day or examples of compassionate action in our community or world, and share these examples on a class Padlet. 
2. Remind students that social distancing is a choice we are collectively making to protect each other. While many things are out of our control, we can choose to stay home to do our part. Point out student strengths, and brainstorm together ways they can use those strengths to help their friends, family, and community. 
3. Share resources that promote positive coping strategies. Greater Good in Education from UCBerkeley has a variety of online-friendly social-emotional learning activities and class meeting suggestions divided by grade level and topic. 

The resources and support you have been providing to parents also help build healthy environments for students. This video for parents gives suggestions on how to talk to kids about traumatic events. Please share with parents if you find it appropriate for your grade level.

Thank you for all of your efforts to support your students in managing these difficult times.