Belmont Wellness Coalition News

Spring 2024

Recap: YRBS Presentations

Over the past several months, the BWC Leadership Team, together with students from Student Mental Health Advocates (SMHA), presented 2023 YRBS data highlights to the Belmont Wellness Coalition, Belmont School Committee/School Department, Belmont Select Board, and Middle and High School parents via the Speaker Series.

To view the presentation to the School Committee click here.

BWC will continue working with the School Department to identify ways to support the Belmont youth based on the findings from this data.

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Maeve presenting YRBS highlights.

Other Recent Events

Belmont Wellness Coalition has been very busy offering and attending workshops and educational events to various groups in town! Below are some highlights:

1. Mental Health 101 for Parents and Youth: In January, BWC leadership team Lisa, Wendy, and Maeve, shared information to parents and youth of Belmont's LDS community on the basics of supporting positive mental health in youth, identifying warning signs of a mental illness, overwhelming stress as a risk factor, and positive coping strategies

2. Belmont High School Pre Prom Event: This past April, the BWC presented to BHS Senior and Junior students as well as caregivers (almost 500 people tuned into the webinar!). Lisa and Wendy provided guidance on the Social Host Liability law, strategies for parents on how to talk with kids about substances, refusal skills aimed at youth to support them in avoiding substance misuse, and the basic principles around consent.

3. Protecting your Growing Brain from Nicotine, Alcohol, and Marijuana: Also in May, Lisa and Maeve presented to Scout Troop 304 concerning the impact of substances on developing brains and offered strategies on how to refuse substances by building positive coping skills. The Scouts asked great questions and seemed really engaged!

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4. W2B2: Belmont is part of a Massachusetts Department of Public Health cluster grant alongside Brookline, Waltham, and Watertown. Together, these communities have been working in partnership to support and encourage youth to make positive choices. Members from each of the community’s youth-serving organizations convened in April to discuss ways to engage with young people and their parents. Topics explored include: providing education and messaging on helping youth identify trusted adults, informing youth about the risks of using substances during adolescence, and boosting youth perception of belonging in their communities.

5. Belmont Connects: Lisa represented Belmont Wellness Coalition at the Belmont Connects event held in May. This event was sponsored by the Democratic Town Committee and the Belmont Human Rights commission to give community organizations a space to gather, network, and meet with community members.

Bingo, the Police Department’s comfort dog, was on the scene meeting and greeting Belmont residents! He made a lot of new friends.

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Lisa at Belmont Connects.

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Bingo!

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BHS Youth Group-Student Mental Health Advocates

Members of Belmont Wellness Coalition's youth group, Student Mental Health Advocates (previously Student Ambassadors), wrapped up their twice monthly meetings for the 2023-2024 school year. Alongside faculty advisor, Guidance Counselor Ms. King, Maeve and the students have worked on:

-Highlighting mental health resources available to students and connecting students to their guidance counselors.

-Mental Health Tiers of Support view here

-Guidance Counselor Resources view here

Trusted Adults of the Month: SMHA started a new initiative in May, Trusted Adults of the Month, to boost positive news at BHS and highlight staff who offer safe and supportive relationships for students. Each month, two to three staff members will be selected from student nominations to be highlighted as the Trusted Adults of the Month. Read about May's recipients below!

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Anthony Valentine Comes to Belmont

With the generous fiscal support from the Belmont Youth Activities and D.A.R.E., Inc. and administrative support from the BWC, Anthony Valentine, author, director/writer, and youth motivational speaker, provided four assemblies to Belmont youth in grades 5, 6, 7 and 8. Anthony connected with over 1,000 students through these four assemblies and also engaged with kids during school lunches to spread awareness and messaging on kindness, positive relationships, and social identity.

To view the recap video of these assemblies click here.

Parenting Group

BWC's Parenting Group meets monthly during the academic year and offers parents a safe and supportive place to explore, discuss, and share strategies on parenting pre-teens and teens. Lisa and Maeve facilitate the group and offer guidance as well as resources related to each month's topic.

New Resources

BWC has added some new resources to its website:

Sexual Violence: How to Respond, Offer Support, and Next Steps

Trusted Adults and Teens

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Belmont Media Center Videos

Lisa and Maeve work together to create twice-monthly, prevention-centered educational video segments with assistance from Joanna Tzouvelis, News Director, Belmont Media Center.

View the latest videos segments here:

Appearance: Top Stressor for Youth

Having Difficult Conversations with Other Parents

What to Do if Your Child Experiences a Sexual Assault

Trusted Adults

HPV Vaccine

Talking with Kids about a Parent's Chronic Illness

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About BWC

Belmont Wellness Coalition (BWC) is a committed cross-section of Belmont parents, youth, school, town, and community representatives that work to promote healthy choices and positive decision-making among Belmont youth. BWC coordinates efforts to prevent and reduce youth substance misuse in Belmont through evidence-based education and prevention efforts. Coalition members meet monthly during the academic year.

BWC Leadership Team: