Mental Health Matters
RESOURCES FROM YOUR LMHP
Theme: Celebrating Black History Month: A Culture of Rich Lineage, Strength, and Resilience
Vol. XVI - 2/03/21
Providing Support For Campus Communities
This newsletter is designed to support the health and well-being of district employees while continuing to provide services to student and families. Each bimonthly edition will highlight tips and resources for staff and showcase some district happenings.
As we face new and existing challenges this school year, the Licensed Mental Health Professionals (LMHP) are available to support students and families who are interested in receiving our assistance with complex needs. Referrals to your LMHP are most often made through campus counselors, administrators, child study teams and direct student/family referral. Visit the website to learn more about how we support. https://www.austinisd.org/student-health/lmhp
**DISCLAIMER: This newsletter contains several links to non AISD resources. AISD does not sponsor or endorse any businesses or programs. Please check websites for updated information.
Thank you Brian Joseph, local artist, for sharing this piece of artwork with the AISD community In recognition of Black History Month.
"SUPPORTING THE WHOLE EDUCATOR WHO SUPPORTS THE WHOLE CHILD"
MENTAL HEALTH INFORMATION
Honoring the Past and Strengthening the Future
Black History Month is an annual time to honor the rich culture and significant accomplishments of Black Americans throughout history as well as acknowledge shared experiences. While this is a time to celebrate and honor the accomplishments of the past, it is also a time to reflect on how a history of racial trauma, social unrest, and the current pandemic has impacted the Black community.
Mental health impacts individuals of all races and ethnicities; however, it doesn’t necessarily impact communities proportionately. It is important to acknowledge the reality that people of color have higher rates of some mental health disorders, and raise awareness to how historical and current encounters of racism have affected mental health.
Racial trauma is real and cannot be ignored. The Black community has experienced a pain -- inflicted upon them repeatedly throughout history. This was amplified during several recent events that occurred over the last ten months. The weight on this community being disproportionately affected by COVID-19, compounded by the tragic countless deaths of unarmed Black men and women, and experiences of discrimination and inequity can significantly impact a persons mental health. Even with all of these challenges, some Black people are still less likely to seek mental health care. Some barriers to seeking mental health support include: unequal access to health care, historical misconceptions, and lack of culturally competent healthcare professionals.
Despite all the very difficult and unjust situations that plague the Black community, it is evident there is also an undeniable spirit of resiliency and strength paramount to their survival. It is from this strength that members of the Black community now find themselves placing more focus on openly talking about mental health with the goal of eradicating the stigma, increasing services, and eliminating barriers to access. To learn more and find resources for support, check out 4ABHN, NAMI, and Melanin & Mental Health.
ONE LOVE
The Art of Poetry and Spoken Word
Everyone is still buzzing from the powerful performance from Amanda Gorman’s Inaugural Poem “The Hill We Climb”. Spoken word is an extension of poetry that is written for an oral performance that will engage and provoke reaction from an audience. It can contain elements of rap, hip-hop, storytelling, theater, jazz, rock, blues, and folk music.
There is a growing body of research that demonstrates how creative expression and the arts have the power to engage, inspire, heal and unite people, which is essential to a person’s mental health. Professor and music writer Robert Cataliotti once said, “Oral traditions have provided a way of remembering, a way of enduring, a way of mourning, a way of celebrating, a way of protesting, and subverting and ultimately a way of triumphing.”
On the Horizon
By Zana Muscove
On the horizon
Past the shore anew
Are the promises of hope
A fresh start for me and you
On the horizon
Just there beyond the sun
There's a glimpse of peace
For injustices done
On the horizon
Amongst the raging sea
Is the break down of division
A new bridge of unity
On the horizon
Through the darkest winter
We spring forward to action
A chance to balance and re-center
On the horizon
Beyond the scars of defeat
Is the sweat, blood and tears
That makes us unique
On the horizon
Our footprints displayed across the sky
A chance to finally catch our breath
Towards healing for you & I
Here are some links to spark your creativeness, amplify your voice, and connect with Austin’s creative community:
Lesson Plan for Amanda Gorman’s Poem
“This is Our Dream”: Crowd-sourced poem to Inspire Hope
Six Square: Austin’s Black Cultural District
AISD HIGHLIGHTS
Blazing a Trail of Innovation at Norman-Sims
Norman-Sims Elementary, a re-modernized campus on the east side of Austin, is known for honoring and celebrating diversity. With this in mind, they have gotten creative in ensuring there are still multiple opportunities for the campus to celebrate Black History Month this year.
With events for African American Heritage as well as Latinx, and Indigenous Heritage, students get to learn about others from their school community who come from diverse cultural backgrounds. Students dance, put on history programs, wear costumes, sing, and use sign language to demonstrate knowledge of various traditions being recognized. The belief that children should be embraced, and especially celebrated for who they are is certainly in action here!
The Campus leadership and support team understand students’ need for acceptance, self-expression, and affirmation. This team facilitates diverse holidays by ensuring all backgrounds are celebrated through campus-wide events and reinforcing information through the PTA Book Club, Core Guidance Lessons, and family support discussions. Kudos to Norman-Sims!
Below are examples of creative campus events happening this month:
Kick off African American Heritage with PTA Book Club “Undefeated" by Kwame Alexander.
For an icebreaker, a picture share of when we felt undefeated, character exploration and book meaning.
Zoom with African American Counselor Trailblazers.
An informal conversation between ES Counselors discussing challenges and triumphs to encourage Brown and Black families to access mental health support services.
Core Guidance Lessons: Famous African Americans in CTE
Students will learn of high earning African Americans and the importance of college and career choices for a better financial future.
African American Living Museum
Families and staff will zoom in to see their fellow peers share their look-alike, words, and actions of a chosen African American Hero or heroine.
HEALTHY LIVING
A Celebration of the Soul through Food
The genre of Soul Food was born out of the survival and resilience of African-American people and has become one of the most popular in America today.
Soul food originated in the Deep South during the Transatlantic Slave Trade when enslaved African people were given small portions "scraps" of food mostly consisting of inexpensive starches, leftovers, and undesirable cuts of meat. Enslaved people found creative ways to supplement their diets by growing their own vegetables (some with seeds brought from Africa-like okra), foraging for wild greens, hunting, and fishing.
The brilliant African-American culinary art of turning different cuts of meat and unpopular vegetables into mouth watering hearty meals soon transformed America’s view of this type of food.
Many families today celebrate with special dishes passed on over generations. Soul food is frequently found at family reunions, religious rituals and other social events in the Black community. Some of these dishes include; macaroni and cheese, shrimp and grits, collard greens, candied yams, black-eyed peas, jambalaya, gumbo, and okra.
Austin has a rich culture of Black-owned soul food restaurants. Treat yourself to some rich traditions while comforting your soul. Check out these locations:
MINDFULNESS MOMENT
Revisit and Reclaim With Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a state of being. It involves focusing on one thing, in the moment. While this may sound simple and impossible all at once, mindfulness is innate. It is in our core and embedded in our roots. We can revisit and reclaim what our ancestors held sacred -- connect with the earth, dance, move to a drum/rhythm, hold still and look into our kids’ eyes. All of this calms us, brings us back to center, our natural set point.
In this month of honoring and celebrating African American culture, it feels more important than ever to speak to ways in which we can bring ourselves into the present and pause. Historically, acts of violence and oppression have been waged against the Black community. Despite important strides for equity and community-building, our present reality has unveiled the ugly truth of ongoing hatred, social injustice, and racism against our Black brothers and sisters.
Here are some ways we can bring mindfulness into our daily experiences.
Slow down. Appreciate what is in front of you
Relax your body
Take deep breaths
Enjoy the silence
Notice your thoughts
Observe your surroundings
Move with purpose and intention
Use your voice to speak up and out
Seek connection
Embrace healing
If you are interested in beginning a simple mindful practice, here are some readily available apps and podcasts:
Down Dog (free app until 7/1/21)
COMMUNITY RESOURCES
Stronger Together
Expand your knowledge and get involved to support Austin’s Black community! Below is a sample of businesses and organizations that offer valuable services. Take a look! Make community connections, get help, and give back. We are stronger together!
Black Women in Business The mission of Black Women In Business is to unite, educate and inspire businesswomen to excel in leadership and entrepreneurship. Black Women In Business is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, that is committed to enriching lives, families and communities by providing tools for personal growth, productivity and profit. Black Women In Business is “A Movement” dedicated to a journey of self-confidence, sisterhood and success.
Black Mamas ATX Black Mamas ATX’s mission is to ensure that Black women survive and thrive before, during and after childbirth. We envision a world without maternal health disparities. Their goal is to reduce and ultimately eliminate the alarming maternal mortality and morbidity rates among Black mothers in Central Texas.
Greater Austin Black Chamber of Commerce The Greater Austin Black Chamber of Commerce (GABC) inspires, develops, and promotes Black economic success in the Greater Austin area. Community engagement and leadership opportunities to strengthen our community.
African American Youth Harvest Foundation: Focusing on underserved at-risk youth and their families, some of their services include: mentoring, youth career programs, job assistance, and community conference.
For a comprehensive list of even more community resources, please explore do512family.
WE WOULD LOVE YOUR FEEDBACK!!
PARENT ENGAGEMENT SUPPORT OFFICE
WELLBEING PORTAL
EAP DEPARTMENT HIGHLIGHT
LMHP SPOTLIGHT
Meet Zana Muscove, LMSW, who supports LBJ HS, LASA, Sadler Means MS, Barbara Jordan ES, Blanton ES, Overton ES and Winn ES!
Zana joined the LMHP team this school year and as she is a proud Alumni (Go Vikings)! She previously worked in several AISD schools where she collaborated with Communities in Schools as a SAFE Expect Respect Counselor. Over the past 12 years, Zana has provided direct services in public and private sectors in the areas of counseling, prevention education, program coordination, facilitation, community outreach, and grant management. She is most passionate about dismantling the stigma of HIV/AIDS in marginalized communities, breaking the cycles of Teen Dating Violence, racial stereotypes, and injustice, and creating educational pathways for all young people to exude self-confidence and self-love.
Zana is an Austinite, who loves her family and faith. She also enjoys creative arts, such as creative writing and dance. She often merges aspects of creative arts into her work, with emphasis on providing healthier options for youth to heal from complex trauma. Her other interests include: listening to music, playing board games and watching movies. For self care, Zana's favorite strategies are: prayer and devotion, napping and journaling.