Building Better Bulldogs: A 4-H Partnership to Build a School Culture of Social Emotional Wellness
4-H and Youth Programming
Jami Dellifield
Family and Consumer Sciences Educator
Ohio State University
Kenton
Abstract
This session will highlight the Better Bulldogs Mental Health Education Project (BBBMHEP); a collaborative effort between OSU Extension Hardin County and Ada Schools to create a culture of social emotional wellness. The Ada community has faced an increased amount of trauma, including the tragic deaths of three students and an increase in documented suicide attempts. School administrators realized a need for a culture shift in the district that prioritizes social-emotional wellbeing. School administration reached out to OSU Extension to meet this need. BBBMHEP includes annual Youth Mental Health First Aid® certification training for all new staff, Teen Mental Health First Aid® certification training for all Sophomores, a six-week in-school special interest 4-H Club for all 8th graders using the national peer reviewed Your Thoughts Matter 4-H project, and a six-week in-school special interest 4-H Club for all 6th graders using the national peer reviewed Your Feelings Matter 4-H project. Three hundred and thirty-four students of the 876 students in grades K-12 have participated. School administration, counselors, and faculty have noted a shift in student willingness to discuss mental health and engage in critical conversations to help others.
Research from the National Council of Wellbeing shows that youth who receive education on mental wellbeing and have at least one caring adult outside of their nuclear family are less likely than their peers to develop mental health disorders. The BBBMHEP is a model partnership between 4-H and a school district to provide those protective factors and have a positive impact on school cultures. Replication of the program in additional school districts can shift the culture of an entire county or community. The program has built trust between 4-H and the schools, opening the door for expanded programming both in school and afterschool.
This session will be a combination of presentation-style teaching, group discussion, and hands-on activities. Session participants will leave with tools to replicate the program in their own communities. Session objectives: Provide an overview of BBBMHEP; Share successes and lessons learned; Share impact stories; Provide resources for program replication; explore modifications for community clubs and afterschool programs.
Authors: Jami Dellifield, Amanda Raines
-
Jami Dellifield Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University, Ohio, 43326
-
Amanda Raines 4-H Youth Development Educator, Ohio State University, Ohio, 43326