The following is an additional list of information and resources you may find helpful. This list is continuously updated and is NOT exhaustive.
FISD /FMS Community Resources
Williamson County Community Services
The Georgetown Project hp://www.georgetownproject.org/
The Caring Place hp://www.caringplacetx.org/
Lone Star Circle of Care hp://www.lscctx.org/
Department of Family & Protective Services hp://www.dfps.state.tx.us/ Texas Health & Human Services hps://www.yourtexasbenefits.com/ssp/SSPHome/ssphome.jsp Texas Bapst Children’s Home hp://www.childrenatheartministries.org/TBCH-Home Safe place (domesc/sexual abuse) hp://safeplace.org/
211 (like 411 but a free call) hps://www.211texas.org/cms/
Immigrant Services hp://www.immigraonadvocates.org/nonprofit/
American Gateway (legal services for new Americans) hp://www.americangateways.org/ Texas Foster Care hp://texasfosteryouth.org/
Suicide Hotline hp://www.suicideprevenonlifeline.org/
Out Youth serves the Central Texas LGBTQIA (lesbian/gay/bisexual, transgender) youth hp://outyouth.org/
Camp Agape (Bereavement Camp for Children) hp://www.campagapetexas.org/ Georgetown Housing Authority hp://www.georgetownha.org/
Bluebonnet Trails Community Services (MHMR)
24 Hour Crisis Hotline: 1 (800) 8411255
www.bbtrails.org
Services:
Mental Health Services
Developmental Disabilities Services
Early Childhood Intervention
Substance Abuse Services
Autism Services
Disaster Services
Bridges to Growth is now offering several support initiatives for families:
Lowcost Counseling to deal with issues affecting family communication and relationships, Suzanna Meyer, LPC. For an appointment, call Bridges at (512) 864 3008.
Free Parent Hotline, Call (512) 8643008 if you would like to talk to a parent educator regarding behavioral or developmental issues with your young children. Ask to speak with the parent educator and provide your name and telephone number and she will call you back.
Starry Counseling Services
STARRY’s goal is to be a beacon of light for children, youth and families in the midst of crisis, no matter how big or small. STARRY’s counselors, direct care workers, and case managers guide their clients and residents towards the hope of a better tomorrow. Through our community services, clients are empowered to build their confidence and see the positive changes that they can make in themselves.
http://childrenatheartministries.org/STARRYHome
Additional outside agency resources:
Austin Child Guidance Center:
Provides individual and small group therapy for children, adolescents and families, parenting workshops. Private insurance and Medicaid accepted.
www.austinchildguidance.org/
Community Resouces and Services:
Dial 211 www.unitedwaycapitalarea.org/
Hospice Austin:
Grief counseling, Camp Braveheart for children ages 6 -17 who have lost a loved one (free service). www.hospiceaustin.org/
Safeplace:
Domestic Violence Support (free service). www.austin-safeplace.org/
STARRY:
Crisis intervention, individual and group counseling (free service). www.starryonline.org
Texas Abuse Hotline at 1-800-252-5400:
For situations requiring immediate response. You can report non-emergency situations via secure website at:
www.txabusehotline.org
This website is only for reporting situations that do not require an emergency response. An emergency is a situation where a child, adult with disabilities, or person who is elderly faces an immediate risk of abuse or neglect that could result in death or serious harm.
PfISD 504 / Child Find Notice
Texas State University:
Free Youth Counseling in their Round Rock Campus contact Dr. John Beckenbach at (512) 716-4250
Wonders & Worries:
Support services for children and families coping with serious illness (free service).
www.wondersandworries.org/
Helpful Tips & Useful Links
Below are numerous topics that may be of concern as your child goes through the elementary years. You will find strategies and articles about each of the topics. As always, please feel free to contact Ms. Sepp if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child!
Helpful Parenting Information
Information about a variety of topics that may come up at the elementary level
Fun Way to Start a Family Chat at Dinner
ADHD/Focusing
Parenting the Child with ADHD
ADHD Parenting Tips
4 Ways to Help your Child Focus
There are many ways parents can help a child exhibiting symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder such as
Providing consistency by following predictable routines for getting ready for school, homework, play, bedtime, etc.
Model and practice appropriate organizational skills and help your child maintain
their organizational systems
Help your child use large monthly calendars for planning after-school activities and when tests and assignments occur
Use timers as a visual reminder for your child when they need to complete a task
Give specific, concise directions to your child in positive ways (phrase directions as what do you want to happen rather than what you don't want to happen)
Help practice problem solving skills with your child
Give your child a chance to practice using appropriate social skills
Help your child make healthy food choices
Use encouragement and positive reinforcement
Anger Management
All About Anger for Kids
Learning to manage anger is an important life skill that needs to be taught to and practiced by all students. Discussing and modeling appropriate ways you as parents handle anger is a great way to help kids managing their own anger. There are many ways you can practice managing anger with your child, including
Take a break (moving away from what makes you angry)
Do a physical activity (shoot hoops, do jumping jacks, or run the track)
Take deep breaths
Count to 10
Squish Play-Doh
Color your feelings
Write your feelings in a journal entry, story, or poem
Read a quiet book to yourself (When Sophie Gets Angry is a good one!)
Positive self-talk (I can control my anger...)
Anxiety
Tips for Parents and Caregivers of Anxious Children
It is normal for every person to have some amount of anxiety from time to time, but when anxiety begins affecting your child's school and home functioning, there are many things you can do to help your child in addition to possibly consulting a mental health professional.
Listen to your child's worries and fears and remind them that they are not alone and that other kids have worries too
Help children address their concerns and if they are not realistic, help them see the truth
Help your child gradually ease into new situations that may cause anxiety and provide encouragement when they are in these situations
Practice relaxing including deep breathing, counting to 10, visualizations (taking a pretend field trip to the relaxing beach or a peaceful meadow), and listening to calming music
Encourage structured play dates or extracurricular activities if your child has an anxious temperament
Promote your child's independence and build on their strengths
Bullying Prevention
Information and Videos on Bullying Topics
We work hard to prevent bullying at our school but we also want our students to be prepared and know what to do if bullying occurs. At our school we teach Stop, Walk, and Talk, a strategy where students learn how to handle bullying behaviors.
STOP: First, students are taught and role play how to appropriately and assertively request another person to stop bothersome or hurtful behavior.
WALK: If this does not work, we train on how students can remove themselves from the situation.
TALK: If this does not work, the last step is to talk to an adult. We take this very seriously and want all of our children to feel listened to and safe at school.
The curriculum can be found at www.pbis.org. Parents can help by reinforcing Stop, Walk, and Talk by discussing the strategy and practicing it at home as well as listening to your child's concerns about possibly bullying behaviors and sharing your concerns with your child's teachers.
College and Career
Information about preparing children for college
Information about saving for your child's college fund
Career interest inventory for kids
Even though your child is still in elementary school, it's never too early to start talking about college and career! There are many ways parents can help children create a college-going culture!
Talk about your education and career
Discuss a variety of other careers so your child knows there are many options out there
Talk about your child's college and career goals
Introduce your child to colleges and after high-school training programs by visiting websites together
Encourage your child to do the best they can now in order to prepare for the future and develop his or her strengths
Conflict Resolution
Article about conflict resolution
Conflicts are a part of our lives every single day and because of this, we want our students to develop conflict resolution skills to help in these situations. There are many choices your child can make when in conflict in order to gain a win-win solution. You can help your child role play and decide when to use the following choices when in conflict:
Talk it out (use an inside voice)
Say "Please stop"
Walk away and stay away
Ignore...don't react
Cool off (count to 10, take deep breaths)
Say "I'm sorry"
Share or take turns
Use an I-message (I feel ____ when ____ and I need ____.)
Have a Peer Mediation
Developing Self-Esteem
Ways to Help Develop Your Child's Self-Esteem
Every parent wants a happy, healthy child with a strong sense of self-esteem and self-confidence. Here are some ways parents can support and grow their child's self-esteem:
Choose your words carefully and make sure to provide encouragement for your child
Model positive self-esteem and positive self-talk
Create a positive home environment where students feel safe and loved
Allow your child to become involved in cooperative activities such as volunteering for the good of others in order to feel good about themselves
Help your child give others compliments and make others feel good in order to trigger positive feelings amongst themselves
Divorce/Separation
Resource for Children and Families Going Through Divorce/Separation
Because lots of things will be changing in your child's life, try to keep things as consistent as possible for your child; routines = stability = safety
Listen to your child's feelings and make sure they know it's okay to share their feelings
Refrain from speaking negatively about the other parent in front of your child
Allow kids to only have to worry about "kid worries"
When kids ask questions, tell the truth in age appropriate ways
Make sure your child is not the "middle man"
Remind your child that he or she is very loved and never has to choose one parent over the other
Grief and Loss
Resource for parents for helping children cope with grief and loss
Losing a loved one can be extremely hard for individuals of any age. Below are a few ways you as parents can support your children through this difficult time
Understand that children cope with death differently and may have a range of reactions (including emotional shock, regression, acting out and explosive emotions, and questioning) depending on their developmental level
Answer your child's questions and help them understand what happened with truthful, developmentally appropriate responses
Allow children to grieve and tell their story, listen and validate their feelings, and show extra love and care
Understand that grief is a process and allow it to happen as the child needs
Realize that as children move into new developmental stages, they begin to understand the loss in a new way and may need extra support
Be aware of your own need to grieve as a parent; adults who get help working through their grief are much more able to help their child through the grieving process
Homework Hints
Homework Tips for Families
To help ensure your child finds success with homework, there are many things you can do to help! In addition to modeling getting your own work done in a timely fashion and modeling organization, you can help children in many other ways such as
Allow your child to re-energize themselves after school by taking a break, having a snack, or playing a game before beginning homework
Create a routine for homework each night using the same time and place each day
Encourage children to use planners to stay organized with assignments
Have a set place for homework like a big desk with all necessary materials available such as pencils, paper, books, and calculators; make sure the area is free of distractions
Sometimes a break may help with concentration during homework time
Internet Safety/Cyber-bullying
Information on internet safety and cyber-bullying
There are many ways you can help keep your child safe when using the internet, including
Discuss internet safety with your child
Monitor your child's internet activity by making sure they use a computer that is in a common area such as a family room rather than a child's bedroom
Remind your child to never share personal information (name, address, phone number, school, etc.) with anyone on the internet and never to agree to meet anyone on the internet
Do not allow your child to enter private chat rooms
Making Friends
Article about Helping Your Child Make Friends
Every parent wants their child to have friends, and if this is an area your child needs help with, there are many things you can do to help, including
Give your child many chances for socialization, including joining an after school club or an extra-curricular activity
Schedule play dates with friends from the neighborhood or friends from school
Role play meeting a new child with your child, greeting each other in a friendly way and making conversation
Practice partaking in conversation with your child and other social skills
Model for your child how to be a good friend and make a friend
School Transitions
Sending Your Child Off to School for the First Time
Supporting Your Child During the Transition to Middle School
Ideas to Support Your Child in School Transitions
Transitions into elementary school or middle school can cause worries for children. There are many ways a parent can help during these transitional times by
Listening and validating your child's feelings about the change
Let your children know you care about them with extra hugs/nice notes and support
Visit your child's school together
Help your child feel prepared in every way s/he can (school supplies, school clothes, healthy breakfast, etc.)
Explain the rules/procedures of school and how things will work and role play going to school and what things may be like
Allow your child to possibly sign-up for an extra-curricular activity in order to make friends and feel like s/he belongs
Stress Management
Coping Skills for Kids Site
Stress and Students
Just like adults, difficult, anxiety provoking situations can add stress to a child's life. There are many ways you can help your child cope with stressful situations, including
Practice visualizations (take a pretend field trip to the relaxing beach or a peaceful meadow)
Listen to calming music
Get lots of rest
Eat healthy foods
Drink plenty of water
Use positive self-talk (I can...)
Think positive thoughts
Focus on something good that happened that day
MORE HELPFUL LINKS TO TOPICS:
ADHD
Anxiety
Autism Slideshow
Back to School Tips
Bad Day
Bibliotherapy: Healing Through Books
Bibliotherapy: Elementary Topics
Bright Vs Gifted
Building Resiliency in Your Child
Bullying
Bullying Information
College Preparation
Career Preparation
Coping with a Crisis or Disaster
Coping with Loss using Art Therapy
Counseling Preschool Students
Creative Consequences
Cyberbullying & Internet Safety
Dealing with Feelings
Death/Loss/Grief
Developing Positive Relationships
Divorce/Separation/Blended Families
Fighting Disordered Eating
Friends: Making & Keeping Them!
Gaming Safety Tips
Go Girl Go!
Health/Nutrition
Helping Your Child with Test Taking
iMom - Parenting Information
Internet Safety
Kids Against Bullying
Kind and Firm Parenting
Learning Styles
Love and Logic
Making Mistakes
Messy Rooms
Online Safety
Play Therapy
Promoting Social & Emotional Learning (SEL)
Reality Check
Routines
Schedule Special Time for Connecting
Social Skills
Stages of Grief
Stress
Stress Management
Stress Management Strategies for children and adults
Study Skills
Tattling
Test Taking Skills
Time Management
Transitioning to Middle School
Using Play Therapy to Help Students with ADHD
Validating Your Child's Feelings
What Does Bullying Look Like?
Who are School Counselors?
Community Referrals
Below are a few community resources you may find helpful. If you would like assistance in finding any other
outside agencies or counselors, please feel free to contact me!
If it is an EMERGENCY, please contact Child Protection Services (CPS) at (800) 252-5400 or their web referral system: www.txabusehotline.org or contactChildhelp® at 800-4-A-CHILD
United Way 2-1-1
The 2-1-1 Texas website uses the databases of local Area Information Centers and gives you the ability to search for free information on health and human services from more than 60,000 state and local programs
2-1-1 or 1-877-541-7905
Lone Star Circle of Care
Child and adolescent psychiatry and psychotherapy
http://www.lscctx.org/
1-800-232-8946
Austin Travis County Integral Care
Behavioral health & developmental disabilities services
http://www.integralcare.org/
512-472-4357
Bluebonnet MHMR
Bluebonnet Trails offers an array of mental health and Developmental Disabilities services to children, adolescents and adults
http:///bluebonnetmhmr.org/
512-255-1720
24-Hour Crisis Hotline: 1-800-841-1255
STARRY
STARRY provides STAR crisis intervention services to Williamson and surrounding counties. Services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The program provides services to
children and youth and their families. Services include individual, family and group counseling, along with universal child abuse prevention services
http://www.starryonline.org
512-388-8290
Crisis Services: 1-800-440-9789
Austin Child Guidance Center
Dedicated to improving the mental health of children and their families, a multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and counselors provides individual, family, and group therapy; psychiatric and psychological services; parent education; community presentations and consultations
http://www.austinchildguidance.org/
512-451-2242
For the Love of Christi
This organization holds monthly support meetings and various activities for children and adults to help them adjust to life after the death of a loved one
http://fortheloveofchristi.org/
512-467-2600
Wonders and Worries
This organization helps children cope when a loved one or parent has a chronic or life threatening illness
http://www.wondersandworries.org/
512-329-5757
Bridges to Growth Resource Center
Offers many parent workshops throughout the year and free advice and counsel from a parent educator for parents experiencing parenting challenges
www.georgetownproject.com
512-943-5198
***If you are concerned about behaviors or emotions that you are seeing with your child, below is information about several disorders that can be seen in children and adolescents. If you think your child may fall into one of these categories, it is important to talk to your family physician and/or a mental health professional.
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Anxiety
Aspergers
Bipolar Disorder
Conduct Disorder
Depression
Eating Disorders
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Reactive Attachment Disorder
Schizophrenia
Online Safety
Image from: http://www.uen.org/utahlink/activities/view_activity.cgi?activity_id=20946
The mission of Austin ISD is to educate all students on the importance of cyber safety, so that all students may become successful digital citizens.
CYBERBULLYING
Cyberbullying is the use of technology - cell phones, texts, computers, emails, chats, etc. - to make someone feel bad or unsafe. It can include sending mean or threatening messages, spreading rumors, purposely leaving people out, impersonating others to embarrass them, and many more. It is extremely damaging and harmful with victims suffering from low self-esteem, lack of confidence, and depression.
Austin ISD has joined with the Anti-Defamation League to promote cyber safety in our schools with the following
resource:https://sites.google.com/a/austinisd.org/austin-isd-cyber-safety/home
Students can check out these videos to learn the facts fromhttp://www.onguardonline.gov:
Heads Up: Stop, Think, Click
Share with Care
Stand up to Cyberbullying
The Protection Connection
Playing this game can help students see things from a different perspective: The Case of the Cyber Criminal
Additionally, BrainPop has a great video to explain to students about cyberbullying here: http://www.brainpop.com/technology/computersandinternet/cyberbullying/
INTERNET SAFETY
Here are a few websites that teach kids & parents ways to be safe while using the Internet:
-Welcome to the Web
A series of lessons for teaching young students how to navigate the Internet
-LMK: Life online
A website created for the purpose of educating girls about online safety. Sponsored by the Girl Scouts and Microsoft.
-Google Family Safety Center
Introduces parents to and shows them how to use Google's safety tools including safe search, safe search lock, and YouTube's safety mode.
-Your Own Space
Ebook designed to educate tweens and teens about protecting themselves and their stuff online.
-Internet Safety with Professor Garfield
Offers an animated lesson on cyberbullying and an animated lesson about online safety.
-Webonauts Internet Academy
Website where elementary school students can learn about safe online behaviors.
-A Thin Line
This site is designed to educate teenagers and young adults about the possible repercussions of their digital activities.
-Common Sense Media
This site is dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in a world of media and technology.
- Comprehensive List of Internet Safety Websites
STATE & DISTRICT STANDARDS
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District:
Educate students about cyberbullying awareness and response and about appropriate online behavior, including interacting with other individuals on social networking Web sites and in chat rooms. (CQ LOCAL)
All Internet access will be filtered for minors and adults on the District’s network and computers with Internet access provided by the school. (CQ Regulation)
State:
In accordance with HB 3171, Section 38.023, the Texas Education Agency has developed and made available to school districts a list of resources concerning Internet Safety. You may visit their list of resources online at TEA. The Federal E-Rate program for Schools & Libraries and many state grants require schools to be CIPA compliant. To learn more visit/review the following:
Child Internet Protection Act
USAC - E-Rate & CIPA
Texas Attorney General
Ed.gov
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