These resources can help lead agencies and programs implement staff wellness supports such as guaranteed breaks during the work day, access to adult-sized furniture in classrooms, mentoring and coaching, and/or mental health consultation for ECE staff and providers.
Dear Colleague Letter on Social-Emotional Development and Mental Health
This letter includes recommendations and action steps intended to help early childhood systems work collaboratively to ensure that young children and their caregivers have access to high-quality resources that equitably support social-emotional development and mental health.
Staff Wellness Resources
These resources help develop a culture of wellness by focusing on overall organizational wellness. This collection also includes information on how to develop a staff wellness plan.
Infant/Toddler Workforce Wellness
This web page provides an array of approaches to reducing stress and promoting wellness. Whether you prefer worksheets, articles, slides, activities, exercises, videos, reflective questions, or graphics, there is a tool for you.
Professional Growth: Self-Care and Professionalism
This web page provides several resources in various modalities, including articles, videos, and infographics on the importance of self-care for the early childhood workforce.
Profiles of Innovation: COVID-19 Recovery — Three Approaches to Social-Emotional Support and Mental Health
This profile of innovation describes three state strategies to address social-emotional and mental health needs of children, families, providers, and staff during the pandemic.
Supporting the Wellness of All Staff in the Head Start Workforce
This information memorandum strategies to build a culture of wellness across all Head Start programs.
OHS Head Start Forward Webinar Mental Health and Staff Wellness: Emotionally Strong Together
This is the third webinar in the five-part Head Start Forward series for guidance and support programs can use as they work toward full enrollment and fully in-person comprehensive services. Discover mental health and staff wellness resources and strategies including guidance around trauma-informed approaches, staff wellness, sensitive conversations with families, and social and emotional development.
Collection of Resources on Promoting Staff Well-Being
Landing page for many staff well-being resources including videos, tip sheets, and more. Topics include stress reduction, mindfulness, organizational wellness, resilience, and tools to promote healthy living.
Staff Wellness for Home Visitors
Head Start staff working in home-based programs build and sustain positive relationships with families. They also provide a consistent, supportive base to promote effective parent-child relationships. Though this work is rewarding, staff may experience unique circumstances that contribute to stress, which can impact their work and their wellness. Discover the importance of staff wellness and professional boundaries in home-based settings. Explore safety practices to enhance staff relationships with families. Learn about strategies for self-care and reducing stress. Find resources to support your work with families in home-based programs.
Supporting and Promoting Mental Health in Out-of-School Time Practice Brief (PDF)
This practice brief explores some of the current mental health needs of school-age children, their families, and the OST workforce. In addition, this brief discusses the social and emotional constructs that promote resilience, as well as examples of mental health supports that states and local jurisdictions can consider for collaborative implementation.
Supporting and Promoting Mental Health in Out-of-School Time Webinar Archive
During the webinar, the National Center on Afterschool and Summer Enrichment introduced a new Voices from the Field brief which shares research and information on the current mental health needs of school-age children, their families, and the Out-of-School Time workforce. Participants also learned about state and local initiatives that promote positive mental health and social and emotional development, and considered and shared practices and resources to meet the demand for mental health supports at different levels.
Understanding Trauma and Healing in Adults
Explore this series to learn about trauma and how traumatic events can impact families and staff. Find information to guide your conversations with families. Use these resources to promote healing, resilience, and family well-being. When families know they are understood, they can be more engaged and responsive to support.
Practice Self-Care and Professionalism (PDF)
This brief includes a variety of resources to support self-care and emphasizes the importance of this aspect of workforce support.
Self-Care and Professionalism
This webinar focuses on policies and strategies for use by technical assistance providers and child care professionals to increase mindfulness and self-care.