NEW: Back-to-School Mental Health Toolkits for School Staff & Families
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Discover a comprehensive resources page offering support, guidance, and tools tailored for parents and caregivers navigating various challenges.
Guides & Worksheets
Starting a new school year is the perfect time to reflect on what you're ready to leave behind and what you want to carry forward.
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Parents, caregivers, and school staff are often among the first to notice when something seems off—whether it's a subtle shift in a child's mood, changes in classroom engagement, or signs of a deeper struggle.
Every school year brings new challenges and new opportunities for families. This guide is designed to support parents and caregivers with practical, evidence-based strategies to help recognize stress, build resilience, and create healthy routines that strengthen both you and your child.
A simple conversation guide to help families feel more prepared for the new school year.
We hope you'll find this resource helpful for spotting student mental health needs—from early signs to more serious concerns. Keep this printable tool nearby as a reminder of what to look for and how to respond in the moment.
Building a practice of healthy habits at home helps children both mentally and physically. Simple, consistent routines provide structure and predictability, which promote mental wellness and make it easier to spot challenges early.
As a new school year begins, it's normal for unexpected things to happen. Learning to think ahead can help you feel more ready and confident, not just at the start of school, but all year long.
The start of a new school year often brings a mix of excitement, change, and stress. While some worry is normal, ongoing challenges may be a sign your child needs extra support.
Taking care of yourself every day helps your brain, body, and feelings stay in balance. Let's make a plan for how you can recharge throughout the day!
Webinars
Practical tips from psychiatrist and author Dr. Christine Crawford on supporting kids and teens through mental health challenges.
Rep. Dubnik and Cartwheel unpack Georgia’s new school mental health funding.
As students head back to school, Dr. Lisa Damour helps caregivers and educators unravel the academic, social, and mental health pressures facing today’s teens.
Watch this webinar for helpful strategies you can teach your kids (and yourself) for noticing, welcoming, and neutralizing big emotions before they take over the household.
Watch this webinar to learn more about trauma, common trauma responses, and healing strategies to help support kids and teens, and yourself.
Learn how schools and law enforcement leaders across the country work together to build collaborative relationships for physically and emotionally safer schools through restorative practices.
Building resilience, fostering supportive environments, and prioritizing mental health are key to addressing the critical issue of stress and burnout amongst school staff.
School leaders discuss Cartwheel integration into Multi-Tiered System of Support, impacts on staff/students, sustainable funding, Q&A, and support capacity update.
How to support youth and family mental health over the summer months, and ease the transition back-to-school in the fall.
Interview Series
Decatur Public Schools serves approximately 7,500 students from pre-K through 12th grade across 15 schools. Across the district, 65.2% of students are low income students, 62% of students are from minority populations, and 42.7% of students are reported as chronically absent.
Peoria Public Schools serves 13,132 students across 27 schools, in the city of Peoria, Illinois and its surrounding areas. It is the only large K-12 school district in the State of Illinois that covers a student population with a low-income rate exceeding 78% and a mobility rate exceeding 19%.
Indian Prairie School District 204 serves ~25,632 students from the Illinois communities of Aurora, Bolingbrook, Plainfield and Naperville, in DuPage and Will counties. They have 34 preK-12 schools with 18% low income students and 11% English language learners.
Article
Back-to-school can be an especially anxious time for kids and teens. The good news is there are proven tips and coping strategies you can use as a parent, caregiver, or school staff member, to help support them.
Strategies for schools, communities, family, and friends.
Learn how to determine the root causes of school avoidance, actionable goals schools can take to curb absenteeism, and tips for creating a supportive environment.
How can we show up for our kids who may be struggling with suicidal ideation?
Case Study
improved academic outcomes and freed up school staff time
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helped families access quicker pathways to mental health care
utilized Cartwheel’s virtual services to increase access and reduce waitlists
leveraged data to proactively identify student mental health needs
enabled access to affordable, easily accessible, and flexible mental health support for students
connected 6% of its student body to mental health services in first year of Cartwheel partnership
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