The Schools We Need Now
A Guide to Designing a Mentally Healthy School
Foreword by David Adams
Place mental health at the heart of schooling
Our students have always needed our support, but recent events have brought to the forefront the challenges K-12 schools face in supporting their mental health. Now is the time to transform schools into safe and healthy places that enable students not only to learn but also thrive.
Based on decades of research and proven examples from education professionals and the authors—who are experts in school leadership and social work—The Schools We Need Now highlights the importance of placing mental health at the heart of schooling and shares a vision for schools that prioritizes student well-being. Inside you’ll discover:
- Practical ways to improve school climate and mitigate the effects of students’ stress, trauma, depression, and anxiety
- Preventive activities, school transition and crisis response plans, and community collaboration strategies
- How to create a comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan that is grounded your school’s culture and climate
- Examples of schools, classrooms, and organizations that are on the leading edge of creating the schools we need now
For every educator who wants to ensure a healthy and equitable school environment for all students, The Schools We Need Now shows you how to create a safe place that protects and supports their academic, social, emotional, and physical growth.
"In these challenging post-pandemic times, Dohrer and Golebiewski provide leadership in rethinking one of our highest priority social and school improvement topics: the mental health of America's youth. They offer a comprehensive treatment of this complex domain, including the current social context of mental health, visions of excellence, and priority needs and how to meet them. Their work arises from exceptional scholarship combined with a thoughtful sense of practical reality. This book offers a roadmap to student mental and academic well-being."