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Counseling and Crisis Resources
Our school-based mental health partner, Clearhope Counseling and Wellness Center, is offering counseling services to all Fort Bend ISD students, families, and staff. This will allow our FBISD community to access quality mental health services right from their own homes virtually or potentially face-to-face at a nearby campus or counseling office. To make an appointment and/or learn more about Clearhope, go to clearhopewellness.com/about-us. They will work with each family or staff for payment of services and funding options to fit their unique situation.
FBISD TALKLINE: The District’s confidential helpline to share mental health concerns such as depression or suicidal thoughts. It includes both talking and texting features. Students, parents, and staff can text the word SPEAK to 741741 or call 281-240-8255 (TALK) to connect with a crisis counselor. Both services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
More Fort Bend County Behavioral Health Services (click to see full list of services)
Texana Center 24 Hour Crisis Hotline: 1-800-633-5686
Harris Center for Mental Health & IDD 24 Hour Crisis Hotline: 713-970-7000, press 1
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990 or text TalkWithUs to 66746.
Parent Resources
Most Important: Be available to listen to your child’s concerns and feelings. Validate their fears and experiences by saying things like, “That makes sense”, “I can totally understand that”.
More tips about talking to Children about COVID-19
Ten Common Tips for Surviving the Coronavirus Pandemic
Help Stop the Stigma and Be Kind Regarding COVID-19
Weekly Newsletter and Blog
The Behavior Health and Wellness Department will be posting a weekly Parent Newsletter which has quick tips on managing behavior at home and for mental wellness.
Parent Newsletter 03.27.2020 Spanish Chinese Arabic Turkish Vietnamese
Parent Newsletter 04.03.2020 Spanish Chinese Arabic Turkish Vietnamese
Parent Newsletter 04.10.2020 Spanish Chinese Arabic Turkish Vietnamese
Parent Newsletter 04.17.2020 Spanish Chinese Arabic Turkish Vietnamese
Parent Newsletter 04.24.2020 Spanish Chinese Arabic Turkish Vietnamese
Parent Newsletter 05.07.2020 Spanish Chinese Arabic Turkish Vietnamese
Parent Newsletter 05.15.2020 Spanish Chinese Arabic Turkish Vietnamese
Parent Newsletter 05.22.2020 Spanish Chinese Arabic Turkish Vietnamese
Parent Newsletter 05.29.2020 Spanish Chinese Arabic Turkish Vietnamese
Parent Newsletter 06.05.2020 Spanish Chinese Arabic Turkish Vietnamese
Laura Jack is a graduate of Clements High School and literally wrote the book on Compassion. Her blog, with unique insights on surviving and thriving during this COVID-19 event, will be posted here as they become available. You can also visit her website for more information on compassion and self-care.
How to "Stock Up" on Compassion as We Navigate These Times of Change and Challenge
How to Connect Even When You are Apart
Grief and Loss
Introductory video by FBISD's Coordinator of School Counseling and SEL, Carlete Metoyer
This unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic is an event filled with grief and loss for us all. According to The Grief Recovery Method, "Grief is the normal and natural reaction to loss or change of any kind". The changes and losses due to COVID-19 are countless: loss of a loved one, loss of work, change in routine, loss of social gathering and contact, possible loss of important events like prom and graduation, and list goes on and seems to change daily. The resources below focus on coping with grief and loss in general and specific to COVID-19 to support you in this journey and to help you help those you love. However, if your child's grief, sadness, anxiety, anger, and difficulty coping is beyond what you can manage, please reach out to your child's school counselor. They will help link you and your child to the right virtual counseling resource.
FBISD Grief and Loss Resource Guide
Grief and Loss Resource Guide Spanish
Helping Students Process Scary or Difficult News
Talking to Children about Death
Social Emotional Learning
The links below are interactive activities and lessons to help your child identify and manage their feelings (all grade levels).
- Social & Emotional Development Parent Toolkit- Research shows that those with higher social-emotional skills have better attention skills and fewer learning problems, and are generally more successful in academic and workplace settings. Like any math or English skills, these skills can be taught and grow over time.
- Aperture Education- Learn about the benefits of social and emotional learning (SEL) and the positive impact strong social and emotional skills have in school, at home and in life.
- Quality Character Playlist
- CDC Resource
- Health and the Human Body - Fun Games and Activities
Self-Care and Stress Relief for Parents and Students
The calendar links below contain daily, creative self-care activities for you and your students.
Stress Relief Toolkit - Includes stress relief activities, breathing/stress relief cards, guided meditation, mindfulness activities, setting expectations, and a poster for the home or work place
CDC Resources for Manage Anxiety & Stress - includes resoruces for people who have been released from quarantine
Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) - Positive Behavior Intervention & Supports (PBIS) is an evidenced based framework for promoting safety and positive behavior. PBIS provides ideas to support teaching, modeling, recognizing appropriate behavior, and also identifies systems for logically responding to classroom and individual student problems that can also be used in the home setting. PBIS increases the capacity to reduce problem behaviors. The focus of PBIS is prevention, not punishment. If a student struggles behaviorally, PBIS looks at behavior at a form of communication. Instead of punishment, PBIS focuses on what is motivating the behavior, teach appropriate expectations, and using logical consequences.
- Positive Behavior and Intervention Supports for Parents- A resource collection compiled by and for Parent Centers
- PBIS for Parents
Cyber Safety - Crime Stoppers of Houston is hosting the Cyber Safety Outreach Day on August 27th from 6:00-7:30. The purpose of this event is to empower parents to stay on top of their families safety through education on important safety precautions and potential online safety dangers kids are exposed to in today’s society. Click the flyer with short videos for more detailed information the event.
Other Community Resources
COVID-19 Resource Guide(Enlglish); COVID-19 Resource Guide(Spanish) - This guide has resources for food, internet access, and counseling.
COVID Steps for Help Resource Guide
New! Fort Bend County COVID-19 Resources for legal services, unemployment, food, and more. Fort Bend County COVID-19 Resources
FBISD Staff Resources
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Fort Bend ISD provides employees with an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) administered by Optum, a UnitedHealthcare partner. The EAP is a comprehensive FREE benefit available to ALL FBISD employees, regardless of their enrollment in a FBISD insurance plan. Based on aggregate data shared with us, we know there is a need for a program that will provide counseling services to employees for not only negative stressors but also positive stressors such as birth of a new baby or job promotion. EAP offers confidential support for managing things such as stress, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, financial concerns, parenting, etc. FBISD provides six (6) free counseling sessions per employee and household member. To speak with an EAP Specialist you can call 866-248-4096 or go to the Live and Work Well site, select “Register.” The company access code is FBISD. Go to the FBISD Employee Assistance Program for more information. Also, while the CDC is the best place to go to stay up to date on this still developing situation, Optum is offering a free emotional support help line for all people impacted by COVID-19. This help line will provide those affected access to specially trained mental health specialists. The company’s public toll-free help line number, 866-342-6892, will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for as long as necessary. This service is free of charge and open to anyone. Specially trained Optum mental health specialists help people manage their stress and anxiety so they can continue to address their everyday needs. Callers may also receive referrals to community resources to help them with specific concerns, including financial and legal matters.
Clearhope Counseling
Another FBISD partner, Clearhope Counseling & Wellness Center exists to remove access barriers to high-quality mental health services in the Greater Houston area. As a driving part of this vision, Clearhope accepts all major insurances including Medicaid and Medicare (normal co-pays apply) and has tele-therapy options during this COVID-19 event. Clearhope founder Heather Lambert, a 17-year veteran teacher, school counselor, and administrator, is driven by the missional belief that “No one should hurt alone.” The Clearhope Team takes a client-centered, collaborative approach to providing expert mental health services conducted by fully licensed LPCs, LMFTs, and LCSWs. The Clearhope Team is a diverse group of clinical experts who care deeply for the mental health and wellness of their clients and communities. Clearhope has offices in Pasadena, Sugar Land, and Summerwood (FALL 2020). Make an appointment and/or learn more about The Clearhope Team here: https://www.clearhopewellness.com/about-us
Self-Care and Stress Relief for Staff
The calendar links below contain daily, creative self-care activities for staff.
Stress Relief Toolkit - Includes stress relief activities, breathing/stress relief cards, guided meditation, mindfulness activities, setting expectations, and a poster for the home or work place
Ten Common Tips for Surviving the Coronavirus Pandemic
Virtual Visits for Medical Services
Doctor On Demand is available to ALL FBISD employees enrolled in an FBISD medical plan. Fort Bend ISD is providing you and your eligible dependents with an affordable, convenient option for treating many medical conditions. Starting in 2020, if you are enrolled in the Kelsey, Choice Premium Tier, Nexus, or Choice HRA plans, you are now able to access this benefit for $0 copay. If you are on the High Deductible Health Plan, your coverage will be 0% coinsurance, after your deductible. If you are not enrolled on a Fort Bend ISD medical plan, you can still use the service by visiting www.doctorondemand.com. The cost for your visits will be based on the average physician charge for virtual visits at that time.
This virtual visits program allows you to talk to a doctor anytime, anywhere by phone. Physicians are able to treat infections, skin and eye issues, sprains and bruises, back pain, vomiting and diarrhea, colds, coughs, and congestion, and 90% of the most common medical issues seen in the ER and urgent care. These Physicians are also trained to treat stress, anxiety, grief, and depression. Please refer to these fliers for more information about this program. (English flyer, Spanish flyer)
Managing your Personal Wellbeing
The FBISD LiveWell Employee Wellness Program offers a broad range of wellness services, programs, and events. Make your health and wellbeing the strongest it can be by connecting with what best fits you, your department, your friends and family. Your health is up to you – Personal wellbeing is essential to happiness, and to the collaborative excellence of our organization! As we continue to transition our wellness program to a virtual platform, we want to share with you some of the tools and resources currently available to you at this time. We are dealing with some difficult times and taking the time to relax, breath and reflect on what is most important to you helps improve your overall well-being. To help you take a mind break throughout the day, you can access some Stress Management Resources here. We will continue to bring you more virtual classes to help with managing you and your family’s personal wellbeing.
Stay Active
While we are all required to practice social distancing, there are still ways to stay active without putting you or your family at risk. Your FBISD LiveWell Team encourages you to take time to stretch and exercise throughout the day. As you know, April is MILLIION MILE MONTH. For many years, Fort Bend ISD and Superintendent Dr. Dupre, have supported this event. While we are unable to promote the normal campus challenge, we still want to encourage employees to challenge themselves to put in as many miles as you can this month. Join online to log your activity for the month of April. Choose Fort Bend ISD as your organization and let's try to get to a million miles by the end of the month. You can also challenge a friend to a friendly competition! TO register, go to Wellness Program and Fitness Challenges.
