Health Wellness & Safety Resources
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HWS Committee Meeting Resources
Sign-up to receive emails with the resources and advocacy efforts shared at our COPTA Health, Wellness, & Safety Committee meetings. Current PTA/PTSA membership is required to be added to the list. Check out the recommended resources from our past committee meetings. Follow the link and click on the meeting date in the left column to open the resources document for that date.
HWS Committee Information Sheets
The HWS Committee offers downloadable info sheets on a variety of topics in the areas of technology, transportation/vehicle safety, substance use, mental health, suicide, gun safety, and physical health.
- Google Drive
Healthy Lifestyles & Advocacy Resources from National PTA
Colorado and National Organizations and Programs
Action for Healthy Kids (opens in a new tab)
National nonprofit providing programs, funding and resources around nutrition, physical activity, mental health, risk behavior prevention, and skills-based health education through district, school, and family partnerships. AFHK’s Resource Library (opens in a new tab) offers videos, activities, tip sheets, and more to utilize at school or at home to improve kids’ physical and emotional health. AFHK’s Parents for Healthy Kids (opens in a new tab) resources are designed to help parents and caregivers become effective change agents in school and student health.
Active Schools (opens in a new tab)
A multi-faceted, collective impact approach to physical activity in schools led by national organizations and experts. Offers a Guiding Framework, Implementation Guide, Evaluation Handbook, and Menus of Evidence-Based Practices to help bring schools, parents, and partners together to provide an active school environment through physical education and before, during and after school physical activity.
CDC Healthy Schools (opens in a new tab)
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) works with states, school systems, communities, and national partners to prevent students’ chronic disease and promote their health and well-being. Find information related to a variety of school health topics. CDC’s Parents for Healthy Schools (opens in a new tab) is a set of resources designed to help schools, school groups, and school wellness committees encourage parent engagement in school health.
Chef Ann Foundation (opens in a new tab)
National nonprofit promoting whole-ingredient, scratch-cooking in schools across the country through trainings, grants, and other resources. Chef Ann’s School Food Advocacy Toolkit (opens in a new tab) provides information and resources to help families and community members work with their schools to improve access to healthy food.
Child Mind Institute (opens in a new tab)
National nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders. Offers a multitude of parenting guides, practical tips, and strategies to support children’s mental health and social emotional wellness. Resources are available in English and Spanish.
Children’s Hospital Colorado (opens in a new tab)
Provides parenting tips, information, and advice on trending health topics, children’s health conditions and treatments.
Colorado School Safety Resource Center (CSSRC) (opens in a new tab)
Created by state legislation in 2008, the CSSRC provides free consultation, resources, training, and technical assistance to foster safe and secure learning environments, positive school climates, and early intervention to prevent crisis situations.
eatright.org (opens in a new tab)
Articles, videos, family activities, tips, tools, and other resources on nutrition and diet, cooking, shopping, food safety, and fitness for different age groups, from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) (opens in a new tab)
International nonprofit organization which works to make the online world safer for kids and their families. FOSI’s Good Digital Parenting Program (opens in a new tab) provides videos, tool sheets, toolkits and more.
Hunger Free Colorado (opens in a new tab)
Statewide nonprofit organization that connects people to food resources and drives policy, systems and social change to end hunger. Hunger Free’s Food Resource Hotline: 855-855-4626
I Matter Colorado (opens in a new tab)
Colorado program providing access to mental health and substance use disorder services for youth. Open to youth 18 years of age or younger, or 21 years of age or younger if receiving special education services. I Matter provides up to six free therapy sessions for youth in Colorado and reimburses participating licensed therapists.
Immunize Colorado (opens in a new tab)
Statewide nonprofit organization that focuses on broad vaccine education, policy advocacy, and access to vaccines. Immunize Colorado runs programs to make vaccines accessible to all, regardless of income or insurance status, and collaborates with local and state organizations.
Jeffco Communities That Care – Twelve Talks (opens in a new tab)
A repository of information, resources and conversation starters about topics selected by parents, teens and community experts from the Jefferson County Communities That Care Coalition. Topics include alcohol, cannabis, dating, friends, hopefulness & coping, identity, medicine misuse, mental health, overdose, sex & consent, sources of strength, vape & tobacco.
One Chance to Grow Up (opens in a new tab)
Colorado nonprofit initiative created to increase awareness and safeguards for youth related to currently available hemp, psilocybin, and high-potency marijuana products.
Parents Together (opens in a new tab)
A parent-led, national nonprofit providing independent reporting, commentary, and resources on issues that affect kids and families including the latest science-backed research and breaking news affecting kids’ health. Includes need-to-know information about nutrition, sleep, safety, child development and more.
SHAPE America (opens in a new tab)
The Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE) serves as the national voice for health and physical education professionals across the country. SHAPE provides a variety of resources for families to support children’s physical and social emotional health. The organization’s National Standards for K-12 Physical Education serve as the foundation for well-designed PE programs.
Sources of Strength (opens in a new tab)
A national, best-practice youth mental health promotion and suicide prevention program offering training for both youth and adults in secondary schools and community-based settings and an elementary model featuring a fully stratified K-5 curriculum.
The Trevor Project (opens in a new tab)
National suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) young people. Provides crisis support, advocacy, education, and research.
USDA Food & Nutrition Services – School Meals (opens in a new tab)
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) government website providing current information about federal school meal programs and standards.
USDA Nutrition (opens in a new tab) & USDA MyPlate (opens in a new tab)
Information and resources to help families make healthful eating choices, from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
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