NEW* MENTAL WELLNESS

Mental Health in Schools

We believe mental wellness is an essential part of learning: students can’t thrive in the classroom if they're struggling outside of it.

The Reshaping Community Wellness Initiative is part of our broader commitment to creating schools where equity lives not only in policy, but in everyday relationships, communication, and care.

CURRICULUM

RESOURCES

What is mental wellness?

Mental wellness isn’t just the absence of illness, it’s what helps us stay connected, resilient, and ready to grow.

For families, it starts with daily care, honest conversations, and support that feels safe and culturally rooted. CPLAN helps families build a clearer understanding of mental wellness: what it is, why it matters, and how it shows up in daily life.

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Understanding Emotions

Recognizing how we feel and why, so we can respond with care, not confusion.

Talking About What Matters

Feeling safe to express thoughts and emotions at home, at school, and in community spaces.

Knowing Ourselves

Being aware of how our experiences- past and present- shape how we show up in the world.

Healthy Relationships

Building trust, resolving conflict, and supporting one another through life’s challenges.

Taking Care, Not Just Getting Help

Mental wellness isn’t just about crisis, it’s about practices that help us feel balanced, connected, & strong.

Why does it matter?

Wellness Starts at Home

Families are their children’s first line of support, but many haven’t been given the tools, language, or space to talk about mental wellness.

It's a Prerequisite for Learning

When children carry stress, trauma, or instability, it doesn’t stay at home, it shows up in classrooms, affecting

their ability to focus, connect, and succeed in school.

Chronic absenteeism, behavioral challenges, discipline disparities, and disengagement are often rooted in unaddressed emotional needs.

Disconnection Drives Inequity

In many communities, stress and emotional struggles are misunderstood or go unspoken, not because families don't care, but because systems haven’t made wellness feel safe, accessible, or relevant.

Relationships Are the Real Curriculum

The most powerful learning happens in environments built on trust. When families, educators, and students feel connected and respected, relationships are rebuilt and it restores a sense of belonging.

Everyone Thrives When Wellness Comes First

When schools center wellness, they reduce harm, uplift student voice, and create environments where everyone feels safe, supported and ready to learn.

Reshaping Community Wellness Initiative

Offered both online and in person, Reshaping Community Wellness supports families and educators in creating environments where children feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. This innovative, interactive training series empowers school communities with practical tools to integrate mental wellness into homes, schools, and neighborhoods.

Designed to be culturally responsive and accessible, the program is offered in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Haitian Kreyol, ensuring more communities can engage in meaningful conversations around healing, resilience, and social-emotional well-being.

We are proud to partner with Dr. Gayl Crump Swaby, a CPLAN founding member and mental health expert, who facilitates this initiative with deep care, knowledge, and cultural humility. Through her work with CPLAN, Dr. Gayl Crump Swaby helps build more connected, trauma-informed school communities.

Curriculum: Reshaping Community Wellness

Working in cohorts, Dr. Crump Swaby collaborates with school community members, including students, parents/caregivers, and school staff, to strengthen the culture and climate of each school. Each session centers on real-life challenges families face, and offers practical tools rooted in emotional intelligence, community building, and equity. Topics include:

Session 1: Introduction to Mental Wellness

Trust and community building as a foundation for healing

Session 2–3: Beyond the Stigma

Breaking down myths about mental healthcare and how systems have excluded families of color

Session 4–5: Emotional Intelligence

Tools for understanding and managing our emotions, and supporting others in our families and communities

Session 6: Reimagining Our World

Shifting how we think about mental health, identifying resources, and knowing when and how to seek professional support

What Makes Our Program Family-Centered

Flexible Scheduling

Workshops are offered at times that work for families, including evenings and weekends.

Multilingual Access

Programs are available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Haitian Kreyol to ensure every voice is heard.

Childcare Support

When offered in person, we help reduce barriers by offering childcare or family-friendly spaces.

Virtual & In-Person Options

Join from your phone, computer, or in a community setting—we meet families where they are.

When schools prioritize emotional safety and family voice, students learn better, staff experience less burnout, and families become empowered partners in school success.

Book us strip

Contact CPLAN today to learn more about how we can support wellness in your community.

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