extended hand community-based program
PURPOSE
Our Extended Hand Community-based program aims to provide students (and teachers) within Hampton Roads with the skills and resources to gain emotional and social wellness through peer support circles. Through our Healing and Restorative Circles we provide coping skills and techniques that build and restore relationships through equal opportunity sharing and listening. These talking circles proactively build the skills individuals need when conflicts arise because they give every individual the opportunity to speak and be heard. Restorative circles are especially beneficial for youth learning how to negotiate conflict, as they help them practice respectful listening and healthy self-expression.
Restorative Circles:
D.E.S.I.R.E: (Developing Emotional Strength In Relative Environments)
At the elementary-school level, social and emotional learning (SEL) enhances students’ abilities to understand and manage their emotions, set and achieve personal and academic goals, show respect and empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible and ethical decisions. These personal and interpersonal competencies provide a foundation for success in work and relationships as adults. Extensive research shows that SEL programs can promote academic achievement and positive social behavior, and reduce conduct problems, substance abuse, and emotional distress (Dusenbury & Weissberg, 2017).
The goal of D.E.S.I.R.E Healing Circle is to focus on social and emotional learning that provides students with skills on self-awareness and interpersonal skills.
G.E.M.S. (Gaining Emotional Maturity Safely)
As our children grow and mature, it is crucial for them not just to develop physically but also to gain the proper skills to mature emotionally and socially. GEMS circles are a great way to build a supportive school culture to help everyone feel welcome and valued. They provide a safe forum for students to express feelings and needs and learn how to utilize problem-solving skills. Students learn to hold each other accountable, acknowledge each other’s feelings, and accept each individual’s needs. In schools, these circles can also be conducted as a response to wrongdoing or conflict as an alternative disciplinary strategy; however, this technique can be equally as effective in providing preventative factors for when future challenges arise.
The goal of G.E.M.S Healing Circle is to provide a safe space for students to continue to strengthen their emotional and social learning, practice their interpersonal skills, and learn how to negotiate conflict.
B.E.S.T. Support Group
(Building Emotional Strength for Teachers)
As we are aware, our teachers are under enormous pressure. They face expanding curriculum expectations, persistent critique, and diminishing resources to support their work. They are frequently face-to-face with the pain and trauma that students carry. They are expected to bridge an achievement gap largely caused by forces outside the school. Teaching is both a rewarding and painful occupation. However, the relentless challenges of the daily routine in schools can disconnect educators from the positive energy of their original vision of themselves as meaningful and influential people in the lives of young people. They often become weary, discouraged, and disconnected from the students, their colleagues, and themselves. Students feel that disconnection and withdraw into themselves, reducing their investment in the school. The resulting isolation is debilitating and demoralizing for everyone.
The Goal of B.E.S.T Healing Circle is to provide a safe and confidential space for teachers and support staff to build relationships, navigate work/life balance, and promote self-care and staff wellness.
OUR MISSION
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OUR MISSION
VA SMILE Foundation bridges the gap between disenfranchised communities and wellness support through empowerment, advocacy, awareness, and support
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OUR MISSION
We offer a variety of volunteer opportunities for individuals and groups to get involved and make a difference in the lives of those we serve.
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