Another chapter.
Posted on January 27, 2023, by Mindi Wisman
Every year since our inception Youth Catalytics has met new challenges and opportunities that have fostered our growth and evolution. This year, the biggest opportunity is our now formal partnership with the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE). Their mission is to improve conditions for learning in schools and sustain safe, engaging, and healthy school environments that support student academic success. Today, with America’s schools reeling from the pandemic and its many after effects, we are eagerly joining them in helping schools in every way possible. So, I am very proud to share some of the training opportunities and publications that we have already created with NCSSLE.
In recognition of January’s Human Trafficking Month, these highlights emphasize the problem of human trafficking in schools, which is a continuing priority of the U.S. Department of Education.
We revised NCSSLE’s major publication, Human Trafficking in America’s Schools
Authored a supplement, How Schools Can Combat Human Trafficking in Partnership with People with Lived Experience
And co-produced the Addressing Human Trafficking in America's Schools Webinar Series
In the year ahead, we will be rolling out more resources related to human trafficking including additional webinars, so if this is an area of interest, know that everything NCSSLE produces is available to anyone at no cost.
Additionally, we are co-producing a second webinar series, Lessons from the Field, that address various topics that are top of mind for educators today. Thus far the series has covered fentanyl use, runaway and homeless youth, identity-based bullying, mental health and substance use, violence prevention, and supporting transgender and non-binary students.
And finally, we are excited to be assisting with NCSSLE’s Research to Practice (R2P) Program. Its 2022-2023 focus, staff well-being, has likewise been a priority at Youth Catalytics in the youth services sector. To date, we have solicited extensive input from educators through a series of roundtables, and are now compiling a compendium of exemplary practices for education professionals at all levels. We will also be producing podcast interviews with innovative leaders in this space.
As always, we hope you will explore and circulate this information, alongside our other work at Youth Catalytics.
Looking ahead to a busy and productive 2023!
~ Melanie Goodman, Executive Director