NEWS
The Nassau Education Foundation awarded $30,000 Resiliency Grant to Support Mental Health Initiatives for Nassau County High School Students
Fernandina Beach, FL – The Nassau Education Foundation (NEF), in partnership with the Nassau County School District, is excited to announce the launch of a new initiative aimed at enhancing the resiliency of high school students in Nassau County. This initiative aligns with the Florida State Academic Standards – Health Education for 2024.
The Resiliency in the Community (RTC) program is funded by federal grants awarded through the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations. Resiliency is the ability to work through adversity, and these initiatives will help students build their social and emotional skills. Florida State Standards in resiliency encompass 11 skills to overcome challenges which include: Perseverance, grit, gratitude, responsibility, responsible decision making, critical thinking and problem solving, self awareness and self management, mentorship, citizenship, honesty and empathy.
The nearly $30,000 in funds will be used to bring the Hope Squad Program to three Nassau County high schools. Fernandina Beach High School (FBHS), with support from the FBHS Foundation, successfully launched the Hope Squad program in 2022. With the new Resiliency grant, the Nassau County School District will be able to expand the program to all Nassau County high schools. Says school Superintendent Dr. Kathy Burns, “We are excited for the opportunity to expand Hope Squad to all high schools. The peer to peer relationship building offered through the program improves school culture and promotes positive relationships school wide.”
Hope Squad is an evidence-based, peer-to-peer suicide prevention program. Susan DeVane, Executive Director of The Nassau Education Foundation, says it’s more than that. “It is a proactive approach to building supportive peer relationships and a cooperative student climate. Students who are struggling with mental and emotional difficulties can seek out help from their peer group early in their struggle. These peers are equipped through the program to respond in a helpful way and engage with their peers before the issue escalates to crisis level.”
In addition to Hope Squad, NEF will provide encouragement and support to students through use of Cope Notes, a digital mental health support platform. As the Cope Notes organization explains it, “relatable texts from real people are sent to a student’s phone every day as well as exercises, journaling prompts and psychological facts.” Each clinically reviewed text is designed to build mental strength and a positive outlook in students. Tonya Baudek, President of The Nassau Education Foundation, understands the importance of the new initiatives, “No students, including ours here in Nassau County, are immune to mental health struggles and stress. Hope Squad and Cope Notes are two pieces of a larger systemic process to help our Nassau County students who struggle. It is a critical national and local issue. We are hopeful that these resiliency initiatives can play a part in helping our kids cope and grow in their resiliency.”
Hope Squad will be implemented immediately and continue throughout the 2024-2025 school year.
Through a partnership with the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations (https://educationfoundationsfl.org/), the Nassau Education Foundation is able to access a $1-1 match from CFEF for eligible programs through the School District Education Foundation Matching Grant Program. The foundation is only eligible for funds that it can match through local fundraising efforts.
Each fall, school districts throughout the State of Florida and/or their education foundation must identify one or more large projects in areas determined by CFEF. A district’s education foundation must write a grant application and report on the outcomes. To date, NEF has funded the following programs: Robotics, CNA, Agricultural Technology, Building and Construction and a district-wide license for BrainPop software used in all schools.
