The Thriving Schools Initiative represents a progressive program designed to empower districts and educational institutions in identifying both strengths and opportunities across 14 facets of whole-child health. Systemic transformation is achieved by cultivating support and addressing the diverse needs of the school community, with an initial focus on cultivating staff well-being.

Orange County Department of Education in collaboration with Kaiser Permanente, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, and our many district partners, facilitates meaningful change in policies and practices that benefit all school personnel. Our esteemed partners, alongside the CDC, USDA, CASEL, and other respected authorities in the field, have developed two Integrated Assessments for Thriving Schools—one tailored for district-wide application and another specifically for individual schools. By employing these tools and a straightforward staff survey, we can pinpoint the areas where staff seek support, leading to the formulation of a strategic action plan aimed at enhancing practices that yield enduring benefits.

Some key practices to cultivate staff well-being are:

• Gratitude practices
  
• Continuous professional Learning on staff well- being including stress management, healthy boundaries and self-care
  
• Continuous professional learning on psychological safety, dependability, structure and clarity
• Adopting conflict resolution processes
  
• Integrating regular physical activity opportunities for staff
  
• Building positive staff relationships and fostering a positive work culture
• Building emotional intelligence
  
• Creating relaxing staff lounges with biophilic​​ design
  
• Trauma informed practices and more!​
  

This initiative is offered at no cost, providing universal support for districts and schools eager to embark on a journey toward fostering staff well-being. Robust research underscores the significant correlation between staff wellness and critical outcomes such as retention, satisfaction, performance, and the overall climate and culture of the school environment. Given that a teacher exerts considerable influence over a student's success, this is an opportune moment to engage in a straightforward, evidence-based continuous improvement process while accessing impactful, curated resources. Your district can benefit from customized support, track progress, and visualize data—completely free of charge—through the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. Comprehensive reporting is available, and schools could also be honored with the prestigious America's Healthiest Schools Award. 

For further details, please contact Kat Satterley. Progra​m​ Specialist. Should you wish to explore alternative areas of whole-child health, such as Family and Community Engagement or Social-Emotional Health, feel free to reach out for expert guidance.

Be well.