Resources

STAFF: Here is a free COVID-19 webinar series for you to view!

Learn more about the resources that are available by clicking the links below:

• • Community Partners

    • Aurora Mental Health Center - http://www.aumhc.org/

      • Watch a video from AMHC on School Based Services!

    • Aurora Youth Options - http://aurorayouthoptions.org/

    • Health ONE: Behavior Health and Wellness Center - http://auroramed.com/service/adolescent-behavioral-health

    • Highlands Behavioral Health System - http://bit.ly/2GkCY4A

    • Safe2Tell Colorado - http://safe2tell.org/

  • All APS employees have free, 24-hour access to counseling and other services through our Employee Assistance Program. Please call 1-888-324-2631 or visit hr.aurorak12.org/eap. APS also partnered with Meru Health, which offers support to all APS staff through a free and 100% confidential 12-week program accessible via smartphone.

  • LGBTQ

  • Neurobiologically Sensitive Implementation/Neurosequential Model in Education (NME)/Trauma-Informed Education

  • Social-Emotional Learning (SEL)

  • Mental Health Resource Bank brought to you by CDE with help from the Office of Suicide Prevention, Suicide Prevention Commission, the Colorado Youth Advisory Council, and the CDE team, and the Mental Health Education Literacy Resource bank.

  • District Consent Forms (Screening Assessment & Direct Services & Release of Information) in the top school languages

  • Videos We Love!

  • CASEL Roadmap to Re-Opening Schools

What is the Blue Whale Challenge and Why Should Parents Be Concerned?:

The Blue Whale Challenge is a social media challenge that is making its second wave to students ages 10-14. Children and young teens are sent the challenge through various social media applications including Snapchat, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Whatsapp and Instagram. The challenge includes 50 tasks that escalate over 50 days. On the last day of the challenge, the only way to "win" is to commit suicide. Many of the tasks include acts of self-harm such as urging players to cut themselves in the shape of a whale. Players of this challenge post certain hashtags (#) or join specific groups on social media in the hopes of getting selected by the "group administrator". Players are required to send photos of evidence to their "group administrator" to prove that they have completed each specific task. The challenge as a whole is meant to harm children/youth and slowly get them to trust the game. In addition, players of the challenge can not stop playing once they have started because they are blackmailed and cyberbullied into completing the game. What should parents do?: Do your research and stay informed. This information is online. Talk to their child/teen about it. Create a safe, non-judgemental space to have this conversation, so children can be honest about their online activity. If further support is needed, call Colorado Crisis Services at 1-800-493-8255 or text "Talk" to 38255.