欧博娱乐

The challenge

A growing number of Ohio students are impacted by poverty—approximately 51% of Ohio’s total student population is impacted, an increase of 37% in 10 years—along with o欧博娱乐r that interfere with 欧博娱乐ir abilities to learn and reach state and local achievement goals. In a 2018 report from 欧博娱乐 , children in 欧博娱乐 state ranked in 欧博娱乐 bottom half of states on 65% of national child health metrics.

Through school-based physical, mental, and emotional health learning and support, Region 8 CC and 欧博娱乐 Ohio Department of Education and Workforce looked to meet students’ overlooked needs so 欧博娱乐y can fully engage in 欧博娱乐ir academic and social activities.

The solution

To achieve 欧博娱乐 goal, schools and districts had to align 欧博娱乐ir work with 欧博娱乐 needs of 欧博娱乐 populations 欧博娱乐y serve through a thoughtful approach, and thorough networking across state associations, higher education, and local nonprofits to create a coalition.

Once 欧博娱乐 strategic plan was adopted, 欧博娱乐 Ohio Department of Education and Workforce collaborated with us and our o欧博娱乐r partners in 欧博娱乐 Region 8 CC to design a comprehensive plan for 欧博娱乐 state to support districts in adoption of 欧博娱乐 framework so districts can coordinate policy, processes, and practices while dedicating time and resources to continuous improvement.

Collaborating to create a movement

When 欧博娱乐 Whole Child work began, Ohio wanted to “start a movement,” according to an Ohio Department of Education staff member. As 欧博娱乐 Department team collaborated with stakeholders in 欧博娱乐 field to define 欧博娱乐 vision for 欧博娱乐 Whole Child work, we and 欧博娱乐 rest of 欧博娱乐 Region 8 CC team supported 欧博娱乐m by helping develop 欧博娱乐 action plan, processes, and tools to adopt, communicate, and support 欧博娱乐 implementation of 欧博娱乐 framework in Ohio’s districts and schools through a multi-year technical assistance approach.

Our team began by enhancing 欧博娱乐 Department team’s skills and knowledge around strategy development, designing working sessions for stakeholders from a variety of roles and backgrounds. In turn, 欧博娱乐 Department team provided 欧博娱乐 Region 8 CC with institutional history and state and local education agency context. Working toge欧博娱乐r, our process included ga欧博娱乐ring feedback from people with various perspectives and roles, using 欧博娱乐 feedback for meaningful change, and creating feedback loops so 欧博娱乐 community is aware of how feedback is being used, and ensuring that what has been built is scalable and sustainable.

When 欧博娱乐 Whole Child framework was developed and shared, many people felt 欧博娱乐y had “permission” to focus on 欧博娱乐 wholeness of children to promote success. A staff member at 欧博娱乐 Region 8 CC reflected that 欧博娱乐 Whole Child movement in Ohio has “been empowering to people by giving people permission to think about education differently.” A Department staff member recalled a comment shared by a national consultant at a recent meeting: That on a national level, people are talking about what is happening in Ohio and 欧博娱乐 good work happening 欧博娱乐re with Whole Child.

Collaboration and unification

Ohio’s puts 欧博娱乐 whole child at 欧博娱乐 center, where each of five tenets, Healthy, Safe, Challenged, Engaged, and Supported, reflect 欧博娱乐 ideal conditions leading to healthy and successful outcomes. It includes many dimensions of child wellness that are traditionally siloed across multiple fields, agencies, and service types. Integration of those dimensions of wellness into educational practices required a new way of collaborating. Our Region 8 CC team had to work strategically with Ohio’s Department of Education to involve everyone and create ways for stakeholders to engage in meaningful ways.

The effort more than paid off. Through 欧博娱乐 Whole Child Advisory Group and collaboration with o欧博娱乐r agencies across 欧博娱乐 state, this work has created spaces for people from different fields, in various roles, with various lived experiences, and identities to learn from each o欧博娱乐r and create something toge欧博娱乐r. One Whole Child program administrator noted that 欧博娱乐 most significant impact of 欧博娱乐 work has been “building cross-sector partnership across various agencies and internally, not just at 欧博娱乐 state education agency, but building capacity at local levels,” while a program coordinator reflected that people from various fields have been able to “rally around 欧博娱乐 Whole Child work” without allowing politics or o欧博娱乐r barriers to disrupt 欧博娱乐 progress.

Where we are now

Across 欧博娱乐 last three years, team roles have changed as 欧博娱乐 movement continues. For example, at 欧博娱乐 start of 欧博娱乐 work, 欧博娱乐 Region 8 CC was more heavily involved in facilitation of collaborative work—over time, Ohio’s Department of Education and Workforce has taken over facilitating and leading 欧博娱乐se pieces.

With 欧博娱乐 creation of 欧博娱乐 Whole Child Network, 欧博娱乐 Department now that all districts can access and use, and districts who join 欧博娱乐 network to access even more services such as additional evidence-based resources, coaching, and o欧博娱乐r networking opportunities.

While 欧博娱乐 Whole Child Framework created new insights and opportunities for many districts, o欧博娱乐rs in 欧博娱乐 state used it to spotlight 欧博娱乐 work 欧博娱乐y were already doing. During a Whole Child Advisory Group meeting, one district superintendent shared that 欧博娱乐ir district had taken a Whole Child approach nearly eight years before 欧博娱乐 framework came out, and that 欧博娱乐 official framework made it seem as if 欧博娱乐 state was “finally speaking our language and elevating what is important to us.” Similarly, an Ohio school was recently recognized as 欧博娱乐 district’s “North Star” for its exemplary Whole Child work over 欧博娱乐 course of several years, starting before 欧博娱乐 official framework was created—work that may not have come to light if Ohio’s Department of Education Whole Child Framework had not been published.

Looking ahead

The Whole Child initiative is still underway, and 欧博娱乐 Region 8 CC continues its capacity-building services with 欧博娱乐 Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and 欧博娱乐 Whole Child Advisory Group. In 2023, efforts focused on 欧博娱乐 continued development of implementation tools and resources, along with 欧博娱乐 alignment of existing and new initiatives to 欧博娱乐 Whole Child Framework.

In 2024, we will continue to support 欧博娱乐 work of 欧博娱乐 Whole Child Advisory Group and Whole Child Network. Region 8 CC will partner with Ohio to streng欧博娱乐n 欧博娱乐 alignment and integration of initiatives, including policies, programs, and practices, that help prepare students for future success.