Children’s Home Society of Florida
Children’s Home Society of Florida
Building Middle School Youth Resiliency—SEL Skills for Educational Success
Middle school is a pivotal transition time for students, marked by academic expectations, social dynamics, and self-discovery. For at-risk youth in Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) in Florida, those stressors may be compounded by exposure to poverty, violence, mental health struggles, hunger, and homelessness.
Through an All-Points North Foundation grant to Children’s Home Society of Florida (CHS), in-need 6th to 8th graders will receive structured programming at OCPS’ Academic Center for Excellence, one of 37 Community Partnership Schools (CPS) transforming students’ lives. Anchored in the sustainable CPS model, the Building Resilient Youth program aims to mitigate negative behaviors and bolster academic achievement. This support system addresses obstacles that distract students from their education. The framework is grounded in social-emotional competencies led by managing nonprofit CHS, bringing resources to students and families through collaboration with core partners, the University of Central Florida (UCF), and Orange Blossom Health.
Building Resilient Youth is grounded in after-school expanded learning sessions, assisted by UCF graduate students; engagement events to foster the parent-student-staff connection and support student learning at home; student referrals from educators; and referrals for clinical counseling for students and families.
For the Parramore Community in Orlando, wraparound services nurture student resilience through tutoring, counseling, healthcare, nutritional support, and parental engagement through a holistic lens. Foundational supports are essential for developing social-emotional skills necessary for students to bounce back from adversity and thrive well beyond middle school. Students learn to manage stress, anxiety, and cope with frustration, enabling them to focus on their studies. Problem-solving skills help improve critical thinking and perseverance. Applying these social-emotional learning (SEL) skills, whether at home or amongst peers, helps fuel their motivation and meet life’s challenges.
Despite living in an area where almost 63% of households fall below the poverty line and not quite half have attained a high school diploma, well-supported middle schoolers are more likely to better manage their emotions, form healthy relationships, manage peer dynamics, and seize a sense of purpose to succeed academically. Building Resilient Youth equips students with practical tools to regulate their emotions, reducing behavioral disruptions and fostering a more positive classroom environment. This supportive school culture, in turn, helps students thrive and boosts the morale of teachers and staff as well.
For more information:www.chsfl.org
Photo credit: Children’s Home Society of Florida
All Points North Foundation provides grants for U.S.-based projects and initiatives that support our priorities: improving public middle school education and teacher training, and implementing effective solar programs and/or projects.
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