UNCONDITIONAL EDUCATION
  • Blog
  • About Us
    • Our Model
    • Our Leadership Team
    • Press
    • Contact Us
  • News + Resources
    • News You Can Use
    • Resources
  • Unconditional Education Book

Welcome

​Please scroll down to read our Unconditional Education blog posts.

​You can click the button below to learn more about our Unconditional Education and School Based Services!

OUR UE MODEL AND SERVICES

Celebrating and Processing End of School Year Transitions

4/28/2020

1 Comment

 
Picture
​Even though we have recently been turned upside down in space and time, we are suddenly at the point where we must talk about the end of the school year. In the article Pieces of the Bye: The Importance of Preparing to say Goodbye to Children and Their Families, Janice Fialka touches on all the complicated aspects of endings and offers ways to reflect more deeply to acknowledge and find relief in our human experiences. It can be easy to let these school closures and the pandemic eclipse the multitude of joys, victories, surprises, disasters, and repairs that went on in all our relationships at our schools. Thus, let us not forget the important memories and events that occurred from the first day of school onward. I hope this brings some structured relief as we all deal with the school years’ end in a time that we never could have imagined.

Picture

Janice Fialka reflects on how to process saying goodbye in her article:

As teachers, social workers, nurses, and other service providers, we are aware of the importance of our first encounter with a new child, a new family, or a new client. Be it in their home, our classroom, our office, or our school, we make certain to greet families with a welcoming spirit that promotes a sense of safety and comfort.  We want to communicate with our eyes, our words, and our gestures: “We care about you and we are eager to work with you.” We value our beginning meetings with families and children and typically prepare with skill, time, and care for this first encounter. As the saying goes, we want to start out on the right foot.
 
Equally important, yet often overlooked, is the importance of preparing to say “goodbye” to children and families as they transition to new schools or programs. Teachers and other providers often plan goodbye parties, create colorful picture books of their student’s accomplishments, write thoughtful notes to parents, or in some way recognize this precious moment in time.  These strategies are meaningful and help to prepare for the goodbye, but they might unintentionally prevent us from looking at the whole experience or all the pieces in the relationship. Partnerships with children and families are complex and cannot easily be condensed into a farewell party, red balloons, or a delicious goodbye pie.  There are elaborate checklists for all the features of a high-quality transition, but nowhere is there even a box to check for the personal dimensions of leave taking.
 
Endings of all kinds often stir up strong emotions—positive and negative. As we prepare to say goodbye to children and families, we may be pleased that they are leaving with a new set of skills but we may also question ourselves and worry if we did everything we could to prepare them for the next phase of their education or life. These worries or wonderings may linger, even as we hug the children goodbye or warmly shake the hands of the parents.
 
Saying goodbye gives rise to the joys and worries, wishes and regrets that typically emerge in relationships. If we try to disregard the range of feelings and thoughts, we may lose the opportunity to be reflective and integrate the lessons learned from this relationship. In addition, we may end up carrying these worries or wonderings with us for longer than what is helpful or necessary.

​
What is it About Goodbyes that Challenge Us?
• Endings often remind us of previous “goodbyes” we have experienced personally and professionally. They stir up the old. Sometimes it is hard to distinguish between old feelings and the current experience.
• Endings remind us of our vulnerability and the fact that there are no guarantees in life. Nothing really is forever. Change is inevitable.
• Endings interrupt our routines and take us away from what is familiar.
• Endings force us to enter new worlds, with new people, norms, and experiences.
• Endings may give rise to awkward feelings, such as sadness, frustration, or even a feeling of relief that this relationship is (finally!) over. Endings may stir up other feelings such as anger or regret about what we did not accomplish, or what remains unresolved or undiscussed. We may anticipate strong feelings of missing this child, family, or client.​

 
How to Prepare for Saying Goodbye
In preparing for the numerous goodbyes that children, parents, and service providers experience, I created a tool that provides some structure to helping people reflect in a deeper and more comprehensive way about “saying goodbye.”  This tool acknowledges that there are multiple and varied reactions that rise in all relationships. It is not essential that we discuss each reaction, thought, or feeling; however, by using this tool we allow ourselves to recognize the range of experiences—to think about the many pieces of the “bye”. Think of this as a new take on the transition checklist— the questions we never ask. Maybe we can think of the pie as “food for thought” on the subject!
 
Our “bye” is divided into eight wedges, each representing a different aspect of the relationship.  There is space in each piece of the pie to jot down a few words or phrases that get triggered by the open-ended statements placed on each slice. 
Picture
This visual tool invites us to think about many facets of our work with families, especially the more challenging ones. In using this guide, we do not have to dutifully complete each “piece” for each relationship. We use it to help us uncover reactions, to be reflective and thus be more deliberate in our discussions.

​My Final Thoughts

As our goodbyes look very different in this time of virtual and on the phone meets, I hope that we can use this “pieces of the bye” as a springboard to plan how to hold multiple sides of the experience of goodbyes.  We can fantasize about that perfect ending that we could have had with our clients if we were face to face in our familiar meeting spaces, and we can also acknowledge that our moves to say goodbye during this unprecedented time may be just as powerful too.
Picture
Blog Post Written By: Julie Kim, Clinical Supervisor
1 Comment

Mental Health in the Time of COVID-19

4/28/2020

5 Comments

 
Picture
As a state, California has reached seven weeks with the stay-at-home (SAH) order in place. Many U.S. states and territories currently have issued state of emergencies for the COVID-19 pandemic. Many countries have quarantined their citizens to reduce the transmission of the virus. As governments increase preventative measures to decrease COVID-19, mental health continues to be an area that lacks similar efforts. For example, Governor Cuomo of New York has asked mental health professionals to provide tele-health services for New York residents. This action taken by Governor Cuomo is a preventative measure to decrease current and future mental or behavioral difficulties.

​COVID-19 might negatively impact some individuals more than others. Below are three key tips to support staff, parents and community members that focus on preventing possible post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms.

Key Tips

Picture
Preventative Actions can Reduce PTSD Symptomatology
​
Focus on what you can control in your day to day life. Have a karaoke night, host a Netflix party, bake, meditate, journal or draw! Name it to tame it - share with someone how you are feeling and why to help manage those negative feelings. Limit your exposure to the news as they could cause more distress.

Picture
Understand Behaviors from a Developmental Standpoint
​
Children, adolescents and adults present symptoms differently. Young children might not have the ability to verbalize their needs, which could cause an increase in negative behavior. Children and adolescents might present stress as headaches, stomachaches, and difficulty sleeping. 

Picture
Acknowledge the Changing Dynamic of Resources
​
Be mindful that the needs for resources will change over time. As the SAH order becomes the new normal, different needs might arise and will require us to be adaptable to them. Be active in updating your resources.

Picture
Blog Post Written By: Karla Aguirre, School Psychologist Intern
5 Comments

Making Students' Social Emotional Health Integral to Distance Learning - EdSource Weekly Podcast

4/23/2020

0 Comments

 
EdSource recently explored the narratives and challenges of student wellness during the COVID-19 pandemic in their ongoing podcast series, “This Week in California Education.” Tune in and listen to our very own Executive Director of School Partnerships, Robin Detterman, as she shares how staff at Seneca are responsively shifting their practice to ensure students stay connected to the mental health services during this time of remote learning (starting at the 10 minute mark). We want to offer a huge shout out to our team members and all mental health practitioners across the nation who are striving to ensure that all students and families remain connected to community and opportunities for wellness. We appreciate you!
0 Comments

What You Are Feeling is Real: Taking Care of Yo’ Self During COVID-19

4/22/2020

3 Comments

 
Picture
If you are anything like me, you may be feeling a bit oversaturated with media about COVID-19. Given the gravity of the pandemic it makes sense that there is a constant stream of new information, opinions, tips and tricks, and recommendations for how to sustain during this time. While it is necessary to stay informed, being inundated with such news also contributes to heightening the secondary health effects of the pandemic – stress and anxiety.

Picture
Image Credit: California Surgeon General’s Playbook: Stress Relief during COVID-19
Science tells that we have biological reactions to stress and anxiety that then, in turn, impact our physical and mental health. As stated by California Surgeon General, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, this means that if you are experiencing symptoms of stress and anxiety, it is not just in your head. At a time when it is critically important to maintain good health, stress busting should be a top priority for us all! It is especially important for those of us working in fields where we are serving vulnerable youth and families during this unprecedented time. While most of us have not taken a flight recently (due to guidelines for travel limitations), think about how in the event of a flight emergency, passengers are advised to put on their own oxygen mask before assisting others. The same goes for addressing our own health and wellbeing in order to be able to help others. Whether that is through systems work or direct service, the same principle applies.

​
Dr. Burke Harris recently released these playbooks with essential (as in simplified and important) information about stress management and self-care during COVID-19.
  • The California Surgeon General’s Playbook: Stress Relief During COVID-19 offers stress management information, specific “stress busting” strategies that can be used at home, and a self-care template for adults.
  • The California Surgeon General’s Playbook: Stress Relief for Caregivers and Kids During COVID-19 offers information on stress management for kids, specific “stress busting” strategies, and a self-care template for kids. 
In the playbooks, the following 6 Stress Busting Strategies are recommended: healthy nutrition, regular exercise, restful sleep, practicing mindfulness, staying connected to our social supports, and getting mental health care can help decrease stress hormones and improve health. Dr. Burke Harris also underscores the importance of staying connected. When thinking about self-care, it is important to remember that “safe, stable, and nurturing relationships can protect our brains and bodies from the harmful effects of stress and adversity.”
 
Please share your strategies for staying safe, healthy, and connected during COVID-19.
Picture
Blog Post Written By: Dr. Tamarah Tilos, Assistant Director of School Partnerships
3 Comments

Unconditional Education Storytelling Project: Meet Anna

4/22/2020

0 Comments

 
​The education landscape has shifted drastically over the past weeks and Seneca’s Unconditional Education partner schools are working hard to ensure that all students and families continue to thrive. In an effort to chronicle the innovative shifts in practice that are being made to support students, families, and school partners, UE will be presenting a series of interviews highlighting the work of UE practitioners. Our fist conversation is with Anna Scaiano, a UE coach at Verde K-8 in West Contra Costa Unified School District.
0 Comments

Using Good Health & Community to Bring Us Up

4/22/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
All-In! Partnership Project’s own March Madness series was a huge success this last month, gaining momentum with each week’s new themes, humor, and staff engagement! In efforts to adapt to the current climate of COVID-19 and the many challenges that arose from transitioning to remote work and services, March Madness served to motivate, appreciate, and celebrate each other through the power of community connection. Below is a full look at the amazing and engaging activities our program took part in last month:

​#MYFOURLEGGEDPAL

​#MYFOURLEGGEDPAL because pets are always our favorites. Three different groups of research found consistent evidence that the relationship you have with your pet can result in greater self-esteem and physical fitness, in addition to making you more conscientious and outgoing (Drewis, 2017). No wonder furry friends always bring folks’ spirits up!
Picture

​#SELFIESWITHMYPEEPS

​#SELFIESWITHMYPEEPS was the kick-off challenge to demonstrate how our staff handle healthy relationships; this can mean being with the friends who get you, quality family time, lunch with your coworkers, and more.
Picture

#SHOWUSHOWYOUCHILL

#SHOWUSHOWYOUCHILL shows a glimpse of the ways we enjoy breaktime at work, such as checking our social media, taking a walk, or take time to gather with co-workers.
Picture

#CHEFITUP

#CHEFITUP – what more can we say! Good nutrition is immensely important as your relationship with
 food can create a better sense of balance in your life. This is reflected in how balanced and varied your nutrition is, and how well your food serves as your fuel.
Picture

#DANCINGWITHMYHOMIES

​#DANCINGWITHMYHOMIES demonstrated the important physical practices our staff keep up. Remember that physical self-care is all things of care for your body, ranging from quality sleep, dancing, getting sunlight, and even going to the dentist!
Picture
0 Comments

STAFF HIGHLIGHT: Sonya Benavides

4/21/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
​Name: Sonya Benavides
Position: Assistant Director of Implementation
What led you to your current position? I started working at Seneca in 2009 in a residential and intensive day treatment setting. Over the years, I transitioned to different programs, held different roles, and found my way to the All-In! team in 2012. After going back to school, I worked as a UE Coach and solidified my path towards educational leadership. I had the privilege of working as a school leader at a TK-8 school in Oakland for the last five years. In that work, I was reminded of the importance in doing for adults what we want them to do with our young people. A desire to continue working with adults to create spaces for dialogue, creativity and continuous learning is what led me to my current role. I am a systems thinker and have always put energy towards designing towards a larger vision of what schooling and mental health programming can be. I am extremely passionate about educational justice and feel grateful to work with such amazing people who are actively working towards reimagining what school is.
Fun Fact/Quote: For a person who loves quotes, picking one is a hard task. Here is one that feels alive for me right now given the current context: "History is full of instances where people, against enormous odds, have come together to struggle for liberty and justice, and have won- not often enough, of course, but enough to suggest how much more is possible. The essential ingredients of these struggles for justice are human beings who, if only for a moment, if only while beset with fears, step out of line and do something, however small. And even the smallest, most unheroic of acts adds to the store of kindling that may be ignited by some surprising circumstance into tumultuous change." - Howard Zinn
What does your average day look like? Most of my workload is project based and largely focused on program improvement and implementation. What that means on the day to day is flexible time for staff engagement and project design. There is also a high rate of time in the office for meetings with program staff across our regions, the Strategic Initiatives team, and program leadership. My average day is a combination of face-to-face (now Zoom) connection and planning time, and time alone working on projects.
Why do you do this work? This work has always been deeply personal for me. I am inspired to do this work because of the stories of perseverance and character of those I grew up around, and the experiences I had as a young person noticing and feeling the opportunity gap play out in front of me. Since then I have been committed to bringing awareness to issues of equity and nudging systems in a different direction. Ultimately, I stay in this work to shape a more equitable world for my son and generations to come.

Picture
0 Comments

STAFF HIGHLIGHT: Stacey Abram

4/21/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Name: Stacey Abram
Position: Lead Academic Intervention Specialist
What led you to your current position? I majored in Education in college, but I always thought I would be a general education classroom teacher. After graduation, I was hired as a Residential Counselor in Seneca's group homes. After two years of working with clients who had such profound emotional and educational needs, I felt like I found my calling and decided to become a special education teacher. It has been almost 16 years since I started as a teacher at Seneca, and I'm still here!
Fun Fact/Quote: You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.
What does your average day look like? In the world of Coronavirus, things have changed a LOT! I usually have 2-4 virtual meetings per day. I text, call, and do Google Hangouts with the students on my caseload. Whenever possible, I do this while outside in my hammock or even while riding my bike! I really miss my students and our school community, and I can't wait to see them again!!!
Why do you do this work? I do this work because I am committed to liberating young people's minds despite the institutional obstacles in their way. I am acutely aware of how important it is to have a nurturing and educated, Black woman from their community as a mentor, role model, and advocate.

Picture
0 Comments

Where there is a Will, there is a Way: All-In!’s Quick Response to COVID-19

4/8/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
We hope you are all taking care of yourselves as we try to support others during this challenging time. One of our staff members shared the article "That Discomfort You're Feeling is Grief" which frames what we are collectively and individually experiencing during this crisis as grief. ​​It's important to name the actual feelings and reactions we are experiencing that people may not have been able to articulate. ​Hearing how others are doing and feeling helps all of us stay connected when we are all in isolation. ​During these last few weeks, working with the All-In! team in San Francisco and the Peninsula has illuminated for us several truths about the resiliency of human beings. 

Picture
​First, people have an enormous capacity to come together, despite any obstacles in their path. When the shelter-in-place ordinance was first rolled out, there was a moment of panic. "Does this mean we can't see our kids and families? How will we continue to serve our school communities?" In the end, it only took one day of planning for Telehealth services to begin in SF and East Palo Alto. Our staff worked together to contact each of our Tier 3 families, assess their preferences around virtual platforms, and schedule sessions. Then, using phone and video platforms, both clinicians and behavioral staff started holding sessions with kids and families the following day. Talk about a quick turnaround!

Picture
​Second, people have an incredible amount of untapped creativity. We all initially said something to the effect of, "but what are we going to do in a Telehealth session with a five-year-old?" It turns out that the possibilities are endless. One of our behavioral staff had a young client over video walk to the place in her home where she felt the most safe. Then, they walked through a few coping strategies and she practiced utilizing those tools in real time. When are we, as school-based mental health providers, ever able to help kids generalize coping skills into their home environments? Almost never! Another one of our staff figured out how to utilize the "draw" function on one of the virtual platforms and share his screen so that he and the client could create an art piece together. A third staff member read the book The Invisible String to all her clients, exploring themes of community and how they are still connected to their teachers and friends from school. The list of exciting activities is growing each day, as our folks continue to find new ways of engaging their young clients.

Picture
Finally, human beings look out for one another and help when needed. Amid Covid-19, there is a substantial waitlist of children and families here in San Francisco who have not been able to access mental health care. In support of our Seneca partners in the San Francisco Connections program, our clinicians and behavioral staff have been able to take on several cases to ensure that these young people receive the socio-emotional supports they need to make it through this global crisis. Our staff have displayed grit, perseverance, and a willingness to go above and beyond in one of the most challenging times that we as a species have experienced.

We have never felt so proud to be a part of this organization and truly believe that my colleagues are some of the strongest, most caring individuals this planet has to offer. As Nelson Mandela said, "It always seems impossible until it's done." Thank you, Seneca’s All-In! family, for your commitment to supporting our kids and families and getting it done!

Picture
Blog Post Written By: Jonathan Barnett, Director of School Partnerships
Picture
Blog Post Written By: Robyn Ganeles, Assistant Director of Clinical Intervention
0 Comments

A Time to Re-Imagine: Our Stories Build Hope

4/1/2020

2 Comments

 
Picture
​Over the last few weeks, I have heard many speak about the roller coaster of emotions they have experienced as they have coped with the ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some have been focused on the micro and managing the immediate needs in front of them. Others have expressed perspectives about the worldwide implications for our future. An overwhelming theme present in all that I’ve spoken to is uncertainty.  
 
As a way to ground myself in this time, I have been revisiting texts that I find inspirational. Doing so, I ran across a number of quotes that spoke to me by adrienne maree brown:

Picture
“What we practice at the small scale sets the patterns for the whole system. Transform yourself to transform the world. This doesn’t mean to get lost in the self, but rather to see our own lives and work and relationships as a front line, a first place we can practice justice, liberation and alignment with each other and the planet.” - adrienne maree brown

Picture
“The future is not an escapist place to occupy. All of it is the inevitable result of what we do today, and the more we take in our hands, imagine it as a place of justice and pleasure, the more the future knows we want it, and that we aren’t letting go.” - adrienne maree brown

These quotes reminded me that liberation and justice work start on the small scale; with ourselves and each other. That finding ways to connect and be human together despite the complexity that presents itself and doing so as our authentic self is an act of justice. These quotes also helped me reflect on the value of listening and the responsibility that comes with it.  
Picture
Naturally during these times, stories of pain and challenges are highlighted most frequently. However, if we tune in closely, we will also hear resilience and the reimagining of the future; reimagining the world, each system, and it starts with the interpersonal and intrapersonal.

I am inspired to listen for stories - stories that we can look to for hope and inspiration during this time of uncertainty. 
 
This is where I turn to you all. My community. I encourage you to reflect on these questions, answer or post your own questions below.  
 
What has it been like to be you lately?
 
How have you been affected by the COVID-19 virus and stay at home orders (personally & professionally)?
 
How are you staying connected? 
 
Where are you finding hope?
Picture
Blog Post Written By: Sonya Benavides, Assistant Director of Implementation
2 Comments
<<Previous

    Authors:

    School Program Partnerships

    We're Hiring!

    Interested in joining our School Program Partnerships' Team​? Check out our open positions below!
    Teachers
    School Therapists
    Classroom Counselors

    Categories:

    All
    Academic Strand Updates
    All In! Snapshots
    Behavioral Strand Updates
    Clinical Strand Updates
    Program Highlights
    School Highlights
    Staff Guest Posts
    Staff Highlights

    Archives

    October 2024
    September 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly