Professional Learning Opportunities
One of the most impactful ways to ensure student achievement is to promote teacher effectiveness through ongoing professional learning. Professional learning is a critical factor in improving educator capacity as they learn and practice skills that advance their expertise. The CA Health Education Framework Rollout Project developed four asynchronous, open access online courses to support educators in increasing their health education content knowledge and pedagogical skill development. The courses include an overview of the CA Health Education Content Standards and Framework; safe, supportive, and inclusive learning environments; standards/skill-based instructional design process; as well as a closer look at the six health education content areas.
California Health Education Framework Professional Learning Online Courses
Additional Professional Learning Opportunities
Additional on demand asynchronous professional learning opportunities are available to support health education and other health related efforts in schools. Many of these have been created and made available by public health organizations, education agencies, community-based and non-profit organizations, and other experts that share the goal of building educator capacity to support student health and address prevention efforts in schools.
Sexual Health
Sexual Health Educator (SHE) Training Program
Sexual Health Educator (SHE) Training Program modules are developed and/or vetted by experts in the field of sexual health at the CA Department of Public Health, STD Control Branch. The required courses are free and most electives are free. California educators who successfully complete the program’s required and elective modules receive a SHE Training Program Certificate of Completion.
Sex Ed To-Go (Planned Parenthood)
Sex Ed To-Go offers a teacher-facing portal to support busy teachers and other youth-serving professionals with baseline skills and content. Bite-sized learnings designed to help teachers and youth-serving professionals reach basic competence in inclusive sex education, covering topics like answering student questions, inclusive language and images, and trauma-informed education.
Early Identification of CSEC for Schools K-12 (WEAVE)
WEAVE Learn developed The Early Identification of CSEC Training Program. The training includes CSEC indicators and identification, culturally competent and trauma-informed care, protocols for reporting and intervention, and ways to partner with community-based organizations and resources. This is a free resource.
The Respect Online Course (APA)
The Respect Online Course from the American Psychological Associaton aims to prevent health risks and promote healthy outcomes among lesbian gay bisexual transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) students. The course teaches school professionals how to provide direct services and utilize school-based practices that promote sexual health and responsibility among LGBTQ students.
Safety and Violence Prevention
Veto Violence Tools and Trainings (CDC)
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention Division of Violence Prevention curated a list of tools and training to strengthen educators’ prevention toolkit with topics about violence prevention programs and practice, including Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), healthy relationships, principles of prevention, sexual violence indicators, and more.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Course (NFHS)
Sudden Cardiac Arrest is the number one cause of death in the United States for student athletes during exercise. Caused by a structural or electrical problem associated with the heart, Sudden Cardiac Arrest happens when the heart unexpectedly stops beating and pumping blood.
Nutrition and Physical Activity
Nutrition Project Online Modules (LACOE)
Los Angeles County Office of Education developed five online nutrition and physical activity modules: Rethink Your Drink, Healthy Classrooms, Nutrition Integration, Physical Activity Integration, and Common Core Standards. These free learning opportunities highlight best practices for classroom teachers.
Nutrition Primer (Dairy Council of California)
The Nutrition Primer was developed by the Dairy Council of California to support educators learning to teach nutrition. This resource provides fundamental nutrition knowledge for teachers. These nutrition basics lay a foundation for healthy living.
The Online Physical Education Network
The Online Physical Education Network has free online professional development courses for educators to support physical education, physical activity, and social emotional learning.
Mental, Social, and Emotional Health
Greater Good Science Center Online Courses for Educators | GGSC
The Greater Good Science Center has created customized professional learning modules housed on Greater Good in Education to support ongoing professional learning and collaboration throughout the state.
Suicide Prevention Training (LivingWorks)
Suicide prevention training for middle and high school students (ages 13+) and staff in California. No cost training for employees working in any public middle or high school in California.
A TRUSTED SPACE - FOR EDUCATORS
The 43-minute film and accompanying research-based SEL curriculum provides a practical, empathetic, and scientific understanding of how trauma impacts behavior and learning, and how to manage it within any classroom setting.
Safe Spaces: Foundations of Trauma-Informed Practice for Educational and Care Settings
Safe spaces is a free, online training designed to help individuals working with children and youth recognize and respond to signs of trauma and stress.
Each Mind Matters Webinar
This webinar from June 23, 2020 provides an overview of how COVID-19 has caused trauma for school-age children and how to identify trauma systems, as well as a review of Each Mind Matters resources and self-care tips for educators.
The Trevor Project Lifeguard Workshop
This video training and curriculum is based on Trevor's in-person workshop that is listed in the SPRC/AFSP Best Practices Registry for Suicide Prevention and is free of charge to educators and youth service providers.
Supporting Grieving Students in Schools Teacher Training Module (CSGS)
These teacher modules will help school staff understand the experience of the grieving student and includes information about how children understand death and express their grief, practical suggestions about how school staff can initiate the conversation and offer support to the grieving student.
Learning for Justice Webinars (SPLC)
Learning for Justice self-paced webinars offer helpful guidance and great ideas from our experienced teaching and learning specialists and from innovative educators in the Learning for Justice community. Topics include: Trauma Response Education, Value of Educator Self Care, and Why Student Mental Health Matters.
Psychological First Aid for Schools (NCTSN)
This National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) webinar addresses the fundamentals of Psychological First Aid for Schools (PFA-S). PFA-S helps reduce the distress that school communities can experience after a disaster or violent event.