Centering the voices of students
Vision
To provide inclusive and identity-affirming learning communities where every student experiences safety and belonging and has access to differentiated and responsive mental health care.
Mission
As a District, we strive to create partnerships with students, staff, families/caregivers and communities to ensure that every student feels they belong in their schools and classrooms, where we build skills to foster positive mental health and well-being and where we bridge to identity affirming clinical mental health services when required.
Belonging
Improve belonging in our schools and classrooms where every student feels seen, heard and valued and where mental health is woven into everyday conversations and practices.
Building
Build and strengthen staff, parent/caregiver and students’ skills to support mental health while centering students’ individual, cultural and community strengths and unique abilities.
Bridging
Bridge and enhance service pathways to, through and from differentiated, identity-affirming and responsive mental health care spanning from school to community mental health services.
Mental Health & Well-Being Guiding Principles
- Commitment to supporting Indigenous students and families through culturally appropriate care.
- Relationship-centered approaches to mental health where authentic connection and collaboration are built to engage students, families and the larger community.
- Equity-centered mental health care focuses on ensuring each student’s access to appropriate and inclusive supports and resources tailored to meet their individual needs.
- Trauma-informed education recognizes the impact of trauma on students’ learning and behaviour while empowering staff to address harm and inequities both inside and outside of the classroom.
- Identity-affirming care that is strength-based, evidence-informed and values and celebrates students’ unique and intersecting identities.
- Engagement with students, families and community grounded in humility, curiosity, and compassion.
- An understanding that staff well-being is an essential component to supporting student well-being.
“Every student has different needs that need to be met and recognized.”
- OCDSB Student