Social Media and Teen Brains

Last week, Mitch Prinstein, the chief science officer at the American Psychological Association (APA), testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee about the role that social media plays in children’s mental health. His 22-page testimony is incredibly informative, and National Public Radio (NPR) has ten key points that families should know. Read the full article for … Continue reading Social Media and Teen Brains

October is College Changes Everything Month

Today’s guest post comes from the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), highlighting College Changes Everything Month in October, new changes to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and expanded financial aid eligibility for some students. High school PTAs and PTSAs can work with school guidance counselors to host FAFSA completion nights. October is … Continue reading October is College Changes Everything Month

Resources for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, and Illinois PTA has highlighted Safe2Help Illinois when it was first announced in 2020 and covered the new 988 Suicide Prevention Lifeline (an alternative to the 800 number) in our Weekend Update newsletter. As part of its efforts for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, the Child Mind Institute is sharing … Continue reading Resources for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

Team Up for Your Student’s Success

We’re big fans of Learning Heroes at Illinois PTA, not only for their fantastic family resources, but also for their enlightening research and commitment to meaningful family engagement. As the school year kicks off, Learning Heroes has launched their Ready to Team Up resources for families to help them partner with their child’s teacher for … Continue reading Team Up for Your Student’s Success

PTA Addresses Food Insecurity and Hunger

According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), 37.2 million people in the US lived in food-insecure households in 2018. The pandemic has served to highlight how many families are struggling with food insecurity and hunger. In 2020, National PTA created a four-part webinar series designed to engage PTAs and families on food insecurity and … Continue reading PTA Addresses Food Insecurity and Hunger

October is College Changes Everything Month in Illinois

The Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) has launched its sixth College Changes Everything Month in Illinois. The month is designed to provide an intensive schedule of free college and financial planning support to students and families. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid for the 2022-2023 school year became available on October … Continue reading October is College Changes Everything Month in Illinois

Teen Suicide—What Families and PTAs Need to Know

September is Suicide Prevention Month. Suicide is the second leading cause of death in 15- to 19-year-olds. Northwestern School of Medicine has a resource page on teen suicide that will help you educate yourself and talk with your teen about the issue. In addition, a new law in Illinois will require school districts that issue identification cards … Continue reading Teen Suicide—What Families and PTAs Need to Know

Facing Fears, Supporting Students—New Mental Health Toolkit

Today’s guest post comes from Mental Health America, who have just released a new Back-to-School Toolkit to give families, teachers, and school personnel the tools and resources they need to support children’s mental health. This school year brings increased fear and trauma for many students after more than a year away from in-person learning. The toolkit, Facing Fears, Supporting … Continue reading Facing Fears, Supporting Students—New Mental Health Toolkit

Learning Heroes Helps You Team Up for Success

As back-to-school time means kids actually going back to school, Learning Heroes has a collection of resources to help families start the school year off right by partnering with their child’s teacher. Their Parent-Teacher Planning Tool helps you connect with your child’s teacher by walking you through the key information you should share about your child. And as they … Continue reading Learning Heroes Helps You Team Up for Success