Riding the Wave: Strategies for Coping with Stress and Anxiety

Presented by: Jackie Huberman, in partnership with Queen's Hillel It’s that time of year when stress and anxiety run high – but what IS “anxiety”? Is it all bad? How do you manage stress and anxiety so that you stay productive and take care of yourself? In this interactive workshop, we will review some common forms of anxiety and will provide a range of effective techniques for coping with stress and anxiety. We hope you’ll leave armed with some new tools to help manage the ups and downs of the academic year and beyond! Feel free to bring any specific questions you have about how to study/prepare for exams or assignments, manage your time, or cope with tough emotions.

Holy Cross C.S.S. Mental Health Workshop Series

Presented by: numerous clinical psychology students, in partnership with Dr. Su Buchanan (Maple Family Health) and Lisa Lollar (Kingston Public Health). We collaborated with Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School to deliver monthly lunchtime workshops for their students throughout the school year. These workshops are fairly short and focused (30-45 mins), designed to provide opportunity to learn and practice specific hands-on coping tools. Topics include: - Speak Up, Listen In: Communication Skills - Keep Calm & Carry On: Relaxation Skills - How to Ace Your Test While Still Getting Rest!: Time management & Study Skills - Decatastrophizing! : When Your Mind Gets Ahead of itself - Mindful or Mindfull?!? : Learn How to Focus On the Now - Catching enough ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZs? Tips for Making the Most of Your Sleep. - Who’s Taking Care of You?: Practising Self Care - Catch, Challenge & Change: Thought Records – Challenge that Voice in Your Head!

Improving Your Sleep

Presented by: Alexandra Tighe and Larah Maunder, in partnership with the Mental Health Awareness Committee Are you always tired? Do you feel like you’re not getting enough sleep? Are you stressed about running yourself to the ground in exam season? In this workshop, we will discuss the important role of sleep in mental health and wellbeing. We will also review evidence-based tools to help improve the quality of your sleep, and provide tips about general self-care.

How to Help Your Anxious Child: Tips and Tricks for Parents

Presented by: Irene Hong and Larah Maunder, in partnership with St. Francis of Assisi School We’ve all heard of “anxiety”, but what is it? How do you manage it or support your child when they are feeling anxious? In this workshop, we will review common types of anxiety. We’ll provide effective techniques for coping with anxiety and you’ll have the chance to practice some of them. We’ll also discuss ways that you can help support your anxious child, including what to say and what not to say.

Kingston Collegiate & Vocational Institute Mental Wellness Series

Presented by: Larah Maunder and Joyce Li, in partnership with KCVI We led a series of five discussion-based sessions on various topics relevant to high school girls, including depression, anxiety, healthy relationships, and substance use.

LaSalle Secondary School Mental Wellness Week

Presented by: Jackie Huberman, Dan Tassone, and Kayla Mooney We delivered five sessions of the same workshop in one day, focused on communicating about mental health and skills for checking in with one another.

Who is eligible for a scholarship?

Tri-County Scholarship awards are based upon financial need. Any child, K-12, living in Morris, Passaic, or Sussex Counties may apply for a scholarship.

What is the demographic profile of scholarship recipients?

The current demographics of Tri-County scholarship recipients are represented by: 72% Latino, 12% African American, 11% Caucasion, and 5% other. This breakdown reflects the population composition of Paterson and Passaic, two of New Jersey’s urban centers with relatively large Hispanic communities.

Why does Tri-County focus on K-12 scholarships instead of college scholarships?

Without the opportunity to attend safe, quality, private K-12 schools, many inner-city and financially needy children will not acquire the academic qualifications or personal skills and character traits required to attend and excel in college. The goal of Tri-County and its partner schools is to produce the most academically prepared students possible so that they can take advantage of the scholarships available to qualified college applicants. Tri-County students annually achieve a high school graduation rate of 98-100% with virtually all graduates going on to attend college.

How are funds distributed between grade school and high school scholarships?

Scholarships for grades K-8 are usually $2000 / year. Tri-County Scholarships for high school are typically $4,000/ year. Each year there is also an additional category of high school scholarship award: Tri-County Freedom Scholarships that award $5,000 to incoming Freshmen who demonstrate particular academic promise by earning a B average in middle school. The student must complete a special application, including teacher recommendations. The Freedom Scholarship is awarded for all four years of high school if the student maintains the “B” grade point average throughout high school.

Who qualifies for scholarships? Do students have to maintain a specific GPA?

Scholarships are awarded based upon demonstrated financial need. Parents apply for their children by submitting their family financial information on the confidential, online FACTS form. With the exception of the high school Freedom Scholars program (requiring a B average), Tri-County does not have an academic merit screen for its scholarships. However, students must re-apply each year, and pass all courses in order for their scholarship to be renewed for the following year.

How are the scholarship recipients selected?

Tri-County works with the confidential online system called FACTS, the nation’s leading Tuition Management and Financial Aid Assessment software company for private and faith-based schools. Families are required to complete an online application which analyzes income and expenses relative to family size. The Tri-County staff then reviews all applications and makes the final scholarship decisions. Tri-County is committed to continuing scholarship support for each recipient through the conclusion of that child’s K-12 education, assuming the family re-applies by the February 15 deadline each year, and that the financial need persists. Tri-County’s intent to provide educational continuity for the individual child is why existingscholarship recipients are given preference over new applicants during the process of awarding scholarships for each school year.

Do the families of scholarship recipients contribute to school tuition?

Yes. Families contribute a portion of the tuition. Family contribution is typically 20% – 30% of annual tuition. The amount varies depending on the family’s circumstances, other sources of financial assistance, and special arrangements made with the respective school.

What kind of schools do scholarship recipients attend?

Tri-County scholarship recipients attend values-based, private schools: Catholic, Christian, Hebrew, and schools with no religious affiliation. Several schools are independent, and some are under the auspices of the Diocese. Many of these schools have a long-standing mission to serve the inner-city poor. Regardless of religious affiliation, all financially needy children living in Morris, Passaic or Sussex counties may apply to any of the schools served by Tri-County.

What do you mean by "values-based" education?

Tri-County defines a values-based education as one that is informed by the Judeo-Christian principles upon which America was founded. Key to a values-based education is the emphasis on the irreplaceable dignity of every human person. From this understanding flow the core human values of equality, freedom, honesty, integrity, respect, solidarity, charity, trust, hard work, and service to others. Examples of a values based program are the school honor code, compulsory community service, admissions standards that celebrate diversity, and a curriculum that includes personal character development.

What is the "Freedom-Scholars" program?

The Freedom Scholars program is an enhanced scholarship opportunity for the most academically gifted 8th graders who also qualify financially. Freedom Scholars are chosen from scholarship applicants who have consistently maintained a B average or better throughout their middle school academic career. The application requires the regular FACTS family financial information PLUS an essay written by the student, the middle school transcript, and a teacher recommendation. A $5,000 scholarship is awarded to each Freedom Scholar. This award is matched by the student’s high school. Freedom Scholars are given mentors who meet with them monthly to assess their progress, making certain they have everything they need to succeed. The students are also given special help with SAT prep and with college essay prep.

What do "Freedom-Scholars" go on to do after high school?

Tri-County graduated its first class of Freedom Scholars in June of 2015. 100% of these students enrolled in a 4-year college program. The Class of 2016 graduated 10 high school Freedom Scholars. The high school Class of 2020 has 21 Freedom Scholars It is a competitive program with many qualified applicants. The number of awards is limited only by available funding. Tri-County hopes to award more Freedom Scholarships each year as funding for this program increases.

Does Tri-County support underserved students in suburban areas of Northern New Jersey?

While most Tri-county scholarship recipients come from inner-city environments, Tri-County also provides scholarships to financially needy children in suburban and rural environments within Morris, Passaic and Sussex counties.

How many scholarships does Tri-County award each school year? How many deserving students remain on the Waiting List?

Tri-County’s budget allows us currently to award 500 scholarships each year. There are, however, an additional 1,500 equally deserving students on our Scholarship Waiting List for any given school year. Tri-County’s goal is to raise additional funds in order to help more of these needy children, so that they too may be able to experience the freedom and opportunity made possible by a safe, quality education.

What is the annual scholarship application deadline?

Families must submit all materials and financial information must to Tri-County by February 15 of each year.

What is the process and usual timing for awarding scholarships?

1. New students apply to their preferred private school by the school’s own application deadline.
2. Students indicate the name of their intended or continuing school on their Tri-County application.
3. All scholarship application materials and financial information must be submitted to Tri-County by February 15.
4. After the February 15 application deadline, Tri-County assesses the financial need of each applicant.
5. Families are typically informed of regular and Freedom scholarship awards by early May. In some years this notification process continues into the summer, as is the happy case when additional scholarship funds become available.
6. Financially deserving children who do not receive scholarship awards in the regular process are placed on a Scholarship Waiting List. Depending upon Tri-County funding, a small number of 5 to 15 additional, “wait listed” children may receive scholarship awards over the summer time.

What To Do If You Can't Sleep?

Presented by Samantha Dawson, MSc & Jackie Huberman, MSc

This interactive and educational workshop will provide an introduction to insomnia and other common sleep problems. We will review the biological process of sleep and will discuss how managing sleep difficulties can lead to positive effects on mood. Importantly, we’ll review strategies that have been shown to effectively improve sleep fairly quickly, so that you can start sleeping better soon!

How to Support a Friend with Anxiety

Presented by Irene Hong and Chloe Hudson, with Dr. Tess Clifford We’ve all heard of “anxiety”, but what is it? How do you manage it or support an anxious friend? In this interactive workshop, we will review common types of anxiety. We’ll provide effective techniques for coping with anxiety and you’ll have the chance to practice some of them. We’ll also discuss ways that you can help support an anxious friend, including what to say and what not to say.

How to Help a Friend Cope with Sexual Assault

Presented by Robyn Jackowich and Stéphanie Gauvin, with Dr. Caroline Pukall Unwanted sexual experiences are unfortunately all too common. In this workshop, we will review common myths about sexual assault and will present important facts, including what consent is, how to get it, and how to give it. We’ll discuss the impact sexual assault can sometimes have on mental, physical, and emotional well being, including the wide range of responses different people may have. Importantly, we’ll review ways to support a friend who discloses they’ve been sexually assaulted – what to say, what not to say, how to check in, and how to recognize your limits. We’ll be sure you leave the workshop with immediate and long-term resources, so that you and/or your friend are not alone.

Coping with Big Emotions: How to Help a Friend Deal with Tough Emotional Experiences

Presented by: Nicole Bardikoff, Kalee DeFrance, & Vanessa Schell, with Dr. Tom Hollenstein Emotions are ubiquitous. We are always experiencing some level of emotion yet, due to social demands, we also try to regulate our emotions. Many of us struggle with emotion regulation, however, which can have negative mental health outcomes. In this interactive workshop, we will present techniques that have been found to effectively help people become more aware of their emotional experiences and develop successful regulatory practices. We’ll discuss the upsides and downsides of emotions and will review ways to build resources to help yourself or a friend through tough emotional times.

Depression: Myths, Facts, & Strategies for You or a Friend

Presented by Katherine Holshausen, Melissa Milanovic, and Tanya Tran, with Dr. Su Buchanan In this workshop, we will debunk common myths about depression. We’ll review various manifestations of depressive symptoms and research findings about the prevalence of depression and effective treatments. Importantly, we will provide an overview of some helpful coping strategies for depression and we will practice some of these together. Through this interactive workshop, you will also learn strategies for supporting a friend with depression, including what to say, what not to say, and what resources are available to them.

How to Support a Friend with an Eating Disorder

Presented by Amanda Shamblaw and AuthenticallyU, with Dr. Su Buchanan In a culture that promotes healthy eating and dieting, how do you know when things have gone too far? In this interactive and educational workshop, we will review different types of eating disorders. We’ll discuss signs of disordered eating, its effects on the body and mind, and strategies for supporting a friend with an eating disorder, including how to open dialogues. We will also provide an overview of available treatments and resources, which you can use or provide to a friend in need.

On Living with Depression

The Science and Experience of Being and Caring for Someone with Depression Presented by: Dr. Kate Harkness and Mateya Dimnik Depression is a common experience for Canadians. It can be debilitating. It can be isolating. It is often misunderstood. In this talk, we’ll explore the science and experience of depression. We’ll answer common questions, as well as some you may not have even thought to ask: What exactly is depression? What does it look like, feel like? How can it be treated? What’s the latest research? And what can you do to support someone living with depression? Join us for an illuminating and thought-provoking presentation and discussion!