Change in Mind Hands-On Tools
Change in Mind Hands On Tool Kit Framework
The Resilience Scale is a framework to organize core social emotional habits and skills essential to success and human prosperity. Science has recently shifted the understanding of how essential Resilience is to mental and behavioral health. The values set forth by communities such as being respectful, effective problem solving, responsibility, citizenship and being a committed learner in school rely on youths’ ability to prosper through stressors and adversity. The Resilience Scale is adapted from an original model developed by the FrameWorks Institute (Frameworks-Resilience Scale PDF) .
“In the same way that the weight sitting on a scale or teeter-totter affects the direction it tips, the factors that a child is exposed to affect the outcomes of their development. A child’s scale is placed in a community and has spaces on either side where environmental factors get placed. These factors influence which direction the scale tips and the outcomes of the child’s development.” (Kendall-Taylor, 2012)
Achieving positive outcomes for students can be thought of similarly. On one side are the risk factors such as exposure to adversity, trauma and the impact of stress on emotional and behavioral experiences. On the opposite side of the scale safe and supportive interactions allow for the development of key self regulation (emotion regulation & body regulation), executive thinking and interpersonal skills. Like a teeter- totter when risk factors outweigh protective factors the likelihood of negative outcomes is high. Based on this understanding of how resilience is built to achieve positive outcomes, communities and individuals capable of providing safe and supportive interactions have the responsibility to tip students’ scales toward resilience and positive health outcomes.
Tools:
The following strategies/tools are utilized within KVC sites to support the development of resilience skills, overcoming exposure to trauma and adversity and supporting health brain development:
The Learning Lab
Description: The KVC Learning Lab is a unique experiential learning center for youth with social, emotional and behavioral challenges. The Learning Lab was developed to provide interventions to strengthen youths’ self-regulation and executive function skills. Each interaction in the learning lab is aligned with the most up-to date science and research.
Current Use: The Learning Lab is currently being used at Prairie Ridge Psychiatric Hospital, Wheatland Psychiatric Hospital and under development at Niles.
Tools/Strategies: Developed by KVC- Regulating my Brain Workbook, Strengthening my Brain Activities, Emotion Regulation Drills, Emotion Regulation Station, Emotion Regulation Safety Planning, 3rd Party- Bal-A-Vis-X, Fit Brain, biofeedback/neurofeedback (STENS software)
Mindfulness Based Self-Regulation Skill Building
Description: Mindful Based Self-Regulation Skill Building provides community based learning opportunities for individuals, families and in group settings to promote expansion of body, mind and emotion regulation as well as interpersonal skills. Using awareness, breathing and meditation techniques to enhance resilience skills.
Current Use: Mindfulness Based Self-Regulation Skill Building is utilized within Kentucky Community Based Services
Tools/Strategies: Mindful awareness of the present, mindfulness movement, bring awareness to routing, mindful art, body scan meditation, sensory grounding techniques, mindful breathing meditation, guided imagery and visualization, pleasant and unpleasant experiences calendar, 3 minute breathing space, focused attention and spacious attention, mindfulness of walking, allowing and letting be, thoughts as mental events and mindfulness action
Vicarious and Secondary Trauma Training for Caregivers/ Providers including My Self-Care Plan
Description: This unique training experience provides awareness of how vicarious and secondary trauma impacts quality of life. Participants learn the five domains of self-care and approaches to achieving wellness. Self-Care plan provides tools and strategies to help participants care for themselves before they care for others.
Current Use: Vicarious and Secondary Trauma Training for Caregivers/Provider is utilized for all new employees for KVC Hospitals and KVC Kansas. Additional external trainings have been provided to foster parents, behavioral health providers, educators and other child serving organizations.
Tools/Strategies: My Self-Care Plan including five domains of care and 3 approaches to wellness
Evaluation Tools/Scales-
The following scales have been identified for providers to consider when measuring the effectiveness of interventions (hyperlinks to the developers website or other helpful information is provided below):
Mental Health Symptoms:
- APA Level 1 and 2 Cross Cutting Symptoms Scales Link
- Vanderbilt Assessment Link
- PHQ9 Link
- PHQA Link
- GAD7 Link
- Screen for Child Anxiety and Related Emotional Disorders Link
- Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale Link
Functional Scales
Provider Evaluation
- Professional Quality of Life Scale Link