District Service Project

For the past decade, the District Service Committee has focused on youth hunger. This should still be a focus of all clubs, but another important service project, mental health, is also now getting attention.

The Service Project Committee has undertaken the Kindness Crew Projects and encourages all clubs to get involved.

The project focuses on bringing awareness of mental health and implementing new projects to break the silence, end the stigma behind mental health and being kind to our minds. The Kindness Crew Project is to insure that the whole child is being taken care of both physically and mentally.

Share your club’s ideas and projects: https://forms.gle/gUBbQJzmjfrUxC7q9

Work with your local schools ideas:
- See what the schools need to help children mentally
- Help create safe spaces for children in the classroom (ex: comfy reading nook to go when they are overwhelmed and need downtime, this could be purchasing a comfy chair, fun books, fidget toys, music player, coloring books, feelings worksheet, etc)
- Make compliment candy grams for all of the teachers
- Work with your local K kids and builders club to make compliment grams for the kids in their classes
- NESTT (which stands for Navigating Emotional Stress Through Training) at City High School in Iowa City- Contact Doug Lestina for more info

Work with organizations resources:
- Provide training, events, gather and share resources, etc
- Trevor Project: National Advocating for LGBTQ+
  - https://www.thetrevorproject.org/
- First Aid Mental Health for Youth
  - https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/population-focused-modules/youth/
- Wellness Recovery Action Plan
  - https://www.wellnessrecoveryactionplan.com/
- NAMI Nebraska: https://naminebraska.org/
- NAMI Iowa: https://namiiowa.org/childrens-mental-health-committee/
- NAMI or National Alliance on Mental Illness: (National)
  - Find your local NAMI: https://www.nami.org/findsupport
  - Become Stigma Free- https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Pledge-to-Be-StigmaFree
  - NAMI Walks: https://www.namiwalks.org/
  - NAMI Awareness Events: https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events
  - Provide Training: https://www.nami.org/Support-Education/Mental-Health-Education
  - Mental Health Resources for Teens, Youth, and Young Adults: https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults
  - Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month: https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Bebe-Moore-Campbell-National-Minority-Mental-Health-Awareness-Month
  - September: Suicide Prevetion Month
    - https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Suicide-Prevention-Awareness-Month-(SPAM)
  - October: Mental Illness Awareness Week: https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/Awareness-Events/Mental-Illness-Awareness-Week
- National Child Traumatic Stress Network
  - Training Opportunities: https://www.nctsn.org/resources/training
- Nebraska Children Community Collaborative Toolkit
  - https://www.nebraskachildren.org/our-approach/community-toolkit/
- Nebraska Public Media
  - Free movie showing in your community
  - https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/watch/community-engagement/mental-health/
- The Kim Foundation (Nebraska)
  - Community Education training: https://thekimfoundation.org/a-voice-for-help-and-healing/
- Project Safe (Iowa)
  - https://www.projectsafecr.org/
- Trauma Matters (Omaha, NE)
  - https://traumamattersomaha.org/
  - ACE Score: Community Training: https://traumamattersomaha.org/find-your-ace-score/
- WellBeings (Nebraska)
  - Prevent Youth suicide: https://wellbeings.org/events/preventing-youth-suicide-in-nebraska/
- Your Life Iowa
  - https://yourlifeiowa.org/childrens-mental-health
- Iowa’s Area Education Area (Mental Health Well Being)
  - https://iowaaeamentalhealth.org/partners-in-advocacy/
- Please Pass The Love (Iowa)
  - https://www.pleasepassthelove.org/
- Made It OK (Iowa)
  - https://makeitok.org/
- Iowa Aces 360
  - https://www.iowaaces360.org/
- Iowa Safe Schools
  - https://www.iowasafeschools.org/
- Iowa Department of Education
  - https://educateiowa.gov/pk-12/learner-supports/mental-health
- Erica’s Lighthouse
  - https://www.erikaslighthouse.org/
- Shine a Light on Depression https://www.shinelightondepression.org/

District Service Project Chair: Sonia Almodovar

Kids Need Kiwanis

District Service Project