Thriving Schools News Blog

We’re curating this resource page as an online space that you can trust for the latest information and ideas to support learning, health, and overall well-being during these challenging times. We recognize that school communities are having to adapt to tremendous changes in a short period of time and that more support will be needed as students and teachers eventually return to in-person school life.

A Message from Annie Reed, National Director of Thriving Schools: It is with great excitement that we, at Kaiser Permanente Thriving Schools, are announcing today some exciting developments that will deepen our ability to serve the social and emotional health of school communities.

New educational theatre production helps bring mental health challenges that many young people deal with out into the open.

Earlier this month, the Childhood Obesity Conference held its 10th biennial convening in Anaheim, California, bringing together nearly 2,000 researchers, public health professionals, policymakers, and thought leaders from across the country to share the latest learnings and opportunities for championing solutions.

Health care groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics are strengthening the conversation around education and health by recommending that pediatricians routinely ask parents about their child’s school attendance and how many days they may have missed school in the past month.

McFadden Intermediate School in Santa Ana, California, has been part of a 2-year program focused on building a resilient school environment for students and staff at its campus. RISE — short for Resilience In Schools Environments — implements policies, practices and trainings to help the school students and staff adapt to and deal with challenges, trauma and emotionally charged experiences.