Wellness Guide

A nurturing energy committed to promoting wellness holistically for learners and staff alike.

A nurturing energy committed to promoting wellness holistically for both learners and staff by addressing three primary pillars of health: mental health, physical health, and spiritual health. The Wellness Guide is designed to explore health through an intentional, forward thinking mindset in order to support learners on their hero’s journey to find a calling to change the world.

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Overview

Information on this page is provided by the innovator and has not been evaluated by HundrED.

Web presence

2023

Established

150

Children

1

Countries

Target group

Other

Updated

May 2024

We are hopeful that the Wellness Guide program will lead the way for school clinic and health education programs to restructure the approach to student support. By following the child, we are lead to relevant, real-time concerns and may make an impact that matches the fast-changing world they are growing in. Holistically caring for learners and staff allows a sense of safety which leads to growth.

About the innovation

Why did you create this innovation?

The Wellness Guide program at the Forest School was designed to approach the topics of health and wellness with holistic, mindful, and forward-thinking intentionality. With the diversity and propensity to embrace innovation at the Forest School, it was important that we restructure the conversations of health in order to meet the needs of the child in a holistic way.

What does your innovation look like in practice?

The Wellness Guide program offers healthcare to the learners and staff with a new, intentionally designed clinic. This space offers privacy, mindfulness, and comfort for learners as they have their health concerns addressed with a fully stocked space with supplies donated by our parent network. In addressing the holistic needs of the community on our campus, the Wellness clinic serves as a space for emotional support for learners and staff. Outside of the clinic, the Wellness Guide program works to provide relevant, forward-thinking content to our learners and staff through our Wellness Sessions. These sessions are designed with a new topic of focus in time with our school calendar. In the sessions we welcome experts in their field to provide valuable, relevant content to support the teachings of the Wellness Guide. To further support the learners social-emotional needs, the Wellness Guide works closely with Studio Guides to offer "circles" a space in studio to openly discuss concerns.

How has it been spreading?

The Wellness Guide initiative is a new innovation intentionally designed to meet the needs of the learners and staff of the Forest School. We are hopeful that our intentionality and shift in health conversations may be adopted by education platforms moving forward. By changing the approach surrounding these topics, we are offering learners and parents a path forward that supports the child and the family unit, giving a healthier foundation for learning and finding their calling which can change the world. If we could implement this program in various school settings, children across the globe will grow to feel supported, loved, valued, and cared for. By meeting the social-emotional and physical health needs of our learners we can make space for them to learn feeling safe on all fronts.

If I want to try it, what should I do?

Intentionally restructure the school clinic and health program in order to make room for needs outside of the traditional focus. Update health education to meet the topics and conversations currently taking place in real time. Lean on the community supporting the school to tap on real world experts to share and support the learners through the three primary pillars of health.

Implementation steps

Leadership Presentation

Develop a presentation for the leadership team in your education system describing the Wellness Guide Program detailing the needs for the clinic, the Wellness Sessions, and the support to be implemented for staff and families.

Start Up Costs

Identify start up costs and changes to be made to the current clinic and health education in place.

Intentional Discussion of Role

Reformat the conversation surrounding the staff nurse and/or health teacher you currently have in your network. Speaking an intentional, holistic approach to wellbeing into existence within the parent network and school community can help to restructure expectations and change the dialogue surrounding the diverse topics to be discussed.

Set Expectations with Staff

With the new role or shift in expectations for the current school nurse/health teacher, it is important to discuss expectations with guides/teachers for topics that may be discussed, support that may be offered, and boundaries to the program. By exploring the new role openly you can ensure that the offerings are being used to the fullest potential.

Set Expectations with learners

In an effort to support learners holistically the Wellness Guide should be open to discussions and meetings outside of the traditional role of the school nurse/health teacher. By shifting the traditional mindset to one of mindfulness and intentionality, you are making room for learners to share in a vulnerable and open way. Deciding on parameters for these meetings and discussions will help to ensure fewer disruptions to learning and room for all learners to utilize the program.

Coordinate Expert Network

Once having set intentions for Wellness topics, connecting with wellness experts in the community and scheduling expert visits allows for real-world, real-life connection to learning. We utilize our robust, generous parent network and work to connect with experts in the area who are generous in donating their time and sharing their experiences.