In the early spring of 2023, heavy rain caused schools to close, and once again, roads were being destroyed. Following closely to the traumatic flood event of July 2022, our youth were experiencing post-disaster mental health issues.

 Since students were having extreme responses to the recurring flood threat classrooms were not prepared to handle, the schools reached out to the 4-H agent asking for a schoolwide program for mental health and coping skills. The schools have mental health professionals on-site, but unfortunately, those professionals aren't allowed to provide services to all the students under the current funding structure.

 After much research of possible resources, through different state extension programs and EDEN (Extension Disaster Education Network), a local 4-H program was formed. The program is 45-60 minutes in length and was adaptable for K-8. All activities were based on extension publications.

 The activities were chosen to address the local issues and be classroom appropriate.
 The 4-H program outline:

 1- Share their Story - Students were given a partner and had a set amount of time (1-2 minutes depending on age) to share and recall their experiences. We discussed the importance of sharing our stories with adults, and friends, and even through journaling. Additional local mental health resources were mentioned, as well.

 2- Identifying the feelings from their experience- After students shared their stories, as a group, we identified the unwanted feelings they experienced. Once identified, we spoke about techniques for disassociating those negative feelings. It's simply having them restate their feelings. Instead of saying I am scared/mad/worried, they say I am feeling scared/mad/worried right now. Once they identify the feeling, then they can use techniques to cope.

 3- Students and classroom teachers were given basic coping techniques to help with onsets of panic, worry, or severe negative emotions. The first was doing simple breathing techniques with a kid-friendly memorable approach. For the younger grades instead of counting seconds, you have them pretend to "smell flowers" during inhales and "blow out candles" during exhales, to accomplish those deep breaths. The second was a grounding technique known as "Take 5" - Using their 5 senses they quietly find 5- things they can see- 4 things they can feel, 3 -things they can hear, 2- things they can/ have tasted that day, and 1- thing they are grateful for. (Additional mindfulness and breathing activities can be found in the National 4-H curricula they published during COVID.

 4 - To conclude the program, it is important for the youth to feel part of the solution through a service project. We utilized 4-H State "Art Letters of Encouragement." They were to create a picture to be displayed in their schools. These mass exhibits would encourage, uplift, and help themselves or others who had been impacted by the flood, or who were just having a really tough day. The pieces of art will also be displayed during our countywide anniversary event in honor of our 22 lost loved ones.

The youth being part of the solution was vitally important to the program. As an agent, we wanted to address the seriousness of the situation, but leave those classrooms in a positive mindset.

 The program reached 650 youth at two K - 8 elementary schools. The gym walls filled with "Art Letters of Encouragement" were noticed by many community members. Students were proud to be part of that solution. They are excited to be part of the memorial anniversary event. The classroom teachers were very thankful for the program, as well as, the coping techniques they could utilize when another storm came. Practicing those during the program helped the classrooms feel comfortable using them. The school administrators were very thankful knowing the overwhelming need of students and faculty for these extension resources.

 The program was overwhelmingly requested and much needed to address our county's needs. Being local and sharing that experience firsthand, the youth were very willing to participate. One of our 2nd graders shared his story. He had lost his mother that night when she was pulled away from him and his father in the water.  As an agent, this program was one of the most important and yet one of the hardest to facilitate in our post-disaster situation. The program is adaptable and applicable to everyday situations and feel we could utilize it again in the future. 

Resources: 

EDEN -Extension Disaster Education Network

https://extensiondisaster.net 

https://extensiondisaster.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Combinednewversion.pdf

University of Florida

FCS2280/FY1004: Trauma and Adolescents

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FY1004

Ohio State University

https://u.osu.edu/4hjournal/category/breathing-techniques/

University of Illinois

https://web.extension.illinois.edu/disaster/resource.cfm

Mississippi State Extension

https://extension.msstate.edu/publications/children-need-help-coping-disaster