Mental Health, School, and Community Resources
Resources
- Community Resources
- School Based Mental Health Counseling
- Bullying/ Harassment
- VOICE Mentors
- LGBTQIA+
- Anxiety
- Self-Harm
- Suicide Prevention
- Eating Disorders
- Digital Safety
Community Resources
Community Resource List
Our district has compiled a list of community resources that cover a large range of issues. Please visit the Community Resource Directory to find resources for you, your student, or your whole family.
Topics include:
Abuse/ Assault; Addictions; Counseling/Advocacy/Mental Health; Children; Education; Employment services; Financial Assistance; Food and Clothing; Health Care; Housing/ Shelter; Human Services; Interpreters; Legal services; LGBTQIA+; Refugee/ Immigration Services; Senior Services; Transportation; Veteran Services; Youth and Family Services
To learn more about a topic, visit the Directory and click the topic to expand the information.
Free and Reduced Lunch Program
Eligibility in Free and Reduced Lunch not only supports access to meals, but eligibility in scholarships and fee waivers. Please make sure you apply each year to ensure that you get the support that your family needs.
Apply now at MySchoolApps.com
Returning students maintain their prior year’s free or reduced eligibility for the first 30 school days, or until a new application is processed. If a returning student does not have a new application processed by Oct. 1, 2022, they will automatically be transferred to a paid account. Families are responsible for any charges incurred.
If you prefer a paper application, they are available below:
*For applications in other languages, please go to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service website.
Cultural and Family Partnerships
School systems can be difficult to understand for many families, especially families not familiar with US school systems. Our district supports a growing culturally and linguistically diverse community. The Family Partnership Team can provide answers and support when you have questions. Our aim is to connect with families and offer resources. At Beaver Lake, your Family Liaison is Wenli Mithal.
About the Cultural and Family Partnership Program
School Based Mental Health Counseling
Swedish School Based Mental Health Services
We are grateful for a partnership with Swedish Health that provides a full time mental health counselor at Beaver Lake Middle School. Paulomi Girme works with students during the school day to provide mental health support. This is a free service to families and insurance is not taken. Students under the age of 13 need parental consent to receive mental health counseling services. Please talk to your child's school counselor (Rashi Abajian for last names A-L or Kat Antes Tadros for last names M-Z) to make a referral. For more information about the program, visit our webpage:
School Based Mental Health Counselor
Beaver Lake Middle School
425-837-4104
Bullying/ Harassment
Protecting our Learning Community
At Beaver Lake, we look out for each other and expect students to be kind to each other. It is our responsibility as a community to take care of each other. If you or a peer has been impacted by harassment or bullying, please connect with a trusted adult as soon as possible so we can help restore our learning community. For more information about how to identify bullying or how to respond to it, please visit our district page:
Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB) Resources and Reporting
VOICE Mentors
Voice Mentoring Program
VOICE is an in-school volunteer mentoring program helping students in ALL Issaquah schools. VOICE is powered by caring community volunteers who donate one hour a week to mentor students in a one-to-one school setting. Placements are made based on the mentors’ interests, location preference and time availability. At Beaver Lake, we have wonderful mentors and students who connect weekly. Please reach out to our Voice Coordinator (Rashi Abajian) if you would like to refer your student for a mentor. Or if you would like to volunteer and meet with one of our students, you can click the link below.
LGBTQIA+
State and District Regulations
Gender Laws/Regulations (OSPI)
District Policy: Gender Inclusive Schools
Resources for Parents
Raising Children: Gender identity, gender diversity and gender dysphoria: children and teenagers
Child Mind Institute: How to Support Kids Who Are Questioning
HealthyChildren.org -- Gender Identity Development in Children
Resources for Students
The Trevor Project
Anxiety
Anxiety Resources:
According to the 2021 ISD Healthy Youth Survey, 44% of 8th grade students in our school district reported that they were unable to stop or control worrying within the past two weeks. Learning how to respond to anxiety in our youth is important so we don't accidentally reinforce the anxiety cycle.
School Counselors at BLMS and across the district, state, and country saw a major increase in school avoidance after the pandemic. The feelings of not wanting to come to school can be very real, and very intense. It's critical that students, parents, and counselors team closely together to help come up with a plan to support students being able to attend school regularly again. It may be also be useful to learn about the relationship between avoidance and anxiety as we work through school avoidance issues.
Video: What is happening inside the body?
Book Recommendation for Parents
Freeing Your Child From Anxiety, by Tamar E. Chansky, Ph.D.
Self- Care
Anxiety and other mental health concerns can often be prevented or kept in check with a healthy self-care plan. Make sure that basic needs are met and that there are intentional grounding or calming activities that are embedded into lifestyle. PROTIP: These relaxation and self-care suggestions cannot "fix" anxiety. They are best used in a daily practice (think about it like brushing your teeth) so we have a strong foundation of healthy skills.
Video: Ultimate Self Care Guide
Try a 5-minute mindfulness based mediation
Self-Harm
Resources For Caregivers:
Information for Parents: What You Need to Know about Self-Injury
Resources for Teens & Caregivers
Suicide Prevention
Resources For Students and Caregivers:
Warning Signs and Risk Factors
Caregiver Resources for Challenging Times: Tips for safety at home
Eating Disorders
Eating Disorders: Information, Prevention, and Intervention
Prevention
- KELTY resource on prevention: things you can do to build awareness
- NEDA article about prevention
- Warning Signs and Symptoms
Resources for treatment
- Eating Disorders Center | Evidence Based Treatment Centers of Seattle (ebtseattle.com)
- Washington - The Emily Program
- Outpatient Eating Disorder Treatment Center (centerfordiscovery.com)
- Eating Disorders Recovery Program - Seattle Children’s (seattlechildrens.org)
relationship with ADHD
Digital Safety
Parenting and Digital Wellness
Raising children in a digital world feels like a complicated and challenging process. If you're looking for resources, you can check out a few of the options below.
- Cyber Wise is a resource for busy parents and caregivers seeking to help youth use tech safely and wisely. Find podcasts for parents, free courses for parents, detailed information about popular online hubs for kids (such as Animal Crossing, Ask.FM, and apps like Snapchat), and resources for building strong digital citizenship skills. Click the link below to explore.
- Common Sense Media is a resource for parents that provides useful information about different types of media and the appropriateness for age levels. It also reviews different apps and platforms to give you an idea of what your kids can access online. The Parent Tips and FAQs section allows you to browse by age, topic, and platform as well.