FLEMING ISLAND — As mental health initiatives are on the rise around the United States, it's no different here in Clay County. Especially when it comes to young students.

As they grow and learn, children are often tasked with managing their emotions, persevering through challenges and building positive relationships. And there's no linear path.

That's why Clay County District Schools, the Clay Education Foundation and Baptist Health introduced a new way to help on Tuesday, Sept. 29.

The initiative is called Resilient Students, Thriving Classrooms — the first step to bringing classroom resources, educator training and family mental health materials to elementary schools across the district.

Designed to strengthen student resilience and readiness to learn, the program will equip 625 pre-K through second grade classrooms with calming, sensory, movement and self-regulation tools to help students manage emotion and focus on learning.

“The early years are the most critical time of [a] child’s development,” said Baptist Clay President Ed Hubel. "When we help children learn to manage their emotion, build resilience and remain engaged in the classroom, we are supporting not only their success today, but also their health and wellbeing for the future.”

Each classroom will be equipped with a toolbox stocked with various materials, like worry stones that provide sensory input and help students cope with anxiety; adhesive sensory stickers that provide discreet tactile input; a calm weighted lap pad animal that provides deep-pressure sensory input; brain break sticks that contain short mindfulness and movement prompts to help students reset; and seat bands that provide a quiet outlet for lower body movement while remaining seated.

The items are specifically designed to help with self-regulation, focus, movement and sensory needs while still keeping students connected to instruction, said Clay Education Foundation President Carolyn Krall. Other materials include noise cancelling headphones, desk dividers, a marble maze, an activity poster and a wobble cushion.

The tools can be used at a desk, in learning stations, during circle time, in a calm-down area or other appropriate classroom settings. Timers are also included to help keep breaks brief, predictable and connected to a return to learning.

According to  Children’s Rights, 16 million children in the United States ages 3–17 have one or more mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral issues. And the numbers are on the rise.  It's statistics like this that make pediatric mental health a top investment for Baptist Health, said Vice President of Community Impact Katie Ensign.

"We know this is a shared priority from all of the research that we’ve done," she said.

The program has already been successfully implemented at Fleming Island Elementary. There, students and teachers have seamlessly incorporated the items into regular instruction time. While no two children are the same, each is able to utilize the tools that fit them best.

Principal Mallory McConnell said it's been a gift, allowing students to focus and thrive in an often busy, overstimulating environment. She added that because teachers are often faced with purchasing similar classroom items on their own, the initiative will also provide well needed assistance.

"[Teachers] spend a lot of their time and energy, [and] donations from families purchasing these types of resources. But, for these to be provided to them completely free to assist our learners [is] going to make a big impact overall."

While Clay Education Foundation and Baptist Health introduced Calming Corners last year, a similar concept featuring colorful bean bags and sensory items, Krall said this year they wanted to do something different.

“We really wanted to build upon that success and put in some resiliency tools in the classrooms,” Krall said.

After meticulous conversations with educators and teachers from across the school district, she said they were able to gain feedback on what exactly was needed.

“This is another example of great partnership in which you work hard and recognize the goals and mission of the school. And you approach it with a servant’s heart," said Superintendent David Broskie. "So, we appreciate the teamwork from the foundation. This is what a great collaboration looks like.”

Krall said they will continue to measure the initiative's success throughout the school year by looking at disciplinary reports and garnering input from teachers and families. 

“A lot of it just comes back to talking with our educators and surveying them and asking, 'How do we support [to] help you in the classroom.'"

Because that’s what it’s all about.