Employee Resources

  • staff members at prep academy

     

    Below is a compilation of resources to support the Whole Educator -- all DPS employees -- in their social emotional and mental health. Click on the + sign to expand what's available in each catagory!

  • Culture, Equity and Leadership Team

  • DPS Belong

    Belong groups are intentional spaces for people with similar backgrounds, beliefs and experiences to gather, celebrate and create community. These affinity spaces are designed to promote our belief that we can all show up as our authentic selves and know that we are included and belong in DPS, thus supporting our social emotional well-being. Learn more.

  • Radical Self Care and Racialized Trauma

    Radical self-care is the awareness that in the absence of consistent strategies of self-care, eventual neglect may lead to a crisis in health, work, or family relations. In the case of a crisis or to prevent a crisis, an intervention of radical self-care is needed. This course helps participants work toward their personal wellness goals by becoming aware of how to create strategies and systems of self-care that fit the needs of each participant and prevent a radical self-care intervention. Learn more. For more information, email dpsskills@dpsk12.org.

  • Self Care Optimism Strategies

    Self-Care Optimism strategies are video offerings from CELT. Created in the spring of 2020 as response to the pandemic, these strategies come from the heart and lived experiences of members of our team. Each video offers a specific method of managing emotions during stressful times. Learn more.

  • Values-Based Leadership Programs

    CELT offers values-based leadership learning experiences to provide DPS team members space to learn, grow and have a positive impact. We know our employees want to have opportunities to grow and develop in ways that honors their unique strengths and talents. Learn more.

  • Reach One Mentoring

    Reach One Mentoring provides confidential space for new teachers of color to build meaningful professional relationships, allowing them to be their most authentic self. Through this opportunity, mentees will build a greater level of trust, sense of belonging and support to grow and succeed within DPS. Learn more.

  • CELT Contacts

  • Employee Wellness Department

  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

    A confidential, no-cost service available to all DPS employees and their dependents. The EAP includes confidential, short-term counseling (5 sessions per event per year) for employees and/or their dependents. Other EAP services include financial counseling, legal support, work-life solutions, and a comprehensive online, self-service portal. Learn more here.

  • Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) for Leaders

    Facilitated by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, MHFA is a high-impact, skills-based training program that teaches leaders how to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges in the workplace. This is a four-hour, virtual training intended for a small group of leaders from the same organization. Learn more here.

  • RISE UP: Resilience in School Environments Workshop for educators

    Facilitated by Kaiser Permanente’s Thriving Schools Initiative and Alliance for a Healthier Generation, RISE UP empowers schools to create safe and supportive learning environments by cultivating practices that strengthen the social and emotional health of all students and staff. This is a 1.5 hour training, traditionally offered during PD or TEAL Days for educators; however, this training can be organized for schools upon request (contact staffwellness@dpsk12.org if interested). Learn more here.

  • DPS Healthcare Providers - Kaiser Permanente and Aetna

    Both providers offer specialized mental health clinical care and counseling services for their members. Employees must contact their healthcare provider directly. 

  • Health Promotion Activities

    The Employee Wellness team offers a variety of health promotion resources and programs to support employees holistically, including their physical, financial, and emotional health - all aspects of one’s being that affect their mental health. These resources are promoted to employees through the Wellness Champion Network, Team DPS and Leader Weekly, and the Employee Wellness Monthly Newsletter. You can also learn more here. Specifically, emotional health resources include:

    • Mindfulness sessions at NEW and TEAL Days; mindfulness multi-week series to follow
    • Onsite meditation classes
    • Virtual and onsite yoga classes
    • Work of Art: Emotional Health 4-week Challenge
    • Health coaching programs
    • Prenatal workshops
    • Calm, Headspace, and MyStrength apps

  • Wellness Champion Program

    Wellness Champions are onsite ambassadors for the Employee Wellness Department. They are tasked with supporting the health and wellness needs and interests of their coworkers, promoting resources and available programs to employees, and facilitating activities with staff. Wellness Champions have funding available to them to support their onsite staff wellness initiatives, including the Mini Grant Program which provides funding to a select number of sites to implement sustainable, capital improvements to the workplace environment. Mini Grant projects have included the creation of onsite lactation rooms for new mothers, staff lounge renovations, and ergonomic seating for staff. Learn more about the Wellness Champion Program here, as well as a list of DPS worksites with dedicated Champions here.

  • Employee Wellness Team Contacts

  • Exceptional Student Services (ESS)

  • District Crisis Recovery Team (DCRT)

    The  District Crisis Recovery Team (DCRT)  assists schools with significant crises that affect the school community and overwhelm the capacity of the school-based mental health team. The DCRT assists schools in ensuring safety and the quick return to instruction.  The team provides student support groups, individual counseling, sample scripts and letter temples, as well as provide general consultation in responding after a crisis. DCRT can also assist staff meetings, as well as coordination of EAP services. Contact Meghan_Kimball@dpsk12.org, C: 720-812-0281 or Alicia_FranksGibson@dpsk12.org, C: 303-946-4269 for support.

  • Teacher/Educator Well-Being Support Line

    University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is providing free services to educators through a help line. Staff can access support related to the uncertainties that they may be experiencing during the global pandemic. Staff can access services Monday through Friday, 8:00 am - 7:00 pm, Saturday, 9:00 am - 11:00 am, and Sunday, 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm. Support Line: 303-724-2500.

  • Question. Persuade. And Refer (QPR)

    Student Safety Coordinators and other district trainers in the Question. Persuade. And Refer. (QPR) model provide training to school teams and communities on suicide prevention. The QPR model is an adult gate-keeper suicide prevention  training that reviews risk factors, warning signs, and how to access care should a youth or adult be in crisis. Training may be requested by contacting a Student Safety Coordinator. Link for more information.

  • Staff Suicide Prevention Training

    Student Safety Coordinators provide school training on how to identify risk factors and warning signs associated with depression and risk of suicide. Training aligns with DPS procedures to support colleagues with identifying concerns and reporting to building leaders and Human Resources to ensure the safety and well being of all staff. Additional information on community resources is shared. Training may be requested by contacting your school-based mental health provider or a Student Safety Coordinator.

  • Restorative Practices

    To support the social-emotional health of school communities, the District Restorative Practices (RP) Team supports processes to build equitable spaces and promote a positive school climate and culture. Our team prioritizes the use of preventative strategies, such as creating authentic and trusting relationships, for both the individual and community-wide levels. The goal of the District Restorative Practices team is to build upon the work of Restorative Practices in the district to support the growth, implementation, and consistency of RP work across schools and teams through a train-the-trainer model.  Please reach out to the Trauma-Informed and Restorative Practices Team for support.

  • Trauma-Informed Practices: Considerations for Self-care and Wellness

    Awareness raising about the connection between trauma and self-care; how and why self-care supports sustaining a trauma-informed environment. Information about the negative effects of helping (recognizing warning signs) and information about self-care resources. Considerations for organizational and individual wellness. Four strategies of wellness that can help educators (and students) during this time of ongoing community crisis/disruption. Time commitment: 60-90 minutes.

  • 2021-22 District-wide Staff Wellness Opportunities

    Mental Health First Aid: Participants will learn and practice activities that elevate emotional fitness, including guided exercises to increase optimism, enhance mindfulness, share gratitude, make stronger connections, and more. Participants can sign-up individually, as a team with coworkers, or with household members (18+ years).

    Work of Art: DPS employees embarked on learning and practicing activities that elevate emotional fitness, including skills to enhance resilience and boost happiness. To learn more about this four-week challenge, please watch this 2-minute video. 

    Head Space: A meditation app that helps reduce stress while increasing resilience and improving sleep. DPS educators have access to the Headspace app at no cost!

    Woodhull Wellness: Participants will be introduced to the practice of mindfulness, with the aim to help educators perform more effectively at home and at work. Participants will develop mindfulness strategies to become more productive and improve the quality of sleep.

  • ESS Points of Contact

    Student Safety Coordinators 

    • Dr. Jane Lineman, NCSP, Jane_Lineman@dpsk12.org, C: 720-656-2939
    • Meghan Kimball,  EdS, NCSP, Meghan_Kimball@dpsk12.org, C: 720-812-0281
    • Alicia Franks Gibson, EdS, NCSP, Alicia_FranksGibson@dpsk12.org C: 303-946-4369
    • Ellen Kelty, MS, NCSP, Ellen_Kelty@dpsk12.org, C: 720-468-8364 - Director of Mental Health and Student Safety Services,  

    Trauma Informed and Restorative Practices