Around the State

In light of the recent upheaval, violence, and resulting traumas happening in our country, state and local communities we wanted to pause and connect intentionally with you, our members, to address the needs you see in our community.  We recognize our need to hear how you, your families and your professional community have been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis and killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and the resulting protests. These crises have brought many of our country’s underlying social issues to the fore of our collective consciousness. It is imperative that we work together as a community to address them as the community tasked with cultivating the skills and supports necessary to cultivate caring, connected, functional, and successful human beings.

Understanding that SEL is integral to constructively supporting our community in this time, we need to hear directly from you as practitioners, advocates, and the eyes and hands on the ground.  How have your practices shifted in this crisis? What approach has been successful for you thus far and beyond?  What and where is the biggest need?  What support are you offering, and what support do you need?  What can SEL4CT do you for you now and moving forward? What change do you want to see?  What kind of legislative support do you need?  What kind of training or resources do you need?   

What is Connecticut doing? How can we best support CT right now? Sign up through the link to register participate in this online conversation!

Are you involved in social and emotional learning in your field, organization, school or community? Are you wondering the best way to prepare yourself and your team to implement social and emotional learning? Do you have experience with successfully implementing SEL? Or are you new and wondering where to start?

Come to the SEL4CT Winter Exchange on Friday, January 24, 2020 from 9am to 2pm and join the discussion: Building Adult Capacity for SEL. Please join and be prepared to share your resources and experiences with this stage to the SEL implementation process. If you have no experience but want to know more, please come with your questions and open ears.

At this meeting we will dive deeper into how schools, community members are supporting and preparing the adults to lead SEL learning. The day will include presentations on various practices, open discussions, interactive activities, and collaborative workgroups as well as lots of resources and information.

The agenda will also include progress updates from our Advocacy Team for the upcoming spring legislative session, an update on the information gathered from the Fall Exchange, and the opportunity to learn more about what others are doing in the state and how we can connect with as many SEL practitioners and advocates as possible.

Learn more about connecting with continued focus team planning sessions – teams include: Communications/Outreach, Public Policy & Advocacy, Afterschool, Early Child Education, District SEL Coordinators Job-Alike Group, Equity & Inclusion, Families & Parents, Steering, Higher Ed/Research, Teacher Prep & School Counseling, and Other Emerging Issues

Breakfast and registration will start at 8:30. We will validate for parking in the CT Convention Center garage. There is no cost to attend this meeting but seating is limited and registration is required by January 21.

Please join the Advocacy and Policy Team of SEL4CT for a lunch meeting as we prepare for the 2020 state legislative session. Share your policy and advocacy ideas and help us determine some priorities for the year ahead. Lunch will be provided.

Attend Event

Are you involved in social and emotional learning in your field, organization, school or community? Come to the SEL4CT Exchange on Monday, September 16, 2019 from 9am to 2pm and share your work, vision and ideas with the rest of the statewide community as you learn about everything happening in social and emotional learning in Connecticut. We have invited the new Commissioner of Education for the State of Connecticut and are hoping for an engaging and productive day. Join your peers and community members as we build:

• A clear picture of the current SEL landscape in the State of Connecticut
• A movement of public support and understanding about SEL
• A coalition to support advocacy on behalf of SEL
• A network of people and organizations working on SEL

Agenda

• Registration/Breakfast
• Welcome
• Landscape Introductions Part I
  —Each organization will have a brief time to share what their SEL plans are for the year
• Input for the Advocacy Team
  —What changes do we want to see for SEL in CT the next 2 years?
• Landscape Introductions Part II
• Lunch
• Keynote
• Focus Team Planning Sessions – Teams include: Communications/Outreach, Public Policy & Advocacy, Afterschool, Early Child Education, District SEL Coordinators Job-Alike Group, Equity & Inclusion, Families & Parents, Steering, Higher Ed/Research, Teacher Prep & School Counseling, and Other Emerging Issues

Buffet breakfast and registration will start at 8:30. We will validate for parking in the CT Convention Center garage. There is no cost to attend this meeting.

Questions? Please contact Michelle Doucette Cunningham 860-730-2941 or mdc@ctafterschoolnetwork.org or Khadija Bshara kbshara@ctafterschoolnetwork.org or 860-359-3711 with the Connecticut After School Network at or see our website at www.sel4ct.org.

Want to help expand social emotional learning statewide?  

Join us on this initial conference call to talk about first steps for the Communications Committee for 2019. All are welcome. Help us decide on our action plan for the upcoming year and the best way to connect those in our state working on this important issue.