- Confirmation Sacramental Preparation Program in ASL is a program to inspire and engage parishioners preparing for Confirmation with this comprehensive new study program from the National Catholic Office for the Deaf and Our Sunday Visitor. The 12 video lessons of this 3-DVD set and manual bring the Sacrament of Confirmation to life, as Mary, St. Peter, and the saints walk the Confirmands through the Sacrament and show them how to put their faith into action — in Sign Language, spoken and captioned in English.
This program has also been utilized for an adaptive program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
- Ending the Silence is a 50 minute presentation from NAMI Iowa designed to help young people and educators learn about the signs and symptoms of mental illness, how to recognize the early warning signs and the importance of acknowledging those warning signs.
- Fostering Belonging modules from Boston College School of Theology and Ministry by Dr. Eric Carter. These modules can be used as a guide to an encore presentation as a conversation starter with members of a faith community. Each part of the presentation may be used separately, in combination with each other, or in a sequence over a period of time. The general nature of “Fostering Belonging” gives it broad application and makes it an excellent choice for a variety of groups. For example, consider using one or several of the segments with a parish council, a hospitality committee, catechists, Catholic school faculty, and high school religion classes. If you are looking for a service opportunity for a high school confirmation class, consider leading a discussion around Parts 3 and 5, and commit to implementing one recommendation to enhance belonging in the community.
- FRIENDS WHO CARE® is a disability awareness curriculum from Easterseals, It is designed to help children better understand what it means to live with a disability, and to encourage children to accept differences. It explains what differing disabilities are, and provides hands-on activities to help children learn how people with disabilities live independent, everyday lives.
- Increasing Awareness in the Classroom and with Youth Groups includes a pack of information that provides suggestions for planning and implementing a disability awareness unit in your classroom, club, youth group, school or school district. Several additional new or alternate ideas are provided for each section. Resources are enclosed, including: a list of web-based resources, a children’s book list (available for download from the Disability Awareness Month CD), two coloring books (available for download from the CD), communication tips, language guidelines, accessibility survey, celebrity quiz, sign language alphabet, sign language riddles, Braille alphabet and Braille secret code activity.
- Mental Healthcare and Awareness resources from Archdiocese of Dubuque, Catholic Charities: Mental Healthcare and Awareness prayer, videos and reflection questions for kids 7-12th grade, parishioners, Parish Leader Committees and college students. Mental Health Awareness for kids K-6th grade resources of prayer, scripture, videos and reflection questions. These resources are for parents and faith formation leaders to talk about Mental illness and mental health, to help children understand what it is using age appropriate language. For example: For children it might be helpful to explain that just like our bodies get sick with flu, chicken pox, cold, our brain and mental part of who we are can also get sick. When this happens we call it “mental illness”. Framing it in this way can help children better understand that mental illness is like being sick and that, just like being sick, there are treatments and hope for recovery. Since some mental illness is not “curable” but people with treatment can live long and fulfilling lives the comparison of mental illness to diabetes can be helpful.
- Mental Wellness Basicsis an online education program developed by EVERFI, the education technology partner we already work with to bring the successful Prescription Drug Safety Program to Iowa and Illinois schools. In the Des Moines Area North, Roosevelt, Ankeny and Walnut creek schools have utilized it. It is an online course. is a digital resource that introduces middle and high school students to mental health education.
- Say It Out Loud - From NAMI, a downloadable, free discussion guide, videos and fact sheets for youth leaders who want to introduce the subject of mental illness to their youth groups. To download the tools and get more information, click here.
It is raising awareness by sharing information and starting conversations about mental health and is key in reducing stigma and increasing the likelihood that teens will seek mental health care when they need it. NAMI created Say It Out Loud to get teens talking about mental health. Say It Out Loud gives adults the tools they need to hold conversations about mental health with teens.
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