Support Services Blog
By Lisa Coffey, EdS, NCSP, Member, School Safety and Crisis Response Committee
As we enter the joyful holiday season, it is important to remember that these months can also bring challenges for children and families who have experienced loss. This time of year, may remind them of significant changes and how their lives differ from before. Feelings of loneliness and sadness can surface during these special occasions.
Below are several resources offering guidance on how to provide support during the holiday season. These materials may be shared with staff and families who could benefit from additional support as they navigate the winter holidays.
- The National Alliance for Grieving Children has a Holiday Toolkit: Supporting Grieving Children During the Season of Family which provides activities for the holiday season to celebrate and remember loved ones.
- The Coalition to Support Grieving Students has a document, titled Grief Over the Holidays: Educators Can Help Students Cope, with suggestions of how educators can provide support during the holidays.
- The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has a webinar: Holidays, Celebrations and Traumatically Bereaved Children. The webinar discusses how holidays can be reminders of grief and shares strategies for how caregivers can provide support to bereaved children.
- The American Cancer Society website’s Coping With Grief During the Holidays page provides general tips on how to help get through difficult times.
- The NASP website offers School Safety and Crisis Resources handouts related titled Addressing Grief.
What is the Great American Smokeout?
For more than 40 years, the American Cancer Society has hosted the Great American Smokeout on the third Thursday of November. This annual event encourages people who smoke to commit to lead healthier, smoke-free lives, not just for a day, but for the long term.
The Great American Smokeout offers individuals, community organizations, businesses, and health care providers a meaningful opportunity to support those who want to quit. Participants are encouraged to use the day to make a plan to quit smoking or to set a quit date and begin a tobacco cessation journey. The event also highlights the many tools and resources available to help people quit and stay quit.
Learn more: American Cancer Society – Great American Smokeout
Youth and E-Cigarette Use: What the Data Shows
In 2024, e-cigarettes were the most commonly used tobacco product among middle and high school students in the United States:
- 1.63 million (5.9%) students currently use e-cigarettes, including:
- 410,000 (3.5%) middle school students
- 1.21 million (7.8%) high school students
- Among students who had ever used e-cigarettes, 43.6% reported current use.
- Among current users:
- 87.6% used flavored e-cigarettes
- 38.4% used an e-cigarette on at least 20 of the last 30 days
- 26.3% used an e-cigarette every day
- 55.6% of current users used disposable e-cigarettes, 15.6% used prefilled or refillable pods or cartridges, and 7.0% used tank or mod systems.
- The most commonly reported brands were Elf Bar, Breeze, and Mr. Fog.
Most middle and high school students who vape want to quit and have tried to quit. In 2020:
- 63.9% of current users reported wanting to quit.
- 67.4% reported attempting to quit within the past year.
Most tobacco use, including vaping, begins during adolescence. Factors contributing to youth tobacco use include:
- Targeted tobacco advertising
- Easy product accessibility
- Availability of flavored products
- Peer and social influences
- Adolescent brain sensitivity to nicotine
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – Youth and E-Cigarettes
Dual Use and Cannabis Vaping
Many young people who vape also use other tobacco products, such as cigarettes and cigars, a behavior known as dual use.
- In 2024, 36.6% of U.S. high school students and 38.9% of middle school students who used tobacco reported using more than one product type.
- E-cigarettes can also be used to deliver other substances, including cannabis. In 2016, nearly 1 in 3 (30.6%) students who had ever used an e-cigarette reported using marijuana in the device.
Escape the Vape: A Community Event
Scottsdale Unified School District is once again partnering with the Blue Zones Project Scottsdale and the City of Scottsdale’s Youth and Family Services to present Escape the Vape, an informative community event focused on e-cigarette and vaping prevention.
This year’s program will feature a community training of Catch My Breath, facilitated by Shannon Cronn, SUSD Director of Support Services, and Lauren Pilato, SUSD Prevention Coach.
Catch My Breath is the only school-based vaping prevention program proven to reduce the likelihood of vaping among youth.
The event will also include valuable community resources and interactive panel discussions centered on youth health and wellness.
Date and location: To be announced
More information will be shared soon through Peachjar, ParentSquare, and SUSD social media channels, stay tuned!
Project Rewind
In recognition of Vaping Prevention Month, we remind families that Project Rewind is an early intervention program available to SUSD students and their parents.
This five-hour course helps families:
- Understand the dangers of chemical use and abuse
- Explore risk factors that contribute to vaping and substance use
- Strengthen family communication, trust, and monitoring at home
The $250 program fee is waived for all SUSD families referred by district administration.
Vaping Resources for Parents
- Ecigarette-or-vaping-products-visual-dictionary-508.pdf
- Keeping Your Children Tobacco-Free.pdf
- What-You-Need-to-Know-and-How-to-Talk-to-Your-Kids-About-Vaping-Guide-Partnership-for-Drug-Free-Kids.pdf
As we move through the fall semester, SUSD Support Services continues to focus on promoting student well-being through prevention, education, and proactive partnerships. October brings with it several opportunities for families, students, and staff to engage in conversations and activities that support mental health, healthy decision-making, and responsible technology use. From Red Ribbon Week to critical conversations around screen time and artificial intelligence, this month is packed with events and resources designed to empower our school communities.
Red Ribbon Week: October 23–31
Red Ribbon Week is the nation’s largest and longest-running drug prevention campaign. Each October, schools across the country use this week to encourage students to make healthy, drug-free choices, and SUSD is proud to take part.
This year, our district is partnering with the City of Scottsdale’s Youth and Family Services, the Scottsdale Youth Substance Abuse Coalition, school social workers, School Resource Officers (SROs), and the Scottsdale Police Department to bring interactive, prevention-centered activities to all five SUSD high schools.
Lunchtime activities will include:
- Simulated Impaired Driving Experience (SIDNE)
- Impairment goggle challenges
- Trivia and fun facts around prevention and healthy choices
Schedule of Events:
- 10/27 – Chaparral High School
- 10/28 – Desert Mountain High School
- 10/29 – Desert Mountain & Saguaro High School
- 10/30 – Arcadia High School
- 10/31 – Coronado High School
Prevention starts at home. Families are encouraged to explore Natural High’s Parent Resources for helpful conversation starters, tips, and tools to support healthy decision-making at every age.
Community Event: How Smart Phones and Social Media Impact the Teen Brain
Teen mental health has sharply declined since the rise of smartphones and constant social media use. From online bullying and exposure to explicit content, to the addictive pull of gaming and screen time, today’s youth face challenges no other generation has experienced.
Join us for an engaging presentation by Stephanie Siete, a nationally recognized educator who has worked with the FBI, DEA, schools, and community organizations across the country. She will share insights on:
- The impact of growing up on screens vs. playgrounds
- Online risks for youth, including pornography and predators
- The connection between screen use, self-harm, and mental health
- How families and schools can set healthy boundaries around phone use
WHEN: Thursday, October 29th
WHERE: Mohave District Annex (MDA)
TIME: TBD
More information will be shared soon through Peachjar, ParentSquare, and our district social media channels: stay tuned!
The Rise of AI “Companions”: What Parents Need to Know
According to a 2025 report from Common Sense Media, 72% of teens have used AI companions, with 1 in 3 reporting forming friendships or relationships with them. These tools, different from task-oriented chatbots like Siri, are designed to simulate human connection, offering constant conversation, validation, and even emotional “support.”
Why Teens Use Them
Researchers note several reasons teens turn to AI companions:
- Curiosity & entertainment – teens experiment with new tech.
- Loneliness & isolation – many young people seek connection in a digital world.
- Comfort & validation – AI never argues, is always available, and feels “non-judgmental.”
- Emotional support – some confide in AI what they wouldn’t tell friends or family.
The Risks
Experts caution that these apps present real dangers:
- False empathy & harmful advice – AI can’t truly understand emotions and may miss signs of depression or even encourage harmful actions.
- Privacy concerns – companies often retain broad, permanent rights over everything kids share.
- Blurring reality – adolescents may mistake algorithms for genuine friendship, impacting social and emotional development.
- Exposure to unsafe content – some platforms include suggestive or violent role-play.
What Parents Can Do
- Start open conversations: Ask what apps your teen uses and how they feel about AI vs. real friendships.
- Clarify limitations: Explain that AI companions aren’t human and can’t replace authentic relationships or professional mental-health support.
- Set boundaries: Create a family media agreement about safe tech use and consider restricting AI companion apps until stronger safeguards are in place.
- Be proactive: If your child seems withdrawn, secretive, or shares concerning content from AI chats, seek support from a licensed mental-health professional.
As cybersecurity expert Eric O’Neill explains: “These bots are designed to mimic human connection. For some, they become a lifeline—but they are still machines. Long-term, they can blur the line between real connection and artificial feedback, which can harm emotional development” (O’Neill, 2025).
Sources:
- Common Sense Media. Teens and AI Companions Report (2025).
- Robbie Torney, Senior Director of AI Programs, Common Sense Media.
- Lokesh Shahani, MD, PhD, MPH, UTHealth Houston.
- James Sherer, MD, Hackensack Meridian Carrier Clinic.
- Eric O’Neill, cybersecurity expert, author of Spies, Lies, and Cybercrime (forthcoming).
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) commentary on anthropomorphic AI (2024).
Upcoming Community Events
In an effort to provide parents and caregivers with tools and information about the resources and services available right here in our community, we will be hosting our 2nd Annual Back-to-School Mental Health Resource Fair on Wednesday, September 10th. About 40 organizations will join us to share valuable information and support for families. The fair will be a wonderful opportunity for parents, students, and community providers to connect and learn more about the resources available to support student well-being.
- Date: Wednesday, September 10th
- Time: 5 pm- 8 pm (Open House Format)
- Location: Mohave District Annex (8500 E Jackrabbit Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85250)
Looking ahead to Suicide Prevention Month in September, SUSD remains committed to raising awareness and reducing the stigma around mental health and suicide. Our goal is to ensure students, staff, and families feel supported and know where to turn when help is needed.
This year’s Suicide Prevention Event will take place on Thursday, September 26th. The evening will begin with “Signs of Suicide” presented by the Semicolon Society, followed by a panel discussion with local experts. Families will also have the opportunity to explore resources from community organizations dedicated to mental health and suicide prevention. We are working closely with our school social workers to share this important message with students across the district.
- Date: Thursday, September 18th
- Time: 5:30 pm- 8 pm (Open House Format)
- Location: Western Spirit Museum (3830 N Marshall Way, Scottsdale, AZ 85251)
Building a Strong Start: Supporting Students’ Emotional Well-Being from Day One
As the new school year begins, our focus extends beyond school supplies and schedules—we’re also deeply committed to supporting the emotional well-being of every student in our schools.
Returning to school is an exciting time, but it can also bring up a range of emotions—nervousness, excitement, uncertainty, or even worry. That is why our district is prioritizing efforts to create safe and welcoming environments where all students feel seen, heard, and valued from the moment they walk through the doors.
What Emotional Support Looks Like at School
Our schools are intentionally building strong classroom communities and supportive routines to help students feel connected and ready to learn. This includes:
- Morning meetings, check-ins, and team-building activities to promote a sense of belonging.
- Clear expectations and consistent routines that help students feel safe and confident.
- Access to school counselors, social workers, and psychologists who are available to support emotional or behavioral needs.
- Embedded strategies that teach students how to manage emotions, set goals, build relationships, and solve problems.
How Families Can Support Emotional Wellness at Home
Families play a vital role in reinforcing emotional wellness. Here are a few ways you can help:
- Establish daily routines to ease transitions and build a sense of stability.
- Create space for open conversations about feelings, friendships, and challenges.
- Encourage healthy habits like sleep, nutrition, and screen-time balance.
- Celebrate small successes to build your child’s confidence and resilience.
We’re Here for You
If your child is struggling emotionally or behaviorally, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your school team. Our staff is here to help and committed to working in partnership with you to ensure a positive, successful school year.
Let’s work together to make this year one of growth, connection, and confidence—for every student.
Stay Tuned- SUSD Mental Health Resource Fair
As we gear up for another exciting school year, we are thrilled to start planning our second annual SUSD Back-to-School Mental Health Resource Fair! This event is designed to provide parents and caregivers with tools and information about the resources and services that are available in our community to assist you. Please stay tuned as more information will be coming soon!