Support Services Blog

The start of a new year often brings fresh energy, reflection, and hope. For children, it can also bring mixed emotions; excitement about what’s ahead, uncertainty about change, and questions about their own abilities. As parents, one of the greatest gifts we can offer our children in the new year is resilience: the ability to adapt, recover from setbacks, and keep going, even when things feel hard.

Resilience isn’t about avoiding challenges or always staying positive. It’s about helping children develop the skills and mindset to face life’s ups and downs with confidence and support. 

What Is Resilience and Why Does It Matter?

Resilient children learn that:

• Mistakes are part of learning
• Feelings are important and manageable
• Effort matters more than perfection
• They are not alone when things get tough

Research shows that children who develop resilience are better equipped to manage stress, build healthy relationships, and persevere through academic and social challenges. The good news? Resilience can be taught, practiced, and strengthened at any age.

Simple Ways Parents Can Build Resilience at Home

1. Normalize Struggle and Mistakes

When children face disappointment or frustration, resist the urge to immediately fix the problem. Instead, acknowledge their feelings and help them reflect:

• “That was really hard.”
• “What do you think you might try next time?”
   This helps children learn that setbacks are temporary and solvable. 

2. Focus on Effort, Not Just Outcomes

 Praise persistence, creativity, and effort rather than just results:

• “I noticed how hard you worked on that.”
• “You didn’t give up, even when it was tricky.”
   This reinforces a growth mindset and builds confidence over time. 

3. Encourage Healthy Risk-Taking

Trying something new, whether it’s joining a club, learning a skill, or speaking up in class, can feel scary. Support your child by celebrating courage, not just success:

• “I’m proud of you for trying.”
• “It’s okay to feel nervous and do it anyway.” 

4. Create Predictable Routines

Consistency helps children feel safe, especially during times of change. Regular routines around sleep, meals, and homework provide structure that supports emotional regulation and resilience.

5. Model Resilience Yourself

Children learn more from what we do than what we say. Share age-appropriate examples of how you handle challenges:

• “I made a mistake at work today, but I’m learning from it.”
• “I felt disappointed, so I took a break and tried again.”
   This shows children that resilience is a lifelong skill. 

Setting Intentions, Not Pressure, for the New Year

Rather than focusing on resolutions or perfection, consider setting intentions as a family:

• Being kinder to ourselves
• Asking for help when needed
• Practicing patience and gratitude
• Trying new things without fear of failure 

Invite your child into the conversation and let them help shape goals that feel meaningful and achievable. 

Moving Forward Together

The new year is not about starting over, it’s about continuing to grow. By creating a supportive environment that values effort, emotional awareness, and connection, parents can help children build resilience that will serve them far beyond the classroom.

Every challenge is an opportunity to learn, and every child has the capacity to grow stronger with the right support. As we step into the new year, let’s focus on progress, compassion, and the confidence that comes from knowing we can handle whatever comes next.

Support Services January Community Event

In January, Support Services will host a free community awareness event focused on youth well-being, expanding the conversation beyond vaping to include substance use and the impact of social media. The evening will feature a presentation by prevention specialist Stephanie Siete and a panel discussion with experts and students.

The event will include:

• An overview of CATCH My Breath, an evidence-based prevention program proven to help students recognize and resist the influences that lead to vaping and substance use
• Discussion of vaping, substance use, and current youth trends
• The impact of social media on youth decision-making and behavior
• Practical prevention strategies and conversation tools for families
• Community resources available to support students and families

Registration details coming soon!

Learn More at the Source

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.

Learn More at the Source

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

Learn More at the Source

 

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).

Learn More at the Source  

 

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)