Are you a community leader, school leader, mental health professional, or parent who is concerned about our global youth mental health crisis? Currently loneliness is one of the biggest challenges for youth and young adults. In fact, one out of every two youth reports feeling lonely. That’s why we’ve created Be Socially Connected!
Be Socially Connected promotes the idea that social connection is critical to our youth's mental health.
With the purpose to support youth and young adults to develop local social connections with peers, create social support, harness social capital, learn to manage their social media, and practice social inclusion. Be Socially Connected is a hybrid virtual/place-based curriculum designed for professionals working with youth and young adults needing support to connect. Be Socially Connected is based on the research of the social influences of mental health.
The course is engaging, educational, and will provide youth with the skills they need to Be Socially Connected in the future. In just seven sessions youth will learn how to better connect with others, build the skills they need to garner support and capital, and create happiness in their lives.
Every session focuses on a different aspect of the social influences coming from the CONNECT. 100 Ways to Create Happiness in Your Life workbook. All students will utilize the CONNECT. workbook, and the program includes a combination of online education, interactive activities, meaningful homework assignments, and storytelling to support connection. Upon the completion of the six online sessions, youth will meet in person and experience the close bonds of connection fostered by the online group process.
How can I bring Be Socially Connected to my organization, community, or clients?
This model creates sustainability in your organization as facilitators become certified in the process and can provide on-site sessions to youth. It’s easy to become a facilitator utilizing the Be Socially Connected model, and all facilitators will be trained in how to use the modules and activities to support the growth of youth. The only requirements for becoming a facilitator include being able to connect and manage a group of youth and young adults, the ability to navigate the zoom or online platform, and the ability to follow the curriculum and certification process. Training and support are provided to ensure successful implementation.
5-Star Reviews from Be Socially Connected Training Participants:
"This program has been instrumental in helping me manage my anxiety when speaking to people due to my stutter. Here, no one has judged me for it. It also helps alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation that I sometimes experience when other kids don't understand me."
"Be Socially Connected is designed to help kids overcome any feelings of awkwardness. Weird people often get bullied and feel like they can't talk to anyone, but by joining this program, kids will feel better and gain confidence."
Project CONNECT. includes the following:
- Session 1: Getting to Know You
- Session 2: Building Social Connections
- Session 3: It’s All About Support
- Session 4: Social Capital: How to Make the Right Friends for Influence
- Session 5: How to Use Social Media for Good
- Session 6: We Can Build It Together: Practicing Social Inclusion
- Bonus Session: Tying it All Together!
The CONNECT. package includes the following:
- Full-day Be Socially Connected facilitator training
- Copy of the CONNECT. workbook
- Facilitators templates including: Presentation decks for each module, facilitator manual and curriculum, video refreshers for each module, and marketing materials
- Access to the online portal and Be Socially Connected community
- Monthly support calls
- 90 minutes of coaching office hours
- Annual certification
- Evaluation support toward recertification
- Half-day virtual annual training
Books for youth participants are available on Amazon. To bring this training to your community, a minimum of five facilitators must be registered. Virtual training options are available for the facilitator if necessary.
About the CONNECT. Training Workbook
In "CONNECT. 100 Ways to Create Happiness in Your Life," we use science to help you meet your mental health needs. There is extensive research about how your everyday actions contribute to your mental health. The intention is to educate you about how you can actually take control of your mental health, before it gets to a crisis space. This book focuses on the Social Influences of Mental Health.
By understanding how social aspects of our lives impact our happiness and wellbeing, we can begin to incorporate everyday strategies into our daily practice. The goal is to harness these social influences to create the support that we need on a regular basis. By intentionally practicing the social aspects of your life, you can create the balance that you need to be happier and healthier. This book is designed to share research, tangible tools, and simple techniques.
Questions before you book the Be Socially Connected training?
Connect with Julie below with any questions you have regarding Collectively's Be Socially Connected program.
Bring Social Connections Training to your Youth-Serving Organization!
Dr. Julie Radlauer, a leading expert in behavioral health, speaks to a host of communities, systems, organizations, and people about the importance of social connection.