Scanlan Center for School Mental Health

02/25/2026

Community makes us stronger 💛

If you’re in Iowa City this Saturday (2/28), stop by the FREE Community Health Fair & Wellness Series from 8:30–11 a.m., hosted by Pthfndr Wellbeing.

Explore resources, connect with local partners, and listen to Dr. Kari Vogelgesang’s 9:30 a.m. session on the power of micro-moments—simple, meaningful ways to strengthen relationships and social connection.

Find more in the comments ⬇️

02/23/2026

In honor of National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (Feb. 23–March 1), we’re highlighting a new guide designed specifically for K–12 educators 💛

Learn the key warning signs of eating disorders and discover practical, compassionate steps to support students and connect them to help.

👉 Read more at the link in the first comment ⬇️

02/18/2026

Sometimes, self-compassion is the intervention 💛

Social worker Ryan Kidder shares one way educators can help reset their nervous system in a moment of stress or overwhelm ⬇️

02/16/2026

Students feeling stressed or anxious in class is more common than we think 💛

Swipe through these 5️⃣ strategies from Dr. Barry Schreier to see how small, intentional practices can create safer, more supportive learning spaces ⬇️

02/13/2026

𝗣𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 🩷 Earlier this week, Scanlan Center executive director Allison Bruhn shared her experience as a breast cancer survivor with Iowa Women's Basketball before being recognized during the team's annual Pink Out game.

Her strength off the court mirrors the leadership she brings to our work every day—supporting schools, educators, and students with compassion and courage!

📸 Photo Credit: Iowa Hawkeyes Athletics

02/12/2026

Before students can share kindness and love with others, they need opportunities to practice it with themselves 💛

Our 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝑳𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 activity helps students practice positive self-talk and recognize their strengths—because learning to love yourself makes it easier to show love to others.

Download at the link in the comments ⬇️

02/11/2026

𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗜𝗼𝘄𝗮 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 💛 We’re excited to honor Kelli Johnson, school counselor at Parkview Elementary (Marion Independent School District), as our February 2026 Iowa School Mental Health Hero of the Month!

From expanding mental health resources to strengthening MTSS systems, Kelli’s leadership creates meaningful, lasting impact for students and staff.

🙌 Thank you, Kelli, for building trust—one student at a time!

Read Kelli's story at the link in the first comment ⬇️

02/10/2026

Iowa K–12 schools—are you planning to participate in Every Kid Healthy Week® (April 20–24, 2026)? 🎉

Register your event for a chance to win a $1,000 mini-grant to support student well-being.

💛 Looking to make an even bigger impact? is a great opportunity to bring a Scanlan Center expert-led professional development training to your school. Explore our curated PD offerings or partner with us to design a training tailored to your staff’s needs: https://scsmh.education.uiowa.edu/professional-development/prek-12-curated-and-customizable-training

Is your school ready to celebrate Every Kid Healthy Week®? Registration is now open for our 2026 celebration, April 20-24!

EKHW is all about making wellness easy and fun. From simple classroom activities to school-wide events, we provide the tools you need—including a planning toolkit and customizable flyers—to engage your families and volunteers.

🎁 Bonus: Schools that register are entered to win a $1,000 mini-grant to strengthen health and well-being initiatives beyond the week!

Join schools across the country in building a healthier future for our kids.
👉 Sign up here: everykidhealthyweek.org

02/09/2026

Episode 2 of 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗨𝗻𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗱 & 𝗫𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱 is now out! 🎧 It dives into how reading proficiency connects to mental health, school engagement, and opportunity, and why effective literacy instruction is a shared responsibility across schools and communities. This episode is a must-listen for anyone who cares about helping students thrive ⬇️

02/05/2026

Small moments of movement = big benefits. ✨

From improved focus to reduced anxiety, classroom physical activity supports both the mental health and academic success of students.

In honor of Active Classrooms Month, share how you’re integrating physical activity into your classroom ⬇️

02/03/2026

In honor of National School Counselors Week, we’re throwing it back to a powerful story that shows how school counselors are often the 💛 of a school’s well-being efforts.

Natalie Nesbitt has been a catalyst for positive change—supporting students, empowering staff, and helping build a stronger culture of well-being at Benton Community Schools. Take a few minutes to watch her story and celebrate the impact of school counselors everywhere ✨

The 2024 Iowa School Mental Health Hero is Natalie Nesbitt, a school counselor in the Benton Community School District in Van Horne, Iowa. Natalie has served...

02/02/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗿𝘀 💛 During National School Counseling Week (Feb. 2–6), we celebrate the K-12 professionals who amplify student success every day by supporting academic growth + mental health and well-being. Your impact reaches far beyond the school day, and we’re grateful for all you do!