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Description
Educators - teachers of institutional education and Health Office specialists have a great influence on the comprehensive development of a child. Researchers have found that social-emotional intelligence is more important to a person’s success than cognitive intelligence. Research shows that pupils with better social emotional abilities and mental health achieve higher academic achievement and more easily develop communication skills.
The task of educators is to notice children''s social and emotional problems as early as possible, to adapt the content of education and to create a favourable environment for comprehensive education. Innovative, modern equipment is necessary in order to engage children and promote effective education. The idea of this project is to provide health offices in schools with modern methodological tools. The aim of the project is to strengthen children''s mental health and emotional well-being by creating conditions for high-quality social emotional education. The created favourable environment will motivate children to take care of their health, help them to understand their feelings, manage stress, communicate and cooperate from an early age. The use of new technologies will promote children''s cognitive abilities, strengthen memory, logical thinking, self-expression and social environment.
Project partner - Ukmergė District Public Health Bureau is responsible for accounting the use of project measures.
Target group of the project – specialists of Ukmergė District Public Health Office. In the performance of their official duties, they visit educational institutions and organize lessons on the promotion of a healthy lifestyle and the strengthening of physical and mental health. There are 7 specialists of the Public Health Office in Ukmergė district, who periodically work in 22 schools according to the schedule.
The project will help to ensure the maintenance of high-quality service.
Summary of project results
The project aimed to address several issues and challenges related to children''s social, emotional, and mental well-being within the educational environment. These challenges include:
Early Detection of Social and Emotional Problems: One of the primary challenges was the need for educators to notice children''s social and emotional issues as early as possible. Early detection is crucial for timely intervention and support.
Enhancing Social Emotional Intelligence: Research has shown that social emotional intelligence is more critical to a person''s success than cognitive intelligence. The project sought to enhance pupils'' social emotional abilities, which in turn, would lead to higher academic achievement and better communication skills.
Creating a Favourable Educational Environment: There was a need to adapt the educational content and create an environment conducive to comprehensive education. This includes making the learning environment engaging and supportive for children''s overall development.
Provision of Modern Educational Tools: To engage children effectively and promote education, the project identified the necessity of innovative and modern equipment in health rooms. Traditional tools were insufficient in addressing the current educational needs and in keeping children engaged.
Strengthening Mental Health and Emotional Well-Being: The project aimed to strengthen children''s mental health and emotional well-being by providing high-quality social emotional education. This was seen as essential for helping children manage stress, understand their feelings, and improve their overall mental health.
Motivation for Health Maintenance: The project aimed to create an environment that motivates children to take care of their health. This includes understanding the importance of a healthy lifestyle from an early age.
Promotion of Cognitive and Social Skills: The use of new technologies was intended to promote cognitive abilities, strengthen memory, logical thinking, self-expression, and social skills. This would help in the holistic development of children.
Quality of Service by Public Health Specialists: Another challenge was ensuring that the specialists from the Ukmergė District Public Health Office could maintain a high quality of service when visiting educational institutions. Providing them with modern methodological tools was seen as essential for their effective performance.
Systematic Health Education: The specialists needed tools to systematically educate students about healthy lifestyles and the importance of physical and mental health, as part of their regular visits to schools.
Overall, the project aimed to address the multifaceted challenges of providing comprehensive education and support to children by enhancing the resources available in school health rooms and ensuring that public health specialists were well-equipped to deliver high-quality educational services.
The project implemented several activities and produced various outputs to enhance children''s mental health and emotional well-being in schools:
Equipped Health Rooms with Modern Tools: The project provided health rooms in schools with innovative and modern methodological tools. This equipment is designed to engage children effectively and support their education in a more interactive and appealing manner.
Social Emotional Education Programs: Developed and integrated high-quality social emotional education programs aimed at helping children understand their feelings, manage stress, and develop better communication and cooperation skills.
Training for Specialists: Conducted training sessions for the seven specialists from the Ukmergė District Public Health Office. These sessions equipped the specialists with the knowledge and skills necessary to utilize the new tools effectively and deliver high-quality services in schools.
Regular Visits and Lessons: The specialists visited 22 schools according to a set schedule, where they organized lessons and activities focused on promoting a healthy lifestyle and strengthening both physical and mental health.
Interactive Learning Activities: Introduced interactive learning activities that promote children''s cognitive abilities, strengthen memory, foster logical thinking, encourage self-expression, and enhance social interactions.
Monitoring and Evaluation: Collaborated with the Ukmergė District Public Health Bureau to track and account for the use of project measures, ensuring that the new tools and programs were being implemented effectively and efficiently.
Overall, the project aimed to create a supportive and engaging environment for children, helping them develop vital social and emotional skills, improve their mental health, and achieve better academic outcomes.
The project achieved several significant results, benefiting both students and public health specialists in the Ukmergė District:
Improved Mental Health and Emotional Well-Being of Students: By integrating high-quality social emotional education and providing modern tools in health rooms, the project helped students better understand their feelings, manage stress, and improve their overall mental health. This led to more positive school experiences and emotional stability for the children.
Enhanced Academic Performance: Students with better social and emotional abilities showed higher academic achievement. The innovative tools and interactive activities promoted cognitive abilities, strengthened memory, and encouraged logical thinking, which collectively contributed to improved academic outcomes.
Development of Communication and Social Skills: The project facilitated the development of crucial communication and cooperation skills among students. By engaging in interactive learning activities, students learned to express themselves better and interact more effectively with their peers and teachers.
Motivation for Healthy Lifestyle Choices: The health education programs and modern tools in health rooms motivated children to take better care of their health. They gained a deeper understanding of the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle from an early age.
Support for Public Health Specialists: The seven specialists from the Ukmergė District Public Health Office were better equipped to deliver high-quality services. The training and new methodological tools enabled them to conduct more effective lessons and activities in schools, promoting physical and mental health among students.
Creation of a Supportive Educational Environment: The project fostered a more engaging and supportive educational environment in the 22 schools involved. This environment encouraged students to take an active interest in their health and well-being, creating a positive impact on their overall development.
Overall, the project significantly benefited the students by enhancing their mental health, emotional well-being, academic performance, and social skills. Additionally, it supported public health specialists in delivering more effective health education and maintaining high-quality services in schools.