Mental Health Awareness: Tools, Tips, and Guides
Supporting the mental well-being of directors, educators, and families is essential to creating nurturing early childhood environments. This month, Show Me Child Care Resources is highlighting tools that promote emotional health, reduce stress, and empower everyone connected to your program. Whether you’re leading a team, caring for young children, or supporting families, these resources are designed to strengthen well-being and provide practical support when it’s needed most.
Employee Assistance Program Workforce Benefit
Life’s personal challenges don’t stay at the door when we arrive at work. An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offers confidential, individualized guidance for staff and their families, helping them navigate the complexities of everyday challenges with confidence and peace of mind.
An Employee Assistance Program provides:
Support for personal or family concerns
Guidance on financial or legal matters
Referrals for mental health and wellness services
Tools for managing stress and improving work-life balance
Providing access to an EAP is an investment in your team’s well-being and in the overall health of your program.
Teacher Appreciation Starts with Encouraging Self-Care
Stress affects educators in many ways from emotional fatigue to decreased patience and reduced creativity. Recognizing stress is the first step in addressing it, and supporting teachers in developing healthy coping strategies benefits both staff and children.
Our newest resource, “Taking Care of Ourselves for Providers,” includes:
Reflective activities
Practical self-care strategies
Tools to identify stress triggers
Tips for maintaining balance throughout the workday
The staff that feels supported is better equipped to show up each day with energy, patience, and compassion.
‘Taking Care of Ourselves’ – New Handout for Families.
Families today are juggling a wide range of stressors, from financial worries to packed schedules and emotional strain. Your support as a child care provider can make a meaningful difference.
Our new downloadable handouts offer families:
Guidance for managing stress and anxiety
Strategies for bringing calm into daily routines
Encouragement for practicing self-care at home
Tips for strengthening emotional well-being as a family
These tools are simple, accessible, and designed to help families feel understood, supported, and empowered.
Have You Heard? Docs by Phone with Mental Health
You can now enhance your wellness benefits by adding a Mental Health module to your Docs by Phone service. This update gives employees direct access to:
Licensed therapists
Counselors
Behavioral health specialists
It’s fast, confidential support at their fingertips an invaluable benefit for today’s workforce. Mental health matters and offering convenient access to expert care demonstrate a deep commitment to your staff’s overall well-being.
This isn’t just an add-on.
It’s a game changer for workplace wellness.
Together, We Support Healthy Minds
When directors, staff, and families have access to mental health tools and encouragement, the entire child care community grows stronger. Show Me Child Care Resources is here to help you build a program where well-being is supported, valued, and celebrated.
Check out our website for more information about Show Me Child Care Resources:
Learn more: Email theteam@showmeresource.org with any questions.
Explore our other Child Care Aware® of Missouri resources:
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Scholarships for Educators
Child Care Health and Wellness
Family Child Care Network
Leadership Development Opportunities
Missouri Office of Childhood Updates
Show Me Child Care Resources
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