While participating in the Family Leaders for Ohio Schools Academy at the Ohio Statewide Family Engagement Center, Ohio parent Latoya developed a plan to reduce stigma around mental health issues by sharing mental health resources, coping strategies, and support information while encouraging open conversations. Read more about her plan below.
Introduction
I wanted to become a parent leader because I believe parents play an important role in helping children succeed academically and emotionally. I care deeply about children’s mental health and well-being, especially as many children face stress, anxiety, and social pressure at a young age. I wanted to help families feel supported, informed, and connected to helpful resources. I also want to strengthen communication between parents, schools, and the community so children feel safe, heard, and encouraged. I currently serve as President of the Winton Woods Community School District, which has strengthened my passion for advocating for children and families.
Goal
My goal is to increase awareness and family engagement around children’s mental health by creating a supportive environment where children feel safe, understood, and encouraged. I want to strengthen communication between
parents, schools, and the community to better recognize mental health challenges and provide support early. To meet this goal, I plan to increase education and community involvement through newsletters, parent meetings, workshops, and social media. I will share mental health resources, coping strategies, and support information while encouraging open conversations to reduce stigma and create a welcoming environment for children and families.
Expected Outcomes
I believe the outcome for students will be increased awareness and understanding of mental health, improved emotional well-being, stronger communication with parents, teachers, and peers. Students will feel more supported, safe, and comfortable expressing their emotions and asking for help when needed. The project will also help students develop
healthier coping skills for managing stress, anxiety, and other emotional challenges.
I believe students will benefit from stronger family and school involvement, creating a more positive and supportive environment that encourages confidence, emotional growth, and academic success.
Potential Challenges
One challenge I anticipate is encouraging families and students to openly discuss mental health due to stigma or discomfort surrounding the topic. Another challenge may be maintaining consistent family engagement and participation. Limited time, resources, and communication barriers could also impact outreach efforts. To
address these challenges, I plan to focus on creating a welcoming, supportive environment and sharing easy-to-access resources and information.
Next Steps
My immediate next steps are to research children’s mental health resources, gather feedback from parents and educators, and begin creating awareness materials such as newsletters and informational flyers. I also plan to coordinate communication efforts with families and school staff to promote engagement and participation. These steps will begin within the next two weeks to help establish a strong foundation for the project and increase awareness early in the process.