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What is HEAL?

The HEAL program is a two-hour eight-session peer support program for high school students run by On the Margins in partnership with the Hanna Center and with funds from the S.H. Cowell Foundation. This program aims to engage in a collective generation of knowledge of what self and community care are, and to practice and disseminate healing strategies to high school youth. This is a space where high school students can learn how to be their fullest selves and experience wellness and connection. The HEAL curriculum aspires to equip the youth with the essential tools and insights for personal and collective healing and to empower them to become leaders in their communities and create a more just and equitable society.

  • It is a framework that identifies how we respond to the generational trauma that embeds in our bodies, hearts, minds, and communities. Healing Justice can be accessed through writing, oral accounts, art, and other approaches that can serve as anti-oppressive tools that facilitate critical consciousness.

    We are inspired by the Kindred Southern Healing Justice Collective’s work and their conceptualization of healing justice as a political strategy and framework for movements to address collective harm and trauma.

  • High school students are eligible.

  • The location of our next group will be announced soon.

  • The commitment is two to three hours per week. The program is free and a $100 stipend per session will be provided to each participating student.

  • Results from a 2023 analysis of surveys between the beginning (pre) and the end (post) of the program showed that on average, participants significantly improved on four outcomes that were measured. Participants reported that their mental health symptoms were reduced by feeling less left out or depressed, or feeling more companionship. Participants mentioned the benefits of having stronger connections to peers they had already known or meeting new people in the group. They also reported improved knowledge on resources about mental health and substance use. In particular, they liked learning new topics that were usually not talked about in school. Further, better coping skills were observed when dealing with the stress that occurred in their physical and home environments. Some said they were able to overcome their social anxiety to speak up and the program helped their communication skills. Results indicate that participants’ resilience levels improved significantly with better recovery from a stressful event. Please contact us if you would like to have more access to a summary of our evaluation results: contactus@onthemargins.us

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Schedule

  • Saturday, October 5, 2024

    SV4HJ Retreat

    9am – 3pm

  • Wednesday, October 9, 2024

    Session #1

    4pm – 6:30pm

  • Wednesday, October 16, 2024

    Session #2

    4pm – 6:30pm

  • Wednesday, October 23, 2024

    Session #3

    4pm – 6:30pm

  • Wednesday, October 30, 2024

    Session #4

    4pm – 6:30pm

  • Saturday, November 2, 2024

    SV4HJ Closing Retreat

    9am – 3pm