Out-of-school time (OST) programs provide the unique opportunity to boost resiliency in children and youth by fostering positive relationships, offering flexible support, and developing skills such as problem solving and self-regulation. These programs allow for increased mentorship, emotional support, and positive communication that might be missed during the school day. Safe, effective afterschool programs provide a space to create positive childhood experiences (PCEs) in youth. PCEs have been found to promote positive youth outcomes, even in the presence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) (Samji et al., 2024; Lynne et al. 2025). Florida After School hopes to uplift programs to foster positive childhood experiences to build resiliency in the youth they serve.
What is Resiliency?
While we can’t control the circumstances our young people might face, we can boost them with the ability to cope and develop resilience. Resiliency is the ability to adapt to and recover from stress and adversity. Resilience is a skill that is learned and developed over time. OST programs provide the flexibility and availability to teach this vital skill.
Why is Resiliency Important?
How Does Florida After School Support Youth Resiliency?
Youth Mental Health and Resiliency Peer-Learning-Community
The Youth Mental Health and Resiliency (YMHR) Peer Learning Community (PLC) serves to establish opportunities for professional learning on the topics of supporting the mental health and resiliency of youth during an out-of-school time (OST) program. Professional learning opportunities include monthly webinars, networking discussions, and other supplemental materials. This opportunity is integrated and coincides with the Charity for Change character education program. The YMHR PLC operates on a semester basis, with cohorts in the fall, spring, and summer. You can find out information about the upcoming semester cohort here.
From the PLC, participants have indicated that they achieved a greater understanding of youth mental health and resiliency through increased resources, awareness of youth mental health topics, coping strategies, and knowledge of the impact of mental health on youth behavior.
For more information on the impacts of the YMHR PLC: see these reports below.
If you are interested in participating in an upcoming YMHR PLC, please reach out to Kayla Kitchens at kkitchens@flafterschool.com.
CypherWorx Courses
Youth Mental Health First Aid
Florida After School has committed to educating OST staff on the topic of youth mental health. Through in-house certified YMHFA instructors, Florida After School has trained over 30 professionals in YMHFA. This training provided by the National Council for Mental Well-Being focuses on supporting youth through mental health crises and other challenges. If you are interested in bringing YMHFA to your organization or site, please reach out to us at info@flafterschool.com.
Our Partners
ACT for Youth showcases resources on supporting positive youth development through youth engagement and adolescent well-being. The website includes trauma-informed programming guides, activity toolkits, logic models, and other tangible tools for supporting positive youth development.
The Florida Department of Education has developed resiliency resources based on the Florida Resiliency Standards. These resources include parent guides, educator resources, and reading lists.
Charity for Change exists to elevate Pre-K through 5th-grade children to achieve their full potential through character education, charitable and community involvement, academics, and parental and community engagement. The program is available at no cost, through funding by the Department of Education, to agencies serving elementary age students in Florida. The curriculum uses various teaching tools to help students engage in their community through various modalities while learning about nine (9) character traits: citizenship, perseverance, kindness, self-control, tolerance, responsibility, integrity, cooperation and respect. The curriculum is intended for daily implementation. Florida After School has partnered with Charity for Change to expand the wonderful curriculum across the state of Florida.
The FSU Institute for Resilience and Trauma Studies has created a student well-being toolkit that is interactive and focuses on teaching students what resilience is.
Mental Health America includes several resources for supporting mental health in communities and programs. The website also includes specific resources aimed at supporting youth through mental health crises and other challenges.
Mizzen Education is a free, educator informed platform with a variety of resources such as lesson plans and activities. This platform includes resources that support several domains of youth development such as STEM, literacy, resiliency, and citizenship.
NAMI Florida provides several Florida-based mental health and resiliency resources and Initiatives. The NAMI Florida website has an abundance of both youth and adult resources, as well as links to individual NAMI chapters throughout the state.
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has developed an organizational assessment with UCLE-Duke University that is designed for organizations that serve children and families. This assessment is free to access and supports organizational change through tailored implementation pathways.
Stigma Free Mental Health includes a variety of free tools aimed at improving both adult and student mental health, and reducing stigma. The website includes free programs aimed at reducing stigma in classrooms and educational programs.
Talking with trees includes free resources such as lesson plans, activities, books, and other resources themed around character education and resiliency.