Cohort 1: Colorado School-Based Mental Health Shared Core Induction Course
Health and Wellness

Course Description

The Shared Core Induction Course is a foundational course for school psychologists, school social workers, school counselors, and school nurses who serve Colorado students. Designed for professionals who are new to the profession, new to Colorado Schools, or seeking a shared framework with their colleagues, this course builds common knowledge, shared language, and foundational practices to support effective school-based mental health practice. The Shared Core Induction Course must be completed before beginning a profession-specific pathway course. 

Learner Objectives

Upon completion of the course, participants will be able to: 

  • Describe foundational legal, ethical, and professional considerations that guide school-based mental health practice.
  • Explain the relationship between student mental health, learning, school success, and multi-tiered systems of support.
  • Recognize common student mental health concerns and identify appropriate pathways for prevention, intervention, and support. 
  • Apply foundational principles related to suicide prevention, school safety, crisis response, and behavioral threat assessment.
  • Identify practices that support effective family engagement, community partnerships, and collaboration across professional roles. 
  • Identify professional practices that support appropriate boundaries, wellness, and sustainable school-based mental health practice.  

Shared Core Induction Course Reference Guide (Click to open PDF)

A Reference Guide is available to support participants throughout the course and in their professional practice.  It includes module overviews, key terms, and definitions, commonly used acronyms, and links to Colorado and national resources.  Participants are encouraged to save the guide for future reference and easy access to embedded resources.

Completion Time

20 hours of asynchronous professional learning

Completion Requirement

Complete all required course modules, activities, and the course evaluation. 

Asthma Management: Foundations & Challenges for School Nurses
Health and Wellness

To access the course:
  • If you have an existing CDE Moodle LMS account, log in and self-enroll in the course.
  • If you are new to the CDE Moodle LMS platform, complete this form to register and enroll in the course.

This free 1.5 hour course was designed for Colorado School Nurses with the goals of (1) engaging the participant with evidence-based asthma care coordination principles and standardized tools and (2) addressing emerging asthma-related issues that impact our communities, including air quality and health equity. 

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  1. Describe 3 components of asthma care coordination for School Nurses
  2. Identify 3 asthma trigger mitigation strategies for School Nurses, including addressing poor air quality
  3. Use 2 evidence-based resources for asthma trigger mitigation strategies to enhance professional practice

A Certificate of Completion with 1.5 training hours is awarded when a learner completes this course and submits an evaluation.

For questions, email SchoolNurseSpecialists@cde.state.co.us


Building Bridges for Asthma Care - School Nurses Training Series
Health and Wellness

The Building Bridges for Asthma Care program was designed as a school nurse-oriented program by an interdisciplinary team of allergy and pulmonary specialists with input from stakeholders including a national steering committee and school nurses.  The manual was revised and licensed in 2019. This training series was developed in 2021. This is considered a next level, comprehensive, systematic approach to a school-based asthma care program.   

Prior to this course, we recommend you take our introductory course:  Asthma Management Foundations & Challenges for School Nurses

This free 1.5 hour training can be used to help school nurses build an asthma program for their schools.  A course completion certificate for 1.5 hours is available after completing the lessons.

For questions, email SchoolNurseSpecialists@cde.state.co.us

CDE School Health Services (SHS) Program Learning Tool
Health and Wellness

This course serves to improve understanding of CDE’s portion of the School Health Services (SHS) program. This course can be used by new coordinators who need training, current coordinators needing a refresher, or by anyone who needs an understanding of CDE's side of the program. This tool contains quizzes and various support tools also available on the CDE School Health Services website.

For questions or comments, contact Andria Thornhill

Comprehensive Health Education Grantees 23-24
Health and Wellness

This course is designed for current comprehensive health education grantees to build a community of practice while implementing their work plans.

High Impact Instructional Strategies for Health Education
Health and Wellness

This course explores high impact instructional strategies for health education. 

For more information on the course contact:

Jamie Hurley

hurley_j@cde.state.co.us

Mental Health Awareness and Connectedness for School Leaders
Health and Wellness

Colorado Department of Education Health and Wellness Unit Staff Members partnered with workforce training specialists at Kaiser Permanente to develop a 2-part training to school leaders state-wide. The course includes a self-paced mental health awareness training and a 2-hour zoom session in which practical tools and strategies for fostering a mental health connected school environment are shared. Participants will receive a Google Drive folder with which they could go back into their school environment and implement the course with their team(s). This is a self-paced online version of the live training.