This toolkit includes communications templates, social media assets, and best practices to share the incredible results from your program's 2023-2024 Impact Report with all your stakeholders!
How To Use This Guide
Thank you for participating in the HCA Healthcare Classroom Connect & Event in a Box programs. These classroom visits allow us to bring concepts taught in the digital HCA Healthcare Understanding Mental Wellness course to life in schools within your community. To learn more about the course, click here. Since 2020, HCA Healthcare has impacted over 232,000 students. This page contains the resources you need to successfully complete your classroom visit(s), whether it is in-person or virtual.
How the Process Works
Step 1: Once a teacher has submitted a request, EVERFI colleague, Kaley Esselborn, will begin initial outreach to the teacher and gather some additional details from the teacher
Step 2: When the teacher has responded, Kaley will forward a comprehensive email to the HCA Healthcare division contacts and ask if the division can accommodate the request.
Step 3: If the division can accommodate the request, confirm with Kaley and Ashley and introduce the volunteer.
Step 4: Kaley will introduce the volunteer to the teacher via email to coordinate further details. Please copy Kaley Esselborn and Ashley Weiner on all of your communications with the educator so we can support you with any questions that may arise.
Step 5: Coordinate with the teacher to confirm date(s), time(s), type/topic of activity, and any arrival/check-in instructions (if visiting the school in person) or video conference needs (if doing a virtual visit).
Step 6: Review the resources and sample classroom activities provided on this page. Choose the activity that suits the request best!
Step 7: Follow through and complete the event
Step 8: Fill out post–event survey: https://forms.office.com/r/G88E12wtCi
Step 9: Send follow up thank you email to educator
Step 10: Record Your Time (if applicable in YourCause platform)
Sample Classroom Activities
Career Exploration Presentation Template
Use this template to help create a presentation for the event.
DownloadWellness Wheel Presentation Template
Use this template to help create a presentation for the event.
DownloadSocial Media and Mental Wellness Event Run of Show
Run of show, talking points and schedule for event
Download
Email Templates
Email Introduction Template for Classroom Connect
TO: [INSERT INTERESTED EDUCATOR]
CC: Your Community Development Manager
SUBJECT: EVERFI/HCA Healthcare Understanding Mental Wellness Classroom Opportunity – [INSERT DATE]
BODY:
Dear [INSERT EDUCATOR NAME],
I hope this email finds you well. My name is [Your Name], and I am [your role/position] with [Division Name]. We are passionate about promoting mental wellness and are currently organizing in-person classroom events to raise awareness and provide practical tools to support students’ well-being.
Thank you for your interest in having an [HCA Division] Mental Wellness Event at your school. This program is designed to engage students with interactive activities, discussions, and resources to help them navigate mental health challenges effectively and foster a supportive community.
Here are the details of what we envision for the event:
• Format: In-person classroom-based sessions
• Duration: [Approximate time required]
• Target Audience: [Specify age group or grade level]
• Date Options: [Provide tentative dates or request their availability]
Our team would be delighted to collaborate with you on tailoring the program to fit your students’ needs and schedule. Additionally, we are committed to ensuring that the event aligns with your school’s values and objectives.
Please let us know if you would be interested in hosting this event or if there’s a time we could meet to discuss this opportunity further. We are happy to provide additional information or address any questions you may have.
Thank you for considering this initiative to support student mental wellness. We look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Email Introduction Template for “Event In a Box”
TO: [INSERT INTERESTED EDUCATOR]
CC: Your Community Development Manager
SUBJECT: EVERFI/HCA Healthcare [Event In A Box Title] – [INSERT DATE]
BODY:
Dear [INSERT EDUCATOR NAME],
I hope this email finds you well. My name is [Your Name], and I am [your role/position] with [Division Name]. We are passionate about promoting mental wellness and are currently organizing in-person classroom events to raise awareness and provide practical tools to support students’ well-being.
We believe your school would be an excellent partner in this endeavor, and we would be honored if you could host an [HCA Division] Mental Wellness Event [Event Title] at your school. This program is designed to engage students with interactive activities, discussions, and resources to help them navigate mental health challenges effectively and foster a supportive community.
Here are the details of what we envision for the event:
• Format: In-person classroom-based sessions
• Duration: [Approximate time required]
• Target Audience: [Specify age group or grade level]
• Date Options: [Provide tentative dates or request their availability]
Our team would be delighted to collaborate with you on tailoring the program to fit your students’ needs and schedule. Additionally, we are committed to ensuring that the event aligns with your school’s values and objectives.
Please let us know if you would be interested in hosting this event or if there’s a time we could meet to discuss this opportunity further. We are happy to provide additional information or address any questions you may have.
Thank you for considering this initiative to support student mental wellness. We look forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
[Your Name]
Thank You Template
TO: [INSERT INTERESTED EDUCATOR]
CC: Your Community Development Manager
SUBJECT: Thank You for Having Us – [INSERT DATE]
BODY:
Dear [INSERT EDUCATOR NAME],
Thank you so much for hosting [Division Title] in your classroom this week.
[Division Title] is proud to sponsor mental wellness education across high schools in our community. If there’s interest in another visit in the future, please let me know.
[Include personal anecdote about the event]
Sincerely,
[INSERT NAME]
[INSERT TITLE]
[INSERT CONTACT INFORMATION]
Step 4: Complete Post Event Survey
Keep it Relatable
- Prepare a personal anecdote to share. At the school, you want the students to feel like they can relate to you. Think of a few personal anecdotes tied to your professional, academic, or healthcare journey, including mistakes you made when you were around their age.
Remember Classroom Guidelines
- Remember that you are a guest in the teacher’s classroom – don’t forget to say thank you for getting the opportunity to meet their students and be a part of their education for a day.
- If you want to take pictures, please ask the teacher. You will only be allowed to take pictures of students who have completed a photo release form.
Ended Your Activity Early?
- Get the students talking by asking any of the suggested questions below:
- Have you talked about this course with friends or family? What lessons did you share?
- What were you surprised to learn that might be opposite what you thought previously?
- When it comes to health and the future, what are you and your classmates worried about?
- What types of jobs are you considering in your future?
Ask Questions
If you have any questions not covered in this Volunteer Toolkit, please reach out to Ashley Weiner at [email protected].
Program Background
About the Program
- Understanding Mental Wellness is the first comprehensive program designed to help educators foster mental wellness in their classrooms and equip students with lifelong mental wellness skills. It is sponsored by HCA Healthcare for all middle and high schools in the geographic footprint (see below) at no cost to the teacher or school.
About Understanding Mental Wellness
- Understanding Mental Wellness takes a population-level approach to what is often seen as an individual issue. Understanding Mental Wellness provides middle and high school students with opportunities to explore their own mental health and identify challenges they may face. The online course is designed to help students develop concrete strategies for managing those challenges, understand the impact of stigma related to mental health, while increasing their awareness of resources and empowering them with the knowledge, skills, and language necessary to identify and support a peer who may be struggling.
- The self-paced digital lessons are designed to be easily integrated into any classroom setting. The course content is validated to meet school standards for mental health education and also aligns with the National Health Education Standards (NHES).