R.A.P JUST BREATHE

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R.A.P. Just Breathe program is our mental and emotional well-being component to assist scholars and parents to cope with the negative stress effects of the COVID 19 pandemic. Currently, and throughout the past year, while implementing our modified scope of work to address the impacts of the COVID-19, we have experienced the growing stress of youth and parents as they try to navigate their way through school closure, separation of friends, and the online education process, and isolation from friends and family. We found our scholars are experiencing high absenteeism and falling behind in their academics. 

They are not only experiencing stress and trauma, but even added multiple traumas from not being able to overcome the stress of failing in school. This mental stress is even affecting many students who would normally be the high performing students. Our JUST BREATHE program help us to solidify our work in providing them with the tools for mental stress relief through our various specifically designed stress relief activities, workshops and adult and peer mental health aide and supports. Our staff has been certified in separate trainings as Youth Mental Health Aides and Youth Suicide Prevention.

The Restore Assemble Produce “Just Breathe” COVID Stress Relief program is very explicit in our program design to promote mental and emotional well-being utilizing a three-fold process. First, we conduct our one-day RAP “Just Breathe Camp” to be held each month at a local camp site, with all our participants. This camp will consist of camp friendly activities that will help the youth relive stress by being in an open, outdoor COVID-safe environment. Activities will range from role-playing, campfire, storytelling, team building, exercise, self-reflection, inspirational speakers, peer leaders, and counselors, and meeting new friends. 

Our second component is providing our RAP “Just Breathe” Fitness Camp with our local partner BIG WU Fitness. The facility is local and accessible in downtown Kent teaching the youth a variety of fun health and fitness options as well healthy meal planning. The youth will be able to transfer these skills at home. 

Finally, the project also utilizes the RAP radio, online radio station as a support mechanism for the students to share and express their experience with stress relief, resilience, and academic victories, with other members of the community. This very important component helps provide a venue for open expression of feelings, sharing solutions, and community feedback and emotional support. 

All the activities and fostered relationships will be geared towards their access to mental and emotional well-being and reassure them they can overcome the impacts of mental and emotional stress…JUST BREATHE!