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The advocacy issue regarding the student-centered challenge based on research is "Body Image Perception."

Ongoing body image issues may possibly lead to mental illness or risky actions impacting student achievement, attendance, or behavior(www.mayoclinic.org). For example a student experiencing  self-esteem issues may feel withdrawn and often hesitant about interacting with their
peers(mayoclinic.org).

They may struggle with attending school, which can result in attendance issues(mayoclinic.org). These students may lack interest in school work or participating in class which can cause a drop in academic achievement(mayoclinic.org).

What can be done to address these gaps such as attendance, etc is to as a school counselor provide students with social-emotional support with regularly scheduled small group and individual counseling to students experiencing attendance and achievement issues due to self-esteem struggles(ASCA.org)

Examples of negative body  perception can lead to some teens to engage in risky actions such as drug and alcohol use(apa.org).

According to Womens Health.gov, (2019), causes of negative body image perception can be "Being teased or bullied as a child for how you looked, Being told you’re ugly, too fat, or too thin or having other aspects of your appearance criticized, Seeing images or messages in the media (including social media) that make you feel bad about how you look, Having underweight, overweight, or obesity".

This advocacy issue addresses "High School Students" in the grade level (9-12).

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The "Body Positivity" small group program is implemented in order to encourage positive-self esteem.

The body positive small group is done to incorporate according to Mayo Clinic (2021), "his or her personal characteristics such as strength, persistence and kindness".

An example is "The Body Pledge" students will do in small group! This pledge is a start to elevated self-esteem, which may elevate the student's overall mood towards feeling confident in attending school, achieving to their best ability, and positive peer support/interaction.

References of evidence-based strategies or techniques

Mayo Clinic Staff (April 06, 2021). Healthy body image: Tips for for guiding teens. Retrieved from  https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/tween-and-teen-health/in-depth/healthy-body-image/art-20044668

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The Program Goal: Encourage student overall achievement, by elevating student behavior(self-esteem/mood)

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The Program Goal: Encourage student overall achievement, by elevating student behavior(self-esteem/mood)

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SMART FORMAT

By May 20, 2021 students in grades (9-12) "Spring Term Small Group " who had declining grades in the Fall Term will have an increase in grades over a 5 month time to about 25% from the fall school term (Aug-Dec 2020).

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M 1. Belief in development of whole self, including a healthy balance of mental, social/ emotional and physical well-being

M 2. Self-confidence in ability to succeed

M 3. Sense of belonging in the school environment

M 4. Understanding that postsecondary education and life-long learning are necessary for long-term career success

M 5. Belief in using abilities to their fullest to achieve high-quality results and outcomes

M 6. Positive attitude toward work and learning  (ASCA,2019).

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Learning Strategies
B-LS 1. Demonstrate critical-thinking skills to make informed decisions

Self-Management Skill
B-SMS 1. Demonstrate ability to assume responsibility

Social Skills
B-SS 1. Use effective oral and written communication skills and listening skills (ASCA, 2019).

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Parents- Have conversation and engage in self-esteem activities with your teens! Monitor Social Media use

School administrators- Enforce anti-bullying rules, approve programs beneficial to teens regarding mental, social, and physical health

Teachers- Provide counseling referrals

School Counselors- Implement efficient social, emotional, academic programs, lessons, small group. Communicate with all stakeholders

Advocate for students mental and physical well being

Community Members-Organize  community activities for both teen girls and boys (ASCA, 2019).

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Wellcast - Self Esteem Tips: Dealing with Body Image Issues

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Wellcast - Self Esteem Tips: Dealing with Body Image Issues

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Wellcast - Self Esteem Tips: Dealing with Body Image Issues

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Body Image, Self-Confidence, and Self-Esteem

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Body Image, Self-Confidence, and Self-Esteem

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Do you remember the first time you ever thought negatively about yourself? Maybe you looked in the mirror and noticed a facial feature that you don't like for the first time. Maybe you didn't do something because you thought you would fail. Your mental state (including your body image and self-esteem) dictate how you view yourself and navigate the world around you. These factors have impacted your life on both a micro and macro scale.

They will also impact your children. Consider your own self-esteem and confidence as you learn more about these concepts. How can you help your kids develop the healthy perspectives and positive perceptions you wish you had?

Defining Body Image, Self-Confidence, and Self-Esteem

The first step toward improving how you view yourself is to consider the different lenses that you use to evaluate your physical, mental, and emotional being. There are three key terms to start with.

Body image is how you view your physical self. It can be viewed in a positive light (I like my hair, I have beautiful eyes) or in a negative light (I am too short, I am too tall, I don't have curves, I am too curvy). As kids grow into tweens and teens, they start to become aware of their bodies - and specifically how they are perceived.

Studies show that 25% of male teenagers are concerned with their masculinity and leanness, typically by expressing their desire for toned and defined muscles. of 13-year old girls reported being unhappy with their bodies, a number that grew to 80% by the time they reached the age of 17.

Along with body image, self-esteem refers to how much a person feels they are worth. Self-esteem can refer to physical or mental value, depending on the person in question. For example, one person might have high self-esteem because they get good grades, but poor body image if they are self-conscious about their acne. Another student might have high self-esteem because of their body image.

Finally, there is self-confidence, or judgment in your own abilities. A student may have high self-confidence going into a test because they studied and worked hard to learn the material or have high self-confidence because they didn't prepare but think they are lucky and smart.

These three lenses determine how your teen navigates the world and the decisions you make. Your teenage son might start to slouch because they have a negative body image about being bigger than their peers. Your daughter might not try out for the school play because of low self-confidence or belief they are good enough for a part.

As a parent, it's crushing to watch your kids devalue themselves. However, there are steps you can take to improve their self-perceptions and give them the confidence to tackle almost any situation.

Know the Influences of Your Teen's Body Image and Self-Esteem

Teens and adolescents are sponges in that they are constantly learning and absorbing information that changes how they view the world around them. Almost any interaction they have during the day could change their body image or self-esteem. A few common influential sources for your teen include:

School: teachers show how they value your teen and their academic potential. School friends can help or hurt your child's self-esteem or body image.

Media images and the internet: the web is packed with pictures of beautiful women, many of which have been photoshopped to reflect "ideal" beauty. The web also shows how people are valued in society based on their gender, race, age, weight, wealth, and other factors.

Social activities, clubs, and churches: the people your teen interacts with in the community can affirm what they learn in school and online. These people can also challenge their beliefs about self-esteem and self-confidence.

You and your family: parents and family members play a large role in the lives of their kids.

There have been some changes in the media recently to address toxic views of body image. Some brands have addressed " no-photoshop " policies so they no longer make their models skinnier or remove stretch marks and other features that create unrealistic beauty standards for women. Other companies have moved toward inclusive sizing - sharing images of people both large and small to highlight how beauty isn't tied to weight.

This is significant because fashion companies, magazines, and the media have a huge impact on the audiences they reach. Telling young girls that they will only have worth if they are below a size eight can have long-term damaging effects on body image and self-esteem. When brands don't use plus-size or diverse models and only carry a few sizes (or light skin-tones in the makeup industry) they send a message that reaching bigger customers or darker customers isn't worth it. These customers aren't cool enough or profitable enough to care about.

Make Your Values Known at Home

While you can't control every interaction that your child has, you can help them establish a set of beliefs at home that guides how they value themselves.

"When we spend a lot of time talking about something, we send a message that the topic is important," Dr. Renee Engeln writes at Psychology Today. " If we regularly talk to our children about kindness, we're letting them know that kindness matters. If we frequently praise children for sharing, that demonstrates how much we value generosity."

Engeln's comments come as part of a reflection on raising her daughter. She goes out of her way to compliment her daughter's personality traits, achievements, and cute outfits, but never calls her cute or pretty or even comments on her appearance. She doesn't want her daughter's value to be tied into her looks. As her daughter builds up her self-esteem, she doesn't want looks to be a significant figure that tips the scales - for better or worse.

Boys can also benefit from adjustments to what it means to "be a man." Many teens feel like they need to be big and strong to be manly. However, you as a parent can value manliness in the form of respect, honorable actions, and other internal traits.

Additional Ways to Help Kids Develop Healthy Self-Esteem

Helping your child develop healthy self-esteem is a process. They will naturally want to tear themselves down and the hormones that come with middle school and high school can be confusing and overwhelming. However, you can take steps to help your teen through these times.

Encourage your kids to try. Putting themselves out there is a risk, but it could pay off. Emphasize a mindset where failure is part of the journey and your child will never know the outcome unless they at least try.

Help them overcome obstacles. If your child does fail at something, help them learn to do better. This could mean helping them learn a new school or practicing with them so they can ace their next opportunity.

Involve your kids in different opportunities. Your child doesn't have to be great at everything. Let them try different sports, take different art classes, and enjoy multiple school subjects until they find something they are good at and passionate about.

Most importantly, lead by example. Show your child what beauty looks like. Teach them how to handle failure and how to try again. Let them see what high levels of self-confidence and a positive body image looks like. Their peers and the media can impact their views, but you still wield a lot of influence as a parent.

Kids can be mean. From elementary-age bullies to the cliques of middle school, there are so many forces looking to hurt your child's self-esteem and body image. You can't protect them from everything, but you can teach them how to pick themselves back up and keep going - a little stronger than before.

Family Resources has services to help teens develop a positive self-image. Our Counseling Program gives teens the tools to recognize their self-worth and manage negative influences.

Additionally, if you are the parent of a young adult 18-25 years of age, check out our Love Notes Workshops to help young adults develop healthy romantic relationships. We focus on how factors like self-esteem impact the people you date and how you value yourself romantically. This is a good way to start dating life off on the right foot.

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How to Help Your Teen Develop A Positive Body Image and Self-Esteem

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Do you remember the first time you ever thought negatively about yourself? Maybe you looked in the mirror and noticed a facial feature that you don't like for the first time. Maybe you didn't do something because you thought you would fail.

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References of evidence-based strategies or techniques 

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References of evidence-based strategies or techniques 

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American Psychological Association. (2020, February 25). Weight-based bullying linked to increased adolescent alcohol, marijuana use [Press release]. http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2020/02/weight-based-bullying

Association, A.S. C. (2019). The ASCA National Model: A Framework for School Counseling Programs, fourth edition. [MBS Direct]. Retrieved from https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/#/books/978-1-929289-61-5/

American School Counselor Association. (2021). Closing the achievement gap specialist. Retrieved from
https://www.schoolcounselor.org/Events-Professional-Development/Professional-Development/ASCA-U-Specialist-Training/Closing-the-Achievement-Gap-Specialist.

Mayo Clinic Staff (April 06, 2021). Healthy body image: Tips for for guiding teens. Retrieved from  https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/tween-and-teen-health/in-depth/healthy-body-image/art-20044668

Office on Women’s Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ( March 27, 2019). Body image. Retrieved from https://www.womenshealth.gov/mental-health/body-image-and-mental-health/body-image

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How to Build a Better Body Image with Therapist Katie Morton!

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How to Build a Better Body Image with Therapist Katie Morton!