If you are an IRA owner age 70½ or over, you may be eligible to make a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from your IRA. A QCD is a tax-free distribution from your IRA that is made directly to a qualified charity, like Eirka’s Lighthouse There are several benefits to making a qualified charitable distribution. First, the distribution is not taxable, so you do not have to pay income tax on the amount that you give to charity. Second, QCDs can count towards your required minimum distribution (RMD) for the year. This means that if you make a QCD, you may be able to reduce or eliminate the am ..read more

What evaluations are included in Erika’s Lighthouse Programs? Erika’s Lighthouse classroom education programs each come with the option to utilize pre-and/or post-evaluation surveys to accompany the lessons for students. For Level I (grades 4-6), links and QR codes are available at the start and end of Lesson 1 and Lesson 3. For Level II (grades 5-9) and Level III (grades 8-12),  there is a QR code available in the respective Lesson 1 slideshow and Lesson 3 slideshow that you can share with your students to complete a simple and real-time survey. Pre and post-tests are available for stude ..read more

Erika’s Lighthouse believes every school community can be inclusive, empathetic and supportive around mental health. Our framework for promoting inclusive school cultures around mental health provides a roadmap for schools to create lasting change in their school culture. The Framework has five areas that schools can focus on to promote a positive school culture:   Fundamental Beliefs & Assumptions-We need all stakeholders to believe: Mental health is just as important as physical health Everyone deserves good mental health Good mental health is important to academic success Mental h ..read more

Erika’s Lighthouse is a nonprofit organization that helps schools provide their students with the skills needed to talk to each other, to their parents, teachers and counselors. Our resources raise awareness, reduce stigma, educate students, promote good mental health and encourage help-seeking. Fundraising is made easy with the use of Facebook. Your network is your biggest asset when it comes to raising money. If you have a birthday or are planning a party for a holiday weekend, you can easily turn this momentous event into something positive by simply just using a platform you already use re ..read more

Erika’s Lighthouse Enlighten Learning Management System is preparing school communities around mental health. We offer a variety of course selections and hope that this empowers your educators to feel like experts on Erika’s Lighthouse programs and resources. Here’s what you can find on Erika’s Lighthouse Enlighten Learning. Course Offerings: Become an expert on Erika’s Lighthouse Four Pillars How to implement Erika’s Lighthouse Classroom Education programs How to provide a family workshop  Complete staff training on depression and suicide  Learn how to start an Empowerment Club Di ..read more

Every program and resource from Erika’s Lighthouse is offered to schools free of charge. This is because of the generous support of individuals, corporations, and foundations. The only thing we ask is that you report on impact. Create an account and sign in to gain access to our suite of programs to promote inclusive school cultures around mental health. Once logged in, you will have access to all of the programs including our Classroom Education materials for grades 4-12, Empowerment Clubs, Family Engagement and School Policy & Staff Development resources at no cost – always. The only thi ..read more

What is the Changemaker Network? The Changemaker Network is a new forum open for you to connect and post with other student mental health leaders. You can post the wonderful things you or your club is doing for mental health, get ideas from other student leaders, or even look to connect with other students to collaborate. Ultimately, the Changemaker Network seeks to connect like-minded student mental health leaders. Students passionate about mental health and making a positive difference are everywhere, and the Changemaker Network seeks to connect them.  Who is Changemaker Network for? Ch ..read more

Erika’s Lighthouse was founded following the loss of a 14-year-old girl who lost her life to her depression. When Erika died, her family and friends felt that the community did not have the knowledge or vocabulary to talk about depression and suicide. They came together and created the program that they felt would have benefited Erika and her classmates. Erika’s Lighthouse programs were born from the belief that everyone deserves good mental health and that EVERY child in EVERY school should have access to high-quality mental health education so that they will know how to get help for themselv ..read more

One of the important aspects of a tier 1 program according to Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS) is that it connects students to support and offers a referral process. At Erika’s Lighthouse, we know that it is important to make help available to students who may need it after participating in our classroom education programs, so all three classroom programs use self-referral cards. These cards are developmentally appropriate and provide students the opportunity to ask for help if needed.    The Level I program, We All Have Mental Health calls the self-referral cards “exit ticket ..read more

Erika’s Lighthouse: A Beacon of Hope for Adolescent Depression is a non-profit organization committed to raising awareness about youth mental health in elementary school, middle school, and high school communities at no cost to schools. Erika’s Lighthouse works to eliminate the stigma surrounding depression and empower young people to take ownership of their mental health. With help from our Professional Community Ambassadors, we expand our reach each year. Here at Erika’s Lighthouse, we believe authentic voices play a pivotal role in fostering meaningful conversations about mental health. Sha ..read more