Children with chronic health impairments have challenges that seriously impact their functioning and educational achievement. These challenges may represent acute or chronic physical or mental health conditions.
How Whytecliff can Help Kids with Chronic Health Impairments
Whytecliff offers the BC Ministry of Education accredited curriculum leading to a British Columbia Certificate of Graduation. Whytecliff also incorporates the new BC Curriculum’s intellectual, personal, and social-emotional proficiencies, with a special emphasis on youth development as well as positive mental health and wellness.
The outcome report from our CARF reaccreditation (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities) in 2017 observes that, “the learning environment clearly enhances the quality of life, restores hope, and assists with building resilient individuals”. For children with chronic health conditions, Whytecliff aims to be both a caring and empathetic community as well as a catalyst for building personal courage, and resilience.
Research shows that having positive emotions ⎯ or being happy ⎯ at school, and while learning in particular, can boost effective cognitive processing, critical thinking, resilience, and even physical health. Philosopher and psychologist William James noted that “pessimism leads to weakness, optimism to power.” We have learned that to be effective positivity must be embedded in the very social fabric and cultural ethos of a school. As children learn to identify strengths within themselves and others, they develop a more positive mindset, more confidence and autonomy, and they become more open, hopeful and connected to the people around them. At Whytecliff we build these skills by weaving them into different subject areas as a natural part of the curriculum. We also teach students specific strategies designed to change their perception of negative events and allow them to see positive outcomes.
We recognize that with the right resources and support, each of us ⎯— including children with chronic health conditions ⎯— has a capacity to not only emerge from difficult circumstances, but to rebound strengthened and more resourceful.