Children feel secure and loved when they have strong and positive family relationships. Positive family relationships help families resolve conflict, work as a team and enjoy each other’s company. Positive family relationships are built on quality time, communication, teamwork, and appreciation of each other.

Social And Emotional Development

Social and emotional learning (SEL) is an integral part of human development. SEL is the process that helps people develop healthy identities, manage emotions, feel empathy for others, maintain supportive relationships with friends or family members as well as make responsible decisions.

Physical, Mental Health, and Nutrition

Good nutrition, physical activity, and healthy body weight are essential parts of a person’s overall health and well-being.

Supporting School Success

Parental involvement, such as attending school functions like back-to-school nights and concerts or volunteering in the library, is as important as helping with homework. Many working parents find it particularly hard to be a presence in their children’s school. However, research indicates that it is worth the effort.

Safety

In our modern society, social media is one of the most common ways we communicate with one another. As parents, our main goal is to keep our children safe and healthy. One important way to help them stay safe is to teach them social media safety habits.

Local Resources

Crisis Lines

Suicide Prevention Hotline
- 1800-273-TALK (8255)
- suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Suicide Prevention Textline - Crisis text line
- Text HOME to 741741

In-Person Crisis Intervention:

Name: Health Care and Rehabilitation Services
- Phone: 1-800-622-4235
- Website: hcrs.org
Poison Control
- 800-222-1222
- poison.org

Eating Disorders

Name: Dartmouth College Health Service
- Phone: 603-646-9442
- Website: students.dartmouth.edu/health-service/counseling/guides-resources/eating-disorder-treatment-services

Domestic Abuse/Violence

Name: Women's Freedom Center
- Phone: 802-254-6954
- Website: womensfreedomcenter.net

Bullying and Harassment in school and outside School:

Any students who have concerns about bullying or harassment in school should report it to the Principal, the Assistant Principal, the School Nurse, or the Director of Counseling.
Anyone who has concerns about bullying or harassment outside of school should contact their local police department.

Emergency Services

Bellows Falls Police Department
- 802-463-1234
- rockinghamvt.org/bellows-falls-police

Vermont State Police
- 802-722-4600
- vsp.vermont.gov/stations/westminster

Windham County Sheriff's Department
- 802-365-4942
- windhamcountyvt.gov

Golden Cross Ambulance
- 802-463-3726
- goldencrossamb.com

Housing Resources

Homelessness - Anyone experiencing homelessness should contact their child's school counselor, who will make a report to the Homeless Liaison in their building.

Tina Mattison, Director of Counseling, 802-463-3944 x213
Andrea Carlson, School Counselor, 802-463-3944 x212
Mark Gebo, School Counselor, 802-463-3944 x202

Shelter for Families (Woman and Children)

Name: Women's Freedom Center
- Phone: 802-254-6954
- Website: http://womensfreedomcenter.net/

Shelter for Teens

Name: Youth Services, Inc.
- Phone: 802-257-0361
- Website: https://youthservicesinc.org/

Housing assistance

Name: SEVCA
- Phone: 802-722-4575
- Website: https://www.sevca.org/

Community Meals Resources

WNESU Food Service provides free meals to everyone for the 2021-2022 school year. Otherwise, students need to fill out a free/reduced lunch form to check for eligibility.

Community Meals

Name: Parks Place
- Phone: 802-463-9927
- Website: http://www.parksplacevermont.com/

Food Pantry/Shelf

Name: Our Place Drop-In Center
- Phone: 802-463-22176
- Address: 6 Island St, Bellows Falls, VT 05101

Food Vouchers/Assistance (WIC)

Name: Vermont Department of Health
Website: https://www.healthvermont.gov/family/wic

Mental Health Resources

Community Mental Health Agency

Name: Health Care and Rehabilitation Services (HCRS)
- Phone: 802-886-4500
- Website: https://www.hcrs.org/

Crisis Line

Name: HCRS Emergency Services
- Phone: (800) 622-4235

Support Groups

Name: Parks Pace
- Phone: 802-463-9927
- Website: http://www.parksplacevermont.com/
Suicide Prevention Hotline
- Phone: 1800-273-TALK (8255)
- Website: www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Suicide Prevention Textline
- Phone: Crisis text line - Text HOME to 741741

Substance Misuse Resources

Local Prevention Coalition

Name: Greater Falls Connections
- Phone: 802-463-9927
- Address: https://greaterfallsconnections.org/

Recovery Center

Name: Recovery VT
- Website: recoveryvermont.org

Treatment Providers

Name: Turning Point
- Website:http://addictionhelpvt.com/treatment/living-a-drug-free-life/turning-point-cenetrs/
Name: Health Care and Rehabilitation Services (HCRS)
- Phone: 802-886-4500
- Website: https://www.hcrs.org/
Name: Brattleboro Retreat
- Phone: 802-258-3700
- Address: https://www.brattlebororetreat.org/

Support Groups -

Name: Turning Point
- Website:http://addictionhelpvt.com/treatment/living-a-drug-free-life/turning-point-cenetrs/
Name: Health Care and Rehabilitation Services (HCRS)
- Phone: 802-886-4500
- Website: https://www.hcrs.org/
Name: Brattleboro Retreat
- Phone: 802-258-3700

Address: https://www.brattlebororetreat.org/

Local Hospitals or Health Centers

Name: Brattleboro Memorial Hospital
- Address: 17 Belmont Avenue Brattleboro, VT 05301
- Phone: 802-257-0341
- Website: https://www.bmhvt.org/
Name: Springfield Hospital
- Address: 25 Ridgeway Road Springfield, VT 05156
- Phone: 802-885-2151
- Website: https://springfieldhospital.org/
Name: Urgent Care Clinic - Rockingham Health Center
- Phone: 802-463-9000
- Website: https://springfieldmed.org/rockingham-health-center/
Name: Clear Choice MD
- Address: 1154 Putney Road Brattleboro, VT 05301
- Phone: 802-490-2100
- Website: https://ccmdcenters.com/locations/brattleboro-vt
Name: Convenient MD Urgent Care
- Address: 351 Winchester Street Keene, NH 03431
- Phone: 603-826-6704
- Website:: https://convenientmd.com/locations/keene-nh-urgent-care-03431/
Name: Rockingham Health Center
- Phone: 802-463-9000
- Website: https://springfieldmed.org/rockingham-health-center/

Recreation Centers

Name: Rockingham Recreation Center
- Phone: 802-463-9732
- Website: https://legacy.rockbf.org/?SEC=CE160A26-0FA9-4B00-B5B2-7F756E888D36
Name: WNESU Afterschool programs
- Phone: 802-463-9958
Rockingham Health Center
- Phone: 802-463-9000

Primary Care Physicians

Name: Dr. Eliot Hall, Rockingham Medical Group
- Address: 1 Hospital Court, Bellows Falls, VT 05101
- Phone: 802-463-9000
- Website: https://springfieldmed.org/pediatrics-2/
Name: Dr. Gary Clay, Springfield Hospital
- Address: 1 Hospital Court Bellows Falls, VT 05101
- Phone: 802-463-9000
- Website https://springfieldmed.org/pediatrics-2 /
Name: Cheshire Medical Center/DHMC Pediatrics, DHMC
- Address: 580 Court Street Keene, NH 03431
- Phone: 603-354-5400
- Website: https://www.cheshiremed.org/pediatrics
Name: Grace Cottage Pediatrics, Grace Cottage Hospital
- Address: 185 Grafton Road Townshend, VT 05353
- Phone: 802-365-7357
- Website: https://gracecottage.org/our-services/primary-care/pediatrics/
Name: Maplewood Family Practice, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital
- Address: 63 Belmont Ave Brattleboro, VT 05301
- Phone: 802-254-1311
- Website: https://www.bmhvt.org/practice/maplewood-family/
Name: Putney Family Healthcare, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital
- Address: 79 Main Street Putney, VT 05346
- Phone: 802-387-6694
- Website: https://www.bmhvt.org/practice/putney-family-healthcare/
Name: Springfield Health Center, Springfield Hospital
- Address: 100 River Street Springfield, VT 05156
- Phone: 802-886-8900
- Website: https://springfieldmed.org/springfield-health-center/
Name: Windham Family Practice, Brattleboro Memorial Hospital
- Address: 19 Belmont Ave, Suite G105, Brattleboro, VT 04301
- Phone: 802-251-8665
- Website: https://www.bmhvt.org/practice/windham-family-practice/

Dentists

Name: Bowman Dental
- Address: 48 Meadow Access Ln Walpole, NH 03604
- Phone: 603-756-4719
- Website: https://www.walpoledentalcare.com/
Name: Chester Dental Center, Springfield Hospital
- Address: 55 VT 11; Main Street Chester, VT 05143
- Phone: 802-875-2878
- Website: https://springfieldmed.org/chester-dental-center/
Greater Falls Dentistry
- Address: 5 Henry Street Bellows Falls, VT 05101
- Phone: 802-463-4695
- Website: http://greaterfallsdentistry.net/
Name: Dr. David Heydenreich
- Address: 192 Rockingham St. Bellows Falls, VT 05101
- Phone: 802-463-3187
Ludlow Dental Center, Springfield Hospital
- Address: 8 Main Street Ludlow, VT 05149
- Phone: 802-228-4446
- Website: https://springfieldmed.org/ludlow-dental-center/
Rockingham Dental Center
- Address: 1 Hospital Court Bellows Falls, VT 05101
- Phone: 802-463-1915

Eye Care Specialists

Name: Dr. Timothy Johnson, Greater Falls Eye Care
- Address: 231 Rockingham Street Bellows Falls, VT 05101
- Phone: 802-463-4488
- Website: https://www.tjohnsonod.com/

Family Support Services

Name: Parks Place
- Phone: 802-463-9927
- Website: http://www.parksplacevermont.com/

Community Support Services

Name: SEVCA
- Phone: 802-722-4575
- Website: https://www.sevca.org/

LGBTQ+ Support Services

Name: Outright VT
- Phone: 802-865-9677
- Website: http://www.outrightvt.org

Social Justice Resources

Name: The Root Social Justice Center
- Phone: 802.451.0509
- Website: https://www.therootsjc.org/

Bellows Falls Central Elementary School

School Details

School Administration

Counseling Contacts

School Councelor

Health Office

School Nurse

Umatter® for Families Elementary School Resources

Family Relationships and Wellness