Government of Manitoba Media Release |

The Swan Valley School Division received $150,000 for a Mental Health and Social Emotional Early Learning Initiative as one of the approved projects under the Teachers’ Idea Fund.

The Manitoba government is improving education in the province by investing $5 million in 50 projects under the Teachers’ Idea Fund, Education and Early Childhood Learning Minister Wayne Ewasko announced June 19, 2023.

“Our government is pleased to support new projects under the Teachers’ Idea Fund for the upcoming school year that will support Manitoba students’ mental health and well-being,” said Ewasko. “School divisions, school leaders and teachers are working together to implement innovative ideas that will help improve well-being and mental health of students and staff, promote school presence and engagement, remove barriers to success, and help Manitoba students reach their full potential.”

This year, the Manitoba government is investing $5 million in Teachers’ Idea Fund project funding, with $3.6 million dedicated to supporting 31 new single-year projects and $1.4 million committed to supporting 19 previously announced multi-year projects.

The minister noted that every day across Manitoba, skilled and dedicated teachers, staff and school leaders support quality education and improve student outcomes through innovation and high-quality teaching and learning.

The Manitoba government launched the five-year, $25-million Teachers’ Idea Fund in March 2021 to advance innovative ideas of teachers, staff and school leaders. These ideas enhance classroom supports and improve student learning outcomes and well-being across the province.

Projects for the 2023-24 school year will focus on one or more of the following categories:

projects incorporating mental health into teaching;
projects providing training for teachers;
projects providing appropriate tools and supports for students;
projects taking care of teachers and school staff; and
projects talking about mental health.

Many of the projects are multi-dimensional and applicable to more than one category with themes that include:

– supporting student mental health by creating sensory or regulation spaces that provide students with a safe place to process their feelings and mental health needs;

– providing outdoor and land-based education to support social-emotional well-being, positive mental health and academic achievement;
incorporating cultural programming, Indigenous teachings and programming to enhance cultural awareness and improve mental health and wellness in schools; and

– promoting peer connections, community engagement, and active citizenship as initiatives that promote well-being and benefit self, others and the community.

The minister noted these projects are furthering the goals of Manitoba’s K to 12 Education Action Plan, Mamàhtawisiwin: The Wonder We Are Born With (an Indigenous education policy framework), and the Mental Health in Schools Strategy.

For more information on the Teachers’ Idea Fund, visit https://edu.gov.mb.ca/k12/teachers_idea_fund/index.html.