Boosting both mental and physical vibes for students and staff

"The Password" is an arts-based learning program performed by Kaiser Permanente Educational Theatre. It's a social and emotional health workshop for kids in grades 3 to 5 to dive deep into role-playing and talking about their feelings. Students learn to recognize when they or their friends might need a helping hand. Plus, they learn how to use a not-so-secret 3-word code when things feel a bit too overwhelming: Simply say, "I need help."

Kaiser Permanente offers this program at no cost to local schools throughout Southern California and beyond. April Ibarra, supervisor for “The Password” at Educational Theatre said, "With everything going on lately, our kids need this more than ever."

From COVID-19 to social issues, it's been a wild ride. But programs like "The Password" are helping students navigate through it all like pros.

Educational Theatre is part of the Kaiser Permanente Thriving Schools initiative, which works to strengthen the health and well-being of school communities across the country, so every school succeeds, every employee excels, and every child thrives. Teachers and staff are offered training through Thriving Schools’ Resilience in School Environments (RISE UP), a social and emotional arts-based approach to examining mental health.

Supporting the whole school community leads to a positive school climate and better learning outcomes. Programs like "The Password" and the Thriving Schools initiative help up set kids and schools for success. Every school should excel, and every child should thrive physically, socially, and emotionally.