The return to school is full of possibilities: new relationships, new challenges, and real steps toward the future. It can also bring stress, especially for young people navigating the transition without a roadmap, and for the families and educators who support them.
The 2026 Back to School Toolkit gathers guidance from The Steve Fund’s network of mental health experts practical, culturally responsive, and grounded in what helps young people thrive.
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Whether you’re sending a child to high school or college, one thing is certain: With all the uncertainty in the world, the school year isn’t the only thing weighing on the minds of parents and caregivers. Here are resources to help!
Explore ways to create open dialogue and consider ways to support your student and yourself this school year.
Explore strategies for parents plus resources to help students balance school success and emotional well-being.
Explore campus support systems that can help your students thrive at school and in life.
Explore interactive guides and journals with creative exercises, information, and more to help parents, families, and young people reflect on and support their mental health. Each journal is an insightful and fun way to explore emotional well-being.
In new research from The Steve Fund conducted by The Harris Poll, students identified parents, along with siblings and friends, as their top source of support for their mental health. This underscores the importance of parents and families being equipped with tools to help provide the support students need.
