Supporting children and youth with high emotional and behavioral needs is often lonely, overwhelming, complex, and not well-understood. As a caregiver, how do you navigate school services, child welfare, and other involved systems to get the support you need for your child? As school providers, how might we learn with families through their advocacy journeys? In this recorded webinar, participants came together to listen and learn from family advocates and colleagues in the field to deepen their practice, student-center their services, and make this work less lonely and more connected. Parents, caregivers, providers, educators, and all members of the school community were invited to join and strategize how to support each other while supporting students with emotional and behavioral health needs. … [Read more...] about Building Bridges of Hope through Trauma-Informed Caregiver-School Partnerships Institute Session Part 2: Mental Health & Culture
Culturally Responsive Practices
Fostering Anti-racism and Equity in Mental Health Services and Systems
Diversity is not a quick fix for achieving equity. Recruiting more diversity into an organization whose culture, practices, and principles are embedded in racism is damaging and dangerous. This is equivalent to planting roses in nutrient-poor soil; some may grow, but not to their fullest potential. Authentic and continuous conversations about racism, biases, microaggressions, privilege, and how they are experienced by staff and clients must be at the forefront of this work. In order to achieve and sustain equity, organizational leaders must identify inequities, address their root causes, and follow through on accountability measures. Action is key! … [Read more...] about Fostering Anti-racism and Equity in Mental Health Services and Systems
Humanizing Healing & Centering Community Care
In this recorded webinar, presenters elevated the critical need to co-construct therapeutic experiences with students and families. Through group dialogue and personal reflection, this webinar helped participants explore how their own lived experience impacts their ability to show up in their work in a humanizing way. Participants also discussed strategies for developing culturally responsive support services, and identified opportunities to restructure power dynamics using approaches rooted in agency and trauma-informed principles. … [Read more...] about Humanizing Healing & Centering Community Care
Equity Series Part 3: Community & Caregiver Partnerships
"This is a recording of a three-part virtual learning series that focused on understanding the social determinants of health and education, exploring opportunities to use systems of care principles to enhance health equity and collaboration, and leveraging the strength and resilience within the communities we serve through strategic and culturally responsive partnerships. Primary Audience for Series:School-based mental health professionals (school social workers, school counselors, school psychologists)Community-based mental health providers (counselors, social workers, clinical directors)Education leaders (state, district, county school administrators) The final session of the series built upon the terminology and principles learned to uplift sustainable partnerships with caregiver, student, and community stakeholders. We celebrated community and caregiver partnerships as an indicator of strength and resilience; we honored the various cultural, spiritual, and community values as … [Read more...] about Equity Series Part 3: Community & Caregiver Partnerships
Equity Series Part 2: Systems of Care & School Leadership
"This is a recording of a three-part virtual learning series that focused on understanding the social determinants of health and education, exploring opportunities to use systems of care principles to enhance health equity and collaboration, and leveraging the strength and resilience within the communities we serve through strategic and culturally responsive partnerships. Primary Audience for Series:School-based mental health professionals (school social workers, school counselors, school psychologists)Community-based mental health providers (counselors, social workers, clinical directors)Education leaders (state, district, county school administrators) The second session in the learning series dove further into the role of school leadership and collaboration with community stakeholders across service systems (e.g., child welfare, mental and behavioral healthcare, religious and spiritual supports) to disrupt systems inequity and reduce bureaucratic hurdles for the students and … [Read more...] about Equity Series Part 2: Systems of Care & School Leadership