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August 24 & 26, 2021

NTTAC School Based Services Policy Learning Forum

A peer-learning space among AWARE grantees and school mental health leaders across the country

In April 2021, NTTAC hosted state and school systems leaders from across the country. These leaders shared their experiences with what issues are most urgent when it comes to school mental health, what policies have been the most helpful for leaders and those they serve, and what youth need most right now. (Missed the introduction to school based services policy session? Check out the materials here). 

Join us on August 24 and 26 as we return to our conversation together, learn from one another, and launch the 2021-2022 school year together.

What: This two-part virtual learning series focuses on policy foundations and implementation to advance the goals of Project AWARE and school mental health systems change initiatives. 

Why: Creating sustainable changes to school mental health systems is a cornerstone of Project AWARE nationwide programming and tandem school mental health initiatives. Learning how to translate the creative, innovative, and solution-focused work of AWARE and other initiatives from the local to the state level into long-lasting culture change is fundamental. One way to do that? Policy. 

How: The two-part series will be a structured dialogue between school mental health policy experts, state leaders, and district/local leaders. 

Join us for either the Early or Late Option (Round A or Round B). Both sessions offer the same content, although panelists may vary. We’re offering two time options for each conversation so that you have a choice for what works best for your calendar and where you live.

If you’re in the U.S. Pacific Islands of Guam, Marshall Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, or Palau, the dates are August 25 and 27 and we suggest attending Round B. 

Session 1 • August 24: The What & Why: Foundations

Definitions (what is lobbying vs legislation vs policy?) 

Design (how do we design student, family, and educator centered policy?)

Dismantle (how do we interrupt or modify historically injurious and trauma inducing policy?)

Register Today >

Register for All, Some, or One of the Sessions in the Forum

Round A: Early Option

3:30-5:00 p.m. ET / 2:30-4:00 p.m. CT / 1:30-3:00 p.m. MT / 12:30-2:00 p.m. PT / 11:30-1:00 p.m. AKT / 9:30-11:00 a.m. HT (view your time zone)

PANELISTS:
  • Greg Peters, EdD – Executive Director, San Francisco Coalition of Essential Schools (SF-CESS)
  • Kim Guinn, RN, MS – AWARE Director, Anderson County Schools (Tennessee AWARE)
  • Laura R. Ficarra, MS Special Education, PhD – Project AWARE Co-Coordinator, New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH), Division of Integrated Community Services for Children & Families (New York AWARE)
  • Maribeth Barney, MEd – NYSED Supervisor of Education Programs, Student Support Services, NYS Education Department (New York AWARE)
  • Pamala Trivedi, PhD, NCSP – NTTAC Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Lead, Georgetown University, Mental Health Consultant for DC Charter Schools, MedStar Georgetown Center for Wellbeing in School Environments (WISE)
  • Tamika Gregory – Project AWARE Director/School Counselor at Conecuh County School District (Alabama AWARE)
  • Yesmina Luchsinger, MS – NTTAC School Based Services Lead at the Center for Applied Research Solutions (CARS), former Director of School Safety & Social Wellness at the Arizona Department of Education (Arizona AWARE)
  • Moderator: Leora Wolf-Prusan, EdD

Round B: Late Option

6:00-7:30 p.m. ET / 5:00-6:30 p.m. CT / 4:00-5:30 p.m. MT / 3:00-4:30 p.m. PT / 2:00-3:30 p.m. AKT / 12:00-1:30 p.m. HT (view your time zone)

PANELISTS:
  • Amber Reid, MSW – Education Program Professional for Climate, Data, & Equity
    Nevada Department of Education, Office for a Safe and Respectful Learning Environment
  • Kendall Fujioka, MSW – Legal intern, U.S. DOE; former Program Director for School Climate Transformation Grant (SCTG) and Project Cal-Well, ABC Unified (California AWARE)
  • Monica Nepomuceno, MSW – Education Programs Consultant at California Department of Education, facilitator of the California School Mental Health Policy Work Group
  • Rachele Espiritu, PhD – Former school board member, Denver Public Schools (Colorado); Former Project AWARE Cultural Competence Coach for the Now is the Time TA Center
  • Yesmina Luchsinger, MS – NTTAC School Based Services Lead at CARS, former Director of School Safety & Social Wellness at the Arizona Department of Education (Arizona AWARE)
  • Moderator: Leora Wolf-Prusan, EdD

Session 2 • August 26: The Who & How: Implementation

Policy to practice (Local and state implementation)

Partnerships & parity (within school systems and community)

Progress & possibilities (where does school mental health policy need to go to be truly equitable?)

Round A: Early Option

3:30-5:00 p.m. ET / 2:30-4:00 p.m. CT / 1:30-3:00 p.m. MT / 12:30-2:00 p.m. PT / 11:30-1:00 p.m. AKT / 9:30-11:00 a.m. HT (view your time zone)

PANELISTS:
  • Angela Castellanos, LCSW, PPSC, ASC – NTTAC School Based Services training specialist, former school district mental Health consultant and administrator
  • Casey Yates, MA – Director of Intervention, Warren Schools (Kentucky AWARE)
  • Laura Muse, LCMHC – Director, Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education) at NC Department of Health and Human Services (North Carolina AWARE)
  • Louis Laffitte, EdD – Assistant Superintendent of Behavioral Health and School Safety, Glendale Elementary Unified School District (Arizona AWARE)
  • Matt Leavitt, MEd – NTTAC Youth Engagement Consultant, Communications Coordinator for Youth Move National
  • Terrell Sample, MPA, MSOL – State Project Director for Maryland Project AWARE & BJA STOP School Violence Initiative (Maryland AWARE)
  • Moderator: Yesmina Luchsinger, MS

Round B: Late Option

 6:00-7:30 p.m. ET / 5:00-6:30 p.m. CT / 4:00-5:30 p.m. MT / 3:00-4:30 p.m. PT / 2:00-3:30 p.m. AKT / 12:00-1:30 p.m. HT (view your time zone)

PANELISTS:
  • Donna Kitrick, LMSW – Waterloo AWARE Program Manager (Iowa AWARE)
  • Claudia Rojas, MA – Newcomer Coach for Los Angeles Unified High School, former Restorative Justice Coordinator and Principal
  • Carla Quintero, LMFT, PPSC – Regional Mental Health Coordinator Orange County Department of Education
  • Jen Baker, LMFT – Project Coordinator, MTSS, Project Cal-Well AWARE Grant (California AWARE)
  • Kendall Fujioka, MSW – Legal intern, U.S. DOE; former Program Director for School Climate Transformation Grant (SCTG) and Project Cal-Well (Now Is The Time/Project AWARE for ABC Unified (California AWARE)
  • Lisa Eisenberg, MPP, MSW – Policy Director at California School-Based Health Alliance
  • Moderator: Yesmina Luchsinger, MS

**All sessions will be recorded and condensed notes will be offered for full accessibility.**

Content and questions will be the same on each day.

Register Today >

Register for All, Some, or One of the Sessions in the Forum

MEET THE MODERATORS

Yesmina Luchsinger, MS (she/hers) is an educator, advocate, and mental health professional. Prior to joining CARS as the NTTAC School Based Services Co-Lead, she served as the Director of School Safety & Social Wellness at the Arizona Department of Education during the expansion of their nationally recognized School Safety Program to include counselors and social workers for the first time. Yesmina’s team also led the development and release of Arizona’s Model School Safety Plan, coordinated the implementation of a statewide suicide prevention initiative, and participated in developing the Arizona Model Mental Health Referral Policy for schools. She was recognized by the National Center for School Mental Health in 2019 as the Youth and Family Partner of the Year for her work to elevate and empower the leadership of the communities she serves. An Arab-American and daughter of an immigrant, Yesmina is currently working to improve collaboration within care networks such as health, education, and child welfare. In her free time, she teaches yoga, paints, and sends snail mail to her friends.

LEORA WOLF-PRUSAN, EdD is the Director of Partnerships and Learning at the Center for Applied Research Solutions (CARS) where she supports the agency’s teaching and learning portfolio, serves as the Co-Lead for the School-Based Services and Supports Transformation Team for the National Training and Technical Assistance Center for Child, Youth, and Family Mental Health (NTTAC), Project Director for the newly launched School Crisis Recovery & Renewal Center (a project of the NCTSN), and as the Region 9 School Mental Health field director for the Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC), in addition to many other facilitation projects. Previous roles include a national field director of a SAMHSA initiative (ReCAST), statewide coaching and consulting for the Now Is The Time Project AWARE national TA Center, and other facilitation and consulting projects. Before joining CARS, Leora served as an educator coach and consultant in a variety of education settings primarily focusing on school climate, educator mental health, and college and career-going culture. With years of training and facilitating learning and community building in schools p-16, Wolf-Prusan is skilled in facilitation, human learning design, training and coaching. Wolf-Prusan is dedicated to work focused on educator mental health, grief sensitivity, and trauma-informed approaches to education and operates through a framework in which public health, social work, and education intersect. Her research examines how teachers cognitively appraise the gang/gun-related deaths of students, what factors contribute to teachers building resiliency, and what supports teachers need from the school system in the event of a student homicide or other traumas. She received a BA in international relations and a BA in Spanish with a minor in Social & Ethnic Relations from the University of California, Davis; a teaching credential from Mills College; and an EdD in educational leadership from the University of California, Los Angeles.

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