Welcome to the Pacific Southwest MHTTC School Mental Health (SMH) page. Funded by SAMHSA in 2018, we support the school mental health workforce in the Region 9 states and territories, including: Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and U.S. Pacific Islands of American Samoa, Guam, Marshall Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau.
Who do our programs, coaching, and consulting focus on?
You can turn to us for:
Our Pacific Southwest MHTTC’s area of focus is on Youth and Young Adult Mental Health; you can see more about our YYA offerings here.
Welcome. We’re pleased to partner with and support you in your school mental health championship for schools in our region!
A huge thank you to the 206 participants in our network who joined us for some or all of the 5-session series August - September, 2023. We only recorded select sessions as appropriate for the outcomes of each session; here are the links to the ones we did record.
Stay tuned for a capture of our collective learning so that you can lead your school mental health work with grief readiness this year and always.
New! Rising Practices and Policies in the Workforce 2022 Learning Series Capture
In the Spring and Summer of 2022, the Pacific Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network (MHTTC) brought together regional leaders and implementers in a four-part learning series on emerging issues for the mental health and school mental health workforce with the goal of identifying considerations and elevating promising practices.
This document includes a learning capture of all four sessions in this series. It includes each of the webinar recordings, highlights of the resources, ideas and learnings from the sessions. Below are the titles of each panel event in the series.
New! Dreams, Dilemmas and Dialogues Podcast
Welcome to Dreams, Dilemmas and Dialogues, a podcast produced by the Pacific Southwest MHTTC, that explores thought-provoking discussions between educators and school mental health providers on issues that impact our schools, classrooms, and communities.
In this four-part podcast co-hosted by Oriana Ides and Candice Valenzuela, and with guests throughout, we cover a rich tapestry of themes, ranging from fostering a positive school culture that empowers both students and educators, to the importance of centering compassion and empathy in the classroom, and creating spaces where learning and personal growth intertwine.
Join us as we dive into the realm of staff development, uncovering strategies to help educators continuously enhance their skills and ignite their passion for teaching. We also look at cultural shifts in education, examining how societal changes shape our classrooms and influence the way we educate the next generation.
Whether you're a school mental health provider, educator, parent/caregiver, student, or anyone curious about the future of education, these episodes are here to inform, inspire, and ignite conversations to inform our practices and policies. Tune in for fresh insights, and thought-provoking conversations that allow us to question and contemplate. Welcome to Dreams, Dilemmas and Dialogues—where every episode is a journey into our own and collective hope and healing.
Rising Practices & Policies in our Workforce; Spring and Summer Learning Series (2022)
Rising Practices for Telehealth (2020)
Check out this great infographic that captured our sessions’ conversation!
A special three-part series followed by a two-part learning community focused on (im)migrant student mental health.
Virtual Learning Guide (2020)
We are all experiencing a great deal of personal and professional change in the current environment. One of our many transitions is the shift to remote work and digital platforms. As our field quickly moves teaching and learning activities online, we offer this resource for designing and delivering effective and engaging digital learning (including professional development).
Understanding and Advancing Mental Health Equity for Young Adults (2020)
Young adults of transition age have elevated rates of mental health challenges, yet they often do not receive services, and few interventions have been designed or found effective for this population. This puts young adults of transition age at greater risk for homelessness, justice involvement, and education and employment challenges. These challenges are even more acute for youth from vulnerable populations. This archived webinar focuses on strategic practices that health departments and mental health agencies can take to begin eliminating health disparities by advancing mental health equity. Presented by Kristin Thorp and Lydia Proulx, Youth MOVE National.
Student Mental Health Championship: Why It Matters (2019)
This short video was scripted, conceptualized, and facilitated by youth from Long Beach, CA. In it, students and educators describe why school mental health championship is vital to student mental health, and discuss the challenges and key success factors that contribute to adults showing up as allies to young people in their mental health championship and leadership. Produced by Youth Leadership Institute.
Family Navigator Model: A Practice Guide for Schools (2019)
The family navigator model is a peer-based, flexible approach to supporting families in which a child has a health or developmental challenge or disability. This guide is designed to support education agencies and school leaders interested in building or enhancing a family navigator program.
Childhood & Suicide Prevention: Resources for Elementary School Personnel and Parents/Caregivers (2023)
The Pacific Southwest MHTTC Team is pleased to offer two new resources, created in collaboration with experts in the field! Co-authored by Meagan O’Malley, PhD, LP and Frances Marion, LCSW, with contributions from Jessica Palacio, LCSW & Jules Gomez, LCSW, the first guide Self-Harm and Suicide Awareness and Prevention in Childhood and Early Adolescence: A Resource for Elementary School Educators & School-Based Professionals helps schools recognize and assess the warning signs of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs), and how to respond quickly. The second, Our Young Children & Suicide Prevention: A Resource for Parents and Caregivers is for school and mental health providers to distribute to caregivers as a tool for recognizing signs of STBs, prevention, and early intervention. We invite you to read more and access both below.
Practice Brief from NASW-CA & CASSW: "Back to School: Social Work & Black Youth" Now Available! (2022)
Back in May 2021, PS MHTTC SMH initiative sponsored “Back to School: Social Work & Black Youth” The National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter (NASW-CA) partnered with the California Association of School Workers (CASSW) to host Justice Through Behavioral Health Services for Black-Youth, a two-part webinar series that featured two topical events: Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health in 2021 and Clinical Conversations about Race and Racism with Black students presented by Dr. Kimani Norrington-Sands, PhD and Dr. Allen Lipscomb, LCSW, PsyD, respectively. In the ensuing months, we have worked together with CASSW on this Back to School Practice Brief.
With the new school year approaching, more readjustments, and school reopenings, we hope to equip Social Workers with some tools to better serve those most impacted during these times. This practice brief outlines considerations and resources for school-based providers. We share this two-page brief full of resources and valuable information for you to use and share with colleagues now that the school year begins across the state.
Suicide Prevention for Black, Indigenous and Other Students of Color (2021)
Presented for the Arizona School Boards Association ASBA’s Black Alliance and Hispanic Native American Indian Caucus, Dr. Heliana Ramirez (CARS) and PS MHTTC Advisory Board Members Zeruiah Buchanan & Tallerita Rogers share approaches and strategies for culturally responsive suicide prevention. Please note that you must register via GoToWebinar to review the recorded presentation. Access the PDF of the presentation here.
Saving Young Black Lives: Reversing Suicide Trends (2021)
This podcast series, created by the Central East MHTTC in partnership with the NYU McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research, explores the crisis of Black youth suicide. Survivors, family members, researchers, and behavioral health professionals discuss their experiences, research, policies, and practices and offer recommendations to address this issue.
Trauma Informed Suicide Prevention Winter 2020 Webinar Series: Leading School District, County & State Systems (2020)
Presented by Angela Castellanos and Pacific Southwest school leaders
Culturally Responsive and Socially Distanced Suicide Prevention: Safety Planning and Other Resources in Pandemic Times (2020)
Presented by Heliana Ramirez, PhD, Pacific Southwest MHTTC
Suicide Prevention: Assessing the Environment and Culture for Risk (2020)
Presented by Tiara Peterkin, LCSW
Navigating Risk of Suicide in the Context of Substance Misuse: Best Practices for Supporting Youth and Young Adults (2020)
Presented by the Pacific Southwest MHTTC and PTTC
Trauma-Informed Telehealth Considerations for Youth with Suicidal and Self-Harm Ideation and Behaviors Tip Sheet (2020)
ASAP (Act, Support, and Protect), in partnership with the NCTSN (National Child Traumatic Stress Network), released this three-page tip sheet for trauma-informed guidance regarding safety assessments. Some recommendations are tailored to COVID-19; others are applicable beyond the current pandemic.
Latiné/x & Chican@ Student Mental Health: Considerations for Suicide Prevention (2020)
Presented by Heliana Ramirez for the Arizona School Board Association
Trauma-Informed Suicide Prevention for Educators: Stories, Science, and Strategies (2019)
Join nationally recognized suicide prevention advocates Leah Harris and Kelechi Ubozoh in exploring what a trauma-informed suicide prevention approach for educators might look like. This webinar begins with the perspective of a young person with lived experience of suicidal thoughts. Presenters identify common myths and misconceptions about students and suicide, and explore the vital importance of including students as partners in suicide prevention efforts. Examples of promising student-led initiatives, including peer-to-peer programs and school awareness campaigns, are provided.
The Pacific Southwest MHTTC Suicide Prevention (2019) addendum provides resources specific to the states and islands in our region. The resources compiled here focus on crisis intervention services that can meet immediate student needs, including crisis intervention services; linkages to no- and low-cost counseling; support groups; peer services; and trainings for educators.
Pacific Southwest MHTTC School Mental Health Grief Readiness Lab
In collaboration with The Dinner Party-Workplace Resilience, the Pacific Southwest MHTTC is pleased to have hosted School Mental Health Grief Readiness Lab, a pilot program for school and mental health systems leaders and influencers (state, district, county) from this region to explore how grief is impacting your workforce, as well as hone skills and gain knowledge to become more grief literate.
This starter kit recaps the contents Region 9 covered in the Grief Readiness Lab (April- May 2021) and Series (November-December 2021). We offer an overview of what was explored in the Lab and Series, and a taste of some of the conversations shared among participants. The pilot and series were created and hosted by Workplace Resilience, a program of The Dinner Party, and the Pacific Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center and advised by the National Center for School Crisis & Bereavement.
New! Getting Grief-Ready at Work: A Starter Kit Workshop Series
The School Mental Health Crisis Leadership Lessons (2020) guide provides an overview of the crisis continuum; explores the intersection between school crises and school mental health leadership; and examines each component of the school crisis continuum by learning from voices of experience from the field. Also included: resources and references to steward your crisis readiness, response, recovery, and renewal leadership.
The guide was developed by Leora Wolf-Prusan, EdD, Pacific Southwest MHTTC School Mental Health Field Director, and David Schonfeld, MD, FAAP, National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement, with contributions from 18 partner organizations and school mental health leaders from our region and the two population-focused MHTTCs: the National Hispanic and Latino MHTTC and the National American Indian/Alaska Native MHTTC.
Leading Our School Systems & Communities Through and After Wildfire (2020)
The Northwest MHTTC and the Pacific Southwest MHTTC collaborated in September of 2020 in the midst of unprecedented wildfires on the West Coast to provide a special virtual town Learning Cornerhall on school mental health leadership in times of wildfire.
Crisis Readiness, Response, and Recovery Webinar Series (2020)
Presented by David Schonfeld, National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement
Planning for School Crises During A School Crisis (2020)
Presented by Stephen Brock, PhD, and Yesmina Luchsinger
September 10 & 11, 2020 | Grief Sensitivity Institute Part 1: Grounding Ourselves In The Basics
November 2020 Grief Institute Information Part 2: Applying Concepts to Practice
Supporting Students and Staff in the Aftermath of Crisis and Loss (2019)
Presented by David Schonfeld, National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement
Coalition to Support Grieving Students’ Online Materials (2020)
These resources come from the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement and the Coalition to Support Grieving Students, led by our colleague and partner Dr. David Schonfeld. They include helpful recorded presentations (15-25 minutes), such as the two modules for educators and parents on “Talking to and Supporting” our students and children. Need help navigating the online materials? The Coalition created this guide for using their resources.
New! New Year, New Approaches to Anxiety: A Learning Series for You (A 2022 Series)
Anxiety impacts all of us and is rooted in many layers of our being: it is physical, psychological, relational, and existential. In this series of workshops for school and the general mental health workforce, Hala Khouri, author, facilitator, and practitioner, will offer a physiological and socio-political framework for anxiety and trauma to support us as we enter a new year. In this series, Hala will share tools and practices to transform our stress and anxiety and build capacity for self and collective care and resilience.
Recording & Illustrated Conversation Now Available!
The recording and presentation materials are now available for The Mental Health Impacts of Surviving COVID-19: Implications for School Mental Health Systems Leaders and Providers from June 25, 2021. Almost 200 listeners joined us to hear an overview of “Long Haul COVID” (what it is, what we know, and what we don’t know) from Dr. Kira Mauseth, followed by Jessica, Karla, Derek, and Mieka with stories of their experiences as COVID-19 survivors and Long Haulers.
We began our session with the reality that over 600,000 people have died in the United States from COVID so far. We are impacted, our school communities are impacted, and our colleagues are impacted. In the chat, so many of you shared your self-identity as Long Haulers or that you have survived getting COVID or that you are holding loss of life related to COVID and this past year. Dr. Mauseth offered us that the four ingredients of resilience are: Purpose, Connection, Adaptability and Hope.
Therapeutic Resources for those who identify as BIPOC - Active List Google Doc (Originated in 2021)
This google doc is an active list of supportive therapeutic resources for those who identify as or support people who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. If you have a resource you want posted, please email the Pacific Southwest MHTTC.
Healing School Communities in the Context of Racial Violence: Where do we go from here? (2021)
We were so pleased to co-host and produce these two meaningful and deeply impactful sessions with our MHTTC colleagues and esteemed faculty. Healing School Communities in the Context of Racial Violence: Where do we go from here? is a two-part learning series intended for students, families, educators, and school mental health professionals who are navigating the ongoing impact of racial violence in all forms on student mental health.
A Virtual Wellness Resource Room for Educators (2021)
Oriana Ides, one of our School Mental Health Training Specialists, created this Educator Wellness Retreat room via Google Classroom for you that offers ways for educators and all of us to access “retreat-like” resources.
Supporting School Mental Health in the Context of Racial Violence: Continuous Learning Resources (2020)
The MHTTC Network held a two-part series, Supporting School Mental Health Navigating Racial Violence on July 31 and August 7, 2020, that was intended for students, families, educators, and school mental health professionals who are navigating the impact of racial violence on student mental health. In addition to providing recordings of each learning session, a list of resources from the presenters and the field was compiled to promote continuous learning.
School Mental Health Wellness Wednesdays (2020)
Presented by the Meaning Makers Collective
Creating Trauma-Informed School Policies (2019)
Practice Guide | Infographic | Webinar
Creating compassionate policies is a cornerstone strategy of educational leadership. This practice guide, infographic, and webinar are complementary tools for developing trauma-informed and compassionate school policies. These tools outline four "choice points" for education and mental health leadership, and each choice point includes examples, guiding questions, and suggestions for practice.
Join The Teaching Well and Camino Nuevo Charter Academy leadership as we bring together diverse school site roles to share ways they have collaborated to create healthy and sustainable school climate for students, teachers and staff. Learning directly from teachers, school site personnel, and school leaders, together we consider the possibilities of integrating wellness into whole school staff development, leadership approaches, collaborative conversations, and support spaces for both teachers and students. Participants hear firsthand accounts of the personal and professional benefits when school staff make wellness a central focus in their work plans, relational strategies, and overall school culture. This archived webinar uplifts the concept that whole school wellness is best as a multi-year collaborative and iterative process between all members of a campus community and is most helpful for new and veteran teachers; administrators who seek to lead sustainably; and school site wellness staff such as social workers, inclusion specialists, counselors, and paraeducators or teachers on special assignment.
When There is One School Counselor: Strategies to Reach All Students Nevertheless (2019)
The workload for a school counselor in a traditional role can be overwhelming, and students in need of mental or emotional support may be inadvertently overlooked. This archived webinar describes how shifting from a traditional counseling approach to a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) benefits both students and staff members who provide mental and/or behavioral support services. Strategies discussed include using data to identify students in need of support, expanding the effectiveness of the continuum of interventions, and thinking “out of the box” to engage non-traditional MTSS team members. The Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resilience Education) Coordinators from two rural school districts in northern Nevada share how an MTSS has transformed their districts and positively impacted the lives of students.
The Connection between School Mental Health & Academic Achievement (2019)
This handout summarizes the research that links student mental health to academic outcomes. This research brief charts the effects of untreated mental health challenges on academic achievement, GPA, test scores, attendance, and graduation.
The Trauma-Informed and Resiliency-Oriented Schools Professional Development Opportunities (2019)
This addendum lists organizations and agencies that provide trauma-informed, resilience-oriented training and professional development for schools and school communities. We provide these referrals to help school leadership select the right partner to support what evidence-based program to implement, as well as how and why to do so.
Motivational Interviewing (MI) in July (2023)
The Pacific Southwest MHTTC is pleased to provide a continuation of this series on Motivational Interviewing to improve our school and mental health workforce skills by providing tools to have conversations about change. In this recorded series, viewers can learn how to apply MI and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy interventions with adolescents, young adults, and parents.
Motivational Interviewing (MI) in July (2022)
The Pacific Southwest MHTTC is pleased to provide this series on Motivational Interviewing to improve our school and mental health workforce skills by providing tools to have conversations about change. In this recorded series, Viewers can learn the basics of how to apply MI to both typical and challenging clinical situations.
The Pacific Southwest MHTTC created a three-part series aimed to increase school or systems leaders’ health equity literacy. In this series, we explored the National Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) Standards, a set of 15 actions steps intended to advance health equity, improve quality, and help eliminate health care disparities.
Classroom WISE: A mental health literacy course for teachers and school staff (2022)
We warmly invite school and district leaders, educators, and school personnel to use and share Classroom WISE as a resource to help you support your students during the reopening period and beyond.
What is Classroom WISE? This is a FREE, three-part online mental health training package for educators. It was developed by the MHTTC Network in partnership with the National Center for School Mental Health, and informed and co-developed by educators throughout the nation.
Classroom WISE includes an online self-guided course, video library and resource collection, and accompanying website (classroomwise.org). Participants in the free online course will receive a certificate of completion.
Curious about what this is all about? Check out a video sneak peak to learn more.
The MHTTC Network hosted an 8-part training series using the National School Mental Health Best Practices: Implementation Guidance Modules for States, Districts, and Schools. This resource was developed by the MHTTC Network in partnership with the National Center for School Mental Health (NCSMH) and aims to help states, districts, and schools advance comprehensive school mental health and engage in a planning process for implementation.
Enhancing MTSS - Integrating Student Mental Health and Wellness through Systems, Data and Practices (2019-Now)
Since 2019, The Northwest and Pacific Southwest MHTTCs have collaborated to develop content and learning spaces to explore how to use the ISF framework for examining and redesigning systems (structures and leadership) that are equitable by using data to support practices (services and supports) needed to promote wellness for all.
The West Coast MHTTC Interconnected Systems Framework (ISF) Resource Guide (2019-2021) is a one stop, comprehensive capture of all of our archived webinars, learning sessions, and fact sheets, along with resources to extend your ISF learning and leading. The Guide includes:
Mental Health Literacy and Student Learning Outcomes: An Introduction (2019)
Are you a school instructional leader who wants to learn about school mental health, or a mental health provider who wants to learn about the contexts of schools and student learning outcomes? Often, the conversations between educators and mental health providers are siloed and separated. This archived webinar presented by Leora Wolf-Prusan bridges the conversation so that both perspectives can learn from one another to better support the students they serve.
Some states and islands have implemented additional regulations to these federal laws. This HIPAA and FERPA tool helps individuals in Hawai'i, California, Nevada and Arizona quickly access information about state-specific HIPAA and FERPA policies (2019).
The National Training and Technical Assistance Center for Child, Youth, and Family Mental Health (NTTAC) New National Technical Assistance Center!
School Crisis Recovery & Renewal project - A Category II National Child Traumatic Stress Network Site New National Project!
National Child Traumatic Stress Network
National PBIS Technical Assistance Center
New Scholarship on Youth Trauma Study
Alvarez (2020) published a new systematic review of research on youth trauma in educational contexts from a race-conscious perspective. This article uses a racialization framework to examine how trauma is discussed in the literature with respect to youth in pre-K–12 educational contexts. This review sheds light on the potential ways a structurally racist and White supremacist system can shape students’ experiences with trauma and the dominant explanatory frames for discussing and addressing trauma. Finally, this article contributes ideas for conducting race-conscious trauma research, shifting trauma discourses, and building race-conscious pathways for supporting trauma-exposed youth. Learn more here.
Pacific Southwest MHTTC School Mental Health Quarterly Newsletters
Research Considerations & Resources
The MHTTC Network Coordinating Office developed a report, Behavioral Threat Assessment in Schools: Evidence, Fit, and Appropriateness, on behavioral threat assessment and its intersection with youth mental health. The report aims to:
The American Psychological Association and ecoAmerica offer the report, Mental Health and Our Changing Climate Children and Youth Report 2023, bringing forward recent and respected research on the impacts of climate change on children and youth, and guidance for response.
A key quote from the report: “Support from schools, teachers, caregivers, and peers is essential. Many schools serve as sites for interventions after a disaster, but their capacity to prevent and address the mental health impacts of climate change could expand. This includes involving students and parents in ensuring accessible green space, upgrading to resilient and protective infrastructures, and modeling sustainability…Empowering children with information on their own actions can make a difference.” (p.6).
This new piece, “Review: School-based interventions to improve mental health literacy and reduce mental health stigma – a systematic review” (2023) identifies and synthesizes evidence on the effectiveness of school-based interventions designed to improve mental health literacy and reduce mental health stigma.
Child Trends (Fulks, Garcia & Harper, 6/28/2020) recently released new research considerations as schools reexamine school-police partnerships. School mental health and climate factors include evidence-based violence prevention alternatives. See Research Considerations for School-Police Partnerships for more information. Connectedly, Child Trends (Parris, St. John, & Barlett, 6/23/2020) also released resources that support the examination of racial trauma and children’s mental health. See Resources to Support Children’s Emotional Well-Being Amid Anti-Black Racism, Racial Violence, and Trauma for more information.
Healthy & Ready: Back-to-School Support for Student & Staff Well-Being is now live on the Thriving Schools blog. The Healthy & Ready Campaign supports schools because we know they can and do play a critical role in supporting health and wellness. Find a collection of existing and new resources as a Back-to-School Guide to Support Student & Staff Well-Being such as:
The National Center for Safe & Supportive Learning Environments recently released their “Working Well Resource Directory” designed to help districts and schools promote well-being among administrators, teachers, and other staff. The resources into seven general approaches, each of which is supported by evidence: 1) Creating or Expanding Well-Being Supports; 2) Elevating the Profession; 3) Encouraging Self-Care; 4) Enhancing Professional Development; 5) Fostering Connectedness and Supportive Relationships; 6) Improving School Facilities; and 7) Innovating in the Classroom.
Selfies, Social, And Screens: Navigating Virtual Spaces For Youth
Mental Health America’s 2023 toolkit provides information, tips, and resources for young people, caregivers, and school personnel on how to protect youth mental health in a digital world.
8 Strategies to Improve Participation in Your Virtual Classroom
In 8 Strategies to Improve Participation in Your Virtual Classroom by Edutopia, educators share their best synchronous and asynchronous strategies to boost student participation during online learning. These are practical strategies and activities to help ensure that all students’ voices are heard in the virtual classroom.
Example of a Statewide School Mental Health Implementation Guide
The California Student Mental Health Implementation Guide, newly developed by the California School Based Health Alliance, the California Department of Education, California Department of Mental Health Services, and other partners, is an excellent guide for California school mental health leaders and an example for other state systems in our region to help implementation. This guide is intended to support local education agencies and county behavioral health departments as they seek to partner to deliver comprehensive, high-quality school mental health services. These are challenging collaborative efforts, and helpful information and tools are spread out in many different places. The goal of this resource is to create a library of helpful resources and organize tools around critical topics and challenges.
Planning for the Next Normal at School: Keeping students, staff, and families safe and healthy
A Playbook for School Reopening from Kaiser Permanente Thriving Schools: As schools and districts across the nation look to reopen in the coming weeks, they are likely to face even greater strain as they seek to meet the academic and health needs of students, staff, and teachers with already limited resources. To assist schools in proactively addressing the health needs of the school community, a number of nationally recognized and trusted school health organizations have come together to develop a playbook for school reopening. This guide aims to equip school and district leaders with specific, evidence-informed guidance and operating procedures for keeping school communities mentally and physically safe as we shape a new approach to learning.
Resources for Areas Impacted by Wildfires
The Pacific Southwest region has been deeply impacted by wildfire. Please see the NCTSN’s compiled resources to help navigate trauma and wildfire: Wildfire Resources. Their resources and tips are easy to navigate for Before, During, and After a wildlife experience.
Resources from “Grief Leadership Recovery & Renewal Considerations After Wildfire - A Place to Process for Educators, School Mental Health Providers & Youth / Young Adult Leaders and Allies,” a special event on September 14, 2023 that we co-held with the School Crisis Recovery & Renewal project.
Resources from / Related to our Speakers from the Event
Additional Resources Related to Wildfire Distress & Healing
Returning to School During and After Crisis
New resource to guide reopening schools: While we know that districts in our region have varying plans for the new school year, the newly released "RETURNING TO SCHOOL DURING AND AFTER CRISIS: A Guide to Supporting States, Districts, Schools, Educators, and Students through a Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Framework during the 2020-2021 School Year" from the Center on PBIS and partners offers tangible recommendations for state leaders, district leaders, school leaders, and educators to prioritize health and safety, social and emotional needs, and behavioral and academic growth amidst the global pandemic.
Spotlight Resource Guide: Supporting Educators During Challenging Times
In an issue of Spotlight from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN), several NCTSN tools are outlined to help administrators support the well-being of educators and to help educators reduce the impact of stressors during this difficult time. Explore resources on trauma-informed school strategies, self-care, secondary traumatic stress, and more.
Tips on Child Suicide Prevention
Mind/Shift (a program of KQED) offers “React Calmly, Listen, Offer Hope: How To Help A Child At Risk Of Suicide” (February 2, 2021) to help us cultivate relationships of safety, trust, and disclosure to support young people experiencing overwhelming suffering.
Trauma-Informed School Strategies During COVID-19
NCTSN developed a fact sheet that uses their “Creating, Supporting and Sustaining Trauma-Informed Schools: A System Framework” to consider how, in the time of COVID-19, schools can adapt or transform their practices by using a trauma-informed approach to help children feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. The fact sheet includes tips for the physical and emotional well-being of staff, how to foster a trauma-informed learning environment, identifying and assessing traumatic stress, partnering with students and families, cultural responsiveness, and more.
Trauma-Informed Practices in a Virtual Environment
This Education, Training and Resource (ETR) Virtual Vitality tool, Adapting Trauma-Informed Practices to a Virtual Environment, provides strategies and resources to guide educators to implement trauma-informed virtual instruction. Learn more about ETR Virtual Vitality D4L (Design for Learning) to support the transition to virtual learning.
Trauma-Informed School Strategies During COVID-19
NCTSN developed a fact sheet that uses their “Creating, Supporting and Sustaining Trauma-Informed Schools: A System Framework” to consider how, in the time of COVID-19, schools can adapt or transform their practices by using a trauma-informed approach to help children feel safe, supported, and ready to learn. The fact sheet includes tips for the physical and emotional well-being of staff, how to foster a trauma-informed learning environment, identifying and assessing traumatic stress, partnering with students and families, cultural responsiveness, and more.
Tip Sheet: ASAP (Act, Support, and Protect), in partnership with the NCTSN (National Child Traumatic Stress Network), released this three-page tip sheet for trauma-informed guidance regarding safety assessments. Some recommendations are tailored to COVID-19; others are applicable beyond the current pandemic.
The 180: A Podcast on Neuroscience
Featuring leading voices in American education, health, and child development, The 180 podcast explores how to transform 21st century education – how to turn it around – using 21st century science. The science explaining how children actually learn and develop is incredibly optimistic about what is possible for each and every child. If applied, it could unleash talent and potential in classrooms everywhere. The 180 Podcast is hosted by Chris Riback of Good Guys Media and distributed by Turnaround for Children and Working Capital Review.
Supporting Principals and Site Leaders: Community Conversation: Grief Through the Lens of LGBTQ+ Youth & Communities:
In this Grief Through the Lens series from the Eluna Network, panelists expand the definition of grief by honoring intergenerational activism, intersectionality, and collective grief experiences within queer & trans communities and explored unique barriers to grief support and actionable steps to build brave and affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ youth and communities.
Supporting Principals and Site Leaders: How Can States and Districts Best Support and Develop Their Site Leaders During these Times?
REL West’s regional events convene state and district leaders from Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah. These state and district teams have worked closely with invited experts to shape and improve their support strategies and practices.
Supporting Indigenous Youth: Strengthening Resilience: Promoting Positive School Mental Health Among Indigenous Youth.
This Mountain Plains MHTTC training provided participants with a chance to learn more about how to adapt the recommendations of the new “Strengthening Resilience” toolkit in their schools.
The School Crisis Recovery & Renewal project (SCRR) just released two new blog pieces, “Naming A Thing: A Case For Feeling” by Dr. Noor Jones-Bey and “Beyond Youth Resistance: Telling the Whole Story” by Dr. Meagan Corrado.
