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This month, we're excited to share several great upcoming events. We'll have details for you soon about our Winter Learning Institute -- scroll down for a video from our Summer Learning Institute. If you're a member of the school-based mental health workforce, we hope to see you at our upcoming Interconnected Systems Framework distance learning series We're also offering onsite school mental health learning opportunities for school staff in Arizona and California, and an opportunity to participate in a focus group. For those of you who support youth and young adults of transition age in California, please join us in conversation in our professional learning community.
Get in touch:
Contact us
for technical assistance and support on mental health topics.
The
Pacific Southwest MHTTC is a SAMHSA-funded center serving American Samoa, Arizona, California, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Hawaii, Marshall Islands, Nevada, Northern Mariana Islands, and Palau.
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 Meet the Team
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Meet Our Young Adult Team
Youth and young adult (YYA) mental health is a focus area for the Pacific Southwest MHTTC. Each month, our newsletter includes YYA resources from our Young Adult Services and Supports Co-Leads, Gwen White and Kristin Thorp.
For over 35 years, Gwen White, MSW, has worked on developing innovative approaches to mental health service delivery for children, young adults, and families. She is a content expert on the transition to independence and the successful adaptation of adult roles and responsibilities for YYA with serious mental health conditions and their families.
Kristin Thorp, MPP, has ten years' experience in advocacy, youth leadership, and program development, with a focus on the mental health and criminal justice systems. As a Project Coordinator at Youth MOVE National, she is a national TA provider supporting the development, implementation, and sustainability of quality youth programming and partnerships with youth.
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October is National Disability Employment
Awareness Month (DEAM)
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National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) is held each October to celebrate the contributions of workers with disabilities and to educate everyone about the value of an inclusive workforce. NDEAM is led by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy but observed by employers and grassroots organizations nationwide. See below for resources to participate in NDEAM and promote workforce inclusion year-round.
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NDEAM and Workforce Inclusion Resources
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Mental Health on the Job: Video Tip Series for Employers & Em
ployees
| Working can be vitally important for the recovery and well-being of people with mental health challenges. Their employers -- and the workforce as a whole -- also benefit from their lived experience. |
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Pacific Southwest MHTTC's 3-minute video tip series offers practical tips and key considerations to support employees with mental health conditions and their employers with job searching, recruiting and hiring, and workplace accommodations.
For Employees & Job Seekers:
What are the benefits of working if you have a mental health challenge? Who can help you find a job or employment services?
Should I disclose my mental illness at work? How do I request accommodations to be successful at my job?
For Employers:
How do we recruit and interview staff with mental health lived experience? How do we create a safe workplace for everyone?
What kinds of job accommodations should I provide? How do I talk to staff members about mental health?
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Resources from the Office of Disability Employment Policy
Visit ODEP's resource toolbox for NDEAM to find social media resources, press releases, and activity suggestions for a wide array of audiences, include:
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Discussion guides, student engagement opportunities, training suggestions for both youth service professionals and youth themselves, and more
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Suggestions for staff and supervisor training, employment policy review, employee resource groups, and more
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Resources from Transitions to Adulthood Center for Research (ACR)
Transitions ACR has many great resources for youth and young adults, families, providers, and allies, such as:
Tip sheet for employed and job-seeking young adults
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Tip sheet for families of youth and young adults who have psychiatric disabilities or serious mental health conditions
Tip sheet for youth service providers and allies
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Save the Date: Winter Learning Institute
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Coming Soon: Pacific Southwest MHTTC Winter Learning Institute
January 14-16, 2020 | Long Beach Marriott, Long Beach, CA
This is a 3-day, no-cost, intensive professional development training session designed for the mental health workforce and the school mental health workforce of Region 9.
Day 1 Sessions: Mental Health Workforce
- Supporting the Mental Health of Youth and Young Adults of Transition Age
- Crisis Readiness, Recovery, and Response
Day 2 Sessions: Mental Health and School Mental Health Workforce
- Emotionally Intelligent Leadership and Social Justice
- Crisis Readiness, Recovery, and Response
Day 3 Sessions: School Mental Health Workforce
- Creating School and District Systems for Employee Sustainability and Wellness
- Trauma-Informed and Culturally Relevant Suicide Prevention for Educators
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Looking Back at Our Summer Learning Institute (June 2019)
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School Mental Health (SMH) Feature
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Welcome to the Pacific Southwest MHTTC's School Mental Health corner. Every month we release products, curricula, training opportunities, and multimedia that can support your school mental health leadership.
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SMH 2019-2020 Focus Areas
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Our 2019-2020 School Mental Health Areas of Focus include:
- School mental health programs, policies, and practices
- Evidence-based practice implementation support (trauma-informed and resilience-oriented programs, policies, and practices; school mental health referral pathways)
- School mental health literacy and leadership development
- School violence prevention, intervention, and postvention
- Suicidal ideation and response
- Crisis readiness, response, and recovery (including school shootings and community-based violence)
Note that preference will be made to district-level or multi-district engagements to address systems-level school crisis readiness, response, and recovery planning and policies.
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SF Distance Learning Series
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Don't miss the upcoming MHTTC West Coast ISF party!
Interconnected Systems Framework Distance Learning Series
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In collaboration with the Northwest MHTTC, we're launching a three-part distance learning series focusing on the topics of our newly released Interconnected Systems Framework (ISF) Fact Sheet Series (below). It's an opportunity to learn from our partners at the OSEP Technical Assistance Center on PBIS; deepen knowledge and understanding of the ISF; and move our practice, programs, and policies towards a single system of social, emotional, and behavioral supports in schools.
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Interconnected Systems Framework (ISF) 101: An Introduction
Tuesday, October 22 | 6-7 p.m. ET / 3-4 p.m. PT / 12-1 p.m. HT
The interconnected systems framework (ISF) promotes using a single system of delivery for educational and mental health supports in schools. ISF offers a solution to the challenge of meeting the needs of the whole child. Presented by Susan Barrett, MA, and facilitated by the school mental health leads of the Northwest MHTTC (Kelcey Schmitz) and the Pacific Southwest MHTTC (Leora Wolf-Prusan).
Learning Objectives. Participants will:
- Understand ISF and its positive impact on schools
- Discuss strategies to align PBIS/MTSS and student mental health
- Identify appropriate community-level partners
- Learn initial steps for implementing the ISF approach
Presenter Bio
| Susan Barrett, MA, is the Director of the Mid-Atlantic PBIS Network at Sheppard Pratt Health System in Baltimore Maryland. She has a Masters in Counseling Psychology and certification in Special Education, having served as a teacher, administrator, and coordinator with Sheppard Pratt Health System since 1993. Mrs. Barrett serves as an Implementer Partner with the United States Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)'s National Technical Assistance Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS). |
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ISF
201: When School Mental Health is Integrated Within an MTSS - What's Different
Tuesday, December 10 | 6-7 p.m. ET / 3-4 p.m. PT / 12-1 p.m. HT
ISF enhances multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) by integrating student mental health and wellness into the existing structures. It engages a broader range of partners, involves a wider scope of data, and expands interventions to address mental health.
This webinar will be led by Susan Barrett, contributing author for the ISF Fact Sheet series, who will be joined by school district and system-based ISF practitioners from the Northwest and Pacific Southwest regions. Presenters will share their ISF implementation challenges, celebrations, and lessons learned or learning.
Learning Objectives. Participants will:
- Learn how to establish an integrated ISF leadership team
- Understand the foundational steps to establish ISF at the school or district level
- Define the process of evaluating potential evidence-based practices for inclusion in schools
- Discuss implementation challenges, solutions, and innovations with ISF practitioners
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ISF 301: Installing an Integrated Approach
Tuesday, January 21 | 6-7 p.m. ET / 3-4 p.m. PT / 12-1 p.m. HT
ISF is most transformative at the local level. This webinar details the installation process at the district, community, and school level that results in a comprehensive ISF action plan.
This webinar will be led by Susan Barrett, contributing author for the ISF Fact Sheet series, who will be joined by school district and system-based ISF practitioners from the Northwest and Pacific Southwest regions. Presenters will share their ISF implementation challenges, celebrations, and lessons learned or learning.
Learning Objectives. Participants will:
- Define the appropriate roles, functions, and mission of a District/Community Leadership Team (DCLT)
- Learn the strategies needed to conduct a robust assessment of existing mental health and MTSS resources
- Understand the process through which the DCLT selects interventions and monitors outcomes
- Discuss installation challenges, solutions, and innovations with ISF practitioners
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SMH Best Practices Training Series: California
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In partnership with the California School-based Health Alliance, we invite you to join us at two no-cost learning opportunities:
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Building Effective Student Mental Health Identification and Response Systems
Wednesday, November 13 | New Time: 1-4 p.m.
Fresno, CA | UC Merced Center for Educational Partnerships
Many educators have expressed concern that not all students who need mental health-related supports in their schools are receiving them, and often mental health needs become severe before supports are provided. This workshop will introduce educators to practical tools and strategies to improve students' early access to care for mental health needs. Presented within a multitiered system of support (MTSS) framework, topics will include: establishing effective referral management systems; establishing a problem-solving team; mapping school- and community-based mental health resources across MTSS tiers; performing universal screening; tracking mental health referrals and monitoring intervention progress within and across youth-serving systems; and monitoring mental health intervention effectiveness for individuals.
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Suicide Assessment & Intervention in School Settings
Wednesday, December 4 | Time TBD
Fresno, CA | Henry Madden Library Room 2206, CSU Fresno
The goal of this workshop is to increase educators' and school-based providers' comfort in discussing suicide with children, adolescents, and their parents or other caregivers. Through a combination of teaching methods including didactic work, lecture, and discussion, this workshop will address common myths and perceptions about suicide and suicidal behavior in children and adolescents. Participants will learn about the combination of risk factors and warning signs that can increase suicide risk, protective factors that decrease risk, and how to assess suicide risk. Emphasis will be placed on how to ask about suicidal thoughts and behaviors, how to talk about suicide, and how to conduct a risk assessment.
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Customized SMH Regional Trainings: Arizona
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In partnership with Banner University Health Plans, we're proud to announce two no-cost learning opportunities:
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Creating Cohesive, Equitable, and Stakeholder-Driven School Mental Health Referral Pathways
Wednesday, December 4 | 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (check-in begins at 8:30)
Yuma, AZ | Yuma County Library
Join us for a no-cost training that explores what it might look like for schools to consider students as a key stakeholder in referral pathway design and collaborative decision-making. Together, we investigate how school mental health referral pathways improve coordination and collaboration with schools, families, and community-based providers of mental/behavioral health services. Drawing from the School Mental Health Referral Pathways Toolkit (SAMHSA, 2015), participants will learn about tools they can use to assess their readiness for implementation; key strategies to build effective SMHRPs; and how to make intervention decisions through a student-centered, culturally competent, and equity-driven lens.
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Arizona School Mental Health Collaborative
Thursday, December 5 | 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (check-in begins at 8:30)
Yuma, AZ | Yuma County Library
Join us to adapt and contextualize the National School Mental Health Curriculum to reflect Arizona's landscape, our state systems' and districts' strengths, and alignment with existing school mental health initiatives (PBIS, Safe Schools, ACEs, etc.).
Come for a one-day, no-cost Arizona School Mental Health Collaborative to learn more about the curriculum; become familiarized with the train-the-trainer content; join a module workgroup; and have the opportunity to participate in ongoing virtual collaborative sessions.
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Strength in Partnership: Addressing Children's Mental Health Needs in Schools
Learn More | October 21 - Sacramento, California | October 28 - Los Angeles, California
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We're a co-sponsor!
The California Alliance of Child and Family Services is hosting a series of community forums to spark dialogue among community-based organizations, policymakers, and government administrators around school-based mental health.
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The National Equity Project's Instructional Coaching for Equity Institute
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The Coaching for Equity Institute is geared towards administrators, coaches, and mentors who support AZ teachers in their classroom practice. Participants will examine and practice their coaching skills with a focus on education equity.
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2nd Annual National Summit of State Tip Lines:
Intersection of Law Enforcement, Education, and Mental Health
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We're a presenter!
Summit topics will include building a comprehensive state tip line framework; response protocols for school multidisciplinary teams; roles in responding to tip lines; preventing school shootings; and trauma-informed leadership.
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HERE this NOW's Trauma-Responsive Schools Conference
Register | October 23-25 | Temecula, California
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Join a unique, cohort-based conference in a restorative environment. This intensive learning experience will leave participants prepared, supported, connected, and inspired to champion trauma-responsive change in their schools.
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70th Annual CASP (CA Association of School Psychologists) Convention
Register | October 24-26 | Long Beach, California
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We're an exhibitor - find us at our table!
In recognition of this year's theme, "You're Not Alone: Integrating Systems of Support," this convention emphasizes partnerships -- ways in which school psychologists partner with other mental health professionals and educators to ensure all students learn. California's school psychologists will leave this event with a renewed sense of purpose and enthusiasm.
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2019 Annual Conference on Advancing School Mental Health (ASMH)
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Register | March 12-13 (Pre-Conference Institutes), March 13-16 (Conference) | Los Angeles, California
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ASCD is the premier conference to engage in professional development for educators. Experience conference and pre-conference sessions and conference sessions on trauma-informed pedagogy, socio-emotional learning, and more (we're particularly excited for Pete Hall's one-day pre-conference session on "Meeting Students' Needs Through Trauma-Invested Practices").
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What We're Reading: SMH Research and Resources
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What is a teacher's role in the life of a student?
In "Role Clarity & Boundaries for Trauma-Informed Teachers" (2019), Shevrin Venet explores the importance of role clarity, transparency, establishing boundaries, bridging students to supports and services, and more.
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Trauma-Informed School Practices: Building Expertise to Transform Schools
This open access, no-cost downloadable textbook represents the combined insights of Morton, a k-12 educator, and Berardi, a psychotherapist, both of whom are university educators with extensive experience helping districts and teachers incorporate trauma-informed principles into their school culture and classroom. It includes practical strategies on how to transform our learning communities in response to the devastating effect of unmitigated stress and trauma on our students' ability to learn and thrive throughout the lifespan.
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Measuring the impact of trauma-informed practices
The ARTIC (Attitudes Related to Trauma-Informed Care) Scale is a promising tool from the Traumatic Stress Institute that can be used to measure trauma-informed care in school environments. It assesses adult belief system shifts before and after trainings related to trauma and resilience. As of this month, the ARTIC is available online!
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Focus Group Opportunities!
Provide feedback on the development of a mental health literacy curriculum for teachers
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Opportunity 1: Pacific Southwest k-12 Teachers
We are looking for two K-12 teachers from our Pacific Southwest region to participate in a 1-hour focus group that will help shape the development of a national mental health literacy curriculum.
WHEN: Focus groups will take place virtually during the week of November 11, 2019 (final scheduling of sessions will occur once group of potential participants has been identified).
HOW: If you are interested in participating, please complete this quick
Google Form by
October 24 at 5 p.m. PT; we'll respond by October 30.
COMPENSATION:
Participants will be compensated $100 for their time.
Opportunity 2: Pacific Southwest Education & Behavioral Health Leaders
We are looking for education and behavioral health leaders with experience developing and implementing training (preferably some with experience in online training) on mental health for educators to participate in a 1-hour focus group.
WHEN: Focus groups will take place virtually during the week of November 11, 2019 (final scheduling of sessions will occur once group of potential participants has been identified).
HOW: If you are interested in participating, please complete this quick
Google Form by
October 24 at 5 p.m. PT; we'll respond by October 30.
COMPENSATION:
Participants will be compensated $100 for their time.
Additional Information
The Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) Network and the National Center for School Mental Health (NCSMH) have partnered to identify priority training topics, develop training content, and gather related resources for inclusion in the training curriculum, which will be based on prior training development and a solid understanding of the current field with respect to mental health training needs for educators. The training will be tailored to the education setting, providing guidance for educators on how to promote student well-being in the classroom, and identify and support students experiencing psychological distress.
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Youth and Young Adult (YYA)
Mental Health Feature
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Welcome to Fall! The Pacific Southwest MHTTC provides training, technical assistance (TTA), and support at a national level on our areas of specialty, including working with youth and young adults (YYA) of transitional age with, or at risk for, SMI.
Each month, we feature resources, events, and reflections to support your work with youth and young adults of transition age. We recognize that many of you are in the beginning stages of new approaches to working with young adults, while others are experts in engaging this population.
We are pleased this month to share with you a resource list of services, supports, and best or promising practices for working with young adults. These resources uphold the research-based concept that systems and services should be young adult driven, developmentally and culturally appropriate, and trauma informed.
This monthly feature is intended to support your work as both knowledge users and knowledge producers, and we invite you to share your ideas and recommendations with us.
Co-Leads, Young Adult Services and Supports
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New! Youth and Young Adult Mental Health Resources 2019
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The transition to adulthood is an exciting time, but it also poses unique risks and coincides with the age of onset for many mental and behavioral health challenges.
This document is intended to support youth-serving providers, YYA experiencing mental health challenges, and families. It links to many high-quality tools and resources that you can use to change systems, expand services, and get
supports.
Look inside to explore:
- Resources for Agencies, Clinicians, and Providers
- Resources for YYA, Families, and Community Members, including advocacy and policy tools
- Resources on a topic of focus: Trauma
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Transition-Age Youth Professional Learning Community
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California Professional Learning Community for the TAY Mental Health Workforce and Champions
Wednesday, October 30, followed by the third Wednesday of each month
10-11 a.m. PT
| The goal of this series is to provide monthly community learning forums that address topics relevant to working with young adults of transition age. These forums will provide opportunities for peer-learning to build knowledge and skills for TAY-serving providers, advocates, champions, and allies. |
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We want the CA TAY PLC to bring together diverse expertise from across sectors. A tentative schedule and topics have been developed, based on feedback from the planning session. Please feel free to share this opportunity with colleagues and champions who may want to be involved.
Schedule of Upcoming Sessions
October PLC
Wednesday, October 30, 10-11 a.m. PT
Join us to talk about Disconnected Young Adults. We will consider what's really working to support young adults experiencing the intersection of poverty, race, and mental health. Nia West-Bey, a senior policy analyst with the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) Youth Policy Team, will join us to talk about their guiding framework for system leaders to shift their approach away from a service-oriented model and toward a transformational model.
November PLC
Wednesday, November 20, 10-11 a.m. PT
December PLC
Wednesday, December 18, 10-11 a.m. PT
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Webinar - Financing to Support Better Outcomes for Young Adults
Register | Tuesday, October 22 | 2:00-3:30 p.m. ET / 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. PT / 8:00-9:30 a.m. HT
Young adults have identified peer support as a critical role in services to enhance their wellness and resiliency. This webinar will identify multiple strategies for funding youth peer support.
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33rd Annual Research & Policy Conference on Child, Adolescent, and Young Adult Behavioral Health
Register | March 15-18, 2020 | Tampa, Florida
| The "Tampa Conference" is an annual gathering of more than 700 researchers, evaluators, policymakers, administrators, parents, and advocates working to improve systems for children and youth with mental health challenges and their families. Tracks include Youth and Young Adults, Men and Boys' Mental Health, and more. |
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More Upcoming Learning Opportunities
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Webinar - Care Integration Best Practices: Care Coordination Approaches for Children with Moderate to Intensive Behavioral Health Challenges
Register | Wednesday, October 23 | 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET / 10:00-11:30 a.m. PT / 7:00-8:30 a.m. HT
This webinar describes approaches to care integration for children with moderate to complex behavioral health challenges, including collaborative care within primary care and tiered care coordination within a statewide Medicaid health home approach.
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16th Statewide Conference: Integrating Substance Use, Mental Health, and Primary Care Services
Enhancing Foundations for Change
Register | October 23-24 | Universal City, California
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This integrated care conference will address a wide array of topics and intersections, including peer services, care for veterans, supports for LGBTQ communities, pain management, mental health treatment, treatment for opioids, and more.
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Hawai'i Psychological Association (HPA) Behavioral Health Convention
| The theme for HPA's 2019 convention is "Trends and Innovations at the Intersection of Technology and Psychology: Science, Application, and Practice Implications." Registrants will have live webinar access to many of the presentations. |
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National Association of Social Workers, Arizona Chapter (NASWAZ)
Register | November 8 | Phoenix, Arizona
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The NASWAZ State Conference is an opportunity to network and learn from other social work professionals in AZ. Sample session topics this year include immigration and asylum, ACEs in Native American communities, gender-specific treatment and gender violence, and more.
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National Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health (NFFCMH) 30th Annual Conference
Register | November 14-16 | Phoenix, Arizona
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For 30 years, the NFFCMH has advocated for families of children and youth with mental health challenges. Topics at the 30th Annual Conference will include family peer support, youth leadership, family resilience, trauma-informed caregiver engagement, policy change, and more.
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Breaking Barriers 2019 Interagency Symposium
Register | November 20-21 | Sacramento, California
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The vision of this cross-systems event is to break barriers and build bridges so that all of California's children receive the services and supports necessary for them to succeed in school and society, nurtured by healthy families and strong communities.
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Asian & Pacific Islander Mental Health Empowerment Conference
Register | November 21-22 | Clovis, California
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This year's APIMEHC theme is Action for Wellness: The Power of Legislation. The purpose of APIMEHC is to increase awareness of mental health concerns and promote improvement of mental health services for API communities.
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More News
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California Launches Its First Statewide Free Mental Health Line for Non-Emergency Support
Beginning this month, the
Peer-Run Warm Line (1-855-845-7415) is expanding from the Bay Area to serve all Californians. The Warm Line is staffed by peer counselors who provide emotional support and referrals, via phone call or text, for non-emergency mental health needs. State Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Assemblyman Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) announced the $10.8 million funding that will support the Warm Line's expansion for the next three years.
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Research - People Want Their Employers to Talk About Mental Health
This article presents the results of a mental health survey of more than 1,500 U.S. adults. Less than half of respondents felt mental health was prioritized at their company, and even fewer felt their company leaders were advocates. The authors provide suggestions for change.
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Share Your Insights with Our Team
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Please Complete Our Needs Assessment
As your MHTTC, we are eager to learn about your organization's mental health services, challenges, and priorities. We deeply appreciate your time. The survey takes approximately 10 minutes to complete.
Please share with your networks:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MHTTCneedsassessment
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