NTTAC School Based Services Policy Learning Forum
A peer-learning space among AWARE grantees and school mental health leaders across the country
August 24 & August 26 (dates may vary by time zone)
Description:
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. See our list of panelists below!
Both days, you can opt to join us for either Round A or Round B. Round A and Round B offer the same content, although panelists will 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.
|
|
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?)
August 24 • Round A
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
• • • • •
August 24 • Round B
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
|
|
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?)
August 26 • Round A
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
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
• • • • •
August 26 • Round B
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.** |
|
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 (she/hers) is an NTTAC School Based Services training specialist. In addition, she serves as the Project Director for the School Crisis Recovery & Renewal project and as the School Mental Health field director for the Pacific Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC), as well as many other facilitation projects. Previous roles include a national field director of a SAMHSA initiative (ReCAST) and SAMHSA Project AWARE Technical Assistance provider (2014-2018). 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. In her spare time, she is a birthworker and has the joy of watching people become families and access birth justice as a full spectrum doula.
|
|
Request No-Cost Training or Technical Assistance
|
|
This announcement is supported by SAMHSA of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award over five years (2020-2025) funded by SAMHSA/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by SAMHSA/HHS, or the U.S. Government. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
