School Mental Health Symposium

Save the Date:

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

8:30am-3:00pm

Oakton Community College, Des Plaines Campus

 

The number of students requiring intensive mental health resources is increasing in our school districts. Join fellow educational staff for an informative and interactive symposium to raise awareness, explore common challenges, and share resources to address our shared goals of supporting students with mental health needs across their school years. The symposium will include presentations from leading professionals in the field in the morning and in-depth discussions with colleagues in the afternoon to explore challenges and opportunities.

Join us in the conversation and call to action as we explore these topics and more:

•Recognizing emerging mental health issues

•Emerging brain-based research

•Considerations and implications for schools

•De-stigmatization as a barrier to treatment and support

•The current landscape in schools

•Empowering staff to individually and collectively transform their work to support a seamless transition from Kindergarten to young adulthood

Target Audience:  K-12 Student Service Personnel & Special Education Staff

Space is limited. Register today to reserve your spot and receive updates.

Lunch will be provided Courtesy of North Shore University Health Systems

With an increasing number of students in need of intensive mental health resources, I thought the Transition Action Network for Mental Health's willingness to provide an event available to us at no cost was a great opportunity.  This conference will allow social workers and educational staff to come together to discuss the challenges they are facing as well as share resources with one another.  There are two keynote speakers who will be presenting about research in the field to promote awareness and early identification of mental health risk factors and about building resilience across the lifespan.  It is relevant to school social workers as it will explore emerging mental health issues among the student populations we will be serving.  This item of interest meets the School Social Work model under the practice feature of “maximize access to school-based and community-based resources” as it will provide a forum for collaboration and professional consultation regarding mental health resources for students (sswaa.org).