Behavioral Health/Guidance workshops will be held at Tewksbury Memorial High School
Session 1: 8:30-10:00
BHG1 “Critical Incidents in Schools: Preparation, Response, and Recovery”
In today’s world schools are faced with addressing critical incidents within their schools and communities as well as at a national and international level. Preparing, responding and recovering from these events is vital to the well-being of students, staff and families as well as the successful transition to a “new normal”. This workshop will provide an in depth understanding of what a critical incident is, how to prepare students and staff in case of an incident and best practices related to response and recovery.
Session 2: 10:15-11:30
BHG2 Opioid Abuse
Session 3: 12:15-1:00
BHG3 MyCAP development through Naviance
DESE is recommending school counselors develop MyCAP (My Caree Academic Plan) for all high school students as part of their post-graduate planning. This session will assist participant in utilizing Naviance to develop the MyCAP.
BHG4 Assessment and Screening Tools
Attendees will be provided an overview of how mental health screening was piloted, tested, and scaled-up district-wide in Methuen Public Schools. Practical strategies that have yielded successful implementation of mental health screening will be offered to attendees, including the use of web-based screening practices and the adoption of a passive consent policy. The use of data to 1) identify students who may require services, 2) aid in progress monitoring, and 3) evaluate program efficacy will also be discussed.
BHG5 Mental Health First Aid in Schools
This session will review the National Mental Health First Aid for Youth program. Discussion around how the certification program could help school counseling and behavioral health departments through community engagement in identifying and addressing early indicators of mental health illness. We will discuss how to set up a training and funding options for certification courses.
BHG6 Effects of Complex Trauma on Students’ Functioning
Trauma that originates and is perpetuated within the caregiving relationship leaves scars that affect all aspects of students’ functioning and cause particular difficulty in the learning environment. When there is insecure attachment in the family, students experience emotion dysregulation, behavioral dysregulation that includes deficits in attentional skills and goal-directed capacities, alterations in self-perception, and deficits in relational skills. We will re-frame students’ attitude and behaviors in light of complex trauma, versus willful disobedience
BHG7 Q & A: Supporting LGBTQ youth in schools
This will be a panel discussion with students from Tewksbury Gender Sexuality Alliance who will answer questions about ways educators can better support them in school.
BHG8 Transition Planning
Assisting Students who receive special education services develop workable transition plans for their lives after high school.
BHG9 Wrap Around Services/Home-Based Services
Jackie Fickes, Intensive Care Coordinator and Referral Coordinator at the Riverside Cambridge Community Service Agency, will present an overview of in-home services for youth and families through MassHealth’s Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative (CBHI). CBHI services provide community-based, strengths-focused, and collaborative supports to families of youth with significant mental health needs. Jackie will describe the different services offered, discuss eligibility criteria, and explain how to make referrals.
BHG10 Tier I Support: Action Planning For Your Role as a School Counselor in the Classroom
This session will be an informative overview of how a school counselor created an action plan to provide Tier 1 supports in the classroom. Come hear how this was implemented and leave with strategies and ideas to create your own action plan to provide Tier 1 support for ALL students.
BHG19 Bullying Investigations: Process & Procedure
This comprehensive presentation on bullying, harassment, and investigation will cover the following topics:
- The legal definitions of bullying and harassment, and the difference between the two
- Receiving a bullying report and initial steps
- Best practices to legally protect both your students and your district
- Informal vs. formal investigation
- Things to consider when interviewing
- Weighing the evidence
- Outcome letters and wrapping up an investigation
- Investigations and the student record
- Common missteps and pitfalls during an investigation
Session 4: 1:15-2:00
BHG11 MyCAP development through Naviance
DESE is recommending school counselors develop MyCAP (My Caree Academic Plan) for all high school students as part of their post-graduate planning. This session will assist participant in utilizing Naviance to develop the MyCAP.
BHG12 Strategies for Addressing Complex Trauma
Behavioral strategies do not ameliorate the effects of complex trauma. In fact, focusing on behavioral strategies often elicit more profound difficulties. Students who have had trauma within their caregiving relationships, including previous teachers and school administrators, need to be grounded in an environment of safety and understanding. General atmospheric approaches and specific interventions will be discussed.
BHG13 Mental Health First Aid in Schools
This session will review the National Mental Health First Aid for Youth program. Discussion around how the certification program could help school counseling and behavioral health departments through community engagement in identifying and addressing early indicators of mental health illness. We will discuss how to set up a training and funding options for certification courses.
BHG14 Assessment and Screening Tools
Attendees will be provided an overview of how mental health screening was piloted, tested, and scaled-up district-wide in Methuen Public Schools. Practical strategies that have yielded successful implementation of mental health screening will be offered to attendees, including the use of web-based screening practices and the adoption of a passive consent policy. The use of data to 1) identify students who may require services, 2) aid in progress monitoring, and 3) evaluate program efficacy will also be discussed.
BHG15 Q & A: Supporting LGBTQ youth in schools
This will be a panel discussion with students from Tewksbury Gender Sexuality Alliance who will answer questions about ways educators can better support them in school.
BHG16 Transition Planning
Assisting Students who receive special education services develop workable transition plans for their lives after high school.
BHG17 Wrap Around Services/Home-Based Services
Jackie Fickes, Intensive Care Coordinator and Referral Coordinator at the Riverside Cambridge Community Service Agency, will present an overview of in-home services for youth and families through MassHealth’s Children’s Behavioral Health Initiative (CBHI). CBHI services provide community-based, strengths-focused, and collaborative supports to families of youth with significant mental health needs. Jackie will describe the different services offered, discuss eligibility criteria, and explain how to make referrals.
BHG18 Tier I Support: Action Planning For Your Role as a School Counselor in the Classroom
This session will be an informative overview of how a school counselor created an action plan to provide Tier 1 supports in the classroom. Come hear how this was implemented and leave with strategies and ideas to create your own action plan to provide Tier 1 support for ALL students.
BHG20 Bullying Investigations: Process & Procedure
This comprehensive presentation on bullying, harassment, and investigation will cover the following topics:
- The legal definitions of bullying and harassment, and the difference between the two
- Receiving a bullying report and initial steps
- Best practices to legally protect both your students and your district
- Informal vs. formal investigation
- Things to consider when interviewing
- Weighing the evidence
- Outcome letters and wrapping up an investigation
- Investigations and the student record
- Common missteps and pitfalls during an investigation