November 2

 

1:00 pm – 2:15 pm

Filling Your Love Tank - Practical Application To Self-Care

Our personal and professional lives are filled with endeavors that may leave us feeling depleted and/or overwhelmed, inadvertently neglecting our wellbeing. This person-centered presentation highlights five core areas: Physical, Mental, Emotional, Spiritual, and Social of positive self-care with a practical application.

Presenters: Carlos Rizzo, Educational Social Worker –  Kings Canyon Unified & Antonio Valdez, MSW, PPSC, School Social Worker – Orange Cove High School

Room: Red Tailed Hawk

 

THE NEUROBIOLOGY OF RESTORATIVE PRACTICES “A RIGHT BRAIN APPROACH” 

Emerging brain research is leaning more towards the notion of relationship building and right brain epigenetic social experiences as the vector for high-risk youth development and optimal social-emotional adjustment. As restorative practitioners, it is critical to explore and understand how compromised right brain locomotion hinders an individual from experiencing and developing empathy and optimally moving towards healing harm and emotional complexity. The information in this presentation will explore the importance of working under a right brain restorative framing, primarily when working with high-risk youth populations and how the use of data to track is essential to build a sustaining restorative system. Current mental health statistics and incarceration data are indicating that the level of recidivism is prevalent among individuals who could not fully process a crisis or conflict. The same population is acquiring suspensions, expulsions or getting arrested for related offenses, which reveals the lack of insight obtained by our education and criminal justice systems.

Presenter: Carlos Alvarez - Los Angeles Institute for Restorative Practices

Room: Cottonwood

 

Mapping out the Pathway to Wellness

Well-being is the experience of health and happiness. Research shows student well-being significantly impacts student performance. We also know that youth are less likely than any other age group to access mental health services. Therefore, effective early engagement and referral is critical to preventing the progress of anxiety disorders, social isolation, depression, suicide ideation and poor functioning. This session will dive into innovative ways to advocate for mental wellness and incorporate creative approaches to enhance self-care and well-being.

Presenters: Phillip Falcetti, MPH; Dr. Mohammed Forouzesh; Alexandra Paulsen; & Chloie Sierra, MSW

Room: Elderberry

 

Parents as Educational Partners

Do you ever find yourself dreading an upcoming meeting with a parent or wishing others would show up? This session explores the emotions a parent may be facing and how these emotions may affect their thinking and behavior, as well as how educators can create supportive, welcoming meeting environment, to help parents and staff remain calm and regain composure during difficult conversations. 

Presenter: Gail Angus, Ed. D., Founder & CEO – NavigatEDU

Room: White Sage

 

Utilizing Sports to tackle the oppositions to Mental Health and Wellness

This workshop will offer methods to utilize the sports platform and experience to empower teen student athletes with resources and tools to help cultivate mental health and wellness on and off the competition field. Specific tactics will be offered to build self-confidence, create constructive parent engagement, increase social “team” bonding, stimulate self-awareness, and invest in student leadership development.  We will unlock the treasures in sports that offer the riches of holistic character and life skill development that are transferrable to the mental health of the teen under the jersey that walks the halls of campus, deals with teenage social pressures, effected by the trials of home life and daily scrolls through the pages of social media.

Presenter: Javelin Guidry, WP3 Sports, Author Warrior Parent Playbook, Varsity Football/Life Mentor Coach – Vista Murrieta HS

Room: Tule

 

2:30 pm – 3:45 pm

The Laws of Motion: Integrating STEM & Physical Activity

Numerous studies have shown that children who are active and healthy have a lower risk of juvenile behavior, an increase in academic achievement, and tend to have a much better self-image. This workshop integrates STEM and Physical Activity in a unique format that helps develop healthier, more productive children. Don't miss this opportunity to participate in a one-of-a-kind workshop!

Presenter: Sandy Slade – Skillastics

Room: Red Tailed Hawk

 

Going on a first date with yourself - a self-exploration mental health creative writing workshop

"Going on a first date with yourself - mental health creative writing workshop" Many youths suffer from emotional challenges and miss information. They are provided with education, creative technicalities, and a place to explore themselves but a lot need more without access to therapy, emotional support, and emotional education. In my workshop, the participants will be able to address emotional challenges and get to know themselves emotionally using creative writing unique exercises, and my guidance through the process of self-exploration. My workshop is all about the participants discovering themselves in a self-exploration using writing. Now more than ever we see how students need mental health support, my workshop introduces them to mental health through self-exploration writing. The participants will be provided with a takeaway sheet of writing prompts they can facilitate with their students.

Presenter: Maia Akiva, Mental Health + Creativity

Room: Cottonwood

 

Proactive Threat Assessment: A Mental Wellness Based Approach

Threat assessment is a problem-solving approach to violence prevention that involves assessment and intervention with students who have threatened violence in some way.  In the vast majority of cases when a threat is made, the reason is due to a child experiencing some kind of grievance or crisis.  Mental health clinicians are vital to the threat assessment process, as they provide crucial linkages to resources to assist the child, as well as the family.  If the problem is solved, so is the threat.  Collaborative relationships between law enforcement, mental health clinicians, and school site personnel are of the utmost importance in keeping our children safe.

Presenter: Rachel Puckett, Sergeant – Orange County Sheriff’s Department

Room: Elderberry

 

Holistic Wellness & Social-Emotional Learning

Participants will examine their own self-awareness and life balance in order to assess how they are managing life during this most unpredictable time in history. We will introduce evidence -based mindfulness and emotional intelligence strategies for students AND staff that help us maintain healthy and productive mindsets. Participants will be prompted to develop healthy activities focused on Mindfulness, Body Awareness, Community and Connection, and Digital and Social Media Consciousness in order to build new habits that promote learning, connection, a sense of community.

Presenters: Julia Gabor, Mindful Founder & Michelle Pina, Director – kid-Grit

Room: White Sage

  

Where mental health and education meet: Trauma Informed Care

Where mental health and education meet: Trauma Informed Care.  What is your role as an educator within mental health? The relationships built between educator and student within the education system is critical, and working with our children on the front lines can be taxing, challenging, and sometimes overwhelming. However, it is also rewarding, motivating, and worth it!  Your role is crucial to our future generations and the support within education can truly make the difference. This workshop will focus on approaching youths within a trauma informed lense, and provide information to aid in crisis de-escalation, identifying trauma-related behavior, and establishing internal motivation to succeed. Collaboration with educators and mental health professionals provides supportive working relationships to our youths…it takes a village!

Presenter: Ashley Brown Psy.D., M.A., M.S - Clinical Forensic Psychologist - Clinical Evaluation Guidance Unit (CEGU) – Orange County Juvenile Hall

Room: Tule

 

November 3

 

8:00 am – 9:15 am

Mental Health: Preventing Targeted School Violence Part 1

This session is designed to be presented for counselors, school administrators and mental health professionals seeking an in-depth understanding of targeted school violence in schools. This workshop is not intended for non-professionals and will include graphic imagery to illustrate key concepts.  Although the workshop sessions are broken are designed to build on one another, they do not exclude participants from just attending one of them.

*Please no recording or photos allowed, presenters will share a redacted version of each presentation of the material that is safe to distribute. 

Part 1 – Includes: 1. Overview and Evolution 2. Case Examples & 3. Pre-Incident Indicators

Part 2 - Includes: 1. The Pathway to Violence 2. Trends & Warning Signs and Red Flags

Presenters: Tony Beliz, PhD, University Southern California Safe Communities Institute, Nicolas Beliz, Psy.D, School Threat Assessment Response Team (START), Los Angeles County Dept of Mental Health and Alejandro Beliz, Psy.D., Systemwide Mobile Assessment Response Team (SMART), Los Angeles Police Department – Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health

Room: Red Tailed Hawk

 

How One District Responded in a Unique Way to Meet the Needs of Students and Families

The Hemet Unified School Wellness and Community Outreach Center has designed a program that breaks barriers to learning, meets families where they are, provides direct and indirect service, and connects families with needed resources within the community.  These services include food, clothing, housing (short and long term), health, and so much more. This workshop session will share best practices to support students and families, how our outreach programs are funded, and how we measure success.

Presenter: Dr. Emily Shaw, Director – Hemet Unified School District

Room: Cottonwood

 

How to Engage Students in Mental Health; Sport Based Therapy for Schools

This presentation equips professionals to identify the root behind a youth's behavior and create a space that is inclusive and understanding of trauma histories. Participants will acquire practical skills around trauma-informed care in schools.

Presenter: Liv Emerich, LCSW – Doc Wayne Youth Services – Boston, MA

Room: Elderberry

 

Pause for Innovation

The ability to know when to step back in order to create something new is a highly valued quality in the workplace. It takes courage to slow down, pause, ideate, and risk a new way of being. In this session, we will examine the power of pause in order to develop space for innovation and creativity. Participants will explore pausing though art to imagine a classroom of their dreams!

Presenters: Julia Gabor, Mindful Founder & Michelle Pina, Director – kid-Grit

Room: White Sage

 

Common Threads Small Bites Training

Common Threads will be presenting training on the state of where our food is today, overall tips for healthy eating, and sharing about our Small Bites program and how you can bring our resources to your own communities.

Presenter: Natalie Apodaca, Senior Program Manager

Room: Tule

 

9:30 – am – 10:45 am

Mental Health: Preventing Targeted School Violence Part 2

This session is designed to be presented for counselors, school administrators and mental health professionals seeking an in-depth understanding of targeted school violence in schools. This workshop is not intended for non-professionals and will include graphic imagery to illustrate key concepts.  Although the workshop sessions are broken are designed to build on one another, they do not exclude participants from just attending one of them.

*Please no recording or photos allowed, presenters will share a redacted version of each presentation of the material that is safe to distribute. 

Part 1 – Includes: 1. Overview and Evolution 2. Case Examples & 3. Pre-Incident Indicators

Part 2 - Includes: 1. The Pathway to Violence 2. Trends & Warning Signs and Red Flags

Presenters: Tony Beliz, PhD, University Southern California Safe Communities Institute, Nicolas Beliz, Psy.D, School Threat Assessment Response Team (START), Los Angeles County Dept of Mental Health and Alejandro Beliz, Psy.D., Systemwide Mobile Assessment Response Team (SMART), Los Angeles Police Department – Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health

Room: Red Tailed Hawk

 

Managing High Risk Behaviors: Navigating Mental Health Crises

Are you prepared for the conversation with a student when you notice they’ve started cutting themselves?  Or when they admit they’ve been considering suicide?  The school environment is often one of the first places crisis issues begin to manifest.  This seminar provides practical advice about addressing mental health crises, including suicide, self-harm, violence, substance abuse, and psychosis in the school setting.  Learn how to identify warning signs, be supportive through hard conversations, and seek appropriate resources when necessary.

Presenter: Emily Aihara, LMFT Behavioral Health Clinician 2 – CEGU Probation Mental Health and Recovery Services

Room: Cottonwood

 

Integrating Community Mental Health Resources Into School-Based Services

Partners4Wellness will present on unique strategies used to network and educate the high school and college age population about the importance of mental wellness and how to access local services.  The presentation will highlight Connect-OC, a county based project that provides mental health community networking services throughout Orange County.  Topics include development of a county wide coalition, developing and hosting engaging events, effective social media campaigns, supporting student-led groups and more!

Presenters: Crystal Bleicher, MA; David Paddison; Sarah Petrus; and Vivi Vu

Room: Elderberry

 

From Surviving to Thriving

Educators are natural givers to others, and sometimes they do not give enough to themselves first. The fact is that the better they take care of themselves the more that can do for others, because they will be a healthier and happier place to do so.

In this workshop participants will learn theory and practices, supported by rigorous research for how to do and think about things differently to moving from surviving to thriving. For instance, optimism is not some inherent trait, it is actually proven to be something that can be practiced and learned with tremendous benefit! We can increase efficacy, job satisfaction and resilience, while decreasing burnout.

Presenter: Jonathon Erickson, PhD, Principal – Parras Middle School, Redondo Beach Unified School District

Room: White Sage

 

Mindfulness to Better Health  

This session covers the what, where, how and why of mindfulness in the workplace. By the end of the session attendees will have a working knowledge of the physiological science behind mindfulness and meditation and how practicing mindfulness, even minutes a day, can improve your mental wellbeing and physical health. Taught by a certified Mindfulness and Meditation Instructor, with over 37 years in the education world, this session provides you with techniques that you can take home and begin using immediately in your own practice, whether it is in the office with adults, or in the classroom with students. During the session you will get time to decompress, relax and disengage from the world outside as you experience the world of mindfulness and meditation at work.

Presenter: Dr. Whitney Naughton – D’Amico , Director of College and Career Readiness and Assessment and Accountability at LEUSD, Certified Mindfulness and Meditation Instructor  - Professor in the Teacher Credentialing Department with the University of Massachusetts  - Expert Professional Development Team Member for Canyon Professional Development, Grand Canyon University

Room: Tule

 

11:00 am – 12:15 pm

 

Living Your Best Life: What is Your Story?

This session will give you an opportunity to do some reflection on people, places and events in your life where you have met and overcome barriers.  We will explore the concepts of resistance and avoidance in life choices and connect them to who you are at your core. You will come away with how our core values have impacted your journey and a ready made lesson plan to use with staff or students.

Presenter: Christine Sisco, Asst. Superintendent, Instructional Support Services – Stanislaus COE

Room: Red Tailed Hawk

 

What's Fear Got To Do With It? Leading in a VUCA World

Do you find yourself second guessing decisions? Feeling like a fraud and it’s a matter of time until someone finds out? Feeling stressed, worried, anxious, or afraid as a professional? Let’s explore occupational fear and how it shows up in our personal/professional spaces.

Presenter: Michel Cazary, Principal, Spreckles Elementary – San Diego Unified School District

Room: Cottonwood

 

Three Perspectives of Crisis: Students, Parents, and You

Dealing with loss affects every aspect of a child’s life. Often, families do not talk to each other about death thus making it difficult for children to process the death. Participating in groups designed to address death provides a platform for children to express their thoughts and beliefs regarding death. It is necessary to address key components of grief in an age appropriate manner in an effort to facilitate the development of healthy coping skills. The facilitation of a grief group provides a safe environment for children to come together and gain the necessary tools to progress through the grieving process.

Presenter: Regina Siez, LCSW,PPS – Temecula Valley Unified School District

Room: Elderberry

 

Awareness Integration Model (AIM): Self-Care Skill Building Tool for Human Agency Professionals
 
In this workshop, participants will learn how to use AIM to develop a deeper understanding of self-awareness, self-care, and cultural competency skills to build capacity both individually and at the community level, which are crucial factors in creating a healthy global society.

Presenters: Dr. Nicole Jafari & Dr. Foojan Zeine – California State University, Long Beach, CA

Room: White Sage

 

THE NEUROBIOLOGY OF RESTORATIVE PRACTICES “A RIGHT BRAIN APPROACH” 

Emerging brain research is leaning more towards the notion of relationship building and right brain epigenetic social experiences as the vector for high-risk youth development and optimal social-emotional adjustment. As restorative practitioners, it is critical to explore and understand how compromised right brain locomotion hinders an individual from experiencing and developing empathy and optimally moving towards healing harm and emotional complexity. The information in this presentation will explore the importance of working under a right brain restorative framing, primarily when working with high-risk youth populations and how the use of data to track is essential to build a sustaining restorative system. Current mental health statistics and incarceration data are indicating that the level of recidivism is prevalent among individuals who could not fully process a crisis or conflict. The same population is acquiring suspensions, expulsions or getting arrested for related offenses, which reveals the lack of insight obtained by our education and criminal justice systems.

Presenter: Carlos Alvarez - Los Angeles Institute for Restorative Practices

Room: Tule

 

2:30 pm – 4:00 pm

 

Experiential Speed Sessions! 

Join us for three rounds of 20-minute sessions and a collaborative reflection. In these sessions, you will experience writing, breathwork and movement strategies to support selfcare and stress release. During the reflection we will share and swap ideas on how to bring these tools into the classroom or/and campus.

Presenters: Julia Gabor, Sandy Slade, Michelle Pina & Maia Akiva

Room: Cottonwood