2022 Bi-Annual Conference

The Annual Center for School Behavioral Health Conference was held on Saturday, September 24, 2022 at the Region 4 Education Service Center.

Beyond a Theory: Healing and Transformation in the Education System.

Topics included: Educational equity, family engagement, successful community partnerships, and trauma-informed practices

Conference attendees rated their experience 4.5/5 stars on the satisfaction scale, and 98% were highly satisfied with our keynote speaker.

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MHA of Greater Houston’s Center for School Behavioral Health is changing systems and lives through highly specialized professional development opportunities, technical assistance, and community education for school districts across Texas. The Center works to improve the behavioral health of students and faculty through collective action, policy analysis, research, and advocacy.

Most individuals engaged in the work of the Center are campus and district administrators, counselors/therapists, educators, nurses, campus resource personnel, and youth/case workers. The Center’s work also engages parents, relatives, and youth, as well as elected and public officials, including school board members, legislators, and Texas Education Agency (TEA) personnel.

The Center’s School Behavioral Health Conference focuses on behavioral health interventions and outcomes for children in school settings to advance the knowledge and skills related to school mental health practice, research, training, and policy.

“I plan to apply what I learned by incorporating mental health awareness into our existing programs. This includes training our staff to recognize early signs of mental health challenges, creating safe spaces for children to express their feelings, and developing activities that promote emotional well-being. Additionally, I will integrate mental health education into our curriculum to help children build resilience and develop coping strategies.”

“One specific way I applied the training content in my life was during a conversation with a student who was going through a difficult time. They seemed unusually withdrawn and mentioned feeling overwhelmed and hopeless. Remembering the techniques from the training, I approached the situation with empathy and active listening, ensuring I provided a safe space for them to express their feelings without judgement.

I utilized the skills from the training to recognize the warning signs of potential suicidal thoughts and asked directly yet compassionate questions about their wellbeing. By doing so, I was able to encourage them to open-up about their struggles and persuaded them to seek professional help. I also made sure to follow up with them regularly to offer continued support and remind them they are not alone.

This experience reinforced the importance of the training and how crucial it is to be prepared to respond appropriately in such situations. It highlighted how the skills learned can genuinely make a difference in a student’s life.”

“Understanding trauma, the responses to trauma, and how to serve those responses are relevant in my response as an advocate. I will apply the skills learned today to serve the demographic I serve in a more trauma informed way.”

“I plan to continue to strengthen my relationship with my students. I will ask them periodically how they are feeling. I want them to feel open to expressing themselves when they need to. I will do my best to be more empathetic and not only sympathetic. Thanks for everything!!”

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