Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education Florida AWARE: Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education Natalie Romer, Ph.D.

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education Florida AWARE A 5-year program to develop and implement a cross- system comprehensive plan for promoting well- being, resilience, creating safe environments, and ensuring that Florida youth and their families have access to needed services

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education Florida AWARE & School Climate Grants Florida’s State Department of Education has been awarded both grants – Both initiatives to work as part of a coordinated strategy to address issues of school climate, school safety, & mental health in a comprehensive manner – Connect within the education system, and across local home, school, and community settings and systems

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education Florida AWARE: Two Components Component 1: Comprehensive Integrated Service – Implement a model of service delivery (i.e., Multi- Tiered System of Supports) to expand and improve access to mental health supports by coordinating state and local resources. Component 2: Implement Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) – State and local programs

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education Florida AWARE Team Structure Pinellas District Implementation Team State Management Team Project Management Team Duval District Implementation Team Polk District Implementation Team

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education State and District GoalsSMT Workgroups 1 A multi-tiered framework for sustainable outcomes- driven implementation of cross-organizational mental health supports. N/A 2 Awareness of mental health issues by youth, families, community members and school personnel. Increasing awareness (basic knowledge) of mental health 3 Procedures for identifying, accessing, and/or maximizing existing resources to support mental health outcomes. Resources for mental health supports 4 A streamlined efficient and effective system to access cross organizational mental health services. Process for accessing mental health services 5 Evidence-based culturally responsive mental health practices identified. Identifying evidence-based mental health practices 6 A streamlined efficient and effective data system across organizations serving youth supporting a MTSS for mental health. Data information systems 7 Increased stakeholder knowledge and skills to provide mental health supports and services. Increasing skills (& advancing knowledge) to address mental health

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education DEVELOPING A COMMON DEFINITION OF MENTAL HEALTH

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education Mental Health The absence of psychological, social, emotional, and behavioral problems and optimal social and psychological functioning (Kazdin, 1993)

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education Goals of Mental Health Services Foster the social, emotional, behavioral, and academic competence that students need to be successful in school and in life Ultimate purpose of goals in the public health approach Promote psychological well-being of all youth Provide protective support to youth at elevated risk for academic and emotional problems Promote healthy caretaking environments (classroom, school, home, community), which help youth overcome risk and challenges Remediate social, emotional, or behavioral disturbances among referred students Public health approach Remediate social, emotional, or behavioral disturbances among referred students Traditional approach (Doll, Cummings, & Chapla, 2014)

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education Defining Youth Competence Youth Functioning in School Context School Functioning Psychological Indicators Motivation to Learn, Belongingness Academic Self- Efficacy Behavioral Indicators Achieve- ment Classroom Behavior, Attendance Social- Emotional Functioning Psychological Indicators Emotional Distress Well-Being Behavioral Indicators Peer Relation- ships ( Roeser, Eccles, & Sameroff, 2000) Academic Success Mental Health

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education Youth Mental Health Negative Symptoms (Mental Illness) Anxiety, Depression, and other forms of internalizing problems Trauma and other environ- mental stressors Thinking errors, behavioral withdrawal Disruptive Behaviors, such as defiance, rule violations, substance use Risky/ unsafe settings Inconsisten t rules and expecta- tions across settings Positive Indicators (Wellness or Well-Being) Life Satisfaction and Happiness Building blocks of well-being, (gratitude, empathy, persistence) Basic needs are met Strong Social Relationships Social skills Healthy interactions (minimal bullying, high support) Risk FactorsResilience Factors

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education Array of Mental Health Services in a Public Health Approach Multi-tiered framework of evidence- based practices to promote wellness and minimize mental illness Effective collaboration across organizations, settings, and levels (local, state) Increased, expanded, and equitable access to these coordinated mental health services Increased mental health awareness among youth, families, schools, and communities (Florida AWARE)

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education COMPONENT 1: COMPREHENSIVE INTEGRATED SERVICES

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education Florida AWARE: Component 1 Implement and expand a MTSS framework in order to… Early identification practices & link needs to services (Identification & Access) Continuum of effective behavioral health strategies (Continuum of Supports) Access to coordinated and integrated school and community-based services (Integrated Services) Connect youth, families, schools, & communities (Increased Youth and Family Engagement)

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education Create a Continuum of Supports for ALL  Multi-Tiered System of Supports, provides a framework for an integrated continuum of mental health supports that builds upon existing structures and resources of Florida’s youth-serving agencies

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education Florida AWARE: Integration of Mental Health Supports in MTSS Enhance MTSS framework in partnership with FLDOE Collaborative relationships to ensure implementation of a continuum of evidence based practices Reflect a shared school, family, community- system agenda and equitable partnerships Cross-agency (state, district, community and school level) problem-solving teams Cross-agency data and information sharing

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education …in order to succeed. = Diverse populations Logic of a Multi-Tiered Approach… …get support matched to need… +

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education COMPONENT 2: IMPLEMENTATION OF YMHFA

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education Florida Districts: NITT-AWARE-LEA Broward Hillsborough Lake Lake Whales Charter Osceola St. Lucie Duval* Pinellas* Polk*

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education Florida AWARE: NITT-AWARE-SEA State Instructors – Florida AWARE Staff – SEDNET – FDLRS – Student Support Services Florida AWARE LEAs – Duval – Pinellas – Polk

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education What is Mental Health First Aid USA? Help offered to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis Given until appropriate treatment and support are received or until the crisis resolves Not a substitute for counseling, medical care, peer support or treatment (YMHFA USA, 2012)

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education Why Mental Health First Aid USA? Mental Health problems are common Stigma is associated with mental health problems Professional help is not always on hand Individuals with mental health problems often do not seek help Many people are not well informed about mental health problems or do not know how to respond (YMHFA USA, 2012)

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education Youth Mental Health First Aid USA 8-hour education program Participants are introduced to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, ages Emphasis on early intervention and teaches how to help an adolescent in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge (YMHFA USA, 2012)

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education YMHFA USA Course Sample Agenda (YMHFA USA, 2012)

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education What You Learn Overview of Mental Health problems: – Depressive/Mood disorders – Anxiety disorders – Disorders in which psychosis occurs – Substance use disorders – Eating disorders – ADHD and other disruptive behavior disorders Mental Health First Aid for crisis and non-crisis situations (YMHFA USA, 2012)

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education Mental Health First Aid Action Plan Participants do not learn to diagnose, nor how to provide therapy/counseling; instead, they learn a core five-step action plan: ALGEE – Assess for risk of suicide or harm – Listen nonjudgmentally – Give reassurance and information – Encourage appropriate professional help – Encourage self-help and other support strategies (YMHFA USA, 2012)

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education Spectrum of MH Interventions (YMHFA USA, 2012)

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education Who can be a First Aider? The program is aimed to teach Youth Mental Health First Aid to anyone who works with or helps adolescents and transition-age youth, ages – Family Members – Caregivers – Teachers – School Staff – Peers – Neighbors – Health and Human Service workers – Law enforcement (YMHFA USA, 2012)

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education YMHFA Instructor Training 5 day (32 hour) course Introduces the interactive 8-hour program Overviews adult learning styles and teaching strategies Provides in-depth instruction on implementing and managing the program in diverse communities (YMHFA USA, 2012)

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education YMHFA Instructors Learn… about the YMHFA program (e.g., the 5-step action plan, evidence-supported treatment and self-help strategies, prevalence data) how to teach the program with fidelity how to apply the program to a range of adult learning styles how to refine and tailor presentations to diverse audiences and learning environments. (YMHFA USA, 2012)

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education YMHFA Instructor Certification Instructors must demonstrate mastery through a written test and an evaluated presentation Complete 3 First Aider trainings (8-hour YMHFA courses) to remain certified – Course Evaluation (YMHFA USA, 2012)

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education Thank you for your interest!