Promoting Comprehensive School Mental Health Systems for Military-Connected Students 

Sponsored by The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)

Overview:

Comprehensive school mental health systems (CSMHS) are multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) that promote academic, emotional, and social developmental life skills, provide periodic well-being checks, as well as prevention and intervention services for youth at risk for behavioral health struggles and challenges to ensure student thriving and positive outcomes in adulthood.  Evidence-informed research demonstrates that military-connected students benefit from comprehensive school mental health systems that are prepared to address the military lifestyle, student transitions, parental deployment and separation, and improved overall mental and behavioral health.  These coordinated systems of care promote awareness and provide training to teachers, school counselors, and other school mental health professionals to identify warning signs of mental health crisis, trauma, suicide ideation, or substance abuse problems, to respond effectively and have knowledge about available resources via their school, military, and community resources.

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Mental Health Risk Factors and Suicide Prevention for Military Families

Sponsored by USAA

Overview:

MCEC has joined the fight against suicide by committing to a proactive approach to prevention and awareness to support military-connected families. This session looks closely at behavioral health risk factors for military family members with an emphasis on military-connected youth. Attendees will learn the warning signs of suicidal behavior, how to support someone experiencing suicidal ideations, and where to seek help, including during a crisis.

Objectives:

1. Understand the behavioral health risks factors and unique experiences that impact military family member well-being.
2. Recognize the warning signs of suicidal behavior in adults and children.
3. Learn how to support a family member experiencing suicidal ideations.
4. Identify resources to assist families during a mental health crisis.

Improving School Climate to Promote the Mental Health of Military-Connected Youth 

Sponsored by The National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN)

Overview:

In this session, we aim to improve school climate through Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) as well as discuss the vital role of school mental health professionals in addressing behavioral health risks and harmful behaviors between children and youth.  School and classroom practices that foster safe and positive learning environments ease military student transitions and foster mental well-being and social acceptance. Behavioral health specialists describe anti-bullying policies and interventions, problematic sexual behaviors, suicidal ideation, post-traumatic stress disorder, and coordinated care models between schools, military, and community partners to address child and youth risk behaviors.

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Pioneering Progress: Exploring Promising Practices of the DoDEA Grant Program for Military-Connected School Communities 

Sponsored by Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA)

Overview:

Since 2009, DoDEA has awarded over 520 grants in 36 states reaching over 2 million public school students (of which 800,000 are military-connected) nationwide. This investment of over $600M has resulted in significant gains in student achievement, increased learning opportunities, and enhanced transition support programs. This investment beautifully showcases DoDEA’s vision of “Excellence in Education for Every Student, Everyday, Everywhere.” In this session, participants will engage in interactive surveys, hands on activities, and hear from a panel of DoDEA Grantee Public School Administrators and Practitioners who will discuss their experience with applying, planning, and implementing DoDEA grant projects.  Throughout the four-hour session, participants will have the opportunity to engage in robust discussions that will leave them with an understanding of how grant projects can be implemented in their communities to increase student achievement.   All DoDEA grant awards undergo a rigorous third-party evaluation which measures the effectiveness of their strategies in reaching their target goals.  Evaluators use data visualization and narratives to display results of their qualitative and quantitative data findings from awarded grant projects. Learning outcomes from the session are as follows:

• Participants will develop an understanding of how to apply for and how to efficiently manage a grant award.
• Participants will be able to identify critical steps in creating a needs assessment to determine DoDEA grant award eligibility.
• Participants will be introduced to promising practices resulting in increased student achievement through practical application of DoDEA grants.