Central East MHTTC

SERIES DESCRIPTION The Central East MHTTC in collaboration with the National Center for School Mental Health is pleased to offer a school mental health webinar series with a focus on advancing high quality, sustainable school mental health from a multi-tiered system of support, trauma sensitive, and culturally responsive and equitable lens. To familiarize yourself with the foundations of school mental health, please review the school mental health guidance document. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Identify data sources to decrease disproportionality and promote equitable emotional, behavioral, and academic outcomes among BIPOC students Describe how to analyze data with an equity-focused lens Explore strategies to enhance data collection that are anti-racist and inclusive PRESENTERS Elizabeth Connors, PhD, is a Child-Clinical/Community Psychologist who is currently an Assistant Professor in the Yale School of Medicine, at the Yale Child Study Center, and an adjunct faculty member at the University of Maryland National Center for School Mental Health. Dr. Connors directs the Yale Program on School Mental Health Implementation Consultation and Research, which seeks to promote equitable access to high quality mental health promotion, prevention, early intervention, and treatment services in K-12 schools. She and her team have expertise in student- and family-centered, data-informed quality improvement practices and evidence-based practice implementation in schools.   Ashley Griffin Gilchrist, PhD, is an Assistant Professor and Child and Adolescent Studies Program Coordinator at Bowie State University in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Human Services. Previously, she served as Vice President of Policy, Evaluation, and Research at the Black Teacher Collaborative (BTC), leading efforts to leverage data for developing and supporting Black educators to enhance Black children's achievements across social, emotional, and intellectual spheres. Before BTC, she directed P-12 research at the Education Trust, a civil rights organization focused on education. Dr. Gilchrist's career has been dedicated to exploring the intersections of race, education policy, and the academic experiences of Black children, families, and teachers. Her impactful work has been featured in major media outlets, including the New York Times and NPR, and she has presented at significant national conferences and Capitol Hill briefings. Dr. Gilchrist holds degrees from Georgetown and Howard Universities, including a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology and certificates in Large Scale Assessment and Nonprofit Executive Leadership from the University of Maryland College Park and Georgetown's McCourt School of Public Policy, respectively. She is a committed scholar, advocate, and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. AUDIENCE Educators, Administrators, Health and Behavioral Health Care Professionals, Central East (Region 3) Project AWARE Grantees, Policymakers and Advocates, and Child-Serving Agency Staff

DESCRIPTION Although occasional anxiety is a normal part of life, ongoing worry or extreme fear may indicate an underlying mental health concern. This webinar will explore the types of anxiety disorders, including phobias, prevalent in the Black community. These conditions are among the most pervasive, troubling, and disabling of mental disorders. The presentation will also discuss treatment options for this population. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Define the types of anxiety disorders Identify the signs and symptoms of anxiety disorders Discuss pharmacologic treatment Discuss non-pharmacologic treatment PRESENTER Dr. Topaz Sampson-Mills is board certified in Adult and Forensic Psychiatry. Currently, she serves as a Staff Psychiatrist at the Menninger Clinic and Assistant Professor in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine. After earning her Bachelor of Science from Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, she went on to complete psychiatry residency with the Menninger Clinic and Baylor College of Medicine. During residency, she had the pleasure of serving as Chief Resident and was awarded the Eugen Kahn Excellence in psychiatry award. Dr. Sampson-Mills completed her forensic psychiatry fellowship at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York where she served as an expert witness in several cases. Her career interests include medical education and community mental health. HOST Annelle Primm MD, MPH is the Senior Medical Director of the Steve Fund, an organization focused on the mental health of young people of color. She is also a member of the Black Psychiatrists of America Council of Elders. AUDIENCE This webinar is part of the Health Equity Webinar Series, an ongoing collaboration between the Central East MHTTC and the Black Psychiatrists of America to increase education and awareness surrounding mental health in the Black community. View past webinars in the series

The Central East MHTTC and HeadsUp collaborated to produce the video Availability and Accessibility of Coordinated Care in HHS Region 3. Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) is a recovery-oriented treatment program for individuals who have experienced a first episode of psychosis (FEP). The 10-minute video features interviews with family members, researchers and behavioral health professionals, who discuss their experiences, research, policy and practices and offer recommendations for addressing the issue. This educational tool, which targets secondary school professionals, highlights the availability of specialized FEP resources and treatment options in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, DC and West Virginia.

Recording of the event Bipolar Disorder in the Black Community, originally held on March 21, 2024. View Slides

Recording of the event Myth-busting & Skill Building for Treating Binge Eating Disorder, originally held on March 28, 2024. View Slides