This free series consists of five separate two-hour sessions from January 2021 to May 2021. Attendance is critical, so please carefully consider your availability to attend all five sessions.
The goal of this multi-state initiative is to build capacity of school teams to promote positive mental health in children/youth throughout the school day using a multi-tiered approach. Specifically, the Mountain Plains Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) will build capacity of school personnel to learn about and implement model programs, such as Every Moment Counts and Circle of Courage, and embedded strategies emphasizing mental health promotion and prevention.
Read about Turtle Mountain Elementary School's positive experience with this series!
Please think about the benefits of participating in this project and your availability to attend the five virtual sessions. Please contact LaVonne Fox at [email protected] or Sarah Nielsen at [email protected] or at 701 777-2208 to indicate your interest in participating no later than December 15, 2020.
Please note that enrollment in this training is open only to school teams in HHS Region 8 states (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming). Only applications by school teams will be accepted.
January 13, 2021
4:00pm - 6:00pm CST | 3:00pm - 5:00pm MST
February 10, 2021
4:00pm - 6:00pm CST | 3:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Part Three: Culturally Relevant Embedded Programs that Support Social and Emotional Well-being
March 3, 2021
4:00pm - 6:00pm CST | 3:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Part Four: Mental Health Literacy
April 14, 2021
4:00pm - 6:00pm CST | 3:00pm - 5:00pm MST
Part Five: Indigenous Programs to Support Students and Final Reflections
May 12, 2021
4:00pm - 6:00pm CST | 3:00pm - 5:00pm MST
LaVonne Fox, PhD, OTR/L
Dr. LaVonne (Poitra) Fox was born and raised on the Turtle Mountain Chippewa reservation. She taught for over 26 years at the University of North Dakota and is currently employed at the Turtle Mountain Community College in Belcourt, ND. She is currently developing a Master in Education program that will emphasize the decolonization of the educational institutions and related educational processes both at school and in the community. The Mission is to prepare reflective leaders, as change agents, who will promote the development of Indigneous culture-based education within the school, home and community. She has considerable experience researching Indigenous Youth programs for positive mental health and wellness connected to identity.
Sarah Nielsen, PhD, OTR/L
Dr. Nielsen is an associate professor at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND, in the Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Sarah has over 20 years of experience working with children, youth, and young adults with mental health issues in communities and schools. Her clinical practice included developing and implementing trauma-informed approaches in mental health care. She assisted students transitioning from mental health programs back to public schools where she trained and assisted schools in this effort.