Understanding Traumatic Brain Injury: Neurodiversity Among Youth

January 26, 2021

12:00 - 1:30 pm MST | 1:00 - 2:30 pm CST

The Mountain Plains Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (Mountain Plains MHTTC) is pleased to partner with the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA) to provide training related to traumatic brain injury and mental health.

Karen McAvoy, PsyD will present a 90-minute session on Understanding Neurodiversity Among Youth. This session will provide an opportunity for school mental health professionals, and clinicians working with children and adolescents, to develop a better understanding of the implications of neurodiversity (traumatic brain injury, autism spectrum disorder, and trauma) in a youth population.

Learning Outcomes:

• Learn how to use the Building Blocks of Brain Development to understand typical neurodevelopment and neurodiversity among youth.
• Develop skills in applying the screening and assessment strategies of the Building Blocks of Brain Development to serve youth with co-occurring developmental, mental health, and substance use disorders.
• Examine the underlying skill deficits of "can'ts" (instead of "won'ts) which allows for antecedent management/interventions versus consequence-based management in serving youth.

Trainer

Karen McAvoy, PsyD,

Dr. McAvoy is dually credentialed as a clinical and school psychologist. She practiced as a Pediatric Psychologist at Seattle and Denver Children's Hospitals and as the Director of the Center for Concussion with Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children. She also practiced as a school psychologist for 20 years serving as Coordinator of Mental Health, Coordinator of Manifestation Determinations, and Coordinator of the Brain Injury Team at Cherry Creek School District. After 20 years on the frontlines in a school district, Dr. McAvoy then served as a consultant for an additional 10 years to the Colorado Department of Education - providing trainings to multi-disciplinary school teams across the state of Colorado on the impact of brain injury and neuro-diversity on learning and behavior.