October 6, 2020 - On two Mondays in September 2020, Stefanie Winfield and Dr. Liza Tupa conducted a two-part, intensive technical assistance training workshop with South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Girls’ School staff. All Pine Ridge school staff were encouraged to attend, and many did, from the front office managers to school cooks, teachers, and cultural advisers.
Winfield, who holds a master’s degree in social work, is the School-Based Mental Health Program Manager with the Mountain Plains Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC). Dr. Tupa, a licensed clinical psychologist, is the Director of Education and Research in the Behavioral Health Program (BHP) at the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). Together, they led participants in focused discussion on trauma responsive practices in the classroom and at home. The workshops explored the effects of trauma on behavior and learning, modifications for virtual learning environments, teacher self-care to avoid burnout, and parent and family education to support students’ mental wellness.
While many Mountain Plains MHTTC events have large audiences with open attendance, some events, like the workshops with Pine Ridge Girls’ School, are focused on a specific audience and are closed to the general public. During this interactive workshop, participants learned skills for building relationships and connection, and how to adapt some of their cultural and teaching practices to an online learning format.
“Hopefully our training will help Pine Ridge Girls’ School teachers and staff provide parents and families with simple tools to help them support their students’ mental well-being,” said Tupa.
The Mountain Plains MHTTC offers intensive technical assistance on a variety of mental health topics, such as the intersection of mental health and traumatic brain injury, trauma responsive practices in schools, and suicide prevention in rural primary care. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a webinar format has replaced in-person trainings, but depth of engagement and attendee satisfaction have remained high. All Mountain Plains MHTTC trainings are 100% free to attend.
For more information on scheduling a closed event for your organization, contact:
View resources from previous trainings and learn about our school-based mental health program:
