We speak with Suganya Sockalingam, PhD, and Scott van Loo, MA, about the National Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Standards (NCLAS) and how they can be adapted for healthcare systems and educational systems providing school mental health.
Dr. Sockalingam is a Founding Partner and Change Specialist at Change Matrix, LLC, a small minority- and women-owned business focusing on motivating, managing, and measuring systems change. Dr. Sockalingam supports individuals, organizations and systems address Equity including diversity, Inclusion, Implicit bias and structural racism, cultural competence, and cross-cultural communication. Additionally, Dr. Sockalingam focuses on Leadership Development including leadership shifts (in times of change and in chaos/turbulence), change management, collaboration, and conflict engagement. Dr. Sockalingam provides technical assistance via the Pacific Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration,
Scott van Loo joined Change Matrix full time as a Project Director and Change Consultant after leaving his role as Director of the Learning Effectiveness Program (LEP) at the University of Denver. Scott is the founder and president of Cedar Tree Consulting, an organization that provides transformational learning experiences focused on equity, change and leadership. He has almost 30 years of experience in pk-16 education including elementary and high school teaching and central and building-level administration with a background in Special Education, English Language Learners, Homeless Education, Equity and Diversity training and parent programs. Scott is the former Director of the César Chavez Cultural Center at the University of Northern Colorado where he helped recruit, retain and support hundreds of Latinx students and helped create several endowed student scholarships
Christina Clayton has been working in the behavioral health field since 1993 working with people and programs addressing severe mental health issues, substance use, co-occurring issues, chronic homelessness, integrated care, outreach, physical health, trauma and diversity/equity/inclusion topics. Christina has education and licenses/credentials in clinical social work, mental health and substance use. She is also a Clinical Assistant Professor and Field Instructor for the University of Washington School of Social Work (MSW ’97). Learn more about MHTTC Staff & Faculty
