The Northwest MHTTC and Pacific Southwest MHTTC are excited to bring you our three-part Interconnected Systems Framework Webinar Series.
ISF enhances multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) by integrating student mental health and wellness into the existing structures. It engages a broader range of partners, involves a wider scope of data, and expands interventions to address mental health.
This webinar will be led by Susan Barrett, contributing author for the ISF Fact Sheet series, who will be joined by school district and system-based ISF practitioners from the Northwest and Pacific Southwest regions, Tawni Barlow (Washington) and Natalie Sedano (California). Presenters will share their ISF implementation challenges, celebrations, and lessons learned or learning.
Susan Barrett, MA, is the Director of the Mid-Atlantic PBIS Network at Sheppard Pratt Health System in Baltimore Maryland. She has a Masters in Counseling Psychology and certification in Special Education, having served as a teacher, administrator and coordinator with Sheppard Pratt Health System since 1993. Mrs. Barrett serves as an Implementer Partner with the United States Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP)'s National Technical Assistance Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS).
Kelcey Schmitz, MSEd, is the Multi-tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and School Mental Health Training and Technical Assistance Specialist at the University of Washington School Mental Health, Assessment, Research and Training (SMART) Center. Kelcey has been involved in many Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) efforts providing training, coaching, and evaluation to schools, districts, families and community organizations to support the social, emotional, and behavioral strengths and needs of students within an MTSS framework. She brings extensive experience leading state-wide MTSS efforts. Kelcey is also part of the Washington Partnership Access Line (PAL) for Schools pilot project and the Washington State School Climate Transformation Grant. Kelcey has a master’s degree in Special Education from the University of Kansas.
Leora Wolf-Prusan, EdD, is the School Mental Health Lead and Training Specialist for the Pacific Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center, a project of SAMHSA that provides no-cost professional development to support the school mental health workforce in the Pacific Islands, Hawaii, California, Nevada & Arizona. She formerly served as the field director for a SAMHSA Now is the Time Initiative, ReCAST (Resiliency in Communities After Stress and Trauma), which involves providing support to the 10 grantee cities and counties as they build city-based resiliency plans to respond to civil unrest due to community-based trauma. In addition to these national grants, she provides consulting and training for numerous other clients around issues related to school climate and positive youth development, educator mental health & wellness, and trauma-informed approaches to education.
Tawni Barlow, M.Ed, is the Student Services Director for the Medical Lake School District. She oversees nursing, 504, special education and mental health services for the district. Prior to working in the education field, she worked in behavioral science, corrections and social work for close to 20 years, specializing in crisis response, counseling and behavior management. Tawni’s experience as an administrator as well as line level staff has given her the perspective to effectively communicate with all levels of an organization. She holds an Educational Staff Associate (ESA) certification in both school counseling and school psychology, and prior to becoming an administrator she worked as a School Psychologist in the local community. She earned a Bachelor of Liberal Studies in Humanities and a Masters of Education (M.Ed.) in counseling, with an emphasis on research, from Whitworth University and an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in School Psychology through Eastern Washington University. Tawni is currently an adjunct professor for Whitworth University and provides clinical supervision for the Marriage and Family therapist interns.
Natalie Sedano, CAHELP (California Association of Health and Education Linked Professions JPA), is a Prevention and Intervention Lead Specialist at Desert/Mountain SELPA. Natalie has been in the field of education for over 14 years. She holds a Masters degree and PPS credential in Educational Counseling and in School Psychology. Natalie has worked as a special education aide, a school counselor, and an intervention specialist for at-risk youth. Natalie has been a school site and district Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports coach. Enthusiastic and determined, she is passionate about advancing education effectiveness by interconnecting school mental health and school-wide positive behavioral support. She is an advocate for systems and ensuring that the “whole” child is addressed.
Want more information and school mental health resources? Visit the Northwest MHTTC's School Mental Health page and sign up for our monthly newsletter for regular updates about events, trainings, and resources available to the Northwest region.
