Products and Resources Catalog

Schools play an important role in recognizing and responding to suicide risk in students. Effective strategies must be embedded within a positive school climate that engages the entire school community. This webinar outlines best practice strategies schools can implement to identify and respond to students at risk for suicide. In addition, the webinar describes the steps that schools should take to mitigate suicide risk and promote positive mental health and well-being. Presenter:  Tandra Rutledge, MA, is the Director of Business Development at Riveredge Hospital in Forest Park, Illinois. She is a certified suicide prevention gatekeeper trainer for the QPR Institute, a trainer for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s educational programs, and a CIT (Crisis Intervention Training) instructor with the Chicago Police Department. As a mental health advocate and suicide prevention trainer for the past 25 years,Tandra provides training to schools, parents, faith-based organizations, physicians and other healthcare professionals Webinar Slides: The Role of Schools in Preventing Suicide Transcript: The Role of Schools in Preventing Suicide   

Co-developed by the Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) Network Coordinating Office and the National Center for School Mental Health (NCSMH) to help states, districts, and schools across the United States understand the core components of comprehensive school mental health and engage in a planning process around implementation of services, the National School Mental Health Best Practices: Implementation Guidance Modules focuses on the following core features of effective school mental health initiatives: Roles for Educators and Student Instructional Support Personnel Collaboration and Teaming Multi-Tiered System of Supports Evidence-Informed Services and Supports Cultural Responsiveness and Equity Data-Driven Decision Making The Implementation Guidance Modules are intended to be used with district teams that can influence, develop, and oversee school mental health systems at the school district and building levels. See a complete overview of the Implementation Guidance Modules here. 

Texas schools have never been more interested in supporting students’ mental health. Community mental health centers are a critical partner for schools seeking to provide comprehensive school mental health; however, creating healthy partnerships can be challenging. This first webinar in the series aims to provide community mental health leaders with an understanding of the characteristics of a comprehensive school mental health system and the different roles that community mental health providers may play in supporting student mental health and wellness. Click here to download the slides.

Texas schools have never been more interested in supporting students’ mental health. Community mental health centers are a critical partner for schools seeking to provide comprehensive school mental health; however, creating healthy partnerships can be challenging. Join us in the second webinar in the series to hear from the Texas Education Agency and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission about new initiatives underway to expand access to student supports for emotional and behavioral health across the state. Tune in for an update on the recent legislative changes intended to create safe and supportive schools in Texas.

June is Pride Month! In this newsletter, we feature events, resources, and news related to supporting LGBTQ mental health, including in our schools. This newsletter also highlights a wealth of upcoming learning events from our MHTTC, including Adaptive Leadership Trainings, a regional School Mental Health Learning Collaborative, and several conferences where we'll be presenting. We hope to see you soon.

This 45-minute video interview presentation created by Mountain Plains Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC), representing HHS Region VIII, is a professional learning tool to explore how Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) affect the human population. Director of Mountain Plains MHTTC, Professor Thomasine Heitkamp, interviews a national expert on Adverse Childhood Experiences, Dr. Donald Warne, who offers insight to providers and educators interested in gaining a deeper understanding of ACEs, including content on historical trauma and addressing stigma. WHAT ARE ACEs? Adverse Childhood Experiences ACEs are experiences in childhood that are unhappy, unpleasant, and/or hurtful. They are sometimes referred to as toxic stress or childhood trauma. ACEs are categorized into three groups: abuse, neglect, and household challenges. Each category is further divided into multiple subcategories. The prevalence of ACEs is organized by category. All ACE questions refer to the respondent’s first 18 years of life. Abuse Emotional abuse: A parent, stepparent, or adult living in your home swore at you, insulted you, put you down, or acted in a way that made you afraid that you might be physically hurt. Physical abuse: A parent, stepparent, or adult living in your home pushed, grabbed, slapped, threw something at you, or hit you so hard that you had marks or were injured. Sexual abuse: An adult, relative, family friend, or stranger who was at least 5 years older than you ever touched or fondled your body in a sexual way, made you touch his/her body in a sexual way, attempted to have any type of sexual intercourse with you.   Household Challenges Mother is treated violently: Your mother or stepmother was pushed, grabbed, slapped, had something thrown at her, kicked, bitten, hit with a fist, hit with something hard, repeatedly hit for over at least a few minutes, or ever threatened or hurt by a knife or gun by your father (or stepfather) or mother’s boyfriend. Substance abuse in the household: A household member was a problem drinker or alcoholic or a household member used street drugs. Mental illness in the household: A household member was depressed or mentally ill or a household member attempted suicide. Parental separation or divorce: Your parents were ever separated or divorced. Incarcerated household member: A household member went to prison.   Neglect Emotional neglect: Someone in your family helped you feel important or special, you felt loved, people in your family looked out for each other and felt close to each other, and your family was a source of strength and support. Physical neglect: There was someone to take care of you, protect you, and take you to the doctor if you needed it, you didn’t have enough to eat, your parents were too drunk or too high to take care of you, and you had to wear dirty clothes.   Research Findings The Center for Disease Control-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study is one of the largest investigations of childhood abuse and neglect and household challenges and later-life health and well-being. The original ACE Study was conducted at Kaiser Permanente from 1995 to 1997 with two waves of data collection. More than 17,000 Health Maintenance Organization members from Southern California receiving physical exams completed confidential surveys regarding their childhood experiences and current health status and behaviors. The CDC-Kaiser Permanente ACE Study uncovered how ACEs are strongly related to development of risk factors for disease, and well-being throughout the life course. More detailed information about the study can be found in this article, “Relationship of Childhood Abuse and Household Dysfunction to Many of the Leading Causes of Death in Adults External.”

The workload for a school counselor in a traditional role can be overwhelming, and students in need of mental or emotional support may be inadvertently overlooked. This webinar describes how shifting from a traditional counseling approach to a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) benefits both students and staff members who provide mental and/or behavioral support services. Strategies discussed include using data to identify students in need of support, expanding the effectiveness of the continuum of interventions, and thinking “out of the box” to engage non-traditional MTSS team members. The Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resilience Education) Coordinators from two rural school districts in northern Nevada share how an MTSS has transformed their districts and positively impacted the lives of students. Participants learn key strategies from two rural school districts who built a Multi-Tiered System of Support from the ground up. Successes, lessons learned, and the challenges that two Project AWARE grantees have experienced while implementing a Multi-Tiered System of Support will benefit all participants who join! Identify school and community resources that can be used to provide preventative and early intervention services Understand the enhanced continuum of interventions in a multi-tiered and multi-dimensional system of support Understand how to target interventions and monitor progress using data  

on June 5th, Dr. Rivers Murphy, with Kate Retzel, Principal, Lee Elementary School (Lee, MA), shares strategies and activities used during the implementation of a year-long mindfulness program in a prek-6 school. They also shared strategies for introducing mindfulness in high schools, including some of the unique opportunities and challenges associated with this work at the secondary level. To download the slides, click here. Presenter(s): Michele Rivers Murphy, Ed.D., CEI Associate Director, Heart Centered Learning

Though the practice of civil commitment and involuntary hospitalization has markedly changed since the middle of the 20th century, it remains one of the most controversial procedures in behavioral healthcare.   This webinar explores civil commitment law through the lens of civil liberties for young adults of transition age. We consider the ethical tensions between a provider or family member's desire to help a young person experiencing serious mental illness and the young person's autonomy. Presenters will discuss the importance of shared decision making and will provide strategies for improving the process of civil commitments for youth and their families.   Learning Objectives: Understand the history of civil commitment in the US. Consider justifications for civil commitment and involuntary mental health treatment. Identify best practices and practical strategies for shared decision making with youth and families through a civil commitment process. Identify key questions for policy and agency decision makers to consider when establishing processes which may lead to civil commitment.  

Are you a school instructional leader who wants to learn about school mental health, or a mental health provider who wants to learn about the contexts of schools and student learning outcomes? Often, the conversations between educators and mental health providers are siloed and separated. This archived webinar bridges the conversation so that both perspectives can learn from one another to better support the students they serve.   In this recording, you’ll learn more about: Common mental health issues among students and their potential effects on learning outcomes The relationship between socio-emotional development, student learning, and academic success An introduction to mental health in the classroom and school, including barriers to help-seeking and provision How to enhance our role as supportive adults for students with mental health and emotional challenges and strengths    

On May 22nd, we held our first Evidence-Based Practices (EBP) Series webinar on "SBIRT for Adolescents". Laura Winn discussed how Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), can be geared towards adolescents and its results. 

  The Great Lakes MHTTC Suicide Prevention Guide provides local and state specific resources for school personnel in the Great Lakes MHTTC Region (IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, and WI). The resources in this guide highlight intervention services available for immediate support. All states have access to 24/7 free, confidential support via telephone and text. Many areas have mobile crisis response units available for immediate in-person assessment and intervention.

We're looking forward to a summer of learning in our region! Next month is Summer 2019 Learning Institute in Sacramento, CA, and we are excited to announce our new Adaptive Leadership trainings in Phoenix, AZ. We have more onsite sessions and communities of practice coming up soon. We hope you will join us.

Join The Teaching Well and Camino Nuevo Charter Academy leadership as we bring together diverse school site roles to share ways they have collaborated to create healthy and sustainable school climate for students, teachers and staff. Learning directly from teachers, school site personnel, and school leaders, together we consider the possibilities of integrating wellness into whole school staff development, leadership approaches, collaborative conversations, and support spaces for both teachers and students. Participants hear firsthand accounts of the personal and professional benefits when school staff make wellness a central focus in their work plans, relational strategies, and overall school culture. This webinar uplifts the concept that whole school wellness is best as a multi-year collaborative and iterative process between all members of a campus community. Participants: Define personal sustainability in the context of schools Explore the relationship between personal sustainability and professional sustainability Learn how specific school site roles can lead sustainably Learn best practices and practical strategies for integrating a wellness focus into school culture Explore the links between school leader wellness, teacher wellness, and student outcomes This webinar is most helpful for new and veteran teachers; administrators who seek to lead sustainably; and school site wellness staff such as social workers, inclusion specialists, counselors, and paraeducators or teachers on special assignment.   This is the third session in the Mental Health Literacy & Student Learning Outcomes webinar series.  

The National Hispanic and Latino Mental Health Technology Transfer Center is proud to present Mental Health Bytes; a series of short videos discussing mental health topics around Hispanic and Latinos.   We know that you are busy, that is why we are giving you bytes of information to be acquainted for and for your clients.   In this video, Dr. Zayas shares valuable insight on young Latinas regarding suicide attempt, and some strategies that you can implement as providers.  If you want more information here are some resources:   Zayas, L. (2011). Latinas attempting suicide: When cultures, families, and daughters collide. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.    Zayas, L. (2015). Forgotten citizens: Deportation, children, and the making of American exiles and orphans. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.   If someone needs help you can share the Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 (English) 1-888-628-9454 (Spanish).

To address the educational and vocational needs young people experiencing psychosis, the CEDAR Individualized Vocational and Educational Support and Training (CEDAR InVEST) is an approach that helps clients get back on track with educational and vocational goals. CEDAR INVEST coaches are Bachelor’s level clinicians or college student volunteers that are supervised by a licensed clinician. In this brief, we describe some of the strategies that INVEST coaches use to help clients meet their education and vocational goals. Many of these strategies can be implemented by providers outside of a coordinated specialty program (CSC) like CEDAR – such as therapeutic mentors, vocational specialists, peer advocates, or other undergraduate or Bachelor’s level program staff.

Employment and Substance Use Disorders: The Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Model Employment and Substance Use Disorders: The Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Model Webinar Webinar Summary This webinar will provide an overview of the evidence-based practice known as Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Supported Employment and its use in developing Recovery Oriented Systems of Care (ROSC) for individuals with substance use disorders (SUD).  While the majority of the research on this EBP has been conducted with individuals with serious mental illness, the practice is being adapted to provide high quality employment supports to individuals with SUD as well as co-occurring SUD and mental illness.  Presenters will describe the principles and evidence based for IPS, as well as infrastructure needs and implementation strategies and some case examples. Watch webinar  Presenter Information Lou Kurtz, M.Ed. Co-Director, Great Lakes MHTTC Louis Kurtz is currently the Co-Director for the Great Lakes Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC).  He has previously worked for the Kentucky Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities in a variety of roles as well as at Eastern Kentucky University.  From 2010 through 2015 Lou served as the mental health lead for the Kentucky IPS Supported Employment program – more recently he has conducted fidelity monitoring for local IPS programs in Kentucky and provided consultation services for a national Supported Employment Demonstration project. Bob Meyer, MS. ISyE Technology Transfer Specialist – STR/ORN Bob Meyer is currently the Technology Transfer Specialist with the STR-TA region covering MN, WI and IL.  Bob was the state trainer for the Wisconsin Individual Placement and Support (IPS) project, a team effort with the Department of Health Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the UW-Madison Department of Rehabilitation Psychology and Special Education.  Bob worked with the IPS program in Wisconsin from 2010 to 2018, from the first three pilot sites, through expansion to community mental health programs that number has grown to over 65 sites in 26 counties – the average employment rate for individuals in the program also increased from 18% to 47% over that time.  

      Hard copies of the toolkit are also available. If you'd prefer a hard copy, please reach out to us at [email protected]. This toolkit is a blueprint for school mental health services and will guide community members, schools, local leaders, and districts through 10 best practices, including strategies for implementing, funding, and sustaining mental health services in both rural and urban schools.

Working can be vitally important for the recovery and well-being of people with mental illness. Their employers -- and the workforce as a whole -- also benefit from their lived experience. But people with mental health challenges who are new or returning to the workforce can experience difficulty finding a job. And both employees and employers can struggle with how to approach workplace accommodations.   The Pacific Southwest MHTTC's new video tip series is designed to support the full engagement of people with mental health challenges in the workforce. Each short, 3-minute video is loaded with practical tips and key considerations to make the workforce work for everyone.   For Employees & Job Seekers: Dealing with Mental Health Part 1: Finding a Job & Job Resources What are the benefits of working if you have a mental health challenge? Who can help you find a job or employment services? Dealing with Mental Health Part 2: Getting What You Need to Do Your Job Should I disclose my mental illness at work? How do I request accommodations to be successful at my job?   For Employers: Mental Health on the Job Part 1: Tips and Strategies for Employers How do we recruit and interview staff with mental health lived experience? How do we create a safe workplace for everyone? Mental Health on the Job Part 2: Providing Accommodations What kinds of job accommodations should I provide? How do I talk to staff members about mental health?

This webinar explores low-barrier services for young adults of transition age experiencing or at risk for behavioral health challenges. Presenters discuss how low-barrier services can improve engagement and will identify strategies for integrating low-barrier policies and practices into organizational standards. Throughout the discussion, presenters provide examples of promising approaches that have been adopted by local communities, including the development of drop-in centers and peer-to-peer programs. Learning Objectives: Define low-barrier access in the context of behavioral health services. Explore the links between access to services and engagement in behavioral health treatment for young adults of transition age. Identify examples of model low-barrier access programs. Learn best practices and practical strategies for integrating low-barrier services into agencies serving young adults.  

Crisis and loss are common in the lives of students, whether due to a death or crisis involving a student's individual family or one that affects the entire school community. Major events have the potential to cause short- and long-term effects on the psychological functioning, academic achievement, emotional adjustment, health, and developmental trajectory of students. Classroom educators and other school professionals can play a vital role in providing important support to students to promote their understanding of the event, minimize the academic impact through academic accommodations, help them learn coping strategies to accelerate their adjustment and minimize their distress, and minimize maladaptive coping mechanisms and behavioral difficulties. Yet most educators and other school professionals have had limited to no professional training in how to support students in the aftermath of crisis and loss. This workshop helps school professionals learn basic skills in how to talk with and support individual students or the entire class/school as they struggle to understand and cope with a crisis or loss in their lives. Dr. Schonfeld draws on over 30 years' experience in school crisis response and pediatric bereavement to illustrate key points.  

As we launch into Spring 2019, we are excited to share several learning events with you. We're hosting upcoming webinars on co-occurring disorder, school crisis, and low-barrier mental health services. We hope you will join us and your peers for communities of practice on cultural and linguistic competence. And we're attending upcoming conferences in the region -- we look forward to the chance to meet you there.

This resource, developed by a workgroup across the MHTTC Network, is designed to help schools better support students and families in the aftermath of violence and trauma. It provides strategies to assist schools with readiness, response, and recovery to help a school community support resilience in the event of a tragedy. It offers places to turn for more resources and discusses terminology and concepts related to suicide and grief. Finally, it highlights the importance of providing culturally responsive services, with example cultural considerations for schools to help Hispanic/Latino students struggling with grief and trauma.

Access for resources and learning sessions about how to navigate the intersections of school violence, trauma, and suicide.