Products and Resources Catalog

Objectives: - examine the negative mental health consequences for healthcare workers of COVID and in general/intro to the idea that resilience can be increased/prior evidence that brief resilience-enhancing interventions can improve outcomes in healthcare workers. -explore specific interventions to build resilience incorporating such skills as mindfulness and self-compassion. Finally, we will examine different modalities in which these interventions are offered such as via zoom, in-person, and pre-recorded video sessions.   To watch the recording, click here. Slides coming soon!   Other resources shared: https://www.resilienceandprevention.com/healthcare-providers  https://www.resilienceandprevention.com/exercises

This Family Compassionate Conversation focused on holistic health and the interconnectedness of our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness. Learn more about the mind, body, spirit connection and ways to implement whole-wellness strategies to health and wellness that support overall well-being for you and your family members.

Recording of the event Communication and Technology, Then and Now, originally held on June 30, 2021.

ABOUT THIS RESOURCE Aleks Martin returns for the seventh event in her Provider Well-Being series to explore the goals of fostering resilience and avoiding burnout. Find out more about the Provider Well-Being series here. Attendees will be able to distinguish between resilience factors and burnout symptoms; identify healthy, ongoing practices in the profession for sustainability; and validate the positive impact of boundary setting. Guest speaker: Ray Gottesman. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Our facilitators always make reference to great resources during sessions.  Find their lists below.  Presentation slides | View them here Guest Speaker: Ray Gottesman, LSWIC | www.raygottesman.com FACILITATOR Aleks Martin, MSW, LSWAIC, SUDP Aleks Martin (S/he pronouns, but they is ok) has been in the health and social service field for over 20 years. Aleks was drawn to the LGBTQI2+ community in their mid-twenties working for a national HIV-prevention study with youth called, Young Asian Men’s Study (YAMS). This exposed them to the great work of HIV workers from other organizations and how community-based programs are critical in reaching out to the most vulnerable populations. During this time, they worked as a Disease Intervention Specialist with Public Health - Seattle & King County for 7 years, including working on the pilot study for the Rapid HIV Test Kit (then a 20-minute test). A big portion of their professional career was spent at Seattle Counseling Service, a behavioral health agency for the LGBTQ community. From 2003 to 2019, Aleks started as Database Manager, Health Educator, Program Coordinator to Chemical Dependency Counselor and Addictions Program Supervisor. This was the safe space where their yearning for higher education was cultivated so they could serve their community further. As a graduate of the University of Washington’s School of Social Work - Masters Program, Aleks developed their skills as a mental health clinician and social justice advocate. Aleks’ perspectives where shifted and allowed them to have a wider lens for diversity, inclusion and equity. Aleks was inspired to start a private practice to address the special needs of the LGBTQI2+ and BBIPOC (Black, Brown, Indigenous and People of Color), particularly Queer and Trans Asian and Pacific Islander people dealing with unique and special issues that intersect with race/culture and gender/sexuality like coming out, spiritual conflicts, cultural dissonance, gender transition, social navigation at work and other environments, interpersonal relationships from intimacy to friendships, understanding relationships with non-LGBTQI2+ partner(s), and so on. Terms of use and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) disclosure statement

ABOUT THIS RESOURCE "Person and Family-Centered Planning" is not just a catchy new phrase in the mental health world for families. During this webinar we will highlight the importance of family members having active participation, and an active role, in the design of their mental health crisis plan. Together we will focus on how the family and youth perspective, lived experience, and culture can guide efficacious holistic crisis planning within all 12 life domains. Learning Objectives Understand mental health crisis planning from the Family Perspective. Distinguish crisis stabilization versus crisis planning. Navigate the paradigm shift from system led crisis planning to consumer led crisis planning. Discuss crisis planning from a holistic view and how all life domains are incorporated. Navigate strategies that assist in creating effective family crisis plans. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS SERIES. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Our facilitators always make reference to great resources during sessions.  Find their lists below.  Presentation slides FACILITATOR Shawna Canaga,  Family Support Specialist, Peer-Delivered Services Trainer Shawna Canaga is a Family Support Specialist and the statewide Peer Delivered Services Trainer for Oregon Family Support Network (OFSN). OFSN is a family run organization that promotes mental, behavioral, and emotional wellness for families and youth through education, support, and advocacy. Shawna comes to this position with over a decade of experience supporting youth and families, and with lived experience as a mother of an adult child with complex mental health needs. Throughout both of these journeys Shawna has cultivated a passion for supporting family-driven and person-centered care within the youth and family serving systems.       Terms of use and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) disclosure statement

  Welcome to the seven-module series, Listening to Scientists and our Grandmothers: Taking Care of Human Beings. The series is part of a larger project titled, Creating Cultures of Staff Wellness and Care for our Schools and Community Partners. The videos in the series may be used selectively as independent learning modules in any sequence, or as a cohesive set. The archived webinar from 7/28/21 provides an introduction and overview of the content.  There are seven evidence-based self-care strategies currently most recommended to mitigate the impacts of stress. Each of these reduces stress hormones, enhances neuroplasticity, and reduces inflammation....which all play important roles in counteracting the body’s stress response, and improving health and well-being.  These are the fundamentals to taking care of a human being - to taking care of ourselves and each other. We’ll review the science behind why we can justify taking a few minutes out of the day to care for our basic human needs and think of the grandmothers whose wise practical advice has been the source of good care for generations. Overall, the learning objectives are for participants to: Understand science behind practices that support human health and wellbeing. Learn strategies to support the health and wellbeing of yourself and your colleagues. Understand the value of caring for basic human needs, individually and collectively.   Strategy #1: Quality Sleep | link to video  Strategy #2: Supportive Relationships | link to video Strategy #3: Mindfulness | link to video Strategy #4: Mental Health | link to video  Strategy #5: Access to Nature | link to video  Strategy #6: Physical Movement | link to video  Strategy #7: Nutrition | link to video     

This session will present a model of Standards of Family Inclusion that identifies specific strategies to incorporate family inclusion into mental health services. Practical suggestions to welcome families will be offered at the organizational and provider level. Presenters: Valerie Ferri, MSW, MPH, LSW is the Director of Workforce Development at the Family Training and Advocacy Center for Mental Illness (FTAC) and has worked in outpatient, inpatient, and administrative roles within the Philadelphia public behavioral health system for 20 years. She oversees various programs at FTAC that champion the importance of family within behavioral healthcare and works collaboratively with local universities, behavioral health organizations and family members to educate the workforce and support providers in their efforts to become more family inclusive.  Michelle Zechner, PhD, MSW, LSW, CPRP, an Assistant Professor at Rutgers, Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions, has focused her career on the promotion of health and wellness for people with mental health conditions, their families and the staff who support them for over 25 years. She has worked in a variety of settings including: academia, outpatient mental health programs, psychiatric hospitals, nursing homes, family advocacy and training services.  She conducts research, teaches and mentors students, and consults with state psychiatric hospitals on supporting people with mental illness and their families. Her research interests include health promotion for people with mental health conditions and their families, aging well with disabilities, preparing mental health and health professionals to work with people with mental health conditions and their families, multi-dimensional wellness,  and motivation for physical activity. She has co-authored peer-reviewed and technical publications on health and wellness promotion. She is a sought after trainer and has given presentations locally and nationally on topics ranging from wellness and recovery, family support, and supporting self-care for families and mental health staff.

View Slide Deck  

Slide Deck

Slides from the July 14, 2021 session, "Trauma Informed Therapy Part 6 - Colonialism, Indigenous Trauma and Healing". This webinar featured Avis Garcia, PhD, LAT, LPC, NCC, Northern Arapaho.

In this presentation, Mid-America MHTTC provides a rationale to address Social Determinants of Health in primary care settings. The presentation provides a broad overview of the topic and serves as introduction to future presentations of specific conditions by which people live, work and age. In particular, participants of this presentation will: Define social determinants of health, health equity and health disparities Describe the impact of social determinants on health outcomes Understand the importance of assessing for common social determinants of health in primary care settings Identify actionable steps to screen and refer to community supports for social determinants of health Learn more about Context Clues: Using Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) to Enhance Treatment.

In this presentation, Mid-America MHTTC provides a rationale to address Social Determinants of Health in primary care settings. The presentation provides a broad overview of the topic and serves as introduction to future presentations of specific conditions by which people live, work and age. In particular, participants of this presentation will: Define social determinants of health, health equity and health disparities Describe the impact of social determinants on health outcomes Understand the importance of assessing for common social determinants of health in primary care settings Identify actionable steps to screen and refer to community supports for social determinants of health Learn more about Context Clues: Using Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) to Enhance Treatment.

Recording of the session Colonialism, Indigenous Trauma and Healing. This event took place on July 14th, 2021. This is our monthly Mental Health Webinar featuring our special guest speaker: Avis Garcia, PhD, LAT, LPC, NCC, Northern Arapaho.

This webinar is focused on steps behavioral health employers can take to support the well-being of their employees, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The first of a two-part series, this webinar will feature speakers who will share their lessons learned as behavioral health agencies supporting employee well-being through the pandemic and beyond. For over a year, the behavioral health workforce has worked harder and longer, often putting their physical and mental health and well-being on the line. This group – like so many others – has faced unprecedented demands, including but not limited to rapidly shifting to telehealth and/or figuring out safe ways to offer in-person services; grieving the loss of colleagues, clients, friends, and family; balancing decreases in funding with the increased need to support wellbeing for colleagues and clients alike; and more. Now, after more than a year of working during the global pandemic, providers are experiencing high levels of stress, vicarious trauma, emotional exhaustion, and compassion fatigue. This added burden puts them at risk for stress-related medical problems, mental conditions, and substance use, as well as increased risk for leaving their profession altogether. In this context, it is critical that employers adopt organizational strategies and practices to support employee well-being. The Quadruple Aim is a framework that adds “improving the work-life of providers and staff” to the goals of improving population health, enhancing the patient experience, and reducing costs. In this webinar, there will be a discussion of creative interventions to support the provider-oriented aim in this unprecedented time, with implications for wellness now and in the future.   To watch the recording click here.   Presenter(s): Allison Ponce and Kyle Pedersen are Co-Chief Wellness Officers for Connecticut Mental Health Center, a public mental health center run jointly by the State of Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Yale Department of Psychiatry.    Allison Ponce, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in the Yale Department of Psychiatry. She earned her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the University of Connecticut. She is the Director of Education at the Connecticut Mental Health Center. Dr. Ponce has research, administrative, and clinical interests in public mental health, particularly with regard to serious mental illness and homelessness. Another major area of focus is the education and training of psychologists and other mental health professionals. Dr. Ponce supervises and advises psychology fellows and coordinates several seminars focused on administration, leadership, and community-based care. Dr. Ponce is Chair of the American Psychological Association's Policy and Planning Board and Past-Chair of the Board of Directors of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers.   Kyle Pedersen, M.A.R., has worked for Connecticut Mental Health Center since 2002, is currently Director of the CMHC Foundation, and has more than 20 years of experience in community mental health and non-profit leadership in New Haven and New York City. In the Department of Psychiatry, he co-chairs the Project Synapse workplace improvement initiative and the Staff Sub-committee of the Anti-Racism Task Force. Kyle is skilled in executive leadership; strategic planning; new program development; sound fiscal management; donor relations and fund development; community connections; supervision of staff, volunteers, and interns; and training and education for students and learners of all ages. He is an anti-racist trainer/organizer with the Elm City-Undoing Racism Organizing Collective and People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond; deacon for Trinity Episcopal Church and the Episcopal Church at Yale; treasurer of Gather New Haven; on the boards of Beulah Land Development Corporation and Citywide Youth Coalition; and has served on boards of other local and regional organizations. Kyle enjoys cooking, gardening, reading, and messing around in small boats.

Download the presentation slides here Classroom WISE is a free, 6-hour mental health literacy online course for teachers and school staff with brief, high-impact training videos and accompanying website (www.classroomwise.org ). This course was developed with input from educators, students, and school mental health leaders, co-developed by the National Center for School Mental Health and the SAMHSA-funded Mental Health Technology Center Network. During this learning session Dr. Elizabeth Connors provided an overview of Classroom Wise Module 1: Creating Safe and Supportive Classrooms and Module 2: Teaching Mental Health Literacy and Reducing Stigma. Dr. Connors also lead discussion around how these modules align with existing initiatives and supports and explored effective approaches to roll out the Classroom Wise in local schools. There are four additional sessions this summer to support Classroom WISE implementation in the Southeast, register for upcoming sessions here!   Session 2 Learning Objectives: 1. Increase understanding of Classroom WISE Modules 1 and 2 structure and content. 2. Increase understanding of best practices to effectively support Classroom WISE adoption and implementation in local school systems. 3. Promote cross-state networking and shared learning about best practices in school mental health system implementation of school staff training materials.

Latinxs living in the US experience disparities in access and quality of mental health services. The social determinants of health, immigration status, immigration-related trauma, and the cumulative experience of inequality, combined with the vulnerability during pregnancy and postpartum may result in a higher risk for mental health symptoms. Perinatal Mental Health Disorders (PMHDs) is a term used to include the various disorders that can affect individuals during pregnancy and postpartum. This factsheet provides relevant information on cultural considerations for mental health providers working with Latinx populations experiencing or at risk for PMHDs.

Lxs latinxs que viven en los Estados Unidos experimentan disparidades en el acceso y en la calidad de los servicios de salud mental. Los determinantes sociales de la salud, el estado migratorio, el trauma relacionado con la inmigración y la experiencia acumulada de desigualdad, combinados con la vulnerabilidad durante el embarazo y el posparto, pueden resultar en un mayor riesgo de síntomas de salud mental. Los trastornos de salud mental perinatal (TSMP) es un término que se utiliza para incluir los diversos trastornos que pueden afectar a las personas durante el embarazo y el posparto. Esta hoja informativa proporciona información relevante sobre las consideraciones culturales para los proveedores de salud mental que trabajan con poblaciones latinas que experimentan o están en riesgo de desarrollar TSMP.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death in the U.S. among people ages 10-24 years old and has disproportionately increased in Hispanic and Latinx adolescents and young adults, who have elevated rates of suicidal behaviors. This factsheet will provide information about trends in suicide, suicidal thoughts, and behaviors, identifying suicide-related risk in Hispanic and Latinx youth, and review evidence-based practices to screen for risk across various settings. 

About the webinar: While some talk about stages of grief, the reality is that most of us do not move through grief in a step-by-step way. Grief researchers have identified tasks that we need to accomplish in the grieving process to lessen the pain of loss. Some of us move through those tasks without even knowing that’s what we’re doing – it just feels like time healing the wounds. Some may need to focus more attention on the tasks of grieving in order to let go of our suffering. In either case, having an active approach to grief can empower both older adults and those who serve them to manage this human experience. Differentiating normal grief from prolonged grief disorder and evidence-based treatments will also be discussed. Watch the recording of this webinar by clicking the "view resource" button above.  To access the slide deck and handout related to this session please click on the links below. Slide Deck  Tasks of Grieving Handout About the Presenter

ABOUT THIS RESOURCE This recorded webinar aims to increase understanding of common oral health problems faced by individuals with mental health and substance abuse challenges. Many may face stigma or shame related to their oral health. Peer support specialists play an integral role in supporting those they serve related to their oral health and recovery. Excerpts from the Mental Health and Addiction Certification Board of Oregon’s Peer Oral Health Training are utilized in this webinar. Hosted by the Northwest MHTTC in partnership with the Mental Health and Addiction Association of Oregon. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Presentation slides Give Back a Smile Cosmetic Dentistry Grants  The Mouth-Body Connection Book 32 Reasons You Need to Know More About the Mouth-Body Connection infographic from The Smile Generation American Dental Association 2000 Surgeon General’s Report on Oral Health "Study to Explore How to Improve Oral Health for Those With Mental Illness," Dentistry Today, 12 August 2020. University of Utah Health. (2019, May 20). The healing power of a smile: A link between oral care and substance abuse recovery. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 13, 2021 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/05/190520081926.htm American Dental Association and Health Policy Institute, "Oral Health and Well-Being in the United States." This fact sheet summarizes select data on self-reported oral health status, attitudes and dental care utilization among United States adults as of 2015.   FACILITATOR   Janie Gullickson, MPA: HA Janie Gullickson is a person in long-term recovery and for her that means she has not used alcohol or other drugs in over 11 years. Janie is in recovery from both addiction and mental health challenges as well as homelessness, incarceration, and criminal justice involvement. She navigated all types of systems and institutions that can accompany such life experiences, from frequent hospitalizations to prison. Janie was released from Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in September of 2006. Janie first began her work as a Peer Support Specialist/Recovery Mentor for Yamhill County HHS in McMinnville, Oregon in 2011. Janie joined the peer-run organization Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon (MHAAO) as a project assistant in 2014. In May of 2017 Janie became MHAAO’s Executive Director. She also earned her Master of Public Administration: Health Administration (MPA: HA) degree from Portland State University in June of 2017. Janie is passionate about social justice issues with a focus on mental health and addiction recovery, peer programs and services and advocacy in these realms.   PANELISTS Reina Bower Reina Bower is the Mental Health and Addiction Association of Oregon Evolve Peer Services Director.     Kevin Fitts Kevin Fitts is the Executive Director of the Oregon Mental Health Consumers Association.

Recording of the event "Recruiting and Retaining Unicorns: Finding Your Dream Psychiatrist," originally held on July 8, 2021.   Presentation slides. Download the Recruiting and Retaining Unicorns: Finding Your Dream Psychiatrist guide.

Recording of From Longhouse to Schoolhouse: AI/AN School Communities Coming Together. This event took place on July 8th, 2021. From Longhouse to Schoolhouse: AI/AN school communities coming together in partnership to learn, collaborate, and share experiences and knowledge.

ABOUT THIS RESOURCE The supervisory relationship in behavioral health is critical for fostering employees' personal and professional development, enhancing clinical skills, implementing best practices, ensuring accountability, promoting self-care and wellness, and most importantly, improving client outcomes. Motivational Interviewing (MI) provides a valuable foundation and approach for providing quality supervision. In this session we’ll explore ways in which the MI spirit, core skills, and four processes can enhance supervision. Three MI-based supervisory models will be presented along with vignettes. Whether you’re experienced, new, or not yet a supervisor, you are invited to explore what is MI-informed supervision, why it matters, and how to apply specific strategies to help staff thrive in their work. This webinar is part of the Provider Well-Being Series with C4 Innovations. Find out more about this series with C4 Innovations. LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Participants will be able to:  Describe how the “mindset and heart-set” of MI applies to supervision Name the four MI processes to help structure exploratory conversations Explain how to use the E-O-E approach to provide information and feedback Describe how to use the B-E-E-R model to take corrective action ADDITIONAL RESOURCES Our facilitators always make reference to great resources during sessions.  Find Ken Kraybill's list below.  Presentation slides | View the slides Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change by William R. Miller & Stephen Rollnick Description: This book is the authoritative presentation of motivational interviewing. It elucidates the four processes of motivational interviewing -- engaging, focusing, evoking, and planning -- and vividly demonstrates what they look like in action.   First, Break All the Rules: What the World's Greatest Managers Do Differently by Marcus Buckingham & Curt Coffman Description: "Great managers are revolutionaries," the authors write. "This book will take you inside the minds of these managers to explain why they have toppled conventional wisdom and reveal the new truths they have forged in its place. Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion by Gregory Boyle  Description: Presenter Ken Kraybill referenced a quote from this book, which states, “Here is what we seek: a compassion that can stand in awe at what the poor have to carry rather than stand in judgment at how they carry it.” FACILITATOR Ken Kraybill, MSW, Senior Trainer Ken Kraybill, MSW, Senior Trainer, has worked in healthcare, behavioral health, homelessness, and housing for more than 35 years. Ken has 18 years of experience working as a behavioral health practitioner in homeless services. For the past two decades, he has been developing curricula and facilitating in-person and online training nationally on topics including motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care, outreach and engagement, case management, critical time intervention, and supervision. He also has experience facilitating strategic planning processes and providing staff retreats focused on finding resiliency and renewal for care providers. Ken is a member of the international Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT). He has a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Washington.     Terms of use and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) disclosure statement

>>> Click the blue "View Resource" button above to access the event recording <<< How might the experience of surviving COVID-19 and experiencing long-haul COVID-19 impact mental health, and what can and should we as school mental health providers and leaders understand about that experience?    This is a special conversation with four survivors of COVID-19, all of whom identify as long-haulers, people who “have not fully recovered from COVID-19 weeks or even months after first experiencing symptoms,” according to Harvard Health. Like Derek, Karla, Mieka, and Jessica, “some long haulers experience continuous symptoms for weeks or months, while others feel better for weeks, then relapse with old or new symptoms. The constellation of symptoms long haulers experience, sometimes called post-COVID-19 syndrome” (Harvard Health: If you've been exposed to the coronavirus). Dr. Mauseth will provide an overview about Long COVID behavioral health.   This conversation is crucial, especially as schools begin or resume to gather learning in person. As our speakers will share, trauma may be now surfacing because people aren’t needing to focus on surviving; this trauma is surfacing as schools are reopening and as survivors are now beginning to process their experience and new realities.    Together, Derek, Karla, Mieka, and Jessica discuss and share: The potential Impact on students who have had COVID or have trauma associated with COVID How students might be impacted because their caregiver had COVID and is a long-hauler How students might be impacted because their teacher or administrator had COVID and is a long-hauler The anger, hypervigilance, isolation, and feelings of being unseen, unbelieved, dismissed, misunderstood experienced when navigating COVID and now in the long-hauler experience The need for structural policy response and solutions for COVID survivors  Long-haulers’ reflections and responses to your questions to enhance your practice   Please note: We are not centering the conversation on death related to COVID-19; rather, we come together to discuss and share the losses and grief related to surviving COVID and being a long-hauler.   Priming Content (Articles & Research about Long-Haul COVID-19):  Brain-Fog Treatments: COVID-19 Research Is Getting Better  COVID-19 long-haulers struggle with persistent mental health issues: brain fog, anxiety, depression and sleep disorders  For Long-Haulers, Covid-19 Takes a Toll on Mind as Well as Body  Long-Haulers Are Redefining COVID-19  How COVID could reshape mental health policy  1 in 3 COVID-19 patients are diagnosed with a neuropsychiatric condition in the next six months, large study finds  6-month neurological and psychiatric outcomes in 236 379 survivors of COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study using electronic health records  Children’s Hospitals Grapple With Young Covid ‘Long Haulers’  Resources From Panel Discussion Slide deck of panel discussion (PDF) Support resources (PDF) Graphic (below) by Rio Holaday   Faculty Derek Canty is the CEO and founder of Winning Edge, Inc., a training and facilitation company based in Las Vegas.  Winning Edge provides training, consulting and coaching solutions to help individuals and organizations achieve maximum personal and organizational effectiveness.  Derek is also the co-founder of College Summit now PeerForward, Inc., a national social non-profit organization that is based in Washington, DC, with seven regional offices. He has also developed in-school youth development tools for PeerForward that are used in classrooms around the country. Derek spearheaded the initial Diversity & Inclusion initiative and department, where he served as Chief Diversity Officer for two years.    Derek has worked with over 15,000 youth in 30 major cities across the United States and internationally in three countries and was honored by his selection as one of the lead program facilitators for President Clinton's First Annual Young Adult Symposium at Georgetown University.  Today, Derek serves as a coach, facilitator, and trainer for select non-profit organizations and corporations, assisting them in team building, leadership development, and defining/strengthening their organizational culture.     Derek and his entire family of five contracted COVID in July 2020. He was hospitalized for 10 days, and continues to manage the after effects on his overall health.    Karla Monterroso is currently a coach, strategist, and advisor for several organizations and people doing work impacted by the changing dynamics of the demographic shift--supporting both: 1) Their ability to distribute power strategically and contend with bridging the new divide between the social experience and institutional experience of power; 2) Working on the eradication of anti-Blackness in non-Black Latinx people through coaching, culture, and strategy.     Karla has spent two decades focused on growing the people and program functions of rapidly scaling social enterprises driving youth advocacy and leadership. Most recently as the CEO of Code2040 she stewarded the shift from Code2040 as a pipeline organization to an organization committed to dismantling the structural barriers to entry, retention, and promotion of Black and Latinx people in tech. She built the tools and ran the systems that supported the scale of healthcare non-profit Health Leads. Karla did similar work in college access for low-income communities with national organizations College Summit, and College Track. She is currently a board member for Alluma, a tech non-profit enabling the creation of pivotal technology necessary to build a path out of poverty. Karla is an alumnus of the University of Southern California.    Karla got sick with Covid19 on March 13th of 2020, the first day of California’s shelter in place orders. She experienced two months of acute Covid and has now been navigating Long Haul Covid for over a year. She’s been outspoken and in national press outlets about healthcare inequities in Latinx and Black communities. She is still managing chronic tachycardia, fatigue, and assorted other symptoms due to Long Covid.     Mieka Tennant (she/her) is a communications strategist and producer. Her work is focused on accountability, inclusivity and intentional initiatives that build a stronger foundation for her clients to stand on. For over a decade she has been developing and implementing holistic communications strategies for individuals and companies. She has produced campaigns, events, and projects with various organizations--from conceptualizing a public arts initiative for incarcerated sexual assault survivors, to curating an event series for a charter school that brings together community leaders and creatives. Her love of storytelling and amplifying the voices of others led her to develop and facilitate a weekly writing group with New Village Girls Academy, where she has volunteered for the past seven years.   Mieka contracted COVID-19 the week of May 19, 2020, and for the following seven months endured the extreme effects of the virus on her body and life.     Jessica Gonzalez, MSW, is the School Mental Health Coordinator for the Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) Network Coordinating Office (NCO) at Stanford University School of Medicine. Jessica is coordinating the work of 12 centers that provide training and technical assistance to the mental health and school mental health workforce to increase the use of evidence-based mental health prevention, treatment, and recovery support services for students across the United States. Jessica has worked in the community as a social worker providing mental health services in school and outpatient clinic settings to children and adolescents of diverse socioeconomic, cultural and ethnic backgrounds. In addition, she has experience in project management support and coordination for research and evaluation in the areas of early childhood learning and development, special education, post-secondary education attainment, and delivery of school mental health services. Jessica has also worked for numerous high school and college programs in the Bay Area seeking to improve educational outcomes for first-generation, low-income students of color.   Jessica contracted COVID-19 the first week of March 2020 and was hospitalized due to severe symptoms and complications. To this day, Jessica continues managing the effects on her mental health and well-being resulting from the virus.   Dr. Kira Mauseth is a practicing clinical psychologist who sees patients at Snohomish Psychology Associates, teaches as a Senior Instructor at Seattle University and serves as a co-lead for the Behavioral Health Strike Team for the WA State Department of Health. Her work and research interests focus on resilience, trauma and disaster behavioral health. She has worked extensively in Haiti with earthquake survivors, in Jordan with Syrian refugees and with first responders and health care workers throughout Puget Sound the United States. Dr. Mauseth also conducts trainings with organizations and educational groups about disaster preparedness and resilience building within local communities.     This discussion was moderated by: The Pacific Southwest, Northwest, & Mountain Plains MHTTCs 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.