This is a recording of the first session in the three-part series Championing Students Through Change: Welcoming Youth Transitioning to and from School. Facilitators Oriana Ides and Melissa Smith take a deep dive into trauma-sensitive and culturally responsive strategies for welcoming students back to school from various interventions, including special education programs, juvenile justice system involvement, hospitalizations, and more. With special guest panelists, Ariael Brooks Porter and Jerica Coffey, M.Ed., this webinar recording explores practical strategies for supporting students transitioning to and from programs and institutions and offers viewers the skills to promote a sense of belonging and resilience among students during these pivotal times.

Key questions in the video include:
• How can school staff prepare themselves and students to welcome youth back from institutional settings?
• What unique challenges do students face when returning to school?
• What unique strengths do students bring to us as school leaders when returning to their school?

The content in this webinar recording is applicable to educators, administrators, school mental health professionals, and youth advocates.