advancing wellness and resiliency in education florida aware: advancing wellness and resiliency in...

Advancing Wellness and Resiliency in Education

Florida AWARE: Advancing Wellness

and Resiliency in Education

Natalie Romer, [email protected]


Florida AWARE

A 5-year program to develop and implement a cross-system comprehensive plan for promoting well-being, resilience, creating safe environments, and ensuring that Florida youth and their families have access to needed services


Florida AWARE & School Climate Grants• Florida’s State Department of Education has

been awarded both grants– Both initiatives to work as part of a coordinated

strategy to address issues of school climate, school safety, & mental health in a comprehensive manner

– Connect within the education system, and across local home, school, and community settings and systems


Florida AWARE: Two Components

• Component 1: Comprehensive Integrated Service– Implement a model of service delivery (i.e., Multi-

Tiered System of Supports) to expand and improve access to mental health supports by coordinating state and local resources.

• Component 2: Implement Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA)– State and local programs


Florida AWARE Team Structure

PinellasDistrict Implementation

Team

State Management Team

Project Management

TeamDuval

District Implementation Team

PolkDistrict Implementation

Team


State and District Goals SMT Workgroups1 A multi-tiered framework for sustainable outcomes-

driven implementation of cross-organizational mental health supports.

N/A

2 Awareness of mental health issues by youth, families, community members and school personnel.

Increasing awareness (basic knowledge) of mental health

3 Procedures for identifying, accessing, and/or maximizing existing resources to support mental health outcomes.

Resources for mental health supports

4 A streamlined efficient and effective system to access cross organizational mental health services.

Process for accessing mental health services

5 Evidence-based culturally responsive mental health practices identified.

Identifying evidence-based mental health practices

6 A streamlined efficient and effective data system across organizations serving youth supporting a MTSS for mental health.

Data information systems

7 Increased stakeholder knowledge and skills to provide mental health supports and services.

Increasing skills (& advancing knowledge) to address mental health


DEVELOPING A COMMON DEFINITION OF MENTAL HEALTH


Mental Health

• The absence of psychological, social, emotional, and behavioral problems and optimal social and psychological functioning

(Kazdin, 1993)


Goals of Mental Health Services

• Foster the social, emotional, behavioral, and academic competence that students need to be successful in school and in life

Ultimate purpose of goals in the public health approach

• Promote psychological well-being of all youth

• Provide protective support to youth at elevated risk for academic and emotional problems

• Promote healthy caretaking environments (classroom, school, home, community), which help youth overcome risk and challenges

• Remediate social, emotional, or behavioral disturbances among referred students

Public health approach

• Remediate social, emotional, or behavioral disturbances among referred students

Traditional approach

(Doll, Cummings, & Chapla, 2014)


Defining Youth Competence

Youth Functioning in School Context

School Functioning

Psychological Indicators

Motivation to Learn,

Belongingness

Academic Self-

Efficacy

Behavioral Indicators

Achieve-ment

Classroom Behavior,

Attendance

Social-Emotional

Functioning

Psychological Indicators

Emotional Distress Well-Being

Behavioral Indicators

Peer Relation-

ships

(Roeser, Eccles, & Sameroff, 2000)

Academic Success

Mental

Health


Youth Mental HealthNegative Symptoms

(Mental Illness)

Anxiety, Depression, and other forms of internalizing

problems

Trauma and other environ-mental

stressors

Thinking errors,

behavioral withdrawal

Disruptive Behaviors, such as

defiance, rule violations,

substance use

Risky/ unsafe settings

Inconsistent rules and expecta-

tions across settings

Positive Indicators(Wellness or Well-Being)

Life Satisfaction and Happiness

Building blocks of

well-being, (gratitude, empathy,

persistence)

Basic needs

are met

Strong Social Relationships

Social skills

Healthy interactions

(minimal bullying,

high support)

Risk Factors Resilience Factors


Array of Mental Health Services in a Public Health Approach

Multi-tiered framework of evidence-based practices to promote wellness and minimize mental illness• Effective collaboration across organizations,

settings, and levels (local, state)• Increased, expanded, and equitable access to

these coordinated mental health services• Increased mental health awareness among

youth, families, schools, and communities(Florida AWARE)


COMPONENT 1: COMPREHENSIVE INTEGRATED SERVICES


Florida AWARE: Component 1

Implement and expand a MTSS framework in order to…

• Early identification practices & link needs to services (Identification & Access)

• Continuum of effective behavioral health strategies (Continuum of Supports)

• Access to coordinated and integrated school and community-based services (Integrated Services)

• Connect youth, families, schools, & communities (Increased Youth and Family Engagement)


Create a Continuum of Supports for ALL

Multi-Tiered System of Supports, provides a framework for an integrated continuum of mental health supports that builds upon existing structures and resources of Florida’s youth-serving agencies


Florida AWARE: Integration of Mental Health Supports in MTSS

• Enhance MTSS framework in partnership with FLDOE• Collaborative relationships to ensure implementation of a

continuum of evidence based practices• Reflect a shared school, family, community- system agenda

and equitable partnerships • Cross-agency (state, district, community and school level)

problem-solving teams • Cross-agency data and information sharing


…in order to succeed.

=

Diverse populations

Logic of a Multi-Tiered Approach……get support

matched to need…

+


COMPONENT 2: IMPLEMENTATION OF YMHFA


Florida Districts: NITT-AWARE-LEA

• Broward• Hillsborough• Lake• Lake Whales Charter• Osceola• St. Lucie

• Duval*• Pinellas*• Polk*


Florida AWARE: NITT-AWARE-SEA • State Instructors

– Florida AWARE Staff– SEDNET– FDLRS– Student Support Services

• Florida AWARE LEAs– Duval– Pinellas– Polk


What is Mental Health First Aid USA?

• Help offered to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis

• Given until appropriate treatment and support are received or until the crisis resolves

• Not a substitute for counseling, medical care, peer support or treatment

(YMHFA USA, 2012)


Why Mental Health First Aid USA?• Mental Health problems are common• Stigma is associated with mental health problems• Professional help is not always on hand• Individuals with mental health problems often do

not seek help• Many people are not well informed about mental

health problems or do not know how to respond

(YMHFA USA, 2012)


Youth Mental Health First Aid USA• 8-hour education program• Participants are introduced to the unique risk

factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, ages 12-18

• Emphasis on early intervention and teaches how to help an adolescent in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge

(YMHFA USA, 2012)


YMHFA USA Course Sample Agenda

(YMHFA USA, 2012)


What You Learn• Overview of Mental Health problems:

– Depressive/Mood disorders– Anxiety disorders– Disorders in which psychosis occurs– Substance use disorders– Eating disorders– ADHD and other disruptive behavior disorders

• Mental Health First Aid for crisis and non-crisis situations

(YMHFA USA, 2012)


Mental Health First Aid Action Plan

• Participants do not learn to diagnose, nor how to provide therapy/counseling; instead, they learn a core five-step action plan: ALGEE – Assess for risk of suicide or harm– Listen nonjudgmentally– Give reassurance and information– Encourage appropriate professional help– Encourage self-help and other support strategies

(YMHFA USA, 2012)


Spectrum of MH Interventions

(YMHFA USA, 2012)


Who can be a First Aider?

• The program is aimed to teach Youth Mental Health First Aid to anyone who works with or helps adolescents and transition-age youth, ages 12-18

– Family Members– Caregivers– Teachers– School Staff– Peers– Neighbors– Health and Human

Service workers– Law enforcement

(YMHFA USA, 2012)


YMHFA Instructor Training

• 5 day (32 hour) course • Introduces the interactive 8-hour program• Overviews adult learning styles and teaching

strategies• Provides in-depth instruction on implementing

and managing the program in diverse communities

(YMHFA USA, 2012)


YMHFA Instructors Learn…• about the YMHFA program (e.g., the 5-step

action plan, evidence-supported treatment and self-help strategies, prevalence data)

• how to teach the program with fidelity • how to apply the program to a range of adult

learning styles• how to refine and tailor presentations to diverse

audiences and learning environments.(YMHFA USA, 2012)


YMHFA Instructor Certification

• Instructors must demonstrate mastery through a written test and an evaluated presentation

• Complete 3 First Aider trainings (8-hour YMHFA courses) to remain certified – Course Evaluation

(YMHFA USA, 2012)


• Thank you for your interest!

advancing wellness and resiliency in education florida aware: advancing wellness and resiliency in...

Documents

youth mental health

mental health outcomes

florida youth

effective system

education system

school personnel

school safety

issues of school climate