Amergis Healthcare Staffing’s Post

Public health / prevention research requires trans-disciplinary collaborations and partners. One partner I'd like to highlight is the insanely talented team at University of South Carolina department of psychology: the School Behavioral Health Academy. The SC School Behavioral Health Academy is being developed in recognition of the significant accomplishments of John H. Magill, former State Director of the Department of Mental Health, who has played an instrumental and continuing role in developing effective child, adolescent and school mental health programs in our state, earning national acclaim. Led by school mental health pioneer, Mark Weist, and other psychology faculty at the University of South Carolina (UofSC), the John H. Magill SC School Behavioral Health Academy (SBHA) is a community of learning that will help schools build positive campus cultures and enhance mental health services to students. The SBHA trains personnel in creating safe schools, responding to crises, science-based approaches to counseling, whole-school approaches to preventing mental health and behavioral problems, among many other topics. Training experiences and coaching will evolve based on the preferences and needs of SC communities, which are being assessed through a statewide needs assessment. After the training, districts receive Sharpen Minds toolkits – customized with mental health literacy, emotional and mental wellness resources for parents, educators and youth. More about our partners, here: https://lnkd.in/gmf6KpyB #collaboration #research #evidencebased #evidencebasedpractice #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #mentalfitness #resiliency #resilience #mtss #pbis #schoolmentalhealth #kidshealth #selfcare #kidsmentalhealth #mindfulness #mentalhealthliteracy #teambuilding

Tomorrow is the last day of National School Psychology Week! Unfortunately, in addition to the national shortage of teachers in this country there is also a national shortage of school psychologists. During the 2022-2023 school year, according to Texas Education Agency data, there was one school psychologist for every 2,617 students. The National Association of School Psychologists recommends schools have one school psychologist for every 500 students. Despite significant investments made by the Texas Legislature in child mental health resources in the past five years, the impact of the shortage of these in-school mental health professionals has been minimal. Our state legislature must address this shortage for the following reasons. 1) Effective school safety measures require adequate access to school psychologists and other school-employed mental health professionals.   2)Improving the ratio will help schools meet the comprehensive mental and behavioral health needs of students. 3) Communities rely on schools to meet the needs of all students as schools are where students spend a significant amount of time.  4) Improving the ratio allows schools psychologists to improve teacher’s ability to teach and support student learning.  5) Improving the ratio of school psychologists helps promote a positive school climate and create a safe and supportive learning environment for all students.   #NASPadvocates, #TASPadvocates, #txlege, and #SchoolPsychWeek

"People start to heal the moment they feel heard." ― Cheryl Richardson. Experiencing trauma, especially during childhood, can have significantly long-lasting negative impacts on students’ physical, mental, and academic well-being. And so, creating a supportive school environment is necessary to prevent new trauma or re-traumatization, fostering healing and allowing space for the recovery process. I'm thrilled to lead a training session titled "Trauma-Informed Behavioral Health Support for Student Services" at Lower Columbia College. During this training, we’ll focus on establishing trauma-informed practices in Student Services that facilitate the recovery of student survivors of trauma. We’ll talk about: 1. Recognizing Trauma. 2. Creating a Trauma-Informed Culture. 3. Communication Skills. 4. Building Resilience. 5. Self-Care and Staff Support. 6. Preventing secondary traumatic stress.  7. Creating a safe environment for students and staff. A trauma-informed approach is beneficial to both students and staff. If implemented successfully, trauma-informed care creates a more inclusive school atmosphere, leading to improved well-being and better academic achievements among students. Grateful for the support and collaboration from Sue Orchard, Psy.D. who has been instrumental in making this happen! How do you promote trauma-informed care in your organization? Comment below! #TraumaInformedCare #StudentServices #BehaviouralHealth 

St. Vincent Prep Academy's Approach to Individualized Education by Ann Green As the principal of St. Vincent Prep Academy in Columbus, Ohio, I am often asked how we address the individual differences and diverse needs of our students. It is a question that goes to the heart of our mission, and one that I am proud to answer. Our commitment to providing exceptional education for all children, regardless of their unique learning styles and needs, is unwavering. At St. Vincent Prep Academy, we take pride in our student-to-teacher ratio of 10 students to 2 teachers, supplemented by additional staff and group clinicians. This allows us to focus on each student's distinct learning style and needs. We recognize that every child is unique, and we embrace these differences. We provide personalized education that empowers our students to build the skills they need for success in a number of ways, including sensory support, creating an environment where children feel psychologically safe, and making accommodations to our curriculum to meet students where they are academically and socially. One of the distinguishing aspects of our approach is that our students spend a significant portion of their school day participating in behavioral therapy activities. Some may wonder why we allocate this much time away from traditional learning. The answer is clear: most of our students have struggled in a "typical" classroom because they lacked an environment that focused on building their emotional and social skills. At St Vincent Prep Academy, we provide trauma-informed care in a therapeutic environment. This enables our students to engage in multi-sensory experiences that help address learning difficulties and lay a solid foundation for future academic success. We believe that addressing the emotional and social aspects of a child's development is as essential as traditional academics and is the key to preparing our students for a successful transition as they return to a traditional classroom setting. As for identifying when a student may be ready to return to their home school, we understand that this transition is a crucial step in their educational journey. Typically, our students stay with us for nine months to one year. During this time, they develop emotional and social regulation skills and build confidence. It is at this point that we aim to provide transition services and support to facilitate their return to their home school or district. Our goal is to ensure that they re-enter the educational environment with the resilience and skills needed to thrive. We provide a holistic, therapeutic approach to a student’s learning experience, bringing teachers, behavioral specialists and clinicians together to create a care plan that’s best for each student and family. We are unique, just like our students. To learn more about St. Vincent Prep Academy, visit https://lnkd.in/eBFUAKAF.

School psychologists are on the front lines of student #SEL / #mentalhealth and play a critical role in ensuring the conditions for learning and safety exist. Do your #schools and #students have sufficient support? Across all tiers in your #MTSS framework? Are services being scheduled and delivered efficiently and timely after identification of need? Who are your key internal and external partners in identification of need, case management, compliance, service delivery, and reporting? What is your greatest opportunity for growth, as a #School, #District or #StateAgency? #SchoolPsychWeek TeleTeachers

School psychologists play a crucial role in bridging the gap between developmental mechanisms and the adults responsible for fostering the well-being and growth of children and youth. They gather and synthesize valuable information on various aspects of development and translate it into practical strategies for promoting healthy growth and addressing educational and developmental challenges. Educational psychology, in particular, has a significant impact on programs, curricula, and lesson development. It also guides educators in managing their classrooms effectively. For instance, educators can utilize concepts from educational psychology to comprehend and tackle the effects of rapidly evolving technologies on their students' learning, both the positive and negative aspects. website: https://lnkd.in/dCw8ECNs #schoolpsych #schoolpsychologist #schoolpsychology #schoolpsychlife #specialeducation #schoolpsychproblems #schoolpsychologists #schoolcounselor #schoolsocialworker #education #schoolpsychs #schoolpsychologistlife #schoolcounseling #schoolpsychintern #schoolpsychsrock #schoolcounselors #mentalhealth #schoolpsychologistbyday #socialemotionallearning #school #schoolpsychologystudent #schoolpsychstudent #psychology #specialeducationteacher #UDGAMMHCRC

Behavior is a common topic among educators. As adults, we expect children to come into the classroom regulated and equipped with coping strategies to manage their emotions. We often forget that a child's brain is developing and that early experiences impact the quality of that development. Therefore, socially appropriate behaviors must be explicitly taught. At times, we, educators, are the only exposure children have to a safe, loving, interactive, responsive, and nurturing environment and we must maximize that time as best we can through culturally responsive positive behavioral supports. - Martha Briseno Image credit: nepbis.org What are your thoughts on behavior management, positive classroom practices, and/or PBIS? #modelbehavior #pbis #tidbittuesday #educationforall #everystudentaleader #everystudentalreadybelongs #positivepractices #culturallyresponsiveteaching #onceateacheralwaysateacher https://lnkd.in/gFkACaGb

How often do we consider the silent battles fought within the minds of our adolescents? As a former high school Dean and a budding mental health therapist… I’ve seen firsthand the formidable stress that academic pressure casts on young minds. It’s an intricate dance of expectations, self-doubt, and the quest for excellence. One key insight from my journey: Academic stress isn’t just about the workload. It’s deeply entwined with identity, self-worth, and emotional resilience. In my transition from education to mental health therapy… I’ve discovered that the root of academic stress often lies in the lack of emotional tools students possess to navigate this terrain. So, how can we empower our adolescents to cope effectively? 1. Emotional Literacy: It’s crucial to teach students to recognize and articulate their emotions. This self-awareness is the first step in managing stress. 2. Mindful Scheduling: Balance is key. Encourage a schedule that allows for academic rigor and personal interests, fostering a sense of control and accomplishment. 3. Restorative Practices: Implementing restorative justice in schools isn’t just about discipline… It’s about creating a supportive community where students feel heard and valued. 4. Promoting Autonomy: Giving students a voice in their learning process enhances engagement and reduces stress. Autonomy breeds responsibility and self-efficacy. In my current role as a clinician-in-training, I’m exploring innovative therapeutic approaches to help adolescents navigate these challenges. It’s a paradigm shift from viewing stress as an enemy to understanding it as a part of the learning journey. Does your school, business, or community organization recognize the silent struggle of academic stress among adolescents? ⁉️ Are you ready to transform the way we approach this challenge together? - - - Let’s collaborate to create a nurturing environment for our future leaders. 💻 Book a consultation at tsinclair.consulting today and let’s unravel this pressure cooker, one thread at a time. #EmpowerAdolescents #EmotionalResilience #TransformativeLearning

Does your district struggle with supporting students' behavioral needs? Do you often find your district's BIPs ineffective? Are your teachers fatigued and feeling overwhelmed? Are you school psychologists trying to balance assessments, METS, and BIPs? Ask yourself this; how many hours of training do education professionals receive on supporting students that present with maladaptive and unsafe behaviors? Wouldn't you love to relieve your school psych's caseloads, retain your new educators, and prevent existing educators from retiring early or transitioning to another profession? How much is that worth to your district? Wouldn't you love to have a team of experts come in and support your district's behavioral needs by actually modeling classroom management and BIP implementation live in the classroom? What are you waiting for?? Reach out to us today!! This is NOT just another professional development!!! https://lnkd.in/gCzQCktv

This is great news in helping ease the shortage of mental health counselors . What we do know from the longitudinal studies is that the earlier we can identify kids at risk , and get them the safe help they deserve - the better the outcomes. It is daunting to get a 4 year undergrad degree , knowing that the next step is another 3-8 years of higher education- depending on a Masters , PhD , or PsyD into being able to practice - along with the overwhelming expenses at an age that most people are already starting families. Streamlining this process without sacrificing the Career related credis and practical experience is a hopeful step in filling the gap .