Presentations
2024 Advancing School Mental Health Conference
Orlando, FL
December 5-7th, 2024
Session Title: Cross-State Collaboration – Connecticut and New Jersey Comprehensive School Mental Health Partnership
Child Health Development Institute (CHDI) in Connecticut and Rutgers Center for Comprehensive School Mental Health (Rutgers-CCSMH) have developed a strong cross-state partnership to support collaboration, sharing of best practices, and enhancement of comprehensive school mental health (CSMH) system quality. This session will identify how cross-state collaboration has improved CSMH systems in both New Jersey and Connecticut. Speakers will discuss CSMH work in their respective states and the nature and benefits of cross-state collaboration.
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Participants will be able to understand the importance of statewide partnership and cross-state collaboration to strengthen CSMH system refinement
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Participants will learn skills to be able to collect, review, and apply data relevant to expansion of CSMH
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Participants will be able to apply key elements of CSMH implementation to support overall student and staff well-being, and sustainability
Presenters: Mackenzie Wink, PhD, Project Coordinator, CHDI, Rebekah Behan, BA, Senior Project Coordinator CHDI, Kristy Ritvalsky, MPH, Project Manager, Rutgers Center for Comprehensive School Mental Health, Alicia Lukachako, DrPH, LCSW, Sr. Training and Consultation Specialist, Rutgers Center for Comprehensive School Mental Health, Stuart Luther, MS, LAC, NCC, Sr. Training and Consultation Specialist, Rutgers Center for Comprehensive School Mental Health
2023 Advancing School Mental Health Conference
New Orleans, LA
December 5-7th, 2023
Session Title: Maximizing Community Partnerships
Effective school-based mental health programs need strong community partnerships. This workshop will identify several key elements necessary for creating and sustaining effective and collaborative partnerships to improve student mental health, physical health, and overall wellness. Participants will be able to develop a meaningful needs assessment for identifying areas of student and staff need within their schools.
Tania Leonard
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Session Title: Targeted Mental Health Support in High Schools: Barriers and Opportunities
Mental health needs are prominent among adolescents, yet service delivery can be challenging in high schools. This session will describe considerations for developing mental health supports and the
development of a novel Tier 2 program.
Stuart Luther, MS, LAC, NCC, Rutgers Center for Comprehensive School Mental Health (Rutgers-CCSMH), Senior Training and Consultation Specialist; Brittany Zakszeski, PhD, University of Deleware, Assistant Professor; Laura Rutherford, PhD, Devereaux Advanced Behavioral Health, Assistant Director, Center for Effective Schools & Director, APA Internship Program; Kristy Ritvalsky, MPH, Rutgers Center for Comprehensive School Mental Health (Rutgers-CCSMH), Project Manager
Association for Positive Behavior Support
Jacksonville, FL
March 29, 2023-April 1, 2023
Session Title: Targeted Mental Health Support in High Schools: Barriers and Opportunities
Mental health needs are prominent among adolescents, yet service delivery can be challenging in high schools. This session will describe considerations for developing mental health supports and the development of a novel Tier 2 program.
Learning Objectives:
- List unique considerations and common constraints associated with developing and implementing Tier 2 mental health systems in high school contexts.
- Describe the state of available research, programs, protocols, and instruments to guide Tier 2 mental health services in high schools.
- Explain the objectives, format, and features of the Positive Outcomes With Emotion Regulation (POWER) Program.
Brittany Zakszeski, University of Delaware, Newark, DE; Laura Rutherford, Jennifer Francisco, Janna Sanders, Devereux Center for Effective Schools, Villanova, PA; Kristy Ritvalsky, Stuart Luther, Ann Murphy, Sean Karyczak, Alicia Lukachko, Northeast and Caribbean Mental Health Technology Transfer Center, Piscataway, NJ
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Session Title: Reflections on Coaching: Enhancing Equity and Sustainability in Urban Schools
During this session, participants will explore how school culture and community context impact PBIS coaching methods. Implementation and sustainability in urban settings will also be examined using culturally responsive strategies and techniques.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify various coaching models to support classroom and school-wide PBIS implementation and sustainability
- Evaluate coaching models using a case study to explore the complexity of school culture, buy-in, and establishing rapport
- Identify unique considerations for the role of a coach in an urban setting
Kristy M. Ritvalsky, Rutgers Center for Comprehensive School Mental Health
Northeast PBIS Network Leadership Forum
Mystic, CT
May 12, 2022
Session Title: Guiding You to Mental and Wellness : Creation of the New Jersey Comprehensive School Mental Health Resource Guide
This session described the development of an applied school mental health resource guide and the technical assistance provided to help schools implement comprehensive school mental health supports. School examples were shared.
Damian Petino, New Jersey Department of Education; Ann A. Murphy and Kristy M. Ritvalsky, Northeast & Carribean Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC)