Well-Being Matters
Tuesday, March 5 | 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. | Valley Southwoods
Breakout Session Descriptions:
SESSION 1 OPTIONS:
Building Predictable Routines and Structures at Home
WDMCS Behavior Interventionists
Participants will learn about Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS) and how it helps parents create and maintain a safe, structured, consistent home environment where adult-to-child relationships are strengthened. It benefits all children by teaching positive behaviors
and building life skills.
Mental Strength
Dr. Beth Augspurger, Special Education Curriculum Lead and Coordinator
Feeling tired, overwhelmed and perhaps stuck? This session will provide an overview of strategies to support overcoming daily obstacles and gain new perspectives on emotional well-being.
We’re Here To Help
Mary Doherty, LSMW, EFR Employee & Family Resources
Looking for support with school-life balance, family and relationship challenges, emotions, substance use, and/or mental health? This session outlines free resources to your students and families as a West Des Moines Community School family through our partnership through EFR Employee & Family Resources. “You are not alone, we can help.”
Los Latinos y la Salud Mental (en español)
Jocelyn Hernandez-Martinez
En esta presentación aprenderá sobre los servicios de salud mental y que puede esperar al trabajar con un terapeuta. Exploramos el estigma y las barreras al buscar servicios, problemas comunes abordados en terapia, y factores de riesgo y protección. This session is presented in Spanish only.
SESSION 2 OPTIONS:
Trauma, its Impact and Strategies to Build Resilience
Emily Burroughs, Stilwell Behavior Interventionist
Join this session to learn more about what trauma is, how it impacts people, and how to prevent it. You will also learn how to build the capacity of people to successfully adapt and recover, even in the face of highly stressful and traumatic experiences.
Executive Functioning Skills
Karen France, MTSS Coordinator, WDMCS; Dr. Kristine Milburn, Gifted/Talented Coordinator/Program Lead, WDMCS; Jessica Johnston, School Psychologist, Heartland AEA
Does your child take forever to get dressed in the morning? Do chores, that seem simple to you, stress them out? Sometimes children who are normally high functioning can struggle with organization and planning. Executive functioning develops at different rates and different times in children. Join us in exploring how to help our children develop these skills with strategies for them to improve.
Social Emotional Learning Strategies at Home and at School
WDMCS Counselors
Participants will gain understanding of Social Emotional Learning, (SEL) strategies for both home and school to support social and emotional skills.
Recognizing and Supporting Anxiety and Depression
Dr. Beth Augspurger, Special Education Curriculum Lead and Coordinator
Participants will learn how to recognize signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression in children and adolescents. Participants will also learn practical strategies to support emotional regulation and well-being.
An Approach to Complete Mental Health
Andrea Matheson & Kathy Lepage, Heartland AEA
This presentation is aimed to provide an understanding of Heartland AEA’s approach to complete mental health. It includes our practices to effectively promote complete mental health for all children, youth, and adults. This overview will include promotive and preventive approaches that are commonly used within schools to promote well-being. The purpose of this work is to shift the paradigm from focusing on mental illness to promoting complete mental health.
Coordinated by:
