November Mental & Behavioral Health

Hello and welcome to November!
As the holiday season approaches, November offers a unique time to pause and reflect on the importance of wellness and gratitude within our school communities. This month, we focus on strengthening our support for students, staff, and families as we enter a season that can bring both joy and stress. In this issue, you'll find resources to help you foster a culture of care, insights on creating trauma-sensitive environments, and tools to empower your teams in promoting mental well-being for all. Thank you for your dedication to building resilient, compassionate school communities—together, we are making a difference every day.
About Us
Meet Michelle Cantu
We want to take a moment to introduce you to the faces behind Region 10’s Mental & Behavioral Health Special Populations team. Each month, we'll highlight a member of our team, giving you the chance to get to know us better.
Michelle is a dedicated Mental and Behavioral Health Consultant with a decade of experience at Region 10, where she’s passionate about helping teachers and students implement effective strategies for success. In November, she and her husband, David, will celebrate two years of marriage. Her son, John Michael, is a Texas Tech graduate and works with the university’s men’s basketball team, while her daughter, Katelynn, is a senior at Rockwall High School. On weekends, you might find Michelle working at Bath and Body Works in Rockwall to support her habit of shopping.
Restorative Practices
Dr. Gaye Lang: Restorative Practices Statewide Director
Restorative Practices training will resume January 2025. Information related to specific dates and methods of delivery will be forthcoming. Thank you for your patience and support." — Dr. Lang, Statewide Director of Restorative Practices
For more information, please visit the Restorative Discipline Practices website: Restorative Discipline Practices in Texas | Texas Education Agency
Restorative Practices also has two video series. In "Restorative Practices Made Simple", Dr. Gaye Lang and her invited panel discuss real-world examples of how Restorative Practices has positively impacted students across the state. Watch the Restorative Practices Made Simple video series here: Restorative Practices Made Simple | Texas Education Agency
Additionally, Dr. Gaye Lang's new video series "Restorative Practices Made Simple: Families as Partners" empowers parents with tools for effective communication and aligns home and school environments for students' benefit. Watch Restorative Practices Made Simple: Families as Partners here: Restorative Practices Made Simple: Families as Partners | Texas Education Agency
TEA Mental Health and Wellness
Mental & Behavioral Health Webinar Series
The Texas Education Agency’s Student Supports Division and our Project AWARE Texas partners will be hosting a series of monthly webinars to highlight resources and best practice strategies on timely and relevant safe and supportive schools topics. Session topics will all include universal supports for school mental health, bullying prevention, building partnerships, and data informed decision making to support school mental health. All sessions will be held from 11am to 12:30pm CST. Live Webinar session participants can earn TEA’s Continuing Education Units (CEUs). Register today for the upcoming webinars below:
December 12th, 2024 - Leveraging MTSS to Support Student Mental Health
Register Here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ljEZjpotQB2WlOV5UcMZuQ
January 9th , 2025- Supporting Psychological Safety Through School Mental Health
Register Here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_o9rlIQSHT4upmKCJ7gGAiA
March 13th, 2025- Utilizing Resources from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to Support School Mental Health
Register Here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_XxYoLdUjTGKBNmtOJTeX-g
May 8th, 2025- TIER 1 Mental Health Promotion
Register Here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_3Kj2T9HwS6CXQkv6c1uVAg
Did you miss a Webinar session? You can review TEA’s past Texas School Mental Health Webinar recordings posted here: Recorded TEA School Mental Health Webinars
Child Psychiatry Access Network
Nov. 21: Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents
- List the prevalence, pathogenesis, and clinical manifestations of anxiety disorders in youth.
- Recall the recommended evidence-based psychotherapy treatment modalities for anxiety disorders in youth.
- Recall the recommended pharmacologic treatment options for youth with moderate to severe anxiety disorders.
Wellness First Fall Newlsetter
Parent Resources on Social Media Use
The American Academy of Pediatrics offers a variety of parent resources for how to set up parameters for social media use among children and adolescents. Resources include a Glossary of Terms, Conversation Starters, Q&A portal, Family Tip Sheets, and Downloadable & Printable Activities for building good social media habits.
