Mental Health Fair

Many parents and professionals who deal with children feel more and more powerless in managing the behaviors they are encountering. Parents and teachers report a disconnect from spending time with one another, from engagement with school, and from positive relationships. They also report a lack of critical skill development they believe children need to achieve success. Much of this can be explained by the impact of electronics on individuals and families. Given how deeply screens are embedded in our lives, this talk will provide information and insights on how the brain is affected. We will then spend most of our time discussing behavioral strategies to empower adults to build desired skills and manage frustration (both theirs and the child’s). Our goal is for parents to feel more confident in building the connections needed to create stronger engagement and healthier relationships.

Mental Health Advocates of Western New York will host a “mental health fair” featuring social-emotional games, activities and/or sensory crafts to help reinforce maintaining a healthy life. Some of these activities and crafts may be:

• Rock Painting – decorating with positive affi rmations;
• Positive Letter Station – how to show gratitude and appreciation;
• Origami Station – using positive affi rmations and mindfulness;
• Growing Station – decorating a pot and planting a seed.

West Elementary staff will be present along with staff from Mental Health Advocates to assist and supervise children ages 5-15. (If you have special childcare needs, please indicate this on the RSVP form below.)

Joe Clem is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) since 2009 and Licensed Behavior Analyst (BCBA) since 2014. He holds a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Antioch University, in Marina Del Rey, Los Angeles where he lived for almost 20 years. He moved to Buffalo in 2003 and began a private practice treating families, couples and individuals. He has worked for over 18 years with individuals with developmental and emotional disabilities and their families in various settings. Joe has also consistently presented regionally, nationally and internationally via the web, on social/emotional and behavioral topics. Joe’s focus is in positive psychology and fi nding behaviorally accurate methods to increase connection, communication, appreciation and success in individuals, families and organizations.

If you have any questions, please contact Kristen Frawley by email at kfrawley@wscschools.org or call 716-677-3253.