For many young people, the isolation, uncertainty, and trauma of the past few years have bred anxiety and depression, with potentially long-lasting effects on their success in school and beyond. Schools must respond to this need by providing thoughtful and effective mental health supports.
Thriving Minds is here to help. Through this initiative—a partnership between the Rennie Center, the Massachusetts School Mental Health Consortium, and BRYT—we offer learning opportunities and guidance in building comprehensive mental health systems that allow schools to support all students, now and in the future.
Upcoming Trainings
Planning and Using Tier 3 Interventions
Tuesday, December 6th, 2:30-3:30pm
Presented by BRYT
Within a comprehensive school mental health system, a small number of students will require the most intensive interventions to ensure their continued wellbeing. Schools must be prepared to offer a range of supports that meet the individual needs of each student. Join leaders from bryt to learn more about effective Tier 3 interventions, including how to respond effectively in crisis situations and how to help students return to a school environment following a learning disruption.
Understanding a Continuous Improvement Approach
Thursday, December 15th, 2:30-4:00pm
Presented by the Rennie Center
Continuous improvement (CI) is a dynamic approach to learning powered by rapid, practitioner-driven cycles to develop and test promising changes in practice, whether in school mental health or other fields. In this session, participants will build a deeper understanding of continuous improvement strategies designed to support improved outcomes for each and every student. Join leaders from the Rennie Center to learn more about how to start with small tests of change and build from here toward a more high-functioning school mental health system.
Learning Communities
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has made available grant funds designed to build the capacity of Massachusetts school districts, charter schools, and educational collaboratives to adapt, expand, or strengthen multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) and to build strong partnerships with community-based mental health agencies and/or providers. Thriving Minds is collaborating with DESE to offer the following training and coaching opportunities on a range of topics related to mental health and social-emotional learning. For the full catalog of opportunities please visit the Spotlight on SEL and Mental Health website.
Cultivating a Culture of Wellness and Community Care for Adults
Tuesdays: Jan. 10, 12-2pm; Feb. 7, 12-1:30pm; Mar. 7, 12-1:30pm (content sessions)
Tuesdays: Jan. 24, 12-1:30pm; Feb. 21, 12-1:30pm; Mar. 14, 12-2pm (application sessions)
Presented by Thriving Minds
For many adults, particularly those in education, the last few years have been filled with constant change, ongoing uncertainty, unspoken losses, and increases in the manifestation of intense emotions. This PLC will examine the ways in which dysregulation impacts everyday functioning and emotions. Additionally, strategies will be discussed that can help foster regulation and resilience for adults. Specifically, it will explore what lies within and outside our sphere of control/influence. Participants will have the chance to learn and apply new strategies for cultivating wellness, provide timely feedback to peers, and share learnings through active participation in discussions. After participating in these six sessions, school staff should have a greater sense of how to cultivate belonging, wellness, and connection in their school buildings or among school teams.
This PLC is designed for SEL champions, school leaders, teacher leaders, administrators, and district-level coordinators. This PLC will include six sessions, alternating between in-depth Learning Sessions and interactive Application Sessions.
Training Series on Trauma-Responsive Practices for School Mental Health
Thriving Minds is partnering with the Center on Child Wellbeing and Trauma (CCWT) to provide a series of six professional development sessions on Trauma-Responsive Practices for School Mental Health. These sessions will focus on helping participants take a healing-centered approach to using trauma-responsive interventions in every classroom. Participants will be introduced to the meaning of trauma and its impact on student learning, learn how to use the Trauma Informed Schools Implementation Assessment (TRS-IA) to identify areas for improvement, and increase their ability to incorporate trauma-responsive practices across tiers. Sessions will also cover adult wellbeing and whole-staff support to facilitate a school-wide approach to healing.
This PD series will take place from 2:30-3:30pm on the following Wednesdays:
- December 14, 2022- What is Trauma?
- January 18, 2023- Using the Trauma Informed Schools Implementation Assessment (TRS-IA) Self-Assessment
- February 8, 2023- Interventions Across the Tiers, Part 1- Classroom and Universal Practices
- March 15, 2023- Interventions Across the Tiers, Part 2- Outside the Classroom
- April 12, 2023- Teaming, Data, and Screening
- May 10, 2023- Building a Trauma-Sensitive School Culture & Supporting Adult Wellbeing
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