Presentation Materials: 

D3_CollaborativePartnerships_presentation.pdf

This workshop will review innovative program models currently implemented at St. Aemilian-Lakeside that work collaboratively with school districts that provide supportive services for children with mental health issues that are impacting their ability to be successful at home, school, and in the community. The steps to cultivating a successful collaborative partnership with school districts will de detailed, as well as common obstacles and challenges. Presenters will specifically focus on what is needed to create a trauma sensitive school environment and how to support a school in moving toward needed changes in school policy and practice. Attention will also be paid to elements needed to create safety in schools and promote understanding of trauma issues and how they may impact learning and school behavior. Approaches that result in improved academic and behavioral outcomes for these children and how to motivate schools to utilize a new perspective will also be discussed.

Workshop objectives/takeaways:

• overview of current program models and outcomes;


• keys to successful collaboration between community mental health providers and school districts;


• common challenges encountered when working collaboratively; and


• critical elements of a trauma sensitive school environment.

Presenters: Sara Daniel, school-based services coordinator, and David Woodford, child and family therapist, St. Aemilian-Lakeside, Inc.

Workshop synopsis:

This workshop will focus on the programs at St. Aemilian-Lakeside that promote healing for children and developing coping skills to increase successful functioning. These programs include a continuum of services, including a community day treatment model, a school based therapy model, and a school support model that provides coaching and training to school districts to assist school staff in creating student success. Its presenters will share successful outcome data for these programs, which is suspected to be the result of serving a child in the environment in which he/she often encounters a great deal of challenges. The models presented stress the development of positive relationships between children and adults to increase resiliency and build competency in children.