1. Canadian Association for School Health Inaugural Pre-conference National Community of Practice Symposium, April 21, 2008 Gatineau, Quebec

2. Proceedings from Creating Connections in School Mental Health 2006 An International Symposium on Progressive Efforts in School-Based Mental Health Programming

3. Goals of the Day Increase capacity in Alberta relevant to School Mental Health. Engage members of the Education sector, along with supportive allied professionals in child- serving sectors, in developmental discussions. Generate recommendations and record what enhanced capacity in School Mental Health could look like, regionally and provincially.

4. Specific Objectives Present information on learnings and outcomes Generate relevant recommendations and desired outcomes for development in Alberta Provide impetus for the establishment of an Alberta “Community of Practice”. Explore opportunities for collaboration

5. Participants 60 Alberta based front line and management level education and health/school health practitioners 15 Panel presenters (Alberta-based and international)

6. Symposium Themes

7. The Importance of Infrastructure Bridging Research to Practice Whole School Mental Health/Universal Prevention Programming School-based Service Delivery Critical Issues in Mental Health/Education Integration

8. Symposium Format 4-5 Leaders/Practitioners in the thematic area 10 minutes each to highlight 3 most significant learnings, 3 most prominent outcomes 20 small group discussion to generate 3 recommendations and 3 potentially desirable outcomes from these recommendations

9. Whole School Mental Health or- School Mental Health in Health Promoting Schools or-School Mental Health within Comprehensive School Health Framework

10. 10 Panel Presenters Helen Butler, Mgr. Prof. Learning, Adol. Health and Social Environments, Ctre. for Adol. Health, Melbourne Jennifer Axelrod, Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning, Univ. of Illinois at Chicago Caroline Clauss-Ehlers, Dept. Counselling Psych., Rutgers, New Jersey Louise Rowling, U of Sydney, Australia; President, Intercamhs Additional commentary by Mark Weist, Director, Center for School Mental Health, University of Maryland and Carl Paternite, Director School based Mental Health Programs, Dept.of Psych., U of Miami in Ohio 10

11. School Environment/Eth os Learning/Instruction Community/Services Whole School/ Comprehensive School Health

12. 12 Research &Practice-Unidimensional, collaborative knowledge creation, transfer & exchange ID innovation by single, and school based practitioners & offer resources re: evaluation and dissemination Action-based, built on existing structures, where possible Link to school reform/school change/effective schools literature 10

13. Research (2) –Integrally involve researchers continuously –Compile provincial cost-benefit analysis of impacts of smh in relation to key factors eg. justice, hospitalization, medical leave –Engage teachers as reflective practitioners- just just for outside experts to do –Collect and collate baseline & ongoing data on prevention programming to track progress –Build data base re: school based healthy policies and practices and track changes

14. What we know…in Alberta (1) Key Issues (Advancing the Mental Health Agenda, April 2004) Service capacity and gaps, especially for children Stigmatization and inequity-creates significant barriers to treatment Funding inadequacy Need for integrated service delivery Need for decentralized, multi-provider service environment Need to address organizational barriers to integrating services

15. Research (3) Investigate impacts of collective efficacy/professional satisfaction/school connectedness (of students and school staff) on school climate and connectedness with academic success and well-being.

16. 16 Policy Make Social Emotional Learning a mandated component of curriculum Focus on prevention efforts, implementing protective factors, starting in pre-K. Boards of Education invest in the philosophy and make it an integral part of their mandate Ensure cross ministerial policy and resources to promote and support collaboration at all levels 14

17. 17 Training Integrate into mh promotion initiatives to reduce stigma to staff, students and community PD for teachers on mh and mh promotion essential: –connection between education and mh –role of educators in mh prevention and promotion –understanding of issues, responses, resources and self-care 15

18. 18 Training (2) Pre-service training Resources to support school communities to learn from and share with each other in expertise and successful approaches Cross-sectoral training, co-developed and co-delivered Systematically provide structured opportunities for school staff to reflect on how everyday practice promotes mh 16

19. 19 Practice Adapt and implement developed whole school mh promotion approaches eg Mind Matters, Gatehouse Project (Australia) Integrate knowledge and practice regarding academic and non-academic barriers to learning and cognitive functioning More school-friendly, school based support across the continuum 17

20. 20 Practice (2) Re: whole school practice-review existing “templates” for programming and services and re-educate stakeholders re: their implementation, emphasizing flexibility to meet the needs of various settings and cultures Develop processes which help parents to be heard rather than blamed Build on the concepts within “healthy school communities”-use consistent language 18

21. 21 Practice (3) Focus on whole school community, including students and all adults Develop a community of practice regionally, provincially, and beyond Listen to the ideas of educators, students and community members, and involve them in solution finding Enlist media involvement Create safe environments for discussion 19

22. Gloria Wells Director, Collaborative Initiatives, Rocky View School Division, Airdrie, Alberta Executive Director, Wellsprings Education and Human Service Consulting, Calgary, Alberta Contact: gwells@rockyview.ab.ca orgwells@rockyview.ab.ca wellsgl@shaw.ca

23. 23