Summer Institute 2014 Agenda - Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre

PROMOTING
MENTAL
HEALTH IN
BC SCHOOLS
SPONSORED BY PACIFIC BLUE CROSS
SUMMER
INSTITUTE 2014
Thursday and Friday August 21–22, 2014
University of British Columbia
Neville Scarfe Building,
2125 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC
SUMMER INSTITUTE 2014 AGENDA – DAY 1
BUILDING STRONG, RESILIENT SCHOOL COMMUNITIES
Thursday, August 21
8:00 - 8:30 AM
Registration, Refreshments and Resource Fair
8:30 - 8:45 AM
Welcome and Introduction
Keli Anderson – Co-Chair, BC School Centred
Mental Health Coalition; President and CEO,
National Institute of Families for Child & Youth
Mental Health
Laurie Birnie – Co-Chair, BC School Centred
Mental Health Coalition; Principal, Aspenwood
Elementary, SD #43 Coquitlam
8:45 - 10:00 AM
Connectedness and Belonging:
Creating School-Community
Partnership to Ensure Well-Being
for All Students
10:00 - 10:15 AM
Break
10:15 - 11:15 AM
School Connectedness Capacity
Building Project
Co-sponsored by the BC School Centred
Mental Health Coalition (BCSCMHC)
and DASH BC
Mark Greenberg – Bennet Chair of Prevention
Science, Pennsylvania State University
Kathy Cassels – Executive Director, DASH BC
Rob Zambrano – Principal, Centennial
Secondary School, SD #43 Coquitlam
Harriet Chang – School Counsellor, Maple
Creek Middle School, SD #43 Coquitlam
Bev Ogilvie – District Counsellor,
SD #41 Burnaby
11:15 - 12:00 PM
People as the Path
MODERATOR:
Steve Cairns – Co-founder: Village of
Attachment; Founder: Village Ethos
PANELISTS:
Colleen Clark – Parent in Residence Comox
Valley, Campbell River and Islands, The
F.O.R.C.E. Society for Kids’ Mental Health
Jasmine Rakhra – Former Kelty
Youth Ambassador
Dan Reist – Assistant Director, Knowledge
Exchange, Centre for Addictions Research of
BC at University of Victoria (CARBC)
Jane Irvin – Counsellor, SD #43 Coquitlam
SUMMER INSTITUTE 2014 AGENDA – DAY 1 (continued...)
12:00 - 1:00 PM
Lunch/Resource Fair
1:00 - 2:15 PM
Breakout Sessions (Block 1)
Practical information and strategies for building resilient, connected school communities
Breakout sessions will be repeated over two time blocks-you can choose two from the
Day 1 breakout session descriptors, attending one in each of the allocated time blocks.
Gender Diversity, Gender Identity:
Creating Action, Learning and
Leadership (Rm. 200)
Lorraine Grieves – MA, RCC, Manager,
Transgender Health Information, Prism,
Youth Addictions, Vancouver Coastal Health
Kyle Shaughnessy – BSW, Project Lead
CALL Out!, Vancouver Coastal Health
Embracing the Now! How
Mindfulness can Build Resilience in
Students and Educators (Rm. 209)
Dr. Dzung Vo – MD, Clinical Assistant
Professor, Division of Adolescent Health
and Medicine, Department of Pediatrics,
BC Children’s Hospital and University of
British Columbia
Ly Hoang – MA in Counselling Psychology,
Senior School Counsellor at York House School
Dancing with the Magic of Circle –
Restorative Practice (Rm. 201)
Laurie Ebenal – District Principal Aboriginal
Education, SD #43 Coquitlam
Creating a Healthy Mind and Body in
the Workplace (Rm. 203)
Sharon Storoschuk – Director,
Health Promotion at Canadian Cancer
Society, BC & Yukon Division
Elisa Murru – WellnessFits Coordinator,
Canadian Cancer Society, BC & Yukon Division
Helping ALL Kids Do and Be Their
Best: Practical Possibilities for Self
Regulation (Rm. 204)
Colleen Politano –
Politano Practical Possibilities
ConnectZones: Building Connections
in School Communities (Rm. 206)
Steve Cairns – B.A. M.Ed Leadership,
Village of Attachment
Beverly Ogilvie – MA, RCC,
District Counsellor Burnaby Schools;
Associate Professor City University;
Temporary Instructor Vancouver Island University
2:15 - 2:30 PM
Transition Break
2:30 - 3:45 PM
Breakout Sessions (Block 2)
3:45 - 4:00 PM
Closing
Keli Anderson – Co-Chair, BC School Centred
Mental Health Coalition; President and CEO,
National Institute of Families for Child &
Youth Mental Health
Laurie Birnie – Co-Chair, BC School Centred
Mental Health Coalition; Principal, Aspenwood
od
Elementary, SD #43 Coquitlam
2
DAY 1 – BREAKOUT SESSIONS DESCRIPTORS
Breakout sessions will be repeated over two time blocks-you can choose two from the following list,
attending one in each of the allocated time blocks.
Gender Diversity, Gender Identity: Creating Action, Learning
and Leadership
FACILITATORS:
Lorraine Grieves – MA, RCC, Manager, Transgender Health
Information, Prism, Youth Addictions, Vancouver Coastal Health
Kyle Shaughnessy – BSW, Project Lead CALL Out!,
Vancouver Coastal Health
Research demonstrates that more children and young people are
presenting to schools, health and social services expressing their
gender in ‘non-binary’, creative ways. The number of youth who
identify as ‘trans*’ is also on the rise. What does this mean for
how we provide services?
Evidence shows that LGBT2Q+ and especially, transgender youth
are over-represented in a range of health harms. The good news
is that the evidence also shows that some of the best practice,
upstream examples of mental health promotion efforts go a long
way to make spaces safer and more healthy for all youth. This
workshop will arm participants with current literature, practical
skills and hopeful examples of current best practice with an
emphasis on creating safer spaces for ALL youth by way of
tailoring initiatives to LGBT2Q+ young people and their allies.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Participants will gain practical knowledge about gender diversity
• Participants will leave the session with possible actions they can
take forward to their school settings
• Participants will become more familiar with risk and protective
factors for LGBT2Q+ youth
• Participants will have an increased awareness and skill level
about working with and supporting gender diverse youth
Embracing the Now! How Mindfulness can Build Resilience in
Students and Educators
FACILITATORS:
Dr. Dzung Vo – MD, Clinical Assistant Professor,
Division of Adolescent Health and Medicine, Department of
Pediatrics, BC Children’s Hospital and University of British Columbia
Ly Hoang – MA in Counselling Psychology,
Senior School Counsellor at York House School
Mindfulness means “Paying attention in a particular way: on
purpose, in the present moment, and non-judgmentally” (Jon
Kabat-Zinn, Full Catastrophe Living.) Mindfulness training has
been shown to help promote health and stress management in
adults in a variety of settings. More recently, mindfulness training
is emerging as a powerful tool to promote positive development,
stress management, and social-emotional learning in children
3
and adolescents. Mindfulness training in educational settings can
improve student behaviors, attention, learning, and emotional
regulation. Mindfulness training for educators can improve
teachers’ self-efficacy, classroom behavior management, and job
satisfaction. In this interactive 75-minute workshop, Dzung Vo,
MD, and Ly Hoang, MA, will present the background and science
behind mindfulness, and discuss applications of mindfulness
training in schools. Participants will be invited to experience brief
mindfulness practices that can be used in their own lives and in
their classrooms.
Dancing with the Magic of Circle – Restorative Practice
FACILITATOR:
Laurie Ebenal – District Principal Aboriginal Education,
SD #43 Coquitlam
Restorative practice is a form of resolving conflict throughout a
number of settings. It originated within the criminal justice system
and was called restorative justice. There are a range of techniques,
philosophies and understanding of restorative practice and the
power of the circle. Quite simply put, ‘restorative’ means the belief
that decisions are best made and conflicts are best resolved by
those most directly involved with them. An important tool within
the RP framework is the circle. My grandmothers’ teachings
centre around the magic of the circle. Using traditional Indigenous
teachings and marrying western paradigms we will explore
resolving conflict across settings.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Core assumptions of resolving conflict/finding a different path
• Present model circles that help participants develop emotional
awareness, emotional literacy, and mindfulness/Western and
Indigenous models
• Providing inclusionary Indigenous teachings
DAY 1 – BREAKOUT SESSIONS (continued...)
Creating a Healthy Mind and Body in the Workplace
ConnectZones: Building Connections in School Communities
FACILITATORS:
FACILITATORS:
Sharon Storoschuk – Director, Health Promotion at
Canadian Cancer Society, BC & Yukon Division
Steve Cairns – B.A. M.Ed Leadership Village of Attachment
Elisa Murru – WellnessFits Coordinator,
Canadian Cancer Society, BC & Yukon Division
How do we stay healthy at the workplace given the increasing
demands? WellnessFits is a workplace wellness program that
focuses on creating supportive environments and enabling healthy
choices. Using resources from this program, this session will
focus on: what does it mean to have a healthy mind and body
in the workplace; how can you be a champion of a healthier
workplace; and strategies for creating a healthy mind and body
in the workplace.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• To explore what it means to have a healthy mind and body in
the workplace
• How to be a champion in the workplace for creating a healthier
work environment
• Developing strategies for creating a healthy mind and body in
the workplace
Helping ALL Kids Do and Be Their Best: Practical Possibilities
for Self Regulation
FACILITATOR:
Colleen Politano – Politano Practical Possibilities
Colleen will focus on 2 aspects of self regulation. She will show
you practical possibilities to create environments that are
more ‘self-regulation’ friendly. She will also provide a range of
possibilities to teach kids strategies they can use independently
so they can be calmer, more focused, and more able to manage
their emotions. You will leave with practical ideas to help ALL kids
do and be their best.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Help participants understand how we all try to manage stressors
• Provide practical possibilities for making more self-regulation
e
‘friendly’ environments
• Provide specific possibilities to show kids how to d
deal
with stressors
4
Beverly Ogilvie – MA, RCC, District Counsellor Burnaby Schools;
Associate Professor City University; Temporary Instructor
Vancouver Island University
This interactive session focuses on a heart driven, brain
guided process that reignites the intuitive, instinctual need
to collectively nurture our young and build connectedness
in school communities.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Learn about a connectedness model for safe, caring
school communities
• Learn how to apply a connectedness model to build
school communities
• Learn about healthy development of the whole child and
how to transform how we work with children, families,
and other professionals
• Explore the school community of your dreams
SUMMER INSTITUTE 2014 AGENDA – DAY 2
ADDRESSING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUBSTANCE USE CHALLENGES
Friday, August 22
8:30 - 9:00 AM
Refreshments and Resource Fair
9:00 - 9:15 AM
Welcome and Introduction
Dr. Connie Coniglio – Provincial Executive
Director, Children and Women’s Mental Health
& Substance Use Programs, BC Mental Health
ealth
and Substance Use Services
9:15 - 10:00 AM
McCreary Adolescent Survey Data
From Hastings Street to Haida Gwaii:
School Connectedness and Mental Health
among Students in BC
Elizabeth Saewyc – Research Director,
McCreary Centre Society
10:00 - 10:30 AM
Child & Youth Mental Health &
Substance Use Collaborative
Using a COLLABORATIVE approach to
deal with the WICKED problem of Child
and Youth Mental Health
Dave Mackenzie – School Counsellor,
SD #22 Vernon and BC School Counsellors
Association
Keli Anderson – Co-Chair, BC School Centredd
Mental Health Coalition; President and CEO,
National Institute of Families for Child & Youth
Mental Health
10:30 - 10:45 AM
Break
10:45 - 12:00 PM
Breakout Sessions (Block 1)
Practical information and strategies for building resilient, connected school communities
Breakout sessions will be repeated over two time blocks-you can choose two from the
Day 2 breakout session descriptors, attending one in each of the allocated time blocks.
BC FRIENDS For Life Parent Program
(Rm. 209)
Victoria Keddis – FRIENDS Parent Program
Facilitator, The F.O.R.C.E. Society for Kids’
Mental Health
Monica Kriese – FRIENDS Parent Program
Facilitator, The F.O.R.C.E. Society for Kids’
Mental Health
Anxiety in Teens: Supporting Youth
in Schools (Rm. 206)
Christine Yu – M.A., R.C.C., Child and
Adolescent Therapist, LEAP Clinic
– CBT for Kids
“I have ADHD but ADHD doesn’t
have me” (Rm. 204)
Christie Durnin, Director – The F.O.R.C.E.
Society for Kids’ Mental Health
Kim Korf-Uzan – Program Manager, Kelty
Mental Health Resource Centre, BC Mental
Health and Substance Use Services
Andrew Brown – SFU Grad Student and
ADHD Corner Youth Planning Team member
Sarah Dunderdale – ADHD Corner Youth
Planning Team member
Introducing Mental Health First
Aid Canada (Rm. 203)
5
Seia Roots – Community Educator,
The Canadian Mental Health Association,
Vancouver/Burnaby Branch
SUMMER INSTITUTE 2013 AGENDA – DAY 2 (continued...)
Rethinking Drug Ed through a
Cross-Curricular, Constructivist
Approach (Rm. 201)
Dan Reist – Assistant Director,
Knowledge Exchange, Centre for Addictions
Research of BC at University of Victoria
Eating Disorders in the School
Context: What school professionals
need to know and what they can do
(Rm. 200)
Karen Dixon – Social Worker,
BC Mental Health and Substance Use
Services – Provincial Specialized Eating
Disorders Program
Tom Bauslaugh – Youth & Family Clinical
Resource Educator, BC Mental Health
and Substance Use Services - Provincial
Specialized Eating Disorders Program
Stop Wondering, Start Knowing: a
mental health school video resource
(Auditorium)
Charlene King – Project Manager,
Health Literacy, BC Mental Health and
Substance Use Services
Meagan Colenutt – Project Manager,
Health Literacy, BC Mental Health and
Substance Use Services
Nicole Chovil – Coordinator, Projects and
Initiatives, Child, Youth & Young Adult
Mental Health & Substance Use Services,
Fraser Health
12:00 - 12:45 PM
Lunch/Resource Fair
12:45 - 2:00 PM
Breakout Sessions (Block 2)
2:00 - 2:15 PM
Transition Break
2:15 - 3:00 PM
FamilySmart Practices for Child &
Youth Mental Health – How this
applies to schools
Keli Anderson – President & CEO,
National Institute of Families for Child &
Youth Mental Health
Karen Copeland – FamilySmart Consensus
Statement Builder, National Institute of
Families for Child & Youth Mental Health
3:00 - 3:30 PM
Closing
Keli Anderson – Co-Chair, BC School Centred
Mental Health Coalition; President and CEO,
National Institute of Families for Child & Youth
Mental Health
Laurie Birnie – Co-Chair, BC School Centred
Mental Health Coalition; Principal, Aspenwood
Elementary, SD #43 Coquitlam
6
DAY 2 – BREAKOUT SESSIONS DESCRIPTORS
Breakout sessions will be repeated over two time blocks — you can choose two from the following list,
attending one in each of the allocated time blocks.
BC FRIENDS For Life Parent Program
FACILITATORS:
Monica Kriese – FRIENDS Parent Program Facilitator,
The F.O.R.C.E. Society for Kids’ Mental Health
Victoria Keddis – FRIENDS Parent Program Facilitator,
The F.O.R.C.E. Society for Kids’ Mental Health
The BC FRIENDS Parent Program is complimentary to the
FRIENDS Program being taught in schools throughout BC.
Developed with parents, this program teaches parents about
the FRIENDS program and ways to reinforce the FRIENDS skills
at home. FRIENDS teaches children important life skills such as
identifying feelings, how to relax, how to think in helpful ways,
how to face fears, how to problem solve, and much more.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) will be provided and
anxiety management strategies for youth will be demonstrated.
Discussions about effective collaboration between parents,
schools and community partners will be facilitated.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Describe factors that contribute to and maintain anxiety
• Demonstrate evidence-based strategies to help students
manage their anxiety in a school context
• Explore ways in which families, schools and community partners
can collaborate in supporting students with anxiety
“I have ADHD but ADHD doesn’t have me”
FACILITATORS:
FRIENDS For Life has been recognized by the World Health
Organization (WHO) as an effective intervention for children
that reduces the risk of anxiety disorders and builds resilience
in children.
Christie Durnin, Director – The F.O.R.C.E. Society for Kids’
Mental Health
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Andrew Brown – SFU Grad Student and ADHD Corner Youth
Planning Team member
• To provide an overview of FRIENDS in BC schools and the
partnerships built between MCFD, school districts, independent
schools, First Nations Schools Association and The FORCE
Society for Kids’ Mental Health
• To provide an overview of the online parent program and
highlight tools, resources and activities that parents have
found effective
• To show how a family benefits from the knowledge about anxiety
and how that knowledge can be used at home to support young
people with worries and anxiety
FRIENDS For Life was brought to BC by the Ministry of Children
and Family Development (MCFD) in 2004 as an anxiety
prevention and risk reduction initiative, and it has been available
to schools and families ever since.
Anxiety in Teens: Supporting Youth in Schools
FACILITATOR:
Christine Yu – M.A., R.C.C., Child and Adolescent Therapist,
LEAP Clinic – CBT for Kids
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health concern
and are associated with an array of psychosocial problems,
including higher rates of depression, adolescent suicide, increased
substance use, poor social relationships, lower academic
achievement, and impaired family cohesion. It is important to
be better able to identify and support youth for intervention.
This interactive session will help attendees understand
anxiety and how it presents in adolescents. An overview of
7
Kim Korf-Uzan – Program Manager, Kelty Mental Health Resource
Centre, BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services
Sarah Dunderdale – ADHD Corner Youth Planning Team member
Let’s talk about ADHD…Come and be a part of a discussion
that focuses on what some of B.C.’s youth have said about
their experience of living with ADHD and being at school.
Hear from the Provincial ADHD Task Force, the F.O.R.C.E.
Society for Kids’ Mental Health and two members of the
ADHD Corner Youth Planning Team as we explore the strengths
of students with ADHD and discuss their experience in the
classroom environment.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Provide an opportunity to hear about the work being done by the
Provincial ADHD Task Force
• Highlight key statements made at the 2014 Youth Summit
ADHD Corner by BC high school students about their
experience at school and with medications
• Identify strengths of students with ADHD and successful
classroom strategies
Introducing Mental Health First Aid Canada
FACILITATOR:
Seia Roots – Community Educator, The Canadian Mental Health
Association, Vancouver/Burnaby Branch
What is Mental Health First Aid? Through lecture, video and a
small group activity, this session will introduce participants to the
international Mental Health First Aid program, and how it applies
to BC Schools.
DAY 2 – BREAKOUT SESSIONS (continued...)
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Consider the disabling nature of many mental illnesses
• Increase mental health literacy
• Discover how Mental Health First Aid completes your first
aid training
Rethinking Drug Ed through a Cross-Curricular,
Constructivist Approach
FACILITATOR:
Dan Reist – Assistant Director, Knowledge Exchange,
Centre for Addictions Research of BC at University of Victoria
This participatory workshop will provide a comprehensive look
at evidence-based approaches to helping young people develop
the knowledge and skills they need to survive and thrive in
today’s world where drugs are commonly used. It will introduce
participants to cross-curricular learning resources (e.g.,“iMinds”
for grades 4-10 and “Drugs and Driving” for gr. 10) as well as other
web-based resources designed to support school communities.
This session will also include an opportunity for participants to
help inform a project designed to support effective drug education
in BC schools through a focus on supporting professionals in
school districts, health authorities and communities.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Be familiar with the basic evidence about promising practices
related to classroom and school-based efforts to promote
mental health and reduce problematic substance use in
young people
• Learn about practical, evidence-based, free resources that can
support their efforts
• Have the opportunity to provide input in to a nationally funded
project designed to support effective drug education in BC
schools through a focus on supporting professionals in school
districts, health authorities and communities
professionals may have when they suspect that a problem exists;
and c) understanding how school professionals may support
eating disorder treatment and recovery efforts.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Participants will be able to differentiate between disordered
eating and eating disorders
• Participants will be able to recognize when a young person may
be developing an eating problem and what to do and where to
turn should this happen
• Participants will learn how they may help support a youth with
an eating disorder to recover within the school context
Stop Wondering, Start Knowing: a mental health school
video resource
FACILITATORS:
Charlene King – Project Manager,
Health Literacy, BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services
Meagan Colenutt – Project Manager,
Health Literacy, BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services
Nicole Chovil – Coordinator, Projects and Initiatives,
Child, Youth & Young Adult Mental Health & Substance Use
Services, Fraser Health
The Health Literacy team at BC Mental Health & Substance Use
Services, in collaboration with Fraser Health, and an advisory
group composed of youth, parents and school professionals, has
created a school video resource that can be used to help young
people better understand the importance of mental health, early
signs of mental health challenges, and ways to promote their
mental wellness and how to talk and take action!
Eating Disorders in the School Context: What school
professionals need to know and what they can do
Stop Wondering, Start Knowing, includes an eighteen minute
video featuring the stories of youth with lived experience and a
facilitation guide for school professionals. Apart from reviewing
the resource, no preparation, background knowledge or expertise
in mental health is required, however, during this session we will
walk through the resource to demonstrate its use and answer
any questions.
FACILITATORS:
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Karen Dixon – Social Worker, BC Mental Health and Substance Use
Services – Provincial Specialized Eating Disorders Program
• Provide background on the development of Stop Wondering,
Start Knowing
• At the end of the workshop, you will confidently be able to
facilitate the use of Stop Wondering, Start Knowing with
your students
Tom Bauslaugh – Youth & Family Clinical Resource Educator,
BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services – Provincial Specialized
Eating Disorders Program
Through interactive discussion, case studies, and brief
lecture format, Tom and Karen will support participants in: a)
understanding what eating disorders are in comparison to dieting
and other disordered eating patterns; b) learning what role school
8
2014 SUMMER INSTITUTE RESOURCE FAIR PARTICIPANTS
DAY 1
DAY 2
Action Schools! BC
actionschoolsbc.ca
ADHD Parent Program
vch.ca/403/7676/?program_id=130
BC Partners
heretohelp.bc.ca
Anxiety BC
anxietybc.com
DASH BC (Directorate of Agencies for School Health)
dashbc.ca
BC Injury and Prevention Unit
injuryresearch.bc.ca
F.O.R.C.E. Society for Kids’ Mental Health
forcesociety.com
BC Partners
heretohelp.bc.ca
Institute of Families
instituteoffamilies.ca
BC Schizophrenia Society
bcss.org
Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre
keltymentalhealth.ca
C.H.A.D.D. Vancouver
vcn.bc.ca/chaddvan/home.htm
McCreary Centre Society
mcs.bc.ca
CMHA BC Division
cmha.bc.ca
mindcheck.ca
mindcheck.ca
Crisis Intervention & Suicide Prevention
Centre of BC (operating Youth in BC)
youthinbc.com
Pacific Blue Cross
pac.bluecross.ca
PeerNetBC
peernetbc.com
Prism Services
vch.ca/prism
Roots of Empathy
rootsofempathy.org
Seeds of Empathy
seedsofempathy.org
UBC Faculty of Education
educ.ubc.ca
UBC’s HELP
earlylearning.ubc.ca
DrugCocktails.ca
drugcocktails.ca
Family Services of the North Shore/
Jessie’s Legacy Eating Disorders Prevention Program
jessieslegacy.com
F.O.R.C.E. Society for Kids’ Mental Health
forcesociety.com
FRIENDS
mcf.gov.bc.ca/mental_health/friends.htm
Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre
keltymentalhealth.ca
Kids Help Phone
kidshelpphone.ca
MCFD
mcf.gov.bc.ca/mental_health/index.htm
mindcheck.ca
mindcheck.ca
Mood Disorders Association of BC/The Lowdown
mdabc.net
Pacific Blue Cross
pac.bluecross.ca
South Asian Mental Health Alliance (SAMHAA)
samhaa.org
UBC Faculty of Education
educ.ubc.ca
9
PRESENTER BIOS
Keli Anderson
Co-Chair, BC School Centred Mental Health Coalition and President & CEO,
National Institute of Families for Child & Youth Mental Health
Keli Anderson has a 25 year-old son who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 10 years old. She has been
instrumental in bringing the family voice to child and youth mental health in BC and Canada. She co-founded and
was Executive Director of the FORCE Society for Kids’ Mental Health in BC from 2000-2013 before co-founding the
National Institute of Families for Child & Youth Mental Health in 2009. Keli’s efforts have resulted in many awards
including the UBC Unsung Hero Award in 2005, YWCA Woman of Distinction Award in 2007, Distinguished
Service to Families Award in 2010 and the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2013.
Laurie Birnie
Co-Chair, BC School Centred Mental Health Coalition and Principal, Aspenwood Elementary, SD #43 Coquitlam
Laurie is the principal of Aspenwood Elementary in SD #43. A BC educator for 34 years, she has worked in four
metro districts, served as a Faculty Associate and sessional instructor at SFU, as well as an educational consultant
in Mathematics. She has worked on several literacy and assessment committees for the Ministry of Education
and has served as a Director for the British Columbia Principal and Vice Principals’ Association. Laurie currently
represents BCPVPA and the Coquitlam School District as the co-chair on the BC School Centred Mental Health
Coalition (BCSCMHC).
Mark Greenberg
The Bennett Endowed Chair in Prevention Research in Penn State’s College of Health and Human Development and
Founding Director of the Prevention Research Center for the Promotion of Human Development
Mark Greenberg, Ph.D. holds The Bennett Endowed Chair in Prevention Research in Penn State’s College of Health
and Human Development and he is the Founding Director of the Prevention Research Center for the Promotion of
Human Development. He is an author of the PATHS Curriculum which is used in over 3000 schools worldwide. He is
the author of over 300 journal articles and book chapters on the development of well-being, learning and the effects
of prevention efforts on children and families. He is a Board Member of the Collaborative for Academic, Social and
Emotional Learning (CASEL). One of his current interests is how to help nurture awareness and compassion in
our society.
Kathy Cassels
Executive Director, DASH BC
Kathy is a longtime advocate for the healthy development of children and has over 30 years of experience as
a provincial resource for healthy schools.
In the many years that Kathy has been involved in the work around healthy schools, she has made significant
contributions. In 2001, she brought the National Breakfast for Learning initiative to BC, a program that ensures that
all children are well nourished and ready to learn and received the BC Medical Association’s Excellence in Health
Promotion Award, individual category in 2003. In 2007, Kathy worked with the Ministry of Education to create the
Healthy Schools Network as a component of the Network of Inquiry and Innovation to incorporate healthy living
topics into inquiry approaches and utilize a whole school approach to maximizing learning environments across all
aspects of the school.
Kathy leads the team at DASH BC and also oversees the After School Sports and Arts Initiative, manages Action
Schools! BC for the province of BC and coordinates Healthy Schools BC, a key initiative of Healthy Families BC,
which works to ensure all students learn, play and thrive in healthy school communities.
10
In 2012, Kathy presented at the International Congress on School Effectiveness and Improvement on the
Interaction of Health Agencies and BC’s Education System facilitated by the Healthy Schools Network. Kathy lives
in Surrey, BC and enjoys fishing, cycling and spending time with her two grandchildren.
PRESENTER BIOS (continued...)
Connie Coniglio
Provincial Executive Director, Children and Women’s Mental Health and Substance Use Programs at
BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services
Connie Coniglio is the Provincial Executive Director, Children and Women’s Mental Health and Substance Use
Programs at BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services (BCMHSUS). Connie’s portfolio includes the Provincial
Specialized Eating Disorder Program for Children and Adolescents, the Mental Health Metabolic Program, the
Heartwood Centre for Women and the Provincial Youth Concurrent Disorders Program. Connie is also responsible
for the direction and management of mental health literacy initiatives under the BCMHSUS provincial mandate.
Ongoing initiatives in Connie’s portfolio include the Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre, the Multicultural Health
Literacy project, the BC Partners for Mental Health and Addictions Information, mindcheck.ca, and the Provincial
Child and Youth Healthy Living Initiative. She additionally provides oversight for provincial programs including the
Woodstone Residence and the Provincial Adult Tertiary Specialized Eating Disorders program.
Prior to joining BCMHSUS, Connie was Manager of Child and Youth Mental Health and Addictions and Child and
Youth Public Health with Vancouver Coastal Health. Connie also worked for 21 years in university counselling
centre management, including the development and delivery of programs and clinical services to students. Connie
is a Registered Psychologist and her education includes a Doctor of Education in Counselling Psychology from the
University of Toronto and a Master of Education from the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada.
Elizabeth Saewyc
Professor, UBC School of Nursing and Research Director, McCreary Centre Society
A Professor of Nursing and Adolescent Medicine at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Dr. Saewyc
heads the interdisciplinary Stigma and Resilience Among Vulnerable Youth Centre, and is the Research Director
for the McCreary Centre Society. She is a Fellow in both the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine and the
Canadian Academy of Health Sciences.
Dr. Saewyc’s research and clinical practice primarily focus on how stigma, violence, and trauma influence teens’
health, coping and risk behaviours, and what protective factors in relationships and environments can buffer
this trauma. She has worked for 20 years with diverse populations of young people, including runaway and streetinvolved youth, sexually abused/sexually exploited teens, gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender adolescents, youth
in custody, immigrant and refugee adolescents, and indigenous youth in several countries. The majority of her
research has been funded by NIH or CIHR.
Dave MacKenzie
School Counsellor, SD #22 Vernon and BC School Counsellors Association
Dave was born and raised in Winnipeg and graduated from the University of Manitoba. He moved to BC in 1991
to accept his 1st teaching job in Quesnel.
Dave is father of 2 teenagers and husband to a beautiful school counsellor from Vernon Secondary school. He
began his career as an elementary school teacher, and then moved into alternate education and now is the school
counsellor at Clarence Fulton Secondary. He was taught in Winnipeg, Quesnel, Mission and now Vernon.
Dave is an active member of the mental health community in BC…where he is a member of the BC School
Centered Mental Health Coalition, BC School Counsellors Association, president of the Canadian Mental Health
Association-Vernon branch and member of the steering and faculty of the Interior Child and Youth Mental Health
and Substance Use Collaborative.
Dave experiences everyday how the a young person’s mental health challenge impacts their academic
achievement, attention to their studies and their overall sense of self.
On a personal level, Dave is more interested in being happy than right, but that is always a work in progress.
11
PRESENTER BIOS (continued...)
Karen Copeland
FamilySmart Consensus Statement Builder, Institute of Families
Karen Copeland had the honour of being one of the FamilySmart Consensus Statement Builders for the Institute
of Families. Karen also works as a Parent in Residence for the F.O.R.C.E. Society for Kids’ Mental Health in
Abbotsford, BC. She has two children and has extensive experience navigating School, Health and MCFD systems
to obtain the services her family needs and deserves. Karen shares her experiences with others to create a broader
understanding and awareness of the challenges families face when their child has a mental health challenge. Karen
loves creating opportunities for families and professionals to come together to learn from one another. Karen is
passionate about the concept of FamilySmart and the amazing things that can happen when youth and families are
fully included and valued in service development, creation, implementation and evaluation.
2014 SUMMER INSTITUTE PLANNING COMMITTEE
Julie Adams – Manager, Mental Health Promotion Projects,
BC Ministry of Health
Keli Anderson – Co-Chair, BC School Centred Mental Health Coalition;
President and CEO, National Institute of Families for Child & Youth
Mental Health
Cindy Andrew – Program Consultant, Helping Schools, Centre for
Addictions Research of BC (CARBC) at the University of Victoria
Laurie Birnie – Co-Chair, BC School Centred Mental Health Coalition;
Principal, Aspenwood Elementary, SD #43 Coquitlam; British Columbia
Principals and Vice Principals Association Representative
Meagan Colenutt – Project Manager, Health Literacy,
BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services
Dr. Connie Coniglio – Provincial Executive Director, Children
and Women’s Mental Health and Substance Use Programs,
BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services
Deborah Garrity – BC School Centred Mental Health Coalition
Steering Committee
Jane Irvin – Counsellor, SD #43 Coquitlam
Kiera Ishmael – Project Manager, Health Literacy,
BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services
Charlene King – Project Manager, Health Literacy,
BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services
Connor McCracken – Former Kelty Youth Ambassador
Claire Pitcher – Registered Nurse/Research Nurse
Jasmine Rakhra – Former Kelty Youth Ambassador
Truman Spring – District Principal of Special Education,
SD #57 Prince George
Jeff Stewart – Past Chair, BC School Centred Mental Health Coalition;
District Principal of Distributed Learning, SD #71 Comox Valley
Kim Weatherby
erb – Consultant, Directorate of Agencies for School
Health (DASH) B
BC