Sheryl Boswell, Executive Director and Founder of Youth Mental Health Canada

How we support young people once a student is struggling with their mental health and not able to access and manage an education is critical. Increasing mental wellness protective factors, providing needs-based educational support and schooling models, and implementing school and community-wide proactive and preventative approaches to supporting young people with mental health challenges and disabilities including school-induced anxiety and phobia are at the heart of upstream prevention and our values of “building a world worth living in.” Chronic school absenteeism is one of the most pressing issues in youth mental health and suicide prevention. A significant number of students lose their education, future potential in education, employment, and life, and peer and school support networks. This workshop will provide participants with a range of school-wide strategies for positively impacting the lives, health, education, and future potential of students.
HANDOUTS /LINKS

• Digital Workbooks and Guidebooks(pdf)

Kelsie Olds, The OccuPLAYtional Therapist

Sensory Processing, Regulation & Interoception
What does the buzzword "sensory" really mean? Co-regulation, self-regulation, interoception, how do these relate to the sensory systems? What does processing emotions actually look like in practice? When should children have developed which emotional skills, and how do adults help them on the way? Join us as we try to answer these and other OT questions during this webinar.

HANDOUTS /LINKS

• Presentation(pdf)

• 3 Step Problem Solving

• Too Touchy Fo School

• Choosing The Right Sensory Tools

• Webinar Feedback Form (Please share your feedback)

Taryn Sharpe, B.A., B.S.W, M.S.W, R.S.W. from Hills And Valleys Counselling Services

WEBINAR # 2
Processing Emotions and the Stages of Grief for Adoptees
Children/Youth who have been adopted have a unique experience and each person will process their journey differently. Many adoptees will express feelings of abandonment and loneliness even if their adoption and adoptive family was not a traumatic one. This week will focus on the common emotions of loss one may face by being an adopted child/youth and how this carries throughout the life span. We will explore ways to validate these thoughts and feelings and consider a few helpful tips that can help to reframe those thoughts.

HANDOUTS /LINKS

• Presentation(pdf)

Heather T. Forbes, LCSW Author, speaker, developmental trauma expert 

This training focuses on how parents, educators & community members can redefine and “renovate” the traditional school environment to develop trauma-informed classrooms. Heather will link together the trauma-related neurological research with application-based strategies and techniques that can easily be implemented by parents and educators.

Participants will leave with real-life solutions that will help children change their behaviors and will put them on their path to healing.

You will be empowered to help them reclaim their love for learning, giving them a chance to reach their highest academic potential.

HANDOUTS /LINKS

• Presentation(pdf)

Jenni Cammaert, Assistant Professor in Social Work at St. Thomas University talks about vicarious trauma, caregiver burnout, and strategies for 'doable' self-care

As carers we are always giving to someone else, trying to ease their life in some way. Unfortunately, we don’t often give the same care and consideration to ourselves leading to feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, moody, and alone, which can make daily activities challenging. This webinar aims to discuss vicarious trauma, and what burnout looks like in caregivers and children, as well as provide strategies for ‘doable’ self-care and indicators for when to get help.

Presentation (pdf)

Sebastian Pacey-Smith, Ph.D. Intern in Clinical Psychology

Based on the ARC Framework (Attachment, Regulation, and Competency)

This session will cover 2 components of the ARC model training.

ATTUNEMENT: Engaging rhythm and reciprocity to deepen the understanding of child behaviour.

CAREGIVER AFFECT MANAGEMENT: Recognizing and managing the caregiver's own emotional and physiological responses.

LEARN ABOUT

• Trauma Responses: Flight, Fight, Freeze, and Fawn

• How to recognize them in children

• How children feel 

• How to help them feel safe

HANDOUTS /LINKS

• Presentation(pdf)

• What survival can look like for a child

• Daniel Seigel Hand Model

• Child Workbook

• Send Feedback

This Webinar is a beginner's workshop written and created by transracial adoptee Rebekah Hutson. It covers what Rebekah believes are the non-negotiable basic fundamentals that any individual involved with transracial adoption should understand. In this lesson, we cover 3 units, racism, privilege, and creating a multicultural family dynamic. The goal of this workshop is to have participants leaving with a better understanding and basic tools to be both a parent AND an ally to their adopted children.

HANDOUTS

• Presentation

• Resource Guide for Transracial Adoptive Families

This webinar explores the nature of complex trauma and will help you understand how it is expressed in children/youth. You’ll learn how trauma can change the way a person relates to others and their environment and how it can affect the body, mind, and spirit. You’ll also learn the principles of trauma-informed care which will help you shift from saying “what is wrong with you” to “what has happened to you”. The webinar will also help you develop a better understanding of the nervous system and trauma survival responses. Finally, you’ll be presented with specific tools to begin helping the children/youth in your life manage difficult behaviours brought on by a trauma survival response.

Presented by Danielle Marcoux

Danielle Marcoux is a mental health nurse and adoptive parent. Over the last decade, Danielle has worked with children and youth in hospital, community, and school settings. As a registered nurse and clinical coordinator for the Child and Youth Team (mental health services), Danielle has seen firsthand the effects trauma can have on children’s behaviours and relationships. As an adoptive mom, Danielle understands the struggle and emotional toll parents feel when their child is struggling. In offering this webinar, Danielle hopes to bring understanding and compassion, as well as tools to help parents and caregivers build stronger relationships with the child/youth in their life.