How to Systematize Social Emotional Learning & Leverage Mental Health Partnerships Johanna Parra, M.A. OCDE Sandra Azevedo, M.A. BCOE
How to Systematize Social
Emotional Learning & Leverage
Mental Health Partnerships
Johanna Parra, M.A. OCDE
Sandra Azevedo, M.A. BCOE
Agenda NormsOverview of SUMS MTSS
Initiative
SEL and Mental Health
What SEL is and how to
systematize it
How to engage community
partners in this work
Be present for new learning
Participate
Think about your “take back”
Let’s put the SOCIAL in
Social Emotional Learning...
What did you notice about
your social skills or your
partner’s that facilitated
that interaction?
SEL and Mental Health
Social Emotional Learning
Seen as a way to help young people develop skills that
contribute to academic achievement and career and college outcomes
SEL also a powerful mechanism for improving children's
mental health
Let’s Talk About Mental Health Facts
1 in 5 children experience a mental health condition during childhood.
Only 1/3 of children with mental health problems get any kind of treatment.
50% of adults with a lifetime mental illness report having symptoms before age 14.
Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in ages 12-17
90% had an underlying mental illness
www.name.org
www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention;
What is Mental Health
The successful functioning that results in
productive activities, fulfilling relationships with
others, and the ability to adapt to change and to
cope with adversity.
Effects of Bad Mental Health
Life Stressors
Increase social, emotional,
behavioral and psychological risks.
Difficulty focusing, assimilating
information, staying on task and
controlling behavior.
Academic/ behavior problems and
poor perception of school climate
and safety.
Social and Emotional
Learning
What is SEL and why is it
important?
SEL is a process through which children and adults
learn to recognize and manage emotions, demonstrate
care & concern for others, develop positive relationships,
make good decisions, & behave ethically, respectfully &
responsibly.
Benefits of Social Emotional Learning
Student gains:
Social-Emotional skills
Improved attitudes about
self, others, and school
Positive classroom
environment
Reduced risks:
Conduct problems
Aggressive behavior
Emotional distress
Source: Durlak, J.A., Weissberg, R.P., Dymnicki, A.B., Taylor, R.D., &
Schellinger, K. (in press). The Impact of Enhancing Students’ Social and
Emotional Learning: A Meta-Analysis of School-Based Universal
Interventions. Child Development.
CASEL’s School-Wide
SEL Framework
“Making systems work… is the
great task of our generation
as a whole”.
Atul Gawande; How do we heal medicine; Ted.com
School Theory of Action
Framework
CASEL; Oberle, Domitrovich, Meyers &Weissberg, 2016
A shared vision for SEL is
established among all
stakeholders within a school.
Oberle, Domitrovich, Meyers & Weissberg, 2016)
Assess needs and available
resources for school-wide SEL
implementation
Oberle, Domitrovich, Meyers & Weissberg, 2016
Ongoing and embedded
professional learning in
SEL instruction
Oberle, Domitrovich, Meyers & Weissberg, 2016
Evidence-based SEL
programming is adopted
and incorporated into the
schools’ educational
practices.
Oberle, Domitrovich, Meyers & Weissberg, 2016
SEL is integrated into
everyday practices at school.
Oberle, Domirovich, Meyer & Weissberg, 2016
Individualized support plans that
provide more intensive services
and therapeutic supports.
Small group interventions to
support specific skills and/or pre-
teach/reinforce SEL skills.
Teach Foundational Social
Emotional Skills to all students.
Cycles of inquiry are
conducted to ensure
continuous improvement.
Oberle, Domitrovich, Meyers & Weissberg, 2016
Potential Barriers
Perceptions
Funding
Time
Leveraging
Community
Partners
http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/mh/Pages/MH_Prop63.aspx
How do I build
strategic
partnerships so I
don't have to do it
alone?
Building My Network of Resources:
Where do I start?
• Identify your resources
• It’s about who you know
• Who’s on your campus already (gap analysis)
• District resources
• Who's in your immediate area (family resource
• center, community center, library, etc)
Building Relationships
What do you do after you have identified your
connections?
• Give and take relationship
• Pay a visit, tour the facility, set up a meeting
• Ask the right questions when initially meeting
• Outline/detail a process for referring
• Collaborate, keep communication open
Things to Consider
• Language – academic focus versus mental health
focus
• Any district policies to consider?
• Confidentiality: HIPAA vs Ferpa
• Building relationships takes time
Plan Ahead for Potential Roadblocks
• Working in silos
• Possible Competition
• Space issues
• Lack of communication
• Need for continued relationship-building
• Need for ambiguity
• Accountability
Not your strength?
That’s okay…
Who's strength is it?
How can you support or contribute?
Eliminate the burden from someone else
Tools and Resources for
Implementation
California SUMS Initiative
• www.OCDE.US/SUMS.org
SWIFT
• www.SwiftSchools.org
California Department of Health Care Services - Prop 63
• http://www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/mh/Pages/MH_Prop63.aspx
CASEL
• www.CASEL.org
Next steps to consider:
Examine SEL/MH in your own district, school, and home.
Educate your parents, school community, and local leaders about SEL and its benefits.
Consider a school SEL implementation team.