Growing Capacity for Effective School Mental Health

Mental Health Leader Module December 2012

Session Outline

Capacity Building in your Mental Health StrategyCapacity Building Considerations Audiences Content Format Sequence

Moving forward in growing capacityResources for You!

Strategy Cascade

Province

• Organizational Conditions• Capacity Building• Evidence-Based Programming

Board

• Organizational Conditions• Capacity Building• Evidence-Based Programming

School

• Organizational Conditions• Capacity Building• Evidence-Based Programming

Your Board Mental Health Strategy

Should include focus on capacity-building each yearThis focus should be driven by knowledge needs identified through resource mappingImportant to identify priority audiences each year (consider prior professional learning, knowledge cascade, urgent issues)

You may need to build structures, teams, roles to ensure adequate depth and breadth of deliveryMental Health Awareness, Literacy & Expertise resource bank will continue to grow via SMH ASSIST You will select/adapt what you need for your Strategy, or You will use/create your own

Capacity-Building Continuum

Mental Health Awareness Mental Health Literacy

Mental Health Expertise

Basic mental health information, tailored for different school board

audiences

Deeper working knowledge for those who have a direct role in supporting student mental health (creating

mentally healthy schools & classrooms, recognizing early

signs of difficulty)

Skills and knowledge for SMH professionals to

effectively provide evidence-based

promotion, prevention, and intervention

5

ALL SOME FEW

Capacity Building is not an event! It is an iterative deepening of knowledge embedded in school board life. It takes time.

Resources should be tailored for different education audiences

Continuum by Audience

Mental Health Awareness Mental Health Literacy

Mental Health Expertise

Trustees, Senior Administration, Office Staff, Bus Drivers, etc.

School Administration, School Staff in Special Roles,

Teachers, Paraprofessionals

School Mental Health Professionals

ALL SOME FEW

Continuum by Resources

ALL SOME FEW

Mental Health Awareness Mental Health Literacy

Mental Health Expertise

MH Awareness Webinar/Slide Series

Educator Guide / ABCs

Administrator Guide

Suicide Resources

Centre MH Literacy Modules

CCSA Substance Use Module (in development)

Capacity-Building Principles

Be systematic! Make use of current implementation structures – know what

these are (or create them) Deliver professional learning in a planful manner across your

board

Be responsive! Determine the purpose and type of learning required to support

effective school mental health Know your audiences and tailor content and delivery to their

needs and preferences

Be persistent! Understand that true capacity-building is iterative Avoid one-off events

Capacity-Building ConsiderationsAudience Tailor professional learning to address audience

knowledge needs and preferences

Content Involve stakeholders in creating / contextualizing content

and advising on delivery methods

Method Delivered using multiple methods, over time

Sequence Capacity building plan requires a systematic approach

that includes a careful sequence and clear timelines

Considering Audiences

Who are the key stakeholders in your school board who need information

about school mental health?

Considering Content

What do they need to know? What are the top priorities for

knowledge sharing?

Considering Format

How will they want to receive knowledge about school mental health?

Who will deliver the knowledge?

Teacher Preferences Research

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Trainer Qualities

Colleague Support

Practice Change Demands

Union Support

Administrative Support

Curriculum Links

Coaching

Group Size

Evidence-Base

Knowledge vs skill

Follow-up Support

Observablity Trialability

Time Demands

Universal vs Targeted

Implementation Ownership

Internet Options

Cunningham et al., 2012

Considering Sequence

How should professional learning be cascaded through your system?

Moving ForwardYou are the conduit for this information in your Board, and responsible for coordinating professional learning related to mental healthWork with your SO and MH Team to set professional learning priorities and to determine audience, content, delivery, and sequenceCohort 1 may be ready to begin to implement professional learning, cohort 2 will be in planning stagesEngaging others who are currently delivering PD in this area is critical

Resources for You!

Mental Health Awareness Webinar Series For everyone, for senior leaders, for school leaders, for

classroom staff

Administrators’ Guide

Educator Guide / ABCs of Mental Health

Ontario Centre of Excellence Modules Bullying, Stigma, Engagement, Evidence-Based Practice

Suicide resources Prevention, intervention, postvention

Planning for Professional LearningResources Audiences

Board MH Team

Senior Admin Trustees SMH Professionals

School Admin School MH Team

Classroom Staff Special Roles (e.g., Guidance)

Others…

MH Awareness Webinar/Slides for Everyone  Dec  2012              

Organizational Conditions Webinar/Slides for Board Leaders

 Dec 2013  Jan 2013  Feb 2013 Jan 2013        

MH Awareness Webinar/Slides for School Leaders          April 2013  May 2013    

MH Awareness Webinar/Slides for School Staff                

Educator Guide and ABCs of Mental Health          April 2013  May 2013  June 2013

Sept 2013  May 2013

Administrators’ Guide         April 2013      

Suicide PIP for Board Leaders  Dec 2012  Dec 2012            

Suicide PIP for School Leaders    Dec 2012            

Centre Module #1 Bullying        May 2013    Sept 2013    

Centre Module #2 Anxiety  Sept 2013    Nov 2013