Starting a School-Based Health & Wellness Center: For Health Partners

Health care agencies and community-based organizations that operate school-based health and wellness centers have specific considerations when it comes to providing care in a school setting, from ensuring robust billing practices to building effective partnerships. Learn about the steps and best practices to increasing access to care successfully.

Presenters: Amy Ranger, MPH, Director of Programs, California School-Based Health Alliance; Amy Blackshaw, MSW, Behavioral Health Project Director, California School-Based Health Alliance; Missy Nitescu, Chief Operating Officer, Northeast Valley Health Corporation

Starting a School-Based Health & Wellness Center: For Education Partners

Wellness Centers that are started and operated by education agencies are a growing trend that many communities across California are embracing. Hear about different successful models, how to engage partners effectively, and the best ways to keep services sustainable year over year.

Presenters: Sang Leng Trieu, DrPH, Consultant, California School-Based Health Alliance; Yesenia Ceballos, Wellness Counselor/Coordinator, Sierra High School; Hector Murrieta, Principal, Sierra High School; Aliea Coston, Head Counselor, Sierra High School, San Bernardino City Unified School District

Ensuring Consent & Confidentiality in School-Based Health Care

The appropriate sharing of information between educational and school health partners is essential, both to effectively serve students and families and to ensure legal compliance. What are HIPAA and FERPA and how do they apply? When and how may schools share information with their health partners and vice versa? How can parents, schools, and providers share information to improve health and educational outcomes?

Presenter: Rebecca Gudeman, JD, MPA, Senior Director, Health, National Center for Youth Law

Effecting Change With Youth Through the Use of Motivational Interviewing

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is a collaborative, goal-oriented style of communication to facilitate people talking about reducing health risks and changing behavior. It is designed to enhance the student’s own motivation to change using strategies that are empathic and non-confrontational. MI’s approach draws out the student’s own strengths and desires to help them make changes to improve their health-related behavior including substance use. Learn about the fundamental MI spirit, principles, processes, and micro-skills.

This workshop will be held over two sessions and participants must attend both to receive CEUs. This training course meets the qualifications for the provision of two and one-half (2.5) continuing education credits/contact hours (CEs/CEHs).*

Presenter: James Peck, PsyD, Psychologist/Clinical Trainer, UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs

Fostering Safe & Supportive Environments for LGBTQ Students

Learn about California state laws that support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) and gender expansive students at school sites, key LGBTQ terms and definitions, and best practices for fostering safe and supportive environments for LGBTQ students.

Presenter: Schmian Evans, MDiv, MA, LGBTQ Programming Specialist, Oakland Unified School District

Getting Ready for School Health Advocacy Day

Join us to prepare for advocacy visits with your legislators and policymakers during our School Health Advocacy Day on April 18. Learn what to expect during advocacy meetings, how to prepare your story and talking points, and get ready to advocate for school-based health care. This workshop will cover the basics of advocacy and provide you with a draft agenda for your meetings. You will also have plenty of time to practice so you feel relaxed and ready to speak up for school health and wellness!

Presenter: Marina Quintanilla, MPH, Advocacy Manager, California School-Based Health Alliance

Advocating for School Health & Leveraging New State Funding

Governor Newsom and the California legislature authorized a number of new programs, starting in 2021, to support health care for children and youth, and many will have relevance for SBHCs and the students they serve. They include the Student Behavioral Health Incentive Program (SBHIP); Community Schools; and the broader Child and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative. Hear about these programs, how they are being implemented, and what you need to know to engage in local implementation. Learn how to apply lessons learned from state and local advocacy efforts to advance school-based health and wellness in your school and community, leveraging these new opportunities.

Presenter: Gabrielle Tilley, MPP, Senior Policy Manager, The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health

Adolescent Screening Visits & Clinical Health Coaching in a School Setting

How can school-based health and wellness centers implement a health coaching and population health screening model to ensure they are meeting the holistic needs of students? Come learn how one health care agency utilizes health educators in an innovative classroom and SBHC-based approach to familiarizing students with the SBHC and linking students to needed services. La Clínica de La Raza in Oakland has implemented health coaching and adolescent screening visits in all of its eight SBHCs, partnering medical providers with health educators and other staff to reduce barriers and bring high quality services to the larger school population. This workshop will discuss successes, lessons learned, and best practices for implementation.

Presenter: Emma Brenner-Bryant, Health Education Supervisor, La Clínica de La Raza
 

About Continuing Education Credits

*Course meets the qualifications for two and one-half (2.5) hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCS, and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. UCLA ISAP is also an approved provider of continuing education for RADTs I/II, CADCs-CASs, CADCs I/II, CADCs-CSs, and LAADCs (CCAPP, #2N- 00-445-1123), CATCs (ACCBC/CAADE, #CP40 872 C 0825), and CAODCs (CADTP, #151).

Provider is approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider #15455, for two and one-half (2.5) contact hours. CE credit will be awarded for full participation within 6-8 weeks following the conclusion of the training. Partial credit will not be available for those participants who arrive late or leave early.

UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs (ISAP) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. UCLA ISAP maintains responsibility for this program and its content. UCLA ISAP is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs (Provider #64812). UCLA ISAP maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content.

We have a room block at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown and you can use this link to book your room. The group code is SBH. Book now while rooms are available!

Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown-Arena is centrally located in Sacramento, a 5-minute walk from Golden 1 Center and a short walk to the historic Old Sacramento Waterfront area that hosts numerous shops, restaurants, and museums. 

The hotel is also adjacent to the dynamic Downtown Commons entertainment complex, which features restaurants including Yard House, Punch Bowl Social, Vine + Grain, and Sauced BBQ. 

Wired and wireless Internet access is complimentary. Paid parking is available in a garage adjacent to the hotel. We will be providing a special rate for guests utilizing the parking garage. 

Where will the conference be held?

The conference will be held on Monday, April 17, 2023, at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown. The School Health Advocacy Day will be held on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at the Capitol Annex Swing Space in Sacramento. We will also be hosting an evening reception on Monday, April 17, 2023, at Darling Aviary.

Is there a discount for the hotel where the conference will be held?

Yes, we have a room block at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown and you can use this link to book your room. The group code is SBH.

I have a promo code. How do I use it?

Click the “Tickets” button on the top right of this screen. A window will pop up with “General Admission” and the price per ticket. There is a small blue “Enter promo code” link above that. Click on the link, enter your promo code, and press apply.

I am presenting. How do I register?

You should receive instructions that will include a code that you can enter above the General Admission listing when you get to the registration form (after clicking on the “Tickets” button on the top right). There is a small blue “Enter promo code” link above that. Click on the link, enter your promo code, and press apply. If you have not received this code, email conference@schoolhealthcenters.org.

I want to attend but cannot because of finances. Are scholarships available?

Yes, email conference@schoolhealthcenters.org to request a scholarship.

What times are the conference sessions?

The conference takes place from 8:00 am – 5:30 pm with concurrent morning and afternoon breakout sessions. You will choose one morning session and two afternoon sessions with a hosted lunch in between. We will host an evening reception at Darling Aviary from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. The School Health Advocacy Day will take place from 8:30 am – 3 pm on Tuesday, April 18. We will offer breakfast, lunch, and snacks. You can see the schedule above. 

Can the conference sell out and there will not be enough spaces?

Because of space limitations, our event is limited to 400 participants. Register early to make sure we can secure your space.

Will any part of the conference be streamed or presented virtually?

We will not be streaming or virtually presenting any part of the conference this year. 

Will you be offering continuing education (CE) credits for any workshops?

Yes, our breakout workshop on motivational interviewing will be conducted in two parts during the morning and afternoon with a break for lunch. It will offer 2.5 hours of CE credit to participating psychologists, RNs, LMFTs, LCSWs, and certified alcohol and drug counselors who attend both sessions.

Can I submit a workshop proposal? What is the deadline?

We have reached out to presenters and are already finalizing our workshops for the program. We are posting workshops on our website as they are confirmed.

What are your COVID precautions?

We will be following public health guidelines and will provide more information closer to the event.

What are your plans if there is a surge in COVID rates near the time of the event?

We are following public health guidelines closely and will implement any new recommendations. We will host the conference virtually if it is no longer safe for us to gather in person and we will provide refunds upon request.

What is your cancellation policy?

We will address cancellations on a case by case basis and will honor any refund requests related to COVID or other illness. If we decide to host the conference virtually we will provide refunds upon request.

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

No, you do not need to bring a printed ticket to this event.

Can I update my registration information?

Yes. Log in to your Eventbrite account to update your registration information. 

Is my ticket transferrable?

Yes. If for whatever reason you cannot attend this event and want to transfer your registration to a colleague, please send an email to conference@schoolhealthcenters.org with your request.

When is School Health Advocacy Day? And do I have to participate for the full day?

School Health Advocacy Day takes place on Tuesday, April 18, from 8:30 am – 3:00 pm. This is the day after the full day conference. Yes, please plan on participating for the entire time.

Do I have to attend the conference on April 17 to participate in School Health Advocacy Day?

Yes. There are two registration options: Conference + Advocacy Day; Conference only. If you only want to attend advocacy day, please contact us at conference@schoolhealthcenters.org and we will evaluate requests on a case-by-case basis.

Will I have to walk far? How close is the conference hotel to where the visits will take place?

All of the advocacy day visits will take place at the Capitol Annex Swing Space. This is 0.9 miles from the Holiday Inn and is about a 20-minute walk. Make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes! Contact us at conference@schoolhealthcenters.org if you are unable to walk that far and we will make accommodations to ensure you can still participate.

I have never done advocacy visits with legislators before and I’m nervous. How will I know what to do?

CSHA staff will be hosting one webinar prior to the conference and will have a workshop at the conference so you can get all the information you need to prepare for meetings with legislators. We will cover information about what to expect in meetings, how to prepare and practice your talking points, and how to respond to difficult questions. Legislators work for YOU and want to hear from YOU. CSHA staff will help you get ready for visits but it’s really the opportunity to share what you already know about school health and the needs of students and families in your community.

Will I be participating in visits by myself?

No, CSHA staff will create “teams” of about 2-5 participants. Each team will be assigned 2-4 visits with legislative offices.

Will I be meeting with my representative?

We ask participants for their home address because it is really helpful for legislators to hear from their constituents (i.e. the people that live in the legislator’s district). However, we often have many participants coming from the same Assembly or Senate district and we do our best to keep teams small. So it is very likely that you will be assigned meetings with legislators that don’t represent your district.

Will I be lobbying? I’m not sure I’m allowed to participate in lobbying activities.

Lobbying is a specific activity where you are asking a legislator to take an action on a particular bill or policy. The main goal of these visits will be to educate legislators about school health and SBHCs. However, we will prepare you to lobby on 2-3 specific policies TBD. This will likely include asking legislators to support or oppose certain bills and/or support funding for SBHCs. Definitely check with your organization about requirements around lobbying activities.

Will lunch be provided?

Yes, we will provide breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks on April 18. Breakfast and afternoon snacks will be available at the Holiday Inn where we will start and end our day. Box lunches will be available at The California Museum’s Constitutional Wall Courtyard from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm, which is across the street from the Capitol Annex Swing Space where your meetings with legislators will take place.