VISIT OUR WEBSITE: https://www.loraincountyesc.org/StudentStaffWellness.aspx
DIRECTOR OF WELLNESS & PREVENTION: Cathy Papp
SUPERVISOR OF WELLNESS & PREVENTION: Mindy Kaminski
SUICIDE PREVENTION COORDINATOR: Brooke Sherman
Target Audience: Educators, Parents, Counselors, School Administrators, Social Workers, Wellness Coordinators, School Psychologists, and Community Partners
Join us for a four-session virtual book study exploring Jonathan Haidt’s powerful and timely book, The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness. This cross-disciplinary series brings together the expertise of ESC literacy specialists, parent mentors, wellness, and technology specialists to foster meaningful dialogue and actionable insights for educators, families, and school leaders.
Through guided discussions and collaborative reflection, participants will:
Examine the cultural and technological shifts impacting youth mental health
Explore the effects of screen time, social media, and declining independent play
Consider practical, developmentally appropriate strategies to support children and adolescents
Reflect on the roles of literacy, family engagement, digital wellness, and social emotional, physical, and mental well-being in shaping healthier childhoods
Exploring the connection of technology on student learning and development
Each one-hour Zoom session will focus on specific chapters and themes from the book, with time for discussion, shared perspectives, and application to both home and school contexts.
Join this critical conversation as we seek to better understand and support today’s youth in an increasingly anxious age.
Keep your eyes out for our related all day PD called Scroll, Stress, Repeat: Addressing Anxiety in a High-Pressured Era Spring 2026.
Participants are responsible for purchasing the book. Amazon Link
ATTEND ALL DATES: DEC 8 | JAN 5 | JAN 26 | FEB 9
TIME: 4:00 - 5:00
LOCATION: Virtual via Zoom
FACILITATORS: Mindy Kaminski, MSSA, LISW-S, Erica Kaufmann, M.A.T., C-SLDI, Jennifer Martinez, M.Ed., Cathy Papp, MSW, LISW-S, Brooke Sherman, M.Ed., LPCC-S, and Olivia Weisman, M.Ed., CALT
EVENT FEE: $50 - LC District Members* | $100 - Non-Members
*Member Districts: Amherst, Avon, Avon Lake, Clearview, Columbia, Elyria, Firelands, JVS, Keystone, Lorain, Midview, North Ridgeville, Oberlin, Sheffield-Sheffield Lake, Wellington
REGISTRATION ASSISTANCE: DEBBIE SHANNON, SHANNON@ESCLC.ORG
TARGET AUDIENCE: Threat Assessment Teams and/or Administrators, SRO, School Counselors, School Social Workers, School Psychologist, any district or building staff
School teams/staff will be trained in the Dewey Cornell Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG), which meets the HB 123 Threat Assessment Training Requirement.
DATES: (choose one date)
Click the date link to register.
TIME: 8:00 am - 4:00 pm
LOCATION: ESC of Lorain County
EVENT FEE: Free
FACILITATORS: Cathy Papp and Mindy Kaminski
School teams/staff who have been trained in the Dewey Cornell Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines (CSTAG), which meets the HB 123 Threat Assessment Training Requirement, must be recertified every 3 years. This refresher course is approved for recertification.
DATES: (choose one date)
Click the date link to register.
TIME: 8:00 - 11:30 am
LOCATION: ESC of Lorain County
EVENT FEE: Free
FACILITATORS: Cathy Papp and Mindy Kaminski
REGISTRATION ASSISTANCE: DEBBIE SHANNON, SHANNON@ESCLC.ORG
2 CEUs Pending
Target Audience: All
Feeling burned out or just need a moment to reset? This session gives educators and professionals a chance to pause, reflect, and reconnect with what brought you to teaching in the first place. Through honest conversation, simple strategies, and a few moments to breathe, you’ll leave feeling more grounded, inspired, and ready to take on whatever comes next—with a little more joy and a lot more clarity. Use these strategies for yourself and then teach them to your students or staff to help them grow in GRIT and passion for what matters to them.
Presenter: Brooke Sherman, M.Ed., LPCC-S
DATE: April 24, 2026
TIME: 8:30 - 10:30 AM
LOCATION: ESC of Lorain County
EVENT FEE: Free
REGISTRATION ASSISTANCE: DEBBIE SHANNON, SHANNON@ESCLC.ORG
9:00 - 10:30 AM
NETWORK DATES:
An opportunity to network with other school social workers from the region for support, the sharing of community resources, and professional development specific to the field. The sessions will be used to provide law updates for education, social work, and behavioral health. Additionally, information on social emotional learning curricula, SEL group and individual strategies, and successful implementation of classroom and small group SEL will be shared.
Location: ESC of Lorain County
Facilitators: Mindy Kaminski, Cathy Papp
Registration Assistance: Debbie Shannon - shannon@esclc.org or 440.324.5777 x1112
3 STATE BOARD LICENSED CEUs APPROVED
Target Audience: School counselors, administrators, psychologists, nurses, social workers, teachers, and support staff
This interactive professional development session equips school staff with the knowledge and tools needed to support students returning to school after an absence or crisis. Participants will explore the purpose and structure of effective reentry meetings, emphasizing approaches that promote safety, belonging, and academic success. Through discussion, case studies, and collaborative planning, attendees will learn how to apply trauma-informed and restorative practices to various reentry scenarios, including those related to mental health, medical issues, substance use, or safety concerns.
By the end of the training, participants will be able to clearly articulate the goals and essential components of a reentry meeting, implement a consistent and compassionate reentry protocol, and strengthen communication and collaboration among school teams, families, and students. Participants will also have the opportunity to develop or refine their own reentry meeting templates and processes tailored to their school’s unique needs.
Keynote Presenters: Mindy Kaminski, Cathy Papp, Brooke Sherman & Shannon Perry
DATE: Jan 27, 2026
TIME: 8:30 - 11:30 AM
LOCATION: ESC of Lorain County
EVENT FEE: Free
REGISTRATION ASSISTANCE: DEBBIE SHANNON, SHANNON@ESCLC.ORG
NETWORK DATES:
(Registration and payment are required for each date you plan to attend by clicking the date link)
Target Audience: Wellness Coordinators/ Prevention Coordinators
An opportunity to network with other school wellness coordinators from the region for support, the sharing of community resources, and professional development specific to the field. The sessions will be used to provide updates for education, wellness and prevention, and behavioral health.
Location: ESC of Lorain County
Facilitators: Mindy Kaminski and Cathy Papp
Registration Assistance: Debbie Shannon - shannon@esclc.org or 440.324.5777 x1112