Embedded Files
Empowering Families:
Navigating Co-Occurring Disorders for a Resilient Future
Wednesday, April 9, 2025
7:00 - 8:30pm
via Zoom
As we look forward to the arrival of spring, we are also looking forward to offering our 3rd and final speaker event of the 2024-2025 school year on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. This virtual presentation, Empowering Families: Navigating Co-Occurring Disorders for a Resilient Future, will focus on co-occurring disorders - the combination of mental health challenges and substance use issues. Featured speakers include Stephanie Marquesano, a local Westchester resident and founder and president of the harris project, and Lorena Rucaj, Westchester County Encompass Coordinator.
Stephanie Marquesano founded the Harris Project after the death of her son Harris, who had co-occurring disorders (COD)—the combination of mental health challenges and substance use issues. This presentation will highlight the power of prevention and early identification, exploring the three pathways to COD, along with risk and protective factors. Lorena Rucaj will discuss how to connect young people to critical resources like Encompass - an innovative co-occurring treatment opportunity available in school and community settings in Westchester County.
Follow this link for more information, and to register:
The event is FREE and open to all, but REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
Unable to attend on April 9, 2025? No problem! All who register will receive a link to a video recording and all handout materials.
The attached PDF form has a QR code with a live registration link.
The link above is a great resource from Putnam Northern Westchester BOCES to help families navigate the digital world.
The Mental Health Association in New York State, Inc. (MHANYS) has established the School Mental Health Resource and Training Center to support all NYS public and private schools to implement Chapter 390 of the Laws of 2016, requiring mental health instruction as part of the K-12 health curricula. The Center staff and project partners are committed to helping schools:
comply with the required mental health education of students
identify resources and develop mental health lesson plans/curriculum
develop and implement a plan for professional development
establish community partnerships to support mental health education and services
engage and support families
School Mental Health Resources Training Center
National PTA
National PTA
PTA is the oldest and largest child advocacy association in America. PTA is comprised of millions of parents, teachers, grandparents, caregivers, foster parents and other caring adults who share a commitment to improving the education, health and safety of all children. We speak with one voice for every child.
Today, the issues that affect our children extend beyond their individual schools. PTAs provide parents with the forum and tools to collectively influence the decisions that affect children not only at their schools, but also throughout their districts, within their states, and across the nation. This mission is unique to PTA.
Mindfulness resources for you and your children
Mindfulness resources for you and your children
Smiling Mind
Smiling Mind
Smiling Mind is another great app/website that offers mediation and breathing exercises. You can sign up for free and answer some questions so they can choose some meditations that are a good fit for you and your children. Smiling Mind is accessible through their website or you can download the app onto your phone or other smart devices.
Mindfullness Apps
Mindfullness Apps
Relax Melodies
Calm
Stop, Breathe & Think
MindShift CBT
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