Santa Clara County Office Of Education

EDUCATION PREPARATION PROGRAMS

Mental & Behavioral Health and Apprenticeships

MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS VIRTUAL SPRING SYMPOSIUM

April 4, 2025 | 9:00 AM - 2:30 PM PDT

Recordings will be posted soon!

The SCCOE Educator Preparation Programs Department’s Mental Health & Wellness Branch invites you to the Mental Health & Wellness Virtual Spring Symposium on April 4, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 2:30 PM.

This symposium series provides school-based mental health and wellness practitioners — along with their school site teams — an opportunity to receive expert-led training in evidence-based practices that support student success.

The theme of our third symposium in this series is Collective Care in Schools: Building Support Systems that Heal. As the final symposium of this school year, we are offering sessions designed to provide attendees with tools for implementing inclusive practices and strategies for engaging and supporting students and families in promoting school-based mental health and wellness.

If you are a school mental health practitioner or staff member interested in learning how to engage and be inclusive in your approach to mental health and wellness, this event will provide valuable insights and resources.

AGENDA

Nakeya T. Fields, LCSW, Innovative Wellness Consulting

Session 1

9:00 AM - 10:OO AM

Collective Care in Schools: Building Support Systems That Heal

This training focuses on equipping participants with the skills to identify community assets, build intentional partnerships, and advance health equity through collective care.

By the end of the session, attendees will understand how to map existing strengths, assess collaboration opportunities, and develop sustainable partnerships rooted in trust and shared goals.

The training emphasizes culturally responsive, trauma-informed approaches to stakeholder engagement and strategic planning. Participants will leave with actionable steps to enhance community-driven wellness initiatives.

About Nakeya T. Fields

Nakeya T. Fields is a mental health entrepreneur, author, educator, and speaker.

Nakeya is an alumna of the University of Southern California where she received a BA in Communication, a Master's in Social Work and a PPSC in School Social Work and Child Welfare & Attendance. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and is a Registered Play Therapist. She is also a UCLA-DMH Early Childhood Intervention Fellow and served as faculty in the Tseng School of Graduate, International and Mid Career Education at California State University, Northridge.

Nakeya has over 15 years experience in developing and running mental health related community focused programming. She is the Founder and acting Executive Director of The Therapeutic Play Foundation, a nonprofit that empowers a healthier, more resilient world through education, mindfulness, art and play.

Nakeya is also active in the community as the Chair of the Black Mental Health Task Force which seeks to empower community members of Black and African Heritage through advocacy and policy reform with a particular focus on maternal and early childhood mental health. She is also the Chief Executive Officer of Innovative Wellness Consulting, a consulting agency that supports various educational, corporate and community driven organizations in developing progressive health and wellness programs that incorporate creative modalities.

Website: www.iwc-ca.com

All The Projects: https://linktr.ee/thefeelwellcoach

Email: nfields@innovativewellnessconsulting.com

Telephone: (213) 394-5889 Office

Liz Cruz, LCSW

Session 2

10:15 AM - 11:15 AM

Parent Engagement and Education

In this workshop, participants will learn about cultural considerations when engaging with diverse parents/caregivers in a school setting.

Strategies include proper linguistics and attunement, trauma-informed practices, and effective ways to build and foster a trusting relationship with parents/caregivers.

Learning Goals:

Understand cultural considerations when engaging with diverse parents and caregivers in school settings.
Develop skills in proper linguistics, attunement, and effective communication strategies.
Apply trauma-informed practices to foster trust, connection and collaboration with families.
Learn techniques to build and sustain meaningful relationships that support student success.

About Liz Cruz

Saludos. I am Liz Cruz, a licensed bilingual clinical social worker and community advocate. I have worked in community mental health settings for over 10 years, serving the Los Angeles area and its surrounding communities.

I am native to Santa Monica and I have my private practice. I am blessed to be of service in my community as a school social worker, community advocate, parent group facilitator, and mental health consultant, providing services in English and Spanish, with heart, grace, and passion.

Melissa Rubio

Student Services Director & Restorative Justice Trainer

Session 3

11:30 AM - 12:30 AM

Expanding Culture Change through Restorative Practices

Introduction to Restorative Communication Skills:

Active listening and empathic interviewing community processing.
Asking powerful questions
Reflective practices in communication
Restorative interventions in Behavioral Health
Restorative circles in group therapy settings
Restorative conferences for conflict resolution
Restorative dialogues for individual healing and growth.

About Melissa Rubio

As a servant leader, Ms. Rubio brings experience as an Integrated Support Specialist, specializing in programs for underserved and vulnerable youth. Her work includes implementing equity-based student engagement such as upstream early wrap around services, universal school supports, Federal Program Monitoring (FPM) compliance, and Community-centered Restorative Practices in the schools.

She has held such roles as Title IX Coordinator, Child Welfare and Attendance (CWA) manager, Support Services Senior Director, and District level school Culture and Prevention/Intervention Coordinator.

She brings an educational background in Adult Learning Theory, Organizational Administration, design and creation of school ecological systems, and operationalized equity supports that result in a curb-cutting effect.

Website: https://academics.lmu.edu/cures/about/meettheteam/melissarubio

Maria Vogel, MA, LMFT

Session 4

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

What Would You Do? Exploring Real-Life Scenarios with LGBTQIA+ Students and Clients

In this presentation, we'll explore real-life situations with LGBTQIA+ clients from my nine years of clinical practice.

Let's talk about how to handle tough moments, how to recognize our own biases and countertransference, and how to make ourselves a safe space for clients.

We'll go over best practices for dealing with bullying and anti-LGBTQIA+ sentiment in school settings. Attendees will come away better understanding the most common issues LGBTQIA+ students face and action plans for handling them.

About Maria Vogel

Maria Vogel is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with 9 years of clinical experience specializing in working with LGBTQIA+ kids and teens in the school system. Passionate about mental health in the classroom, Maria offers trainings from the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence to parents and staff on using mindfulness-inspired curriculums and SEL.

She is the founder and CEO of Bhumi Marriage and Family Therapy Center, a group practice dedicated to helping people from all walks of life heal through mindfulness-based therapy.

Website: www.mariavtherapy.com

Connect with Us

Learn More about Our Programs

sccoe.to/MBHA

For any questions regarding the Mental Health & Wellness Virtual Spring Symposium, please contact our team at

mbha@sccoe.org

Page updated

Report abuse