Mental Well-Being

Topic: Making Sense of your Senses

Presenters: Sara McGrath-Daly & Kadi Groppoli - Occupational Therapists in WBLAS

Sensory PD - Making Sense of Your Senses

"School, home, and community environments engage our senses in a variety of ways.  A majority of the time, our brains are able to process and accommodate environmental sensations.  Other times, you may notice feeling over or underwhelmed.  Children experience these same feelings.  We all have varying sensory tolerances and preferences.  We all use strategies to modulate our sensory regulation.  Join us for a conversation about sensory processing that will focus on strategies and tools to assist regulation, as well as free resources to explore for you or your child’s unique needs."

Topic: Technology & Mental Health

Presenter: Jese Rugroden, LMFT

Description of the Program: 

“This presentation will discuss the connections between screen time and mental health, the pros and cons of technology, and how technology affects both the mind and the body. Other topics included in this presentation will be: security concerns, technology within education, and parenting within the vast world of social media and technology.”

Topic: Trauma and Attachment: The power of relationships

Healing through relationship - moving beyond trauma symptoms.  This presentation will continue the conversation on trauma to help teachers and families connect with children and promote healing.  In a busy classroom and home, impacted by ever-changing COVID-19 logistics, and the stress of increasing pressure on communities - this presentation will offer practical guidance to aid school professionals who are caring for students impacted by trauma and families in their every day lives.  Much of an adults influence on a child happens through relational connections that instill feelings of safety, confidence, and curiosity to learn and grow.  The heart of this presentation will focus on how to use a relational approach to children to promote their learning and mental health.  The presentation will also offer practical guidance for how adults can build alliances and work together to support our children.  

Speakers BIO: Jenna Kamholz is a Minnesota Licensed Profession Clinical Counselor. Jenna is currently working at PrairieCare Partial Hospitalization Program in Maplewood, MN. Jenna's clinical practice and certifications center around trauma and children's mental health. Jenna is trained in trauma practices and values education and the understanding on how the brain is impacted by traumatic events. Jenna has worked in a variety of different settings including inpatient hospital, schools and partial hospital programs. Jenna's passions include working with children and understanding their world view, while helping families and teachers better understand how children are behaving.

Dr. Asfia Qaadir graduated from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency and subspecialty training in child and adolescent psychiatry at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Dr. Qaadir has been an attending physician at PrairieCare since 2016 and assumed the role of clinical director at PrairieCare Maplewood in 2020. She also currently serves as a clinical consultant to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at PrairieCare. Dr. Qaadir has a clinical interest in treating mood, anxiety, and trauma-related conditions, using both medication and psychotherapy. She treats children and adolescents in the collaborative setting of PHP, working within an interdisciplinary treatment team to strengthen and empower families. Dr. Qaadir works with adult patients in her outpatient behavioral clinic.

• PrairieCare General Flyer
• Referrals-Assessment and Intake Dept. 
• PHP General Flyer
• Healthy Emotions IOP (in person)
• Adolescent Process Group
• Adult IOP & Services

Anxiety and School Refusal: During this presentation, there will be a discussion on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's and teens' experiences of anxiety and difficulties related to school attendance. The presenter will give a brief overview to attendees on anxiety and common signs and symptoms in children and adolescents as well as possible reasons for lack of attendance and school refusal. The presenter will then offer strategies that can be useful in working with anxious youth and ways to encourage and motivate school attendance and engagement based on strategies used with previous clients as they transitioned back to school.

Speaker Bio: Kara Haugen is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) who has over 7 years of experience in the field working with children, adolescents and families dealing with mental health concerns. Kara has worked in a variety of settings, including schools, hospitals, residential treatment centers, day treatment and partial hospitalization. Kara has a passion for working with youth and families to identify strengths and how these can be utilized to promote the best functioning for each client. Kara has additional training in the areas of trauma, attachment, and youth who have been adopted or part of the foster care system.

• Prairie Care Program Flyer
• Understanding Trauma and Its Ripple Effect

Trauma is a buzz word in society today, but what truly is trauma? This presentation will give you a better understanding on what trauma is and how it presents in our children today. We will dive into common symptoms and begin the process of understanding how the brain is impacted by trauma. This presentation will offer solutions that could help aid in the process of healing. Trauma is all around us, this presentation will make those conversations easier and symptoms better to understand. Let's start the conversation.

Speaker BIO: Jenna Kamholz is a Minnesota Licensed Profession Clinical Counselor. Jenna is currently working at PrairieCare Partial Hospitalization Program in Maplewood, MN. Jenna's clinical practice and certifications center around trauma and children's mental health. Jenna is trained in trauma practices and values education and the understanding on how the brain is impacted by traumatic events. Jenna has worked in a variety of different settings including inpatient hospital, schools and partial hospital programs. Jenna's passions include working with children and understanding their world view, while helping families and teachers better understand how children are behaving.

• Insight Recovery School Student Handbook 21-22
• Insight Recovery School Program 

A Closer Look At the Complexity of Chemical Use

Presentation by Jennifer Funk, LADC. Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor at White Bear Lake Area Middle and High Schools.

Drug and alcohol use is complex, hijacking the brain. This presentation will discuss the current chemical trends with youth, impact on the brain/body, and supportive resources.

A White Bear Lake School/Community Cultural Well Being & Healing Event A Digital Intentional Social Interaction (dIZI)

Please join us for a cross-cultural, intergenerational community conversation as we explore what it means to experience Cultural Wellbeing and discuss how we can create our own Self-Healing Communities. Come to connect and share ideas as we build a supportive community focusing on and co-creating self and community care.

What to Expect:

If you are receiving this invitation you have been identified as someone who will add and receive extraordinary value through your participation. We are specifically seeking a vibrant cross-cultural mix of participants, and are especially hoping youth, teachers, parents, practitioners and community healers (formal and informal) attend.

Yes! Children and teenagers are welcome!

Yes! This event is open to the public and free to participate!

Hosted by: The Suburban Ramsey Family Collaborative (SRFC) partners, MHealth Fairview Cultural Brokers, ISD 624 Youth Equity Leaders and Cultural Liaison, and the St. Paul/Ramsey County Public Health Mental Health and Wellness Action Team (MHWAT) partners

• Presentation:  here.

Wendy Goodman
Executive Director
Ramsey County Children's Mental Health Collaborative (RCCMHC)

Brain, Body, and Mental Health
Pediatric mental health cases have increased over 300% in MN during the pandemic. Most youth are feeling stressed out and isolated and more than 50% say they are feeling hopeless, sad, or anxious. More than ever, we need to understand the connection between the brain, body, and mental health so we can support wellbeing and know when/how to get help. This presentation will give a brief overview of:

• How the brain works
• Realistic expectations based on ages/stages
• Mental health warning signs
• The brain/body connection- impacts of toxic stress, nutrition, exercise, sleep
• Strategies, local resources and extended learning

Mindfulness for Every Lifestyle

Parenting in a Pandemic     

Presented by:  Steven Lutes MSW, LICSW School based therapist from NYFS at Sunrise Park and Central Middle School

The pandemic has been stressful for everyone, but parents especially. With managing job losses/changes , juggling distance/hybrid school, losing supports and outlets, you are likely feeling the effects. This presentation will offer affirmation of the amazing job you as parents are doing, tips for managing your stress, and practical strategies to help your kids navigate these times.