Attention: State and District Leaders, School Administrators, Educators, Student Support Personnel, Parents, Education Stakeholders, and Youth Substance Use Prevention Specialists
The U.S. Department of Education and the Office of National Drug Control Policy are collaborating this summer on the development of a three-part miniseries within the Lessons from the Field Webinar Series to help schools and educators effectively address substance use, mental health, and their impacts on learning. As students return to school, we know that these topics are on the top of educators’ minds. After hearing from leading national subject matter experts from federal agencies, the miniseries will feature practitioners from schools, districts, and other places of educational instruction who will share their lessons learned and best practices for transforming their systems in collaboration with community partners to help students thrive. The miniseries will also highlight a variety of useful resources to help you get started!
- Webinar Miniseries Welcome from the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, Miguel Cardona (video)
- Webinar Miniseries Welcome from the Office of National Drug Control Policy Director, Dr. Rahul Gupta (video)
On behalf of the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Safe and Supportive Schools, the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE) invites you to join the first in the three-part miniseries titled, Transforming Youth Together: Understanding the Connection between Substance Use, Mental Health, and Student Learning – Part 1: What the Data Tells Us.
Date: Wednesday, August 24, 2022
Time: 3:00 – 4:15 pm ET
Please join the U.S. Department of Education and the Office of National Drug Control Policy as they explore what data on youth substance use and mental health tells us and how it can inform student support systems. Presenters will discuss the connections between brain development, substance use, mental health, and learning. They will also highlight how to leverage critical childhood developmental periods to help young people improve their emotional well-being and meet milestones. The webinar will conclude with a panel discussion on leveraging data to improve school practices and policies and better support students in managing their substance use and mental health challenges.
Speakers/Panelists
- Ruben Baler, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH/NIDA)
- Martha Okafor, Senior Advisor, Office of Early Childhood Development, Office of Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF)
- Kathleen Ethier, Director, Division of Adolescent and School Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Robert Vincent, Associate Administrator, Alcohol Prevention and Treatment Policy, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
- Panel of Practitioners
Webinar Materials
Related Resources
This event will reference the following resources, which we encourage you to access in advance of the webinar to inform participation:
- Adolescent Behaviors and Experiences Survey (ABES) (CDC webpage)
- School Connectedness, Adolescent and School Health (CDC webpage)
- What Works In Schools: Research and Results (CDC webpage)
Advances in School Mental Health Promotion Journal Articles
- Feasibility of implementing the Adolescent Community Reinforcement Approach in school settings for adolescents with substance use disorders
- Feasibility and impact of implementing motivational enhancement therapy–cognitive behavioral therapy as a substance use treatment intervention in school-based settings
- Measuring the impact of substance abuse on student academic achievement and academic growth
- The need and opportunity to expand substance use disorder treatment in school-based settings
Please contact NCSSLE if you have any questions. We look forward to sharing this information with you and hearing about the important work you are doing in your schools, communities, and states to meet the needs of students and staff.
More on the Lessons from the Field Webinar Series
To access archived materials from previous webinars and to find out what is coming next, go here.