1. Participants will discover the latest data on youth mental health statistics and how school connectedness is a protective factor for youth mental health.
2. Participants will identify the impact that empowerment clubs have when building inclusive school cultures around mental health.
3. Participants will discover programming and resources that can be implemented start an empowerment club in their school buildings to increase school connectedness.

Speakers:

Shantal Saldaña, MAIOP (she/her) & Derick Elkin, Dedicated Educator specializing in diverse student populations (he/him)

Shantal Saldaña is the Manager of School Outreach at Erika’s Lighthouse. She has a Masters in Psychology and has worked in the nonprofit and education sector for the last 12 years. Shantal is passionate about giving families, children and school professionals across the country the tools they need to take charge of their mental health. Her goal is to spread awareness, normalize mental health conversations to end stigma and create safe environments for all.

Derick Elkin is the Empowerment Club Coordinator at Erika's Lighthouse. He hails from the vibrant city of Chicago, Illinois, and has been shaped by its diverse and unique culture. His academic pursuits led him away from home to the University of Missouri-Columbia, better known as Mizzou. There, he earned dual degrees: a BA in History and another in Latin. Post-graduation, he ventured to China, immersing himself in a new environment and culture, while teaching English to non-native speakers. Eventually, he returned to the United States, spending several impactful years in Texas as an educator before finding his way back to Chicago, where the prospect of joining Erika’s Lighthouse fills him with excitement and purpose. Derick supports all schools, advisors, and students with empowerment clubs nationally and internationally.

Connection to the New National School Social Work Practice Model 2.0: Practice

Content Level: Beginning 

Target Audience: School Social Workers

Refund policy: No refunds will be given.

School Social Work Association of America, 1789, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. School Social Work Association of America maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 7/27/2023-7/27/2026. 

Note: Many state licensing boards impose specific limitations on course content, distance education, or other elements of continuing education, even when courses are taken from approved providers. It is your sole responsibility to ensure that the courses taken will meet the requirements for your license.

Instructions to receive Credit: Social workers completing this course receive 1 CE continuing education credit. Certificates will be provided to participants for download upon successful completion of the webinar.

1. Participants must view the entire length of the webinar recording.
2. Participants must complete the evaluation to receive credit.
3. Participants must pass the Posttest with a minimum 80% passing rate (within a maximum of 2 attempts). 

System Requirements-- Participants must have a computer and audio to participate in the webinar. For any questions, concerns, or accessibility accommodations, please reach out to ContactUs@sswaa.orgmailto:ContactUs@sswaa.org