A SAMHSA sponsored two-part series webinar presented by the National Coalition of Mental Health Recovery, took place Wednesday, February 23, 2022 from 2:00-3:30pm Eastern Time (Part One) and Monday, February 28, 2022 from 2:00-3:00pm Eastern Time (Part Two) called “Youth Empowerment and Self-Discovery through Emotional CPR in Schools”.
Description:
Incorporating peer-led support programs for the youth as part of school-based mental health support is critical in eliminating stigma surrounding mental health challenges, increasing a sense of hope, and promoting behavioral health equity. Access to peer-led support is increasingly important as we continue to face a global pandemic and its long-term cumulative effects that have drastically changed the ways that the youth navigate the world.
This webinar explored how Youth Emotional CPR, a public health program that teaches participants from ages 16 to 25 how to support themselves and each other amidst emotional distress, can be successfully introduced to the public-school setting and yield positive outcomes for the students who participate. The presenters explained how learning to connect (C), emPower (P), and revitalize (R) can teach the youth about the power of mutual support, nonverbal connections, active listening, and finding the healer within. The presenters explored the concept of “empowerment” and discussed how it can give the youth the tools to advocate for themselves on their journeys to healing and wellness, which can then lead to building a more compassionate and supportive community. The presenters also shared some strategies for introducing Youth eCPR to various school systems.
A week after the webinar, the participants were invited to an interactive discussion where they got a firsthand experience of Youth eCPR as well as share their thoughts on how the school systems could support the youth in finding empowerment and healer within themselves.
Objectives
1. Learn about the C = connect, P = empower, and R = revitalize of the eCPR program and how these elements can work together to support youth in emotional distress in the school setting.
2. Explore how the concept of “empowerment” can help youth advocate for themselves in their wellness journey.
3. Learn about strategies to introduce Youth eCPR to the youth, the school systems, community members, and other stakeholders.
Presenters
Sean Perry the President / Co-Founder/ Executive Director of We R H.O.P.E. and host of We R H.O.P.E. Sean has two decades of coaching experience and working with youth. He’s a certified Life Coach, Cognitive Behavioral Coach, Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Specialist/ instructor, certified in Childhood Trauma and is an Exposure Response Prevention Specialist, Signs of Suicide Prevention trainer. He is also trained in collaborative problem solving, an international trainer in Emotional CPR and co-writer of youth eCPR. Sean hopes to create change in the public schools by bringing support at a much younger age and breaking the stigma of mental illness. Through this modality Sean also believes that it will directly impact addiction and substance misuse as a whole.
Sean’s program is currently in 11 schools in Vermont and New Hampshire and continues to grow. Sean has spoken at Americas College in Washington D.C., The Mentors Vermont Symposium in Burlington Vt, Franklin Pierce University, Southern New Hampshire University, Athletic Directors association of Vermont, Southeastern Superintendent Conference of New Hampshire, Dartmouth College and he has hosted his own radio show on the voice America Empowerment Network, while also being a guest on numerous mental health podcast, Sean captures his audience with truth, passion and the commitment of creating real change in the lives of children.
Felicity Therese Krueger (she/her) is a 18 year old youth leader. She is a member of Kentucky Youth MOVE, Youth Best Practice Committee and is a Kentucky youth ambassador. She has worked in the advocacy realm since she was 11 years old. Starting with following her mom to the capital and is currently working on several projects to better help youth struggling with mental health or are in the foster care/adoption system. She spends her summers working as a camp counselor and hopes to go to college to fulfill her dreams of becoming a social worker.
If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact Kelle Masten via email at kelle.masten@nasmhpd.org.
Thank you!
**We do not offer CEU credits however a letter of attendance will be available to download during the evaluation after the webinar is complete.
***Closed-captioning is available for this webinar.