The Brookline Center for Community Mental Health’s Post

Do you want to lead the way embedding trauma-informed practice in your organisation? Applications are open for the next cohort of learners for the RRN Diploma Practice Leadership in Trauma Informed Practice, starting 30 September 2024. This practice-based Pearson BTEC Diploma combines practice leadership with trauma-informed theory and focuses on prompting cultural change. Applications are open until 19 August 2024. Find out more about the qualification and how to apply here: bit.ly/TIPDiploma #TraumaInformedPractice #RestraintReduction #HealthCare #SocialCare #Education #Qualification #CPD #ProfessionalLearning

📚 Educational leadership is evolving, and Dr. Amy Starzecki is at the forefront of that transformation. Dr. Starzecki shares valuable insights drawn from two decades of experience across urban and rural districts. From navigating funding challenges to supporting students with mental health needs, her leadership reflects a commitment to collaboration and community engagement. Her unique journey—from a school psychologist to a superintendent—offers practical strategies for fostering trust, creating inclusive environments, and building lasting partnerships that benefit students and staff alike. 🤝 One of Dr. Starzecki’s core messages is the importance of teamwork between teachers, principals, and community partners to overcome the growing challenges in public education. As teacher shortages and mental health needs rise, school leaders must be proactive in building strong systems that support both students and educators. Want to learn more about Dr. Starzecki’s approach to navigating post-pandemic complexities and empowering teachers? Read the full article “The Future of School Leadership Is Here: Q&A with Dr. Starzecki” to discover her thoughtful strategies and advice for building sustainable, collaborative school communities: https://lnkd.in/gdmvPZBB 🏫 #SchoolLeadership #EducationMatters #TeacherSupport #StudentSuccess #CommunityEngagement #LeadershipDevelopment

Something new and significant has been evolving for me, and it’s time to share the message of TRAKC©: what it is and its transformative potential, no matter what line of work we are in. The seed of this model of relationship connection was planted in the late 1990s when I read "I'm Ok, You're Ok" by Thomas Harris. This book transformed my understanding of the core changes needed in our education system and parenting approaches. At that time, I was a school principal and trainer in Early Education, and the book prompted me to question why so much of our approach to raising children is unwittingly demeaning. I realised that we often ignore children’s innate wisdom, compassion, playfulness, creativity, and curiosity. Harris’ book gave me the first glimmer of what’s needed to support children to thrive socially, emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. As I embraced this philosophy, I saw a wholehearted response from the children I worked with – it was as if they were saying, "Here’s a grown-up who ‘gets’ us!" Over the next decade, I deepened my understanding of how to support parents and school leaders by exploring Emotional Intelligence, Neuroscience, Imago Relationship Theory, NLP, and Coaching. I focused on creating environments that help children think more clearly, connect more compassionately, act more response-ably, and live more joyfully. The key is creating psychologically safe spaces for children to thrive. In recent years, my focus has shifted to working as a Reflective Supervisor with adults in leadership roles within caring professions. This work has shown me that what children need to blossom is also what adults need. We thrive when we are in relationships that help us reclaim our innate wisdom, compassion, playfulness, creativity, and curiosity. These qualities are at the heart of the experience when we create psychologically safe spaces at work, in education, and at home. To keep ourselves on TRAKC© we need relationships that evoke Trust, Resonance, Authenticity, Kindness, and Candour. I recently shared this work at the PCI College Ireland annual conference in Dublin and a webinar hosted by the Association for Coaching (AC). Now, I’m working on the book! Follow my journey as I share the concepts of #TRAKC. #PsychologicalSafety #Trust #ReflectiveSupervision #Coaching #Leadership #ReflectivePractice

How Well Does Your Organization Practice What It Preaches? The impact of NVR psychology on building stronger communities. Non-Violent Resistance (NVR) isn’t a disciplinary tool; it’s a powerful method for fostering value-based relationships. When applied effectively, NVR can create a community grounded in respect, empathy, and ethical practices. Consider how NVR is implemented in various settings. Schools, for example, serve as a valuable case study because they aim to instill and practice daily values. The true effectiveness of NVR practices can often be observed through the actions of the school staff. Here are 5 simple questions to determine if the organization, such as a school, upholds the same standards it expects from others: 1. Do they acknowledge and address their own mistakes? 2. Is there respectful communication with students, parents, and colleagues? 3. Do they demonstrate the same professionalism they advocate for? 4. Are their interactions characterized by honesty and transparency? 5. Do they focus on individuals as whole persons, or merely on their behavior? If your organization is influenced by NVR psychology and answer 'yes' to most of these questions, NVR is likely enhancing community building. If not, it might be functioning mainly as a disciplinary or controlling mechanism and may need to be adjusted. How is NVR being utilized in your organization? Or is it time to reconsider its role? #NVR #Leadership #CommunityBuilding #EthicalPractices #Organization #School #Discipline

📊 Districts and schools have been using family/caregiver surveys for years. The best of these surveys can provide valuable information for school and district leaders. But survey responses can also lack depth and detail, leaving leaders with unanswered questions about why family members bubbled in one response over another. To gain a more nuanced picture of how families and students are experiencing the school, SEN’s school quality review team interviews panels of family members/caregivers as part of our full-day school quality reviews (SQRs). The feedback we provide schools through the SQR process includes family members’ responses along with responses from interviews with leaders, staff, teachers, and students.   Some of our favorite family panel questions are: What are the greatest strengths of this school? What does this school community value the most?  What was an assignment, task, or project that motivated your child to do their best work this year?   What was an assignment, task, or project that your child was excited to talk with you about this year?  If there were three things you could change about this school to improve your child’s experience, what would they be?    What would you want to ask a panel of family members/caregivers from your school or district? #FamilyEngagement #SchoolQualityReviews #CommunityInsights #EducationLeadership

#InclusiveInnovation Core Tenet #2: Student Voice and Leadership Elevating young people as experts centers their voices in co-creating their learning experiences. Here’s an example of what it can look like when students lead education R&D ⬇️ At Bristol Township School District in Pennsylvania, a team of students, teachers, administrators, and community members identified a need to support the mental health of diverse students. Together, the district-community team designed and implemented a solution of professional development sessions led by high school students to help teachers create supportive classroom environments. Participating teachers were “deeply moved” by these sessions, and over 90% reported that they agreed or strongly agreed they became more conscious of the experiences of students of color in school. Throughout Bristol's work, student voice was prioritized, allowing them to take a lead role in research, design, implementation, and decision-making. Read more about how the Student Voice and Leadership core tenet powers #InclusiveInnovation: https://lnkd.in/e2QMAdUq

I’ve gotten requests from my School of Clinical Leadership members for resources that can be share with families and other professionals. Since coaching and training others is such an important part of effective executive functioning intervention, I decided to compile a list of content I’ve created on this topic. All of these things in the list are things that can be shared with anyone you feel would benefit; whether it be your colleagues or families you’re supporting. The list includes: ...Executive Functioning Implementation Guide for School Teams ...Executive Functioning Parent Guide ...Products for Parents ...Executive Functioning Videos for Parents and Professionals ...Language and Literacy Resources for Parents and Professionals At the time of writing this email, the growing list includes 26 different resources, many of them free, that you can share with families and colleagues. You can scroll through the list here: https://lnkd.in/g8MZWCiV

Read about the relevance of #TraumaInformedPractices this #MondayFinds, tailored for #NJSchoolPrincipals and #SchoolSuperintendents. By integrating these practices, educational leaders can foster a supportive atmosphere that acknowledges and addresses trauma, ultimately promoting resilience and academic achievement. Stay informed and lead with compassion to make a significant difference in your school community. #EducationLeadership

Learning Lab: Avoiding Defense Mechanisms In-Person, Time & Location Wednesday, August 7 8:00 AM – 9:00 AM EDT Michael Sgro Leadership Coaching 211 W Jefferson St, Syracuse, NY 13202, USA Attendees will learn about the main human defense mechanisms and strategies for success. Coach Sgro will provide insight and understanding on the most serious defense mechanisms including denial, projection, displacement and regression. The goal will be to practice adaptavie behavior, radical acceptance and trying to create a positive new habit in the workplace. This is a skill building discussion, not a clinic for those who have expereinced trauma. Seek medical assistance from a licensed clinician. RSVP now at MichaelSgro.com. Limit 10.