In a perfect world, there would be a mental health professional embedded in every school across the country. Students would have immediate access to the support they need and the resources they deserve. The reality is, there is a workforce shortage among mental health providers and community resources are overwhelmed by the need. More students need support than we can serve efficiently. If we could change that outcome, shouldn’t we?

That’s exactly what our friends and colleagues at The Ballmer Institute are trying to do! The Ballmer Institute offers an ground breaking undergraduates an opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree in child behavioral health. Graduates will enter the workforce with specialized training to:

• Identify youth who can benefit from early intervention or referral to mental health services
• Teach youth to label and regulate emotions and develop other skills to support well-being
• Deliver evidence-based prevention and intervention programs to prevent or disrupt the progression of youth mental health concerns
• Collaborate with other professionals (like teachers, psychologists, and social workers) to support health and wellness among young people

Joining us today is Dr. Miriam White-Pedeaux, an assistant clinical professor at the Ballmer Institute. In her work, Miriam supervises undergraduates completing their bachelor’s degree and she mentors youth-serving professionals earning a graduate-level microcredential in evidence-based mental health practices. Miriam has supported K-12 students at various school districts in Southern California, Oregon, Ghana and Ecuador. She is deeply passionate about increasing access to high-quality care and improving healthy literacy in youth and families.

Listen in as we talk about the current mental health realities facing schools today and the low-level, high-impact strategies you can use right now to support all students in your building. For more information about the resources shared in this episode, check out the following links:

• What Works Clearinghouse  
• National Center for School Mental Health
• Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration ‍
• Resources about mental health and social-emotional well-being from The Center on PBIS