The State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SSPI) Tom Torlakson has convened a Student Mental Health Policy Workgroup (SMHPW) with funding from the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA)
. The CalMHSA is an organization of county governments working to improve mental health outcomes for individuals, families, and communities. It administers Prevention and Early Intervention programs funded by the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) (Proposition 63 [2004]) on a statewide, regional, and local basis.
The all-volunteer, unpaid work group is comprised of teachers, school counselors, school social workers, school psychologists, school nurses, and school administrators, as well as state and county mental health professionals. The combined expertise of this diverse group will assess the current mental health needs of California students and gather evidence to support its policy recommendations to the SSPI and to the California Legislature.
The SMHPW will meet on a quarterly basis and all meetings are open to the public.
2013 Meeting Schedule and Agendas
March 8, 2013
Sacramento County Office of Education
10474 Mather Boulevard
Sacramento, CA 95655
May 31, 2013
Sacramento County Office of Education
10474 Mather Boulevard
Sacramento, CA 95655
2012 Meeting Minutes and Agendas
May 31, 2012
Sacramento County Office of Education
10474 Mather Boulevard
Sacramento, CA 95655
August 31, 2012
Sierra Health Foundation
1321 Garden Highway
Sacramento, CA 95833
November 30, 2012
Sierra Health Foundation
1321 Garden Highway
Sacramento, CA 95833
Additonal Resources
- School-Based Family Counseling Webinar (October 11, 2012)
Professors Carter, Soriano, and Gerrard, experts on School-Based Family Counseling, presented this Webinar to members of the SMHPW to demonstrate with case examples how this approach to student mental health services has been implemented in several schools and school districts in northern and southern California.
Student Mental Health Policy Workgroup Members
- Jim Alford, California Department of Education
- Cielo Avalos, California Department of Mental Health
- Vicki Bauman, Stanislaus County Office of Education
- Delphine Brody, California Network of Mental Health Clients
- Amber Burkan, Mental Health Association in California
- Victor Carrion, Stanford University
- Serena Clayton, California School Health Centers Association
- Bryce Custodio, Association of California School Administrators
- Cory DeMars, University of San Francisco
- Kathleen Derby, National Alliance on Mental Illness
- Grace Espindola, Sutter County Superintendent of Schools
- Sherman Garnett, San Bernardino County Office of Education
- Martin Gonzalez, California School Boards Association
- Jerlena Griffin-Desta, University of California, Office of the President
- Gayle Hinazumi, Special Education Local Plan Area Administrators
- Stacie Hiramoto, Mental Health Association in California
- Mara Madrigal-Weiss, San Diego County Office of Education
- Daniel McCarthy, California Association of School Social Workers
- Margaret Murray, California School Nurses Organization
- Vic Ojakian, Family Member
- David Pating, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
- Kathy Rabun, California State Parent Teacher Association
- Connie Reitman-Solas, Inter-Tribal Council of California
- Gregory Rhoten, Kern County Superintendent of Schools
- Michael Richards, Jr., California Teachers Association
- Pamela Robinson, Sacramento County Office of Education
- Suamhirs Rivera, Youth Representative
- Jim Russell, California Association of School Psychologists
- Patricia Ryan, California Mental Health Directors Association
- Steve Salva, California Association of School Counselors
- Rusty Selix, Mental Health Association in California
- Betsy Sheldon, California Community College's Chancellor's Office
- Kim Suderman, Yolo County Department of Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health
- Daria Waetjen, Orange County Department of Education
- Oscar Wright, United Advocates for Children and Families
- Tara Zombres, California Department of Education
