Visiting Speaker - Dr. Annahita Ball, SUNY Buffalo

EVENT CANCELLED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER

Teachers, Positive Youth Development, & Schools: Connecting the Dots

Abstract
Teachers increasingly demand improved school-based student support services to meet the pressing health and mental health needs of today’s children and youth. There is little research, however, that has investigated the ways in which teachers are critical providers and collaborators in promoting positive youth development and addressing children’s mental health concerns. This presentation will provide an overview of the available research on teachers and school mental health, as well as share findings from recent studies examining teachers’ roles and preparation for school mental health engagement. Implications for creating cross-system and school-based interprofessional collaborations in support of positive youth development and school mental health services will be discussed.

Speaker Biography
Dr. Annahita Ball is an Assistant Professor within the School of Social Work at University at Buffalo, State University of New York. Her research focuses on advancing educational justice for vulnerable children and youth through meaningful family engagement in schools, effective school-based social service delivery, and inclusive learning environments. Her recent projects include exploring various aspects of family engagement and empowerment in schools and the development of a school-based intervention to improve intergroup relations among high schoolers. She has collaborated with schools and districts to implement student-driven programs and teacher professional development focused on school climate, disciplinary procedures, and student mental health. Her publications have been featured in scholarly journals, such as Children & Youth Services Review, Teaching & Teacher Education, and Youth & Society. Dr. Ball teaches courses on Diversity and Oppression, Social Work in the Public Schools, and Intergroup Dialogue.

All welcome! Coffee and cookies will be served. Please RSVP to jheidenh@uwo.ca by Friday, February 1, 2019 if you would like to attend.