2020 California Student Mental Wellness Conference

The presentation will provide an overview of timely research findings, followed by a panel conversation on the partnership between these groups and strategies for behavioral health providers to engage.

This presentation will present original research findings from two reports: Healthy Mind, Healthy Future, a project of The Children's Partnership and the California Immigrant Policy Center, and Accessing Mental Health in the Shadows: How Immigrants in California Struggle to Get Needed Care, a project of The California Pan-Ethnic Health Network.
Efforts have already begun to take place to address the challenges that will be discussed. These include the following:
1) A statewide policy change, AB 699 - Safe School for Immigrant Students, that requires school districts to make policy and administrative changes to ensure students, regardless of immigration status, are safe from immigration enforcement while on campus. Model Policies include providing training on the dangers of bullying due to immigrant status for staff and students.
2) Two statewide policy changes, Health4All Kids and Health4All Young Adults, that expands eligibility for full-scope health coverage through Medi-Cal that includes mental and behavioral health care.
3) Los Angeles Anti-Hate Campaign - Increased bullying reports, along with increased reports of hate acts and hate crimes resulted in a three-prong campaign to educate residents on what bullying/hate violence is, a marketing campaign to deter bullying/hate violence, and building community capacity to respond the hate violence. The campaign was a result of a motion made by the LA County Board of Supervisors.
4) CDE Student Mental Health Policy Workgroup – This workgroup serves as the State Superintendent’s policymaking body for promotion of California’s students mental and emotional wellbeing. The group is comprised of mental health experts. Policies have included supporting mandatory suicide prevention legislation; mental health training for educators; and including accountability for providing student mental health supports through school district’s Local Control Accountability Plan Annual Reports. Participants will learn:
1) How Immigration Policy Impacts Mental Health and review of research
2) Overview of Impact of Federal Anti-Immigrant Rhetoric on Children and Families
a) Overview of TCP HMHF Findings
b) Overview of CPEHN County Analysis
3) Recommendations for moving forward
a) Strengthen Community Safety to Ensure Children, Youth, and Families Feel Secure and Supported in their Communities
b) Role of schools and early learning centers
c) Role of county leadership