Mental Health & Well-Being Information Sessions

Presenters: Brittany Parsons, Child Youth Counsellor (CYC), Peggy Webber, Child Youth Counsellor (CYC)

Description: This session is intended for parents/guardians of elementary students (Kindergarten - Grade 8). Presented by Child Youth Counsellors (CYCs), the session will explore anxiety (differentiating normative and diagnosed, with the focus on normative), signs and symptoms, strategies and resources. 

Session platform: Google Meet

Presenters: Stephanie Hiebert, Developmental Social Worker, HDSB, Kelsey Jackson, Service Coordinator, Halton Support Services (HSS), Louise Latourelle, Transitional Age Coordinator, Halton Support Services (HSS), Joelle Powell, Intake Resource/Transition Coordinator, Developmental Services of Ontario (DSO), Jessica Pearson, Service Navigator, Developmental Services of Ontario (DSO), Nicole Callander, Parent, Therapist at Bayridge Counselling Centre and Founder of Friends 4 Kindness, Trish D'amelio, Coordinated Service Planning Lead, Access and System Navigation (ASN), Michelle Whalen, Director of Services, Access and System Navigation (ASN), Shivani Patel, Access Navigation Lead, Access and System Navigation (ASN)

Description: This session will be held on two dates - one for parents/guardians of elementary students (Kindergarten - Grade 8) and one for parents/guardians of secondary students (Grade 9-12). 

• Elementary session (Tuesday, April 27 and 7 p.m.): This session is catered to offer information and support to the families of children in elementary school with developmental and neurodiverse needs. This interactive session will include information on mental health and developmental services within the community. Attendees will learn ways to support positive mental health/well-being within their families, how to get additional support at school and in the community and how to access mental health and/or developmental services within Halton. 

• Secondary session (Wednesday, April 28 at 7 p.m.): This session is catered to offer information and support to the families of children in secondary school with developmental and neurodiverse needs. This interactive session will include information for parents/guardians on mental health and developmental services within the community and will incorporate information for children and adult sectors. Attendees will learn ways to support positive mental health/well-being within their families, how to get additional support at school and in the community and how to access mental health and/or developmental services within Halton. 

Session platform: Google Meet

​Presenter: Amy Kovich, HDSB teacher and Laura McKay - Instructional Program Lead, Secondary School Programs, HDSB

Description: Two veteran e-Learning teachers (and moms to their own HDSB e-learning students!) will discuss strategies parents/guardians can use to help support the organizational and mental health challenges often faced by students learning online. The presentation will look at a variety of strategies used by teachers, discuss the important role parents can play, and have ample time for Q & A. Laura and Amy welcome your questions and look forward to helping you and your students ease into Q4. 

Session platform: Google Meet

Presenters: Emmie Stafford, Danielle’s Place, Amanda Vandenburg, NEDIC, Sarah Farrell - HDSB parent, Aryel Maharaj, Moderator

Description: This session will cover… How do messages about “health” impact your children and families? What has been the impact of the pandemic on people’s experiences with disordered eating? Viewers will have the opportunity to hear from parents, clinicians and youth, with lived experience with an eating disorder, as they share their experiences and strategies for supporting your family’s relationship with eating, exercise and body image. 

Session platform: Zoom Meet

​Presenter: Veronica La Marca, RD CDE - Registered Dietician, Eat2Grow Nutrition for Kids

Description: The topics that will be covered are:

• What is normal or typical eating for kids?
• What is the REAL role that parents have when feeding their children
• Portion sizes: what they mean and how to offer them
• All about snacks and sweets
• Tips on getting your kids in the kitchen and why it’s important

Session platform: Google Meet

Presenters: Reah Shin - Child & Youth Counsellor, HDSB, Amanda Mascola - Child & Youth Counsellor, HDSB, Jodi Sawyers - Child & Youth Counsellor, HDSB, Vi Ensoy-Landicho - RN, BScN, CPMHN (C) Mental Health and Addictions Nurse, Home and Community Care Support Services - Mississauga Halton

Description: Join to discuss vaping and the impact on children’s mental health and development. During this session, we will talk about the myths, facts, laws and the physical/mental impact of vaping. This session will provide tips about talking with young people about vaping. Lastly, there will be an opportunity to ask questions and learn about resources available for caregivers and staff who are looking to support or speak to young people and the importance of healthy choices.

Session platform: Google Meet

Presenters: Marsha Simms-Luke - MSW, RSW, School Social Worker & Mental Health Worker (Welcome Centre/Equity/Anti-Racism), HDSB, Heather Lewis - Child & Youth Worker, HDSB, Colleen Taffe - Integrated Mental Health Consultant, Roots Community Services

Description: Over the past year, Black students have had to deal with the pandemic of COVID-19 and racism. Though racism is not new, high profile violent events seen in the media have had an enormous impact on Black youth and their mental health. This session will explore what we can do as parents/guardians and loved ones to support our children to be in a place of mental wellness.

Session platform: Google Meet

Presenter: Joanna Mazza, M.Ed., OCT - Instructional Program Lead, HDSB

Description: We invite parents to learn more about Collaborative Problem Solving® (CPS), the evidence-based approach for helping children develop the skills they need to reduce challenging behaviour. Connecting with other like-minded adults to learn about the CPS approach can be an invaluable experience. The Parent Classes enable parents to reduce challenging behaviours through using the CPS approach with their child. 

Session platform: Google Meet

Presenters: Caroline Cayuga - Psycho-educational Consultant, HDSB and Candice Hamilton-Miller, RP, M.Sc. BSc. BA. CCC, Registered Psychotherapist, Certified Cogmed Coach, Owner CHM Therapy Services      

Description: This workshop will provide participants with an understanding of what a learning disability and ADHD are and how they impact a child and adolescent both at home and school with respect to learning, behaviour and mental health. Strategies to help parents support their children will be provided. 

Session platform: Google Meet

Presenters: Esi Quaye - part of ADAPT's Know the DEAL team, Ashley Davidson - manages ADAPT's Problem Gambling and Behavioural Addictions team

Description: The intention of this presentation is to have a discussion around youth and their substance use and video gaming behaviours. The presenters will discuss both the parent and youth perspective on substance use and how we can meet in the middle to have an open discussion. Through this we will identify the Stages of Change and Substance Use Continuum. Video gaming and technology overuse have increased throughout the pandemic and it is important to recognize the differences between healthy and unhealthy gaming and to be aware of the hooks, and when gaming becomes gambling. Tips, tools, and strategies will be identified and discussed.

Session platform: Google Meet 

Presenters: Candice Hamilton-Miller - RP, CHM Therapy Services and parent, Liz Mineo - RP, CHM Therapy Services and parent, Angela Shantz, Instructional Program Lead, HDSB

Description: Parenting a child in Kindergarten presents a new set of challenges. The age group of 4-6 has significant developmental leaps, coupled with emotional growth and struggles that are unique to this age. Being away from parents for most of the day and being expected to follow new expectations in “big” school can leave kids feeling emotionally overwhelmed. Parents struggle with managing those big feelings, frustrations at home and rapid changes in behaviour. This workshop will help parents develop new ways of managing the emotional rollercoaster of Kindergarten. The focus includes self-regulation, setting appropriate boundaries, understanding development, and managing emotional and behavioural challenges.

Session platform: Google Meet​ 

Presenters: Rachael Harrison - Teacher at Pine Grove PS, HDSB, Nancy Boose - Child & Youth Counsellor, HDSB, Tammy Marshall - Child & Youth Counsellor, HDSB

Description: Informal discussion for parents/guardians to gain an understanding of the importance of inclusive spaces and social connectedness for 2SLGBTQ+ youth. This session will provide current terminology, statistics, resources as well as strategies to help support young people. Opportunities for sharing, learning from each other and a Q&A segment during this informative evening.

Session platform: Google Meet

Presenters: Melinda Dougan - School Social Worker, HDSB, Candice Hamilton-Miller - RP, CHM Therapy Services and parent

Description: During the teenage years, teens are focused on developing their own set of values and beliefs that may or may not line up with those of their parents. As our teenagers become more independent, the relationship that we have with them as parents will change it. The world now is so very different to the one that we had, with new intense pressures and connections such as social media and increased demands in academics. This workshop is focused on helping parents with the challenges of raising teenagers. The focus includes helping teens manage their emotional reactions, helping parents set appropriate boundaries and understand how the parent-teen relationship changes, understanding teen development and managing emotional and behavioural challenges. 
Session platform: Google Meet

Presenters: Jeff Von Zuben - School Social Worker, HDSB

Description: Attending school seems like a reasonable expectation to place on most students, yet for many this can be very challenging. In this presentation we will discuss some of the reasons some students struggle to attend regularly. We will validate the struggles parents face in supporting their child to attend, along with who/how to access supports within the school and in the community.

Session platform: Google Meet

​Presenters: Lindsay Chiasson - EarlyOn Parent Educator Lead ROCK, Erin Takagi - Mental Health Consultant, ROCK 

Description: This workshop will increase a caregiver's ability to support children's developing self-regulation skills from a position of co-regulation. This workshop will discuss self-regulation vs. self-control, while addressing the importance of relationships. As a group, parents/caregivers will develop a 'toolbox' of relevant ideas and strategies to take away. Discussions will reflect on how the information presented may support and/or enhance present programming and adult/child relationships.
Session platform: Google Meet​

Presenters: Shauna Johnston - Mental Health Addictions Nurse, Vi Ensoy-Landicho - Mental Health Addictions Nurse 

Description: The Mental Health and Addictions Nurses will walk you through navigating the mental health system starting with your family doctor, inpatient and outpatient care and what you could expect at every step. We will talk about services available within the school and within the Halton Community.
Session platform: Google Meet

​Presenters: Lan Huang - Mental Health Addictions Nurse, Christine Kluczynski - Mental Health Addictions Nurse 

Description: This presentation will provide general information on psychopharmacology, including the definition of psychotropic medication and commonly prescribed medications such as stimulants, antidepressants, antipsychotics and mood stabilizers, emphasizing important facts and the clarification of misinformation.

​Session platform: Google Meet​ 

Presenters: Lisa Sedore - Psycho-educational Consultant, HDSB and parent, Larissa Pipe - Psycho-educational Consultant, HDSB and parent

Description: Executive functioning relates to one's ability to regulate their own emotions and behaviour, as well as their ability to engage in critical cognitive skills, such as planning, organizing, getting started on something, and self-monitoring. These skills are extremely important as they are even more predictive of success in school (and in life, in general) than one's level of intelligence. Weak executive functioning skills can result in higher perceived stress, poorer coping, and underachievement. This session will briefly cover what executive functions are, and how they develop through the teen years, with a focus on how parents can support the development of these skills with their students in Grade 7-12. 

Session platform: Google Meet

Presenters: Candice Hamilton-Miller, RP and Liz Mineo, RP (CHM Therapy Services and parents), Angela Shantz, Instructional Program Lead, HDSB 

Description: Grade 1-2 involves a significant change in the school day for children as they are now expected to “sit” more and do more focused work. For children with learning challenges, this change from play to instruction can be quite overwhelming. Expectations that children at this age can better manage their emotions does not always fit and many children still struggle developmentally to cope with these higher demands on attention and behaviour.  For parents, helping your child manage these new expectations and the emotional toll that can take is hard, especially when you are not at school with them all day. This workshop will help parents develop new ways of managing the emotional toll that their children face. The focus includes self-regulation, setting appropriate boundaries, understanding development, and managing emotional and behavioural challenges.

Session platform: Google Meet​