Healthy Kids Create a Healthy Community

Cuyahoga Falls City School District is helping to create healthy kids and a healthy community  by focusing on more than just the traditional “reading, writing and arithmetic” (and now test scores) of education that our children receive each day in their elementary, middle and high school buildings. 

For the third year in a row, the Department of Pupil Services/Special Education under the direction of  Dr. Phil Martucci,  has created a forum for mental health speakers and organizations to create awareness of  the mental issues that impact our children’s ability to learn and lead healthy productive lives.

The mental health collaborative this Fall will feature a Speaker Series,  September through November and in February through April 2009.  Each speaker presentation will focus on a specific topic and will be an opportunity for students, parents and community members to ask questions of the experts.  Topics will include Eating Disorders, Teen Stress and Coping Skills, Depression and Grief Support, Supporting Kids who live with Chronic Illness in the Family; Cyberbullying and Mean Girls.  All presentations are free and open to the Public.  The presentations will be in the ERIE Room of the Cuyahoga Falls Natatorium and will be an hour in length from 6:30-7:30 pm.  FREE and Open to the Public. 

MENTAL HEALTH COLLABORATIVE ANNOUNCES the FALL 2008

“HEALTHY KIDS, HEALTHY COMMUNITY” SPEAKER SERIES

(All Presentations are Free and Open to the Public)

The future depends on the mental health, strength and resiliency of our youth.  In the U.S today, one in five children and adolescents have a mental health disorder and one in ten children suffer from a mental disorder severe enough to cause some level of impairment in their academic, social or emotional development.  This presentation will discuss the importance of brain fitness and ways to decrease stress and promote healthy lifestyles for overall mental wellness.  Question and Answer Format.

Presenter:  Victoria Doepker, Associate Director, Mental Health America of Summit County.  Victoria Doepker received her Bachelor Degree in Social Work from the Ohio State University.  Doepker was employed seven years with an inner-city hospital in Pittsburgh, PA and has extensive experience developing and administering adolescent programs.  She spent six years implementing child abuse recognition and prevention services and conducting professional development and training to hospital personnel.  After relocating to Ohio, she began working with the Mental Health America of Summit County as director of the Red Flags program, a statewide initiative to promote depression awareness and early intervention for adolescents in Ohio public and non-public middle schools.  She facilitates educational programs and provides technical assistance to project participants including other states (North Carolina, Illinois, Oregon, and Idaho) that are in the process of replicating the program.  She is involved in local civic organizations and serves as a community liaison for Mental Health America located at 405 Tallmadge Rd. Cuyahoga Falls, OH

NOVEMBER 19, 2008     Cuyahoga Falls Natatorium, Erie Room 6:30-7:30PM

Topic:  “Depression and Grief Support for Teens and their Families”

According to the Center for Disease Control, Ninety percent of adolescent suicide attempts are related to depression, anxiety, or substance abuse.  A Myth exist that asking about suicide encourages teens to attempt suicide.  The Fact is that screening and asking youth directly about suicide does not cause them to become suicidal.  In fact, research shows that depressed teens and those who have made suicide attempts, when screened, are less distressed and suicidal than those who are not screened.[1]  Question and Answer Format

Presenter:  Christine L. Scott, MSSA/LISW/Fellow Thanatology and member of Clinical Advisory Board and Volunteer with GriefCare Place in Stow, OH

Questions or Comments on the CFSD “Healthy Kids, Healthy Community” Speaker Series should be directed to Veronica Baca Bernel, Pupil Services Specialist, Dept. of Pupil Services/Special Education, or Dr. Phil Martucci, Director, Cuyahoga Falls City Schools,            330-926-3800 ext 502061.

[1] Columbia University TeenScreen Program Information