**MEDIA ADVISORY**

DATE: Friday, November 12, 2021

TIME: 2-3:30pm ET

LOCATION: Register here for event link: https://patrickjkennedy.webex.com/patrickjkennedy/onstage/g.php?MTID=e8ac37bd4cf7746130e3a63b3a0fb102d 

EVENT TITLE:

School-Based Mental Health: A National Priority

DESCRIPTION: 

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on America’s youth, causing increases in stress, symptoms of depression and anxiety, eating disorders, and mental health emergency room visits. Now, more than ever, young people need our help. Yet far too often, the mental health literacy and critical social-emotional learning skills they need are missing from school curricula. Thankfully, “mental health services and supports” are included as allowed uses for the $126 billion dollars designated by the American Rescue Plan Act to help schools rebound from the pandemic.

“School-Based Mental Health: A National Priority,” will explore how education systems across the country can address the immediate mental health needs of students and integrate mental health curricula long-term. Topics of this panel discussion will include innovative approaches to engage youth, best practices for program development and assessment, strategies for addressing common challenges, and more. Registrants will also hear directly from U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Ed.D., who served as the Commissioner of Education in Connecticut during the COVID-19 pandemic.

SPEAKERS:

Miguel Cardona, Ed.D.
Secretary, U.S. Department of Education

Amy Kennedy
Education Director, The Kennedy Forum

Katherine Neas
Acting Assistant Secretary, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, U.S. Department of Education

Harry “Doc” Ervin
Superintendent, San Bernardino City Unified School District

Mai Xi Lee
Social Emotional Learning Director, Sacramento City Unified School District

Thomas Scarice
Superintendent, Westport Public Schools

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About The Kennedy Forum

Founded in 2013 by former Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy (D-R.I.), The Kennedy Forum leads a national dialogue on transforming the health care system by uniting mental health advocates, business leaders, and government agencies around a common set of principles, including full implementation of the Federal Parity Law. Launched in celebration of the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy’s signing of the landmark Community Mental Health Act, the nonprofit aims to achieve health equity by advancing evidence-based practices, policies, and programming for the treatment of mental health and addiction. The Kennedy Forum’s “Don’t Deny Me” campaign educates consumers about their rights under the Federal Parity Law and connects them with essential appeals guidance and resources. To learn more about The Kennedy Forum, please visit www.thekennedyforum.org.

Media Contact

Amber McLaughlin
(703) 407-6070
amber@thekennedyforum.org