September 4, 2024
For immediate release
Media contact: Cara Scarola Hansen
Center for Child Counseling Public Relations Counsel
cara@yourmissionmarketing.com

Lead the Fight Event Connects Pediatric Professionals to School-Based Mental Health Services
Center for Child Counseling with Palm Beach Pediatric Society lead the fight in children’s mental health by connecting pediatricians to the supports offered in Palm Beach County schools.

The Center for Child Counseling (CFCC) continued its Lead the Fight series to move forward its efforts addressing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and childhood trauma with the healthcare providers who are on the frontlines of seeing children and families. In partnership with the Palm Beach Pediatric Society, CFCC hosted part two of a three-part series, The Trauma-Informed Pediatric Practice: The Superheroes Have Arrived, on August 28, 2024, at the National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach. 

Led by Dr. Shannon Fox-Levine, president of the Palm Beach Pediatric Society and medical director of Center for Child Counseling, this part of the series focused on how Palm Beach County Schools are helping students with mental health and behavioral concerns–and how pediatricians can tap into available supports to help their patients. The goal of the event was to help pediatricians connect their patients to school-based mental health services–from prevention to crisis support. 

Featured guest speakers included Dr. Seth Bernstein, executive vice president at United Way of Palm Beach County, and Dr. Mary Claire Mucenic, director of behavior and mental health for the School District of Palm Beach County. 

Overarching themes of the evening included the super power in being an advocate for children’s mental health and the necessity of not waiting for a child to fall apart before helping.

Dr. Bernstein provided the history of mental health supports in schools over the last few decades and the research that supports early intervention and reaching children before diagnosis. 

“All children should get the supports that they need and not have to rely on a diagnosis to bill medicaid or insurance,” Bernstein stated.  

Bernstein also shared his personal story of undergoing his parents’ divorce and his introduction to school mental health as a recipient of services. When in high school, the school social worker, Mr. C, invited him to join a “divorce group.” This group helped Bernstein gain the support of his peers, learn coping skills, and build resiliency. He then took a peer support class and by senior year was leading a class for the younger classmen and giving back. 

“He [Mr. C] really set me on this path of who I am today…it really made me into an advocate to really eliminate barriers to access school mental health services for youth and their families…I’m totally committed to supporting the mental health of our children and the support of our families and hope that you will be superheroes also in this fight,“ advocated Bernstein. 

Dr. Mucenic re-stressed the importance of students and families being able to access mental health supports in schools and gave a detailed overview of the services that are provided in the 179 schools that make up the Palm Beach County School District 

Aa part of the school district’s strategic plan, they are measuring and following objectives to support mental health and well being, including: enhance a sense of belonging, safety, and acceptance for all students; and trauma-informed care and practices.

The schools recognize the importance of destigmatizing mental health services and share the message throughout their campuses that, “It’s OK to be OK. It’s OK to not be OK. It’s OK to ask for help.” 

Mucenic emphasized “We have people on every school campus to support mental health. It’s really important.”

Each school’s mental health team includes: school counselor(s), ESOL school coordinator, school psychologist(s), school behavioral health professional, co-located mental health professional (at 115 of the schools), and SBT/CST leader. There are also supports provided at the district level, such as the CAPE Team, Mobile Response Team, and community-based agencies with whom the district partners. 

Center for Child Counseling CEO Renée Layman gave a brief overview of the agency’s public health framework and their data-to-action approach of prevention, early intervention, and treatment. The Center realizes that children don’t necessarily need treatment only, the caregivers need ways to help their own kids. 

“We have focused largely on building the capacity of people who work and live with kids to promote their well-being and resilience,” said Layman.

Dominika Nolan, director of education and prevention services for CFCC gave an overview of all of the services offered to children, families, schools, and communities in order to build the capacity and promote positive mental health for all. 

In the closing remarks for the evening, Dr. Fox-Levine encouraged all attendees to think about, “How can you take action now and step out of this room tonight and into your day tomorrow and be a superhero even more than what you have been in the past with the information and energy from tonight about the exciting things that are happening with our schools and being able to partner with schools?” 

In 2015, Center for Child Counseling launched Fighting ACEs to build awareness and action to mitigate the impact of ACEs and build well-being through Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs). In conjunction with Leadership Palm Beach County Class of 2017, the Center developed ‘Lead the Fight’ in 2016 to bring awareness to system leaders around fighting childhood adversity with advocacy and action. Since that time, the agency has educated tens of thousands of parents, professionals, and systems leaders. 

Partnership sponsors who are leading the fight in making these important and necessary conversations possible include: BeWellPBC, Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County, Florida Association for Infant Mental Health, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, Hanley Foundation, Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition of Palm Beach County, Mead Johnson Nutrition, Palm Beach Pediatrics, Palm Beach Pediatric Society, and Searcy, Denney, Scarola, Barnhart & Shipley. 

CFCC’s Fighting ACEs initiative to build trauma-informed communities is made possible with the generous support of Quantum Foundation, Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties, and private donors.

CFCC’s pediatric integration program is made possible thanks to the support of Quantum Foundation, The Frederick DeLuca Foundation, and Palm Beach County Community Services Department. 

Part 3 of the Lead the Fight 2024 series, Positivity Will Give HOPE for Our Future, will take place on December 4. The event focus will be on understanding the effect of Positive Childhood Experiences on countering the long-term possible effect of Adverse Childhood Experiences.

About Center for Child Counseling
Center for Child Counseling has been building the foundation for playful, healthful, and hopeful living for children and families in Palm Beach County since 1999. Its services focus on preventing and healing the effects of adverse experiences and toxic stress on children, promoting resiliency and healthy family, school, and community relationships. www.centerforchildcounseling.org Twitter: @ChildCounselPBC Facebook: @CenterforChildCounseling Instagram: @childcounselpbc

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