Schedule / Minnesota School Mental Health Conference

Conference Schedule

Download the 2026 Conference schedule with full descriptions

Start Time	End Time	Activity
7:00	9:00	Breakfast
8:00	6:00	Registration
10:30	11:30	Status Update: Students, Technology, and Mental Health Presenter: Erin Walsh
11:30	12:30	Lunch
11:30	6:00	Exhibit Tables
12:30	2:00	Moving Forward Together: Building a System of Care for Minnesota’s Children and Families Children’s Cabinet: System of Care
2:00	2:15	Break
2:15	5:15 A7 & B7	Cultivating Hope with the Hopeless: A Motivational Interviewing Strategy Presenter: Scott Nyegaard
2:15	3:45	1.5-Hour Sessions
	A1	Culturally Responsive School Behavioral Health for East African Students Presenter: Yussuf Shafie, MSW, LADC, LICSW (Alliance Wellness Center) Clinical, Educator, Intermediate.
	A2	Supervising Through the Generations: Adapting Clinical Supervision for a Multigenerational Mental Health Workforce Presenters: Ana Lewis, MA, LMFT, MN Board Certified Supervisor (Change Inc.) & Karrie Ruedy, MS, LMFT, MN Board Approved Clinical Supervisor (Change Inc.) Clinical, Basic
	A3	Speeding Our Way Through Life: The Stimulant Drug Epidemic in Minnesota Presenter: Don Marose (cd training consultants, inc) Clinical, Educator, Basic
	A4	School Refusal: Childhood Anxiety Presenter: Alma Marquez, MSW, LICSW (Wilder Foundation) Clinical, Educator, Basic
	A5	Count Them In: Target Strategies for School Attendance Concerns Presenters: Mikala Hora, MSW, LGSW (John Adams Middle School), Robin Saner (John Adams Middle School), Amy Carstensen (John Adams Middle School) & Mary Reiter (John Adams Middle School) Clinical, Educator, Intermediate
	A6	From Chaos to Connection: Reimagining the Healing Journey in Groups with Kids Presenters: Aisaaca Hammond, MSW, LICSW, IMH-E (Wilder Foundation) & Marie McNamara, MSW, LICSW (Wilder Foundation) Clinical, Educator, Basic
3:45	4:00	Break
4:00	5:00	1-hour sessions
	B1	Social Sports Apps, Streaming and Poker: How are kids gambling and what are the harms? Presenter: Sonja Mertz, MLIS, CPP (Minnesota Alliance on Problem Gambling) Clinical, Educator, Basic
	B2	Restorative Practices: Supporting Neurodivergent and Complex Trauma Students Presenter: Marissa Jensen (LSS of MN) Clinical, Educator, Intermediate
	B3	From Mandate to Meaning: Mental Health Education Alignment Presenters: Terri Swartout, M.A. (Minnesota Department of Education) & Brienne LaHaye, MA, LMFT (Minnesota Department of Education) Educator, Intermediate
	B4	Safety with Support: A Student-Centered Approach to Behavioral Threat Assessment Presenters: Megan Lagasse, MSW, LICSW (MDE Healthy & Inclusive Schools Team) Julia Wippler, MSW, LICSW (Anoka Hennepin Schools)
	B5	Ditching Diet Culture: Improving Our Schools Through Anti-Diet Approaches Presenters: Erin Brault (Bloomington Public Schools (ISD 271) & Shannon Brault (Melrose Center (through HealthPartners)) Educator, Basic
	B6	Culturally Centered Care in Schools: Growing, Learning and Laughing Together Presenters: Michelle Long, MS (Bois Forte Reservation Tribal Government) and Susan Thomas (North Woods School) Clinical, Educator, Basic
5:00	6:00	Exhibit Tables
6:00	8:00	Heavy Appetizers, Poster Sessions & Networking

Thursday, November 5th

Start Time	End Time	Activity
6:45	8:15	Breakfast
8:00	2:00	Registration
10:00	4:00	Exhibit Tables
8:45	10:30	Welcome & Keynote Courageous Clarity: For Times Like These Presenter: Seena Hodges
10:30	11:00	Break/Exhibits
11:00	12:00	1-hour sessions
	C1	Utilizing the TRS-IA to Support Systemic Implementation of Trauma-Responsive Practices Presenters: Larsyn Lyman, MSW, LICSW (MDE), Brienne LaHaye (MDE), Sonya Kuznetsov Duffy (MDE) & Megan Perry (Resource Training and Solutions) Educator, Basic
	C2	Bridging the Gap; Integrating Mental Health Into Everyday School Practice Presenters: Beth Donovan, MSW, LGSW (Zumbro Valley Health Center), Kelsey Kosberg, LICSW (Zumbro Valley Health Center) & Amber Anderson, LICSW (Zumbro Valley Health Center) Clinical, Educator, Intermediate
	C3	MDE's Crisis Management Team and the Regional School Crisis Response Teams Presenter: Ginya Davis (MN Department of Education) Educator, Intermediate
	C4	SEL as a Tier 1 Strategy for School Behavioral Health Presenter: Megen Bodeker (Northwest Service Cooperative and COMPASS) Educator, Basic
	C5	Moving Past Skills Work: Addressing Neurodivergence in Schools Presenters: Cynthia Everling, MSW, LICSW (Washburn Center for Children) and Albert Everling, MA, LPCC, ADHD-CCSP (Washburn Center for Children) Clinical, Educator, Intermediate
	C6	School-Based Health Care at a Critical Time for Students, Schools and Communities Presenters: Shawna Hedlund, MPH (MN School-Based Health Alliance) & Connie Sheehan (MN School-Based Health Alliance) Clinical, Educator, Basic
12:00	1:30	Lunch/Exhibits
1:30	3:00	1.5-hour sessions
	D1	It Starts With Us- Why the Adult Mindset Shift is the Most Important Behavioral Intervention in Schools Presenters: Jennifer LF Modeen, LGSW (Area Special Education Cooperative), Gabby Wavra, LGSW (Area Special Education Cooperative) & Emily Roue (Area Special Education Cooperative) Educator, Intermediate
	D2	Demonstrating What Works: Evidence-Based Interventions in Action Presenters: Megan Lagasse, MSW, LICSW, LSSW (MDE EDI Center) & TBD. Clinical, Educator, Intermediate
	D3	Building an SEL Ecosystem: Adult Mindset, Co-Regulation, and Systems That Sustain Student Success Presenters: Jen Petersen, MSW LICSW (Intermediate School District 917), Sam Schulz, MSW LICSW (ISD 917), Courtney Robinson, Ed.S., NCSP (ISD 917) & Justin Hoelscher M.S. EBD/SLD (ISD 917) Educator, Basic
	D4	ICE and our Neighborhoods Presenters: Alma Marquez, MSW, LICSW (Wilder Foundation), Kimberly Mendez, MSW, LGSW (Wilder Foundation), Tania Acevedo Garcia, MSW, LGSW (Wilder Foundation) & Samantha Lopez Giron, MSW, LGSW (Wilder Foundation) Clinical, Educator, Basic
	D5	How to use the Minnesota Youth Trafficking and Exploitation Identification Tool and Guide Presenters: Sophia Maceda, B.A (Minnesota Department of Health) & Caitlin Orgon (MDH) Clinical, Educator, Basic
	D6	Wakȟáŋyeža owáyawa (Teaching the children): Honoring Indigenous Understandings of Childhood in Teaching and Caregiving Presenter: Whitney Johnson MSN, RN, PMHNP-BC (Minnesota Department of Human Services) Clinical, Educator, Basic

3:00	3:30	Break/Exhibits
3:30	4:30	1-hour sessions
	E1	Healthy Technology Use in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: Current Research and Implications for School Counselors Presenters: Makenzie Farmer (School Counseling Department at St Cloud State University) and Bill Lepkowski, PhD (School Counseling Department SCSU) Educator, Intermediate
	E2	Responding to Behavior with a Restorative Lens Presenter: Grace Yang (Minnesota Department of Education) Educator, Basic
	E3	Escape the Silo: An Interactive WSCC Approach to Whole-Child Wellness Presenter: Leah Bancroft MSN, RN, LSN, NCSN, PLNC (Minnesota Department of Education) Educator, Basic
	E4	School Mental Health Practices for Student Success in Minnesota Presenters: Meg Olson, MA, NCSP (Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI)), Alyssa Parr, PhD (CAREI) & Mengchen Su, PhD (CAREI) Clinical, Educator, Basic
	E5	Reducing Chronic Absenteeism through Holistic Student and Family Supports Presenters: Jason Keppe, LMFT (Seneca) & Sarah Washington (Parent Advocate) Clinical, Educator, Basic
	E6	Building Confidence in School Mental Health Documentation: A Practical Workshop Presenter: Krista Moore MSW, LICSW (DHS Behavioral Health Administration) Clinical, Basic
6:00	8:00	Dinner - Dining Room Social Events

Friday, November 6th

6:45	8:15	Breakfast
8:30	10:00	1.5-hour sessions
	F1	Brief Intervention Strategy for School Mental Health Clinicians (BRISC) - A Tier 2 Intervention that Empowers Youth. Presenters: Mark Sander (Midwest Center for School Mental Health) & Cheryl Holm-Hansen (Midwest Center for School Mental Health)
	F2	Better Together: Integrating PBIS and School Mental Health Systems through an Interconnected Systems Framework (ISF) Presenters: Callie Devriendt, MSW, LICSW, LSSW (MN Dept of Education), Angela Scott, Ph.D. (MN Dept of Education), Brienne LaHaye, MA, LMFT (MN Dept. of Education) & Todd McGowan, MSW, LICSW (Duluth Public School District) Educator, Intermediate
	F3	Clinical Intervention Ideas for School Based Providers Presenters: Meghan Cain-Moss, MSW, LICSW (People Incorporated) & Jenna Seal, MA, LPCC (People Incorporated) Clinical, Intermediate
	F4	The Minnesota School-based Model of Diversion for Youth with Mental/Chemical Health Concerns Presenters: Dr. Charlene Myklebust, Psy.D. (EQ Learn, LLC and Stone Arch Learning, LLC) & C. Fausto Cabrera, Co-author of "The Parameters of Our Cage." (Damascus Way) Clinical, Educator, Intermediate
	F5	Porcupine, Alarm & Staff Shopper: Being curious about student behavior Presenters: Aisaaca Hammond, MSW, LICSW, IMH-E (Wilder Foundation) & Alma Marquez, MSW, LICSW (Wilder Foundation) Clinical, Educator, Basic
	F6	Safe(r) Presenters: Marnita Schroedl (Marnita's Table) & Elijah Fortson (Marnita's Table) Clinical, Educator, Basic
10:00	10:15	Break
10:15	11:15	1-hour sessions
	G1	Including parents in school based therapy sessions Presenter: Keely Heiser, LICSW (Relate Counseling Center) Clinical, Intermediate
	G2	A Collaborative Approach to School Anxiety, Attendance & Re-Engagement Presenters: Deanna Klein, LPCC (Compass Health Center) & Dianne Burd, MSW, LICSW (Compass Health Center) Clinical, Educator, Basic
	G3	The Courage to Not Know: Embracing Uncertainty in Education Presenter: Mandy Weinkauf, MSW, LICSW, LSSW (Agate Social Works) Clinical, Educator, Basic
	G4	Mental Health Teams: A multi-disciplinary approach to supporting students in St Paul Public Schools Presenters: Andrew Klopp, MSW, LICSW (St Paul Public Schools) & Beth Coleman, EdS, MS, Assistant Director (St Paul Public Schools) Clinical, Educator, Basic
	G5	Bridging Worlds: Building Behavioral Health Supports for Indigenous Students Presenters: Brian Johnson Jr., MBA (Department of Human Services) and TBA Educator, Intermediate
	G6	Q&A: Mental Health Medicaid Reimbursement in Schools Presenters: Krista Moore & Jennifer Butler (Minnesota Department of Human Services) and Hollie Clarke, Laura Seifert-Hertling, Jenny Whitcomb (Minnesota Department of Education) Clinical, Educator, Basic
11:15	11:30	Break
11:30	12:30	1-hour sessions
	H1	Beyond Assumptions: Addressing Implicit Bias While Supporting Youth Affected by Substance Use Presenters: Sehee Snead, MPS, LADC (Natalis Psychology & Solutions) & Alfred Flores-Mendoza, MPS, LADC (Change Inc.) Clinical, Educator, Basic
	H2	Strengthening School Communities Through the Coalescence of Social Emotional Learning and Non-exclusionary Discipline Practices Presenters: Jordan Samejima (MDE: EDI Center) & Kerwin Bell, SEL Specialist (MDE: EDI Center) Educator, Basic
	H3	The Students We Misunderstand: Race, Families, Mental Health, and School Systems Presenters: Brandy Fountain, M.A, LPC (People Incorporated) and Sarah Washington (Parent Advocate) Clinical, Educator, Basic
	H4	Youth Leadership in Addressing Commercial Tobacco Product Waste Presenter: Jeffrey Palaniappan Ting, MPH (Association for Nonsmokers-Minnesota) Educator, Basic
	H5	Beyond "Just Say No": Leading Honest, Stigma-Free Conversations on Fentanyl & Substance Use Presenters: Hanna Kazempour, LGSW, LADC (Change the Outcome) & Sydney Hastad (Change the Outcome) Educator, Basic
	H6	Preparing School Communities for Crisis: Best Practices in Behavioral Health Response and Recovery Presenter: Tara Hjelmberg, MA LMFT (MN Department of Human Services) Clinical, Educator, Intermediate
12:30	1:30	Lunch
	1:30	Depart Cragun’s