Child psychiatrists, whether consulting to schools or providing services in private practice or an emergency room, are increasingly asked to make judgments about students’ safety. Thus, it is imperative that they are familiar with the research on assessing student threats, broaden their knowledge base of the standard safety/threat assessment process, and understand the critical information needed for this process. This presentation provides an overview of a comprehensive school safety assessment approach for students whose behavior raises concern about their potential for violence, presenting a model that can help prevent school violence while getting students and families the services they need. Participants will better understand the multi-faceted role that child psychiatrists, working in a variety of settings, can play in building a school culture of safety, performing school threat assessment and responding appropriately, facilitating communication and connection to needed services, and supporting students, families, and educators.

Dr. Rappaport will present “Case: School Avoidance” as part of the two-day conference:

As we enter the third year of the pandemic, the impact on our students is increasingly clear but so too are new solutions and approaches. Mental health needs have skyrocketed among youth, and many schools struggle with burned out teachers and administrators, challenging parents and a lack of mental health providers in schools and their communities. We are eager to come together again in person to share successes and challenges on our collective journey through constant uncertainty.

This course will equip participants with up-to-date knowledge and skills to enhance the emotional well-being of children and adolescents at school, as well as the well-being of larger systems and communities. Topics will cover pandemic effects on learning, navigating LGBTQ+ issues, autism & social communication, polyvagal theory, school avoidance, perfectionism and the impacts of prejudice and other traumas. We are excited to also offer an open ‘Doc Roundtable’ to address questions and concerns related to the latest medications, and a powerful lived experience panel on gun violence and youth activism. Participants will leave with practical and timely clinical information and skills based on emerging research, evidence-based practice and innovative learning strategies.

Mental health and health clinicians, educators, school administrators, researchers and others interested in the development and treatment of school-aged children and adolescents will gain updated knowledge and skills via a mix of didactic lectures, case studies, panel discussions and Q&A.

Nancy Rappaport, M.D., will discuss how depression presents in children and teens at home and at school, how to proceed when concerned a student may be suicidal, and how to support youth with depression. This workshop will include an interactive discussion of clinical cases to illustrate key points.

Dr. Rappaport will discuss what depression may look like in teens at home and at school, how to proceed when concerned a teen may be suicidal, and how to connect with and support teens with depression during the pandemic and beyond. She will also discuss how building resilience in ourselves and in teens and families allows us to boost our, and their, capacity to endure and perhaps even thrive during uncertain and challenging times. Her talk is based on her many years of clinical experience and experience translating psychiatric concepts into easy actionable steps for professionals and families.

School avoidance describes students whose chronic absence from school is associated with some degree of psychiatric symptoms. Chronic absenteeism is a risk factor for a number of behaviors including suicidality, substance use, unsafe sexual behavior, and school drop-out. Early recognition of school avoidance, diagnosis and treatment of any underlying concerns, understanding of school and family dynamics, and targeted accommodations and interventions are vital to prevent increasing problems. Using case examples, Dr. Rappaport will give an overview of school avoidance, review disorders that may underlie it (including anxiety and mood disorders and neurological and medical conditions), describe concrete accommodations that schools can make to support the school avoidant child, and discuss approaches to successful collaboration between family, school, and health care providers.

In this interactive workshop with Dr. Claire Bogan and Dr. Nancy Rappaport, emotional regulation skills for teens will be presented. These concrete strategies taught in this webinar will be guided by “DBT Skills Manual for Adolescents*” and are designed to support emotion regulation skill development both in school and at home. Resources to support parents/guardians with home practice will be provided during this session.

Presented with Dr. Sarah Goodrum.