About the Leadership Institutes for National Initiative: New Directions for Student Support As with the Statewide Summits, invitations to the follow-up Leadership Institutes are sent to key educational leaders across the state. To facilitate thinking and moving in new directions for student support, we encourage these leaders to bring teams. (While the intent is to work specifically with those in a given state, previous Leadership Institutes have accommodated a few individuals and teams from other states who are ready to move in New Directions for Student Support.) >>As with the Summits, there are no fees for attending – other than travel costs. While invitations to a Leadership Institute are sent to key leaders, we encourage everyone concerned with moving forward in new directions for student support to act as catalysts in helping mobilize key leaders to attend and to bring a team. At the Institutes, the agenda for the day includes: Why New Directions for Student Support are an imperative Framing the full continuum of comprehensive and integrated interventions Building the infrastructure to develop new directions for learning supports Getting from where we are to where we need to be: System change Leadership Institutes have been held already in Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN (August, 2005); Dallas TX (September, 2005); two in California (March, 2006); Washington DC (July, 2006); Hartford, CT (August, 2006); Boston, MA (August, 2006); Hawai`i (March, 2007) and Vermont (April, 2007). An ongoing series is underway in Iowa as part of their efforts to implement the state's design for a System of Learning Supports Let us know if you are interested in having a New Directions Leadership Institute in your state. Contact ltaylor@ucla.edu For more information and resources related to New Directions for Student Support, go to our website at http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/summit2002/ndannouncement.htm Also, see The School Leader’s Guide to Student Learning Supports: New Directions for Addressing Barriers to Learning

About the Policy Leadership Institutes for Mental Health in Schools The first meeting was on the morning of Tuesday, September 20, in Dallas, TX. The focus was on the current state of policy for mental health in schools, the various agendas for mental health in schools, strategies for enhancing mental health in schools. For reports related to the Texas Institute see: Report from the Texas Leadership Institute for Mental Health in Schools Center Policy Report: An Initial Look at Texas Policy Related to Mental Health in Schools A special leadership institute was held on July 11 at UCLA for those involved in the "Integration of Schools and Mental Health Systems" Projects. Report from the July Leadership Institute for the U.S. Department of Education "Integration of Schools and Mental Health Systems" Grantees For more information on the Policy Leadership Cadre for Mental Health in Schools, see http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/policy.htm Anyone who is not already part of the national Policy Leadership Cadre for Mental Health in Schools is welcome to join this growing network. However, attendance at the meeting is limited to space available, so let us know soon if you want to attend. Contact ltaylor@ucla.edu For a perspective on the type of products stemming from the Cadre, see "Mental Health in Schools: Guidelines, Models, Resources & Policy Considerations" – online at http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/pdfdocs/policymakers/cadreguidelines.pdf If you want to know more about these leadership meetings and/or want to propose states where such events should be offered next, please contact ltaylor@ucla.edu For information on other networking opportunities facilitated by our Center, see http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu/netexch.htm

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