School Mental Health: Treating Students K-12

Mental health issues among school-aged children and adolescents have continued to overwhelm students, schools, and communities. The impacts are far reaching—from academic performance and financial challenges to long-term public health outcomes and societal well-being. Because schools are a primary access point for mental health screening and services for many children, the school setting can offer prime opportunities for early identification, treatment, and coordination of care.

Mental health professionals in and out of educational systems can play a key role in addressing the mental health crisis. Still, too many of us struggle to stay up to date on changing diagnosis, treatment, and best practice guidelines in school settings. To promote the best outcomes, providers need guidance on screening and treatment tools, care coordination, referral pathways, and larger systemic strategies.

Our popular course is designed to offer participants the latest clinical information and practical strategies that address current topics in school mental health through a mix of lectures, case studies, lived experience, interactive panels and Q&A. Faculty this year will delve into the evidence-based psychotherapies ACT, UP-C and DBT, school avoidance, fostering awe in youth, the adultification of Black girls, pharmacotherapy updates, eating disorders, ADHD in girls, and supporting immigrant students. In addition, we'll hear about effective ways to process lived experience via the arts.

Each year we strive to create a warm, energizing and fun learning experience to enhance connection and networking among attendees. We welcome all mental health and health clinicians, educators, school administrators, researchers, and others interested in the development and treatment of school-aged children and adolescents to join us in 2027!

Who Should Attend

• Specialty Physicians
• Primary Care Physicians
• Social workers
• Counselors
• Family Therapists
• Psychologists
• Nurses
• Others

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Identify and apply how actionable awe—fostered through a youth participatory action–based awe literacy program—increases a sense of belonging, improves school-community relationships, and expands school-based mental health support.
• Articulate strategies to support the integration and participation of immigrant students.
• Describe the nuances of eating disorders, including their diverse presentations and the populations they affect, and utilize practical tools for supporting students experiencing eating disorder–related symptoms.
• Identify the decision architecture in Dialectical Behavior Therapy and match the pertinent skill to a student's state of regulation.
• Explore an example of processing lived experience using art and graphic novels.
• Review updates to pharmacologic treatments for mental health disorders in children and adolescents.
• Discuss how ADHD presents differently in girls.
• Identify the correct DSM 5 diagnosis for students with school avoidance using empirically backed screening tools, and list several medical conditions that may be at root of school avoidant issues.
• Identify the manifestations of adultification in the school setting and discuss key strategies to ameliorate its harmful impact on Black girls.
• Discuss the effectiveness and student experiences of integrating spoken word poetry into group therapy.
• Review elements of the Unified Protocol for Children, and implement evidence-based strategies to help children cope with and build resilience to difficult emotions.
• Map their own clinical reactive habit patterns using the CARE framework (Cue → Affect → Reaction → Effect), distinguishing reflexive responses from intentional clinical moves in complex student, family, and school-system interactions.
• Discuss ways to engage school or clinic administration teams and promote the implementation of targeted mental health programs for students.

ABMS/ACGME Competencies

This course is designed to meet the following American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) / Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Educational (ACGME) competencies:

• Patient Care and Procedural Skills
• Medical Knowledge
• Interpersonal and Communication Skills

IOM Competencies

This course is designed to meet the following Institute of Medicine Core Competencies:

• Provide Patient-Centered Care
• Employ Evidence-Based Practice

Questions?

Please contact the Continuing Education Programs with any questions by email at learn@hms.harvard.edu.

Mitch Abblett, PhD

Clinical Psychologist in Private Practice, Author, Speaker, and Consultant

Wendy Bamatter, PhD

Program Director, Child Partial Hospital Program, McLean Hospital
Instructor in Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School 

Ashley Cooper, PhD

PhD Student, Yale University

Sheilah Gauch, LICSW, MEd

Principal and Clinical Director, Dearborn Academy

Demond Hill, PhD

Assistant Professor of Health Equity, Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development, Tufts University

Raynard Kington, MD, PhD

Head of School, Phillips Academy Andover

David Klemanski, PsyD, MPH

Chief, Division of Psychology and Co-Director of Postdoctoral Training, Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance
Member of the Faculty, Harvard Medical School

Jarrett J. Krosoczka

New York Times Bestselling Author and Illustrator

Gabrielle Oliveira, PhD

Author
Jorge Paulo Lemann Associate Professor of Education and of Brazil Studies, Harvard Graduate School of Education

Lea Petrovic, PhD

Staff Psychologist, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Boston Children's Hospital
Instructor in Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry, Part-time, Harvard Medical School

Sharon Saline, PsyD

Clinical Psychologist
Award-Winning Author
International Speaker and Expert Consultant

Timothy Shea, MD

Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Part-time, Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance
Instructor in Psychiatry, Part-time, Harvard Medical School

Rebecca Shingleton, PhD

Clinical Psychologist
Associate Senior Lecturer in Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, Harvard University

Mary Sun, MD

Resident Physician, Mass General Brigham; Clinical Fellow in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

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Course Directors

Harvard Medical School Continuing Education attracts the best and brightest faculty from all around the world. As a student in this course, you'll have access to outstanding course directors and faculty.

Nancy Rappaport, MD

Consultant, School-Based Programs, Cambridge Health Alliance
Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Part-Time, Harvard Medical School

Christopher Willard, PsyD

Psychologist and Educational Consultant
Teaching Associate in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

Karen Kuc, MPH

Director, Continuing Education in Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance​​​
Associate in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School

Accreditation

In support of improving patient care, Harvard Medical School is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Live/Live Online Courses: To receive CME/CE credit, learners are required to complete the course evaluation. Once the evaluation is complete, you will be able to claim your credit and download your certificate. All evaluations and credit claims must be completed within 60 days of the course end date.

Online Courses: To receive CME/CE credit, learners must pass the course post-test and complete the course evaluation in order to claim credit before the final day of the accreditation period. Learners have access to the course for 60 days after the accreditation period has expired.

Physicians

The Harvard Medical School designates this live activity for a maximum of 14.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Psychologists

Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry maintains responsibility for this program and its content. This course offers 14.00 continuing education credits. 

Please note: For psychologists, social workers, counselors, and LMFTs, this course has been approved for a set amount of credits and CHA is not able to issue CE certificates for partial credit. Participants must be present for all sessions to claim a certificate. For any questions regarding CE credit, please email CME@CHAlliance.org.

Social Workers

Application for social work continuing education credits has been submitted to NASW-MA. Please contact us at CME@CHAlliance.org for the status of social work CE accreditation. NY Social Workers: Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an Approved Provider #0038 of continuing education for licensed social workers. This course offers 14.00 contact hours. 

Please note: For psychologists, social workers, counselors, and LMFTs, this course has been approved for a set amount of credits and CHA is not able to issue CE certificates for partial credit. Participants must be present for all sessions to claim a certificate. For any questions regarding CE credit, please email CME@CHAlliance.org.

Counselors

Cambridge Health Alliance is an Affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 5444. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Cambridge Health Alliance, Division of Continuing Education in Psychiatry is solely responsible for all aspects of the program. This course meets the requirements for 14.00 continuing education hours and is also applicable for Commonwealth of Massachusetts Counseling/Allied Mental Health accreditation for 14.00 credits. 

Please note: For psychologists, social workers, counselors, and LMFTs, this course has been approved for a set amount of credits and CHA is not able to issue CE certificates for partial credit. Participants must be present for all sessions to claim a certificate. For any questions regarding CE credit, please email CME@CHAlliance.org.

Family Therapists

This activity has been certified by NEAFAST on behalf of the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health & Human Services Professions for LMFT Professional Continuing Education. Certification # 215486853, for 14.0 contact hours. The States of CT and RI accept NBCC and NASW approval for marriage and family therapy.  

Nurse Practitioners and Registered Nurses

For the purpose of recertification, the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board and American Nurses Credentialing Center accept  AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ issued by organizations accredited by the ACCME (Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education). We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure.

Physician Assistants

The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) states that  AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ are acceptable for continuing medical education requirements for recertification. We would also suggest that learners check with their state licensing board to ensure they accept reciprocity with AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ for re-licensure. 

Union of European Medical Specialists

The American Medical Association (AMA) has an agreement of mutual recognition of continuing medical education (CME) credit with the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS). Additional information regarding this agreement may be found on the Union of European Medical Specialists website.

Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada recognizes conferences and workshops held outside of Canada that are developed by a university, academy, hospital, specialty society or college as accredited group learning activities.

Disclaimer

CME activities accredited by Harvard Medical School are offered solely for educational purposes and do not constitute any form of certification of competency. Practitioners should always consult additional sources of information and exercise their best professional judgment before making clinical decisions of any kind.

Note: AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ is calculated based on submission of a preliminary agenda and may be subject to change.

Disclosure Policy

In accord with the disclosure policy of the Medical School as well as standards set forth by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), course planners, speakers, and content reviewers have been asked to disclose any relationships they have to companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. In addition, faculty have been asked to list any off-label uses of pharmaceuticals and/or devices for investigational or non-FDA approved purposes that they plan to discuss.

Hotel Reservations

Fairmont Copley Plaza
138 St. James Avenue
Boston, MA 02116

A block of rooms for the nights of February 4-6 2027, has been reserved at the hotel for this event, under the group name Cambridge Health Alliance.

All reservations must be made, modified, or canceled individually through the hotel's Reservation Department via this link (https://book.passkey.com/go/SchoolMentalHealth2027) or by calling 1-800-441-1414 and referring to Group Name. Reservations for rooms accessible to guests with disabilities may be made in the same manner. Reservations must be made on or before January 11, 2027 to guarantee the CHA group rate.

Hotel confirms the following guest room rates per night:

• $199 Moderate Room
• $215 Fairmont Room (Single or double-bedded)
• $250 Deluxe Room

Guest room rates are exclusive of applicable taxes and service fees.