JSSA Resiliency Roundtable Community Connection & Gathering

All are welcome for an afternoon of connection, learning and cultivating resilience as parents of teens, educators, clergy and others.

Keynote : When Does My Child/Student/Camper Need Help? Presenter: Dr. Matt Biel, Chief of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at MedStar Georgetown.

With a close-up view and constant contact, parents, teachers, youth and camp leaders are often the best experts on their kids’ needs and challenges. As “first responders” in our kids’ lives, we want to educate ourselves about warning signs for our teens’ mental and emotional wellness. Dr. Matt Biel offers a timely perspective on discerning everyday teen development and mental health issues requiring intervention.

Break-out sessions (choose one):

1. Cultivating Whole-Person Wellness – Drew Fidler, LCSW-C, Senior Director of the BBYO Center for Adolescent Wellness – Our mental wellness is impacted by many different factors. In her role with BBYO, Drew engages with thousands of teens across the country. In this session, she will explore ways we can help teens think holistically about their wellness.

2. Navigating Stress & Cultivating Resilience – Kiran Dixit, LPC, Director of Learning and Inclusion at JSSA – In her work with JSSA mental health staff and as a clinician herself, Kiran has focused on ways we can help cultivate resilience in teens and young adults. Participants will join her to discuss techniques for building mental and emotional strength, especially in the face of stress or anxiety.

3. Supporting LGBTQIA Teens – Joe Wilson, LCSW-C, Senior Director for Mental Health Services at JSSA – Now more than ever, young people who are LGBTQIA are often living with amplified stresses, both internally as they navigate questions about their own identity, and externally as they face varying kinds of responses. Participants will join Joe for a discussion of how adults can support teens navigating these challenges.