Online Symposium: Building Resilience in Today’s Youth

Initiatives in Health Care, Education, Mental Health & Social Services to Make Kids Stronger

Wednesday, November 9, 2022, 10 am – 3:15 pm

Register Here: kristihouse.org/resilience2022

Youth Resilience Symposium – 11.9.22 (PDF)

An online symposium presented by Kristi House’s Project HeadSTRONG, made possible with major support from the Florida Blue Foundation.

Sharing the latest approaches for mental wellbeing, hear from experts from Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Florida International University, Florida State University, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and leading community agencies.

Each of our panelists are dedicated to improving child and youth experiences in their respective field. We have asked them to discuss current and ongoing challenges facing children and youth and to offer recommendations and resilience-building techniques, initiatives and programs. Geared to service providers at youth-serving organizations, the goal of this symposium to improve youth experiences, specifically relating to youth living with economic disparities and challenges around diversity, equity and inclusion; adverse childhood experiences; and the impact of 24/7 technology on the way we act, think, feel, behave and process.

This Symposium has 5 sessions, each with a Q&A, and a Lunch Speaker.

MORNING SESSIONS: 10 am – 12:45 pm

• Welcome Remarks
  • Morris Copeland, Chief Community Services Officer, Office of the Mayor, Miami-Dade County
  • Amanda G. Altman, Esq.,  Chief Executive Officer, Kristi House
• Session 1: 10:30 am – 11:15 am
  • Rising Mental and Health Care Needs and Disparities Among Children and Student Groups
  • Dr. Rani Gereige, M.D., M.P.H., FAAP, Executive Director  of Medical Education & Designated Institutional Official (DIO), Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
• Session 2: 11:15 am – 12 noon
  • Prioritizing Mental Health for Each and Every Student, Educator and Provider in MDCPS
  • Sally Alayon, Assistant Superintendent, Office of Mental Health and Student Services, Miami-Dade County PublicSchools
  • Lianie Cuba, Director, Department of Mental Health Services, Miami-Dade County Public Schools
• Session 3: 12 noon – 12:45 pm
  • Technology and Youth: The Positive and Negative Ways Technology Impacts the Way We Act, Think, Feel, Behave and Process
  • Dr. Arienne Ferchaud, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, School of Communication, Florida State University

LUNCH SPEAKER: 12:45 pm – 1:30 pm

Eat your lunch and listen…

• Mindfulness for Resilience
• Dorlie Banbanaste, Program Director & MBSR Facilitator, Mindful Kids Miami

AFTERNOON SESSIONS: 1:30 pm – 3:15 pm

• Session 4: 1:30 pm – 2:15 pm
  • Enhancing Mental Health with Safety and Prevention Education
  • Dr. Maureen Kenny, Ph.D. Professor, Department of Psychology, Associate Chair, Academic Personnel and Diversity, Florida International University
• Session 5: 2:15 pm – 3:00 pm
  • Best Practices for Service Providers: Eliminating Stigma and Gaps in Social Services
  • Jonathan Spikes, Executive Director, Affirming Youth, Doctoral Candidate, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California
• Closing Remarks: 3:00 pm – 3:15 pm
  • Survey