For this webinar series, participants will automatically be enrolled in all 5 sessions.

Speaker

Greg West, M.Ed., WEPS Education

Description

Health issues, whether occurring in the classroom or outside, affect student academic performance, mood and social interactions. Bullying, depression, social media addiction, and substance abuse can individually or collectively lead to academic failure and social stresses that greatly influence student wellness. In this webinar series, we will consider some of the many health-related issues facing some of our students to better understand their experience and provide assistance and guidance when needed. 

To receive PDPs and CEUs, participants must attend all 5 sessions and successfully pass a quiz following Session 5. Following the live webinar, registrants will be emailed a link to view the recorded webinar. The recording will be made available for 7 days after each session.

Bullying and cyberbullying poses a challenge for students, parents and schools. While school policies define problems and deal with disciplinary issues, targeted students themselves can be taught tools to manage bullying and build resiliency. This session is about empowering teachers and targeted students to better understand and cope with the problem of bullying.

Adolescents are commonly targets of attacks, be those attacks through social media, physical violence or emotional manipulation, coercion and blackmail. Prevention is not always possible, but this presentation identifies ways that we can make ourselves less vulnerable – and considers methods of maximizing security and safety.

Social and emotional health have, once again, come full circle and are now at the forefront of educational issues. Teachers and other school personnel have the unique opportunity to identify signs and symptoms and be advocates for safety, care and professional intervention. Through case studies and a discussion of what we know about depression and suicide, attendees will develop a better sense of the problem and feel empowered to connect with an adolescent in an appropriate and supportive way.

Vaping, smoking weed and drinking alcohol are generally the first experiences that young people have with recreational drug use. This presentation will explore the use and risks associated with substances and consider best practices for educating students and reducing health risks.

No one questions whether today’s students are different from students of the past – social media, anxiety, peer relationships, motivation and more have altered the ways that kids grow up. We’ll consider some of the effects of these issues on young people and how to help them become better prepared for the future with resilience.

About the Speaker
Greg West

Greg West, M.Ed., (he/him) is a retired Health Education teacher of 30+ years. He has designed and implemented middle and high school Comprehensive Health Education programs as well as courses in emergency medicine. He now presents topics of adolescent health and wellness to high school students as well as offering programs for parents and school personnel through WEPS Education (www.wepsEducation.com).

Membership Information

Most MPY webinars are available ONLY to current staff from member districts and organizations. Public school memberships include police and fire personnel. Former and retired employees and members of committees, including but not limited to, PTO/PTA, PAC, School Improvement Councils, Health Councils, Drug/Alcohol Councils, and school volunteers, are not considered MPY members.

PDPs and CEUs

MPY is an approved Professional Development Provider through the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (Provider No. F20180079). Professional Development Points (PDPs) are offered for most MPY professional development webinars. PDPs are issued in 10 hour increments, per DESE requirements.

Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available for clinical staff through the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and the Massachusetts Mental Health Counselors Association, Inc. (MaMHCA). The NASW and the MaMHCA approve each event individually. CEUs may be given in hourly increments.

To receive PDPs and CEUs, participants must pass the quiz.

Event Cancellation Policy

If you are unable to attend a MPY webinar you must cancel, through Bonnie Mullen at bonnie@mpyinc.org, one business day before the webinar.

For MPY hybrid conferences, the date in-person registration closes will be posted on MPY’s website. Virtual conference registration will close one business day before the hybrid conference. You cannot cancel or switch your registration from in-person to virtual after in-person registration closes. Please email Bonnie Mullen at bonnie@mpyinc.org with any questions regarding registration.

  • Enrollment in this course closed on 10/09/2024.

If you are seeking to receive CEUs and/or PDPs, please click Register Now. Once you complete the webinar series, you will be able to take quizzes for CEUs and/or PDPs. Upon completion of each quiz, you will receive a certificate.

All sessions are 9:30 am – 11:30 am.

  • Session 1: October 9, 2024, Bullying: Identifying and Managing Behaviors in School
  • Session 2: October 23, 2024, Considering Safety – In the Cloud and On the Ground
  • Session 3: November 6, 2024, Depression and Suicide: Pragmatic Guidelines for Friends and Trusted Adults
  • Session 4: November 20, 2024, Vapes and Weed and Alcohol
  • Session 5: December 4, 2024, Today’s Kids – Current Issues about Raising, Supporting and Teaching Students in the 2020’s