SMART Youth Summit Digital Program

WHAT IS SMART?

Nearly 80% of chronic mental health conditions emerge in childhood. While mental health concerns are frequently seen in public schools, the pandemic’s combination of isolation plus other mental health issues, has exacerbated the need for added supports. 

The Erie County SMART Collaborative is a professional learning community established to prioritize P-12 student mental health and social emotional learning. Comprised of Erie County School Districts, educators, community agencies and representatives from Erie County, SMART serves as a vital link between available mental health resources and students. 

CONNECT
smart@e1b.org
e1b.org/smart

RESOURCES
e1b.org/smartresources

We believe that our community deserves to be…

SAFE
Students and caregivers feel safe and accepted when seeking mental health supports at school and in their community.

INFORMED
Aware and knowledgeable about mental health and wellness understanding all supports provided within the community. 

ACCESSIBLE
Advocating and improving connections to community supports by addressing individual community needs and reducing barriers. 

CONNECTED 
Students and caregivers are connected to resources and supports that foster relationships to promote a sense of belonging and wellness. 

EMPOWERED
Uplifting the community to promote growth and wellness.

Conference at a Glance
                                           
8 AM
Registration/Light Breakfast/Networking
Register in the Lobby, then join us for breakfast in Room 106

9 AM
Welcome and Keynote
Room 106     

10:15 -11 AM    
Breakout Sessions #1
    • The Ripple Effect: How Family Separation and Divorce Impact Children and Adolescents’ Mental Health
        Room 103
    • Putting the “Good” in Goodfella; Building young men of character in your school
        Room 104
    • Behind Happy Faces
        Room 106
    • Getting into SHAPE: Improving the Quality of Comprehensive School Mental Health Systems
        Room 108
    • Prioritizing Mental Health and Wellness... It Matters!
        Room 109
    
11:15 -12 PM    
Breakout Sessions #2
    • Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy and Latinx Youth Identity: Language,Literacy, and Belonging as Mental Health Pathways
        Room 103    
    • Reframing the Narrative: Empowering Youth through the 40 Developmental Assets
        Room 104 
    • Grief Support is Not Nice It’s Imperative
        Room 106
    • Connecting for Kids (C4K) Collaborative Dialogue: Advancing Cross-Sector Partnerships for Whole Child Wellbeing
        Room 108    
    • What is the Essence of Being a Human?    
        Room 109

12 -1 PM    
Lunch + Awards Ceremony                
Room 106

1 -1:45 PM    
Breakout Sessions #3                                    
    • Where County Supports Youth and Families 
        Room 103
    • Providing Supportive Environments for Trans and Nonbinary Young People   
        Room 104
    • Understanding Immigrant and Refugee Experiences    
        Room 106
    • Food for Thought: Spotting the Signs of Eating Disorders in Schools
        Room 108
    • Understanding Social Media and Internet Safety
        Room 109

2 -2:45 PM    
Breakout Sessions #4                    
    • Honoring Family Funds of Knowledge
        Room 103
    • Building Resilient Schools: Compeer Buffalo’s Approach to Student Mental Health
        Room 104
    • Building a Culture of Holistic Support for Families and Students in the Lackawanna City School District    
        Room 106
    • Panel Discussion On Disability Studies and Mental Health: Aspiring Teachers Envision the Accessible Classrooms of the Future
        Room 108    
    • Leading with Our Resilience Everyday (LORE)
        Room 109

3 - 4 PM    
Poster Sessions and Networking
Lobby

Digital Agenda
e1b.org/smartconference

Ross Szabo is a nationally recognized mental health advocate, author, and educator transforming how youth learn about mental health. He is the Wellness Director at Geffen Academy at UCLA and founder of the Human Power Project. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder at 16, Ross uses personal storytelling to reduce stigma and empower help-seeking. He blends humor, vulnerability, and practical tools to foster emotional resilience in students nationwide. Author of Behind Happy Faces and A Kids Book About Anxiety, Ross inspires communities to prioritize mental wellness with empathy, education, and action.

1. Grab your BINGO Board

2. Mark each table you visit

3. Try and get 5 in a row

4. Submit your BINGO card by 1pm for a chance to win a prize

                                           

8 AM
Registration/Light 
Breakfast/Networking
Lobby/Room 106

9 AM
Welcome and Keynote
Mental Health Starts With Me: Practical Tools to Take Care of Yourself and Help Students
Ross Szabo
Room 106     

10:15 -11 AM    
Breakout Sessions #1

The Ripple Effect: How Family Separation and Divorce Impact Children and Adolescents’ Mental Health  Room 103    
Stephanie Wagner, LMHC-DP, Endeavor Health Services
The goal is to enhance understanding of the emotional and psychological effects of family separation on youth, highlight developmental differences in their responses, and explore effective assessment and intervention strategies. We will also examine the benefits of family therapy in promoting resilience.

Putting the “Good” in Goodfella; Building young men of character in your school   |  Room 104    
Paul Thompson, Hamburg Central School District    
In 2021 I created a club at Hamburg High School that was exclusive to young men in the population. I did this because I saw no healthy outlet for them to express their social emotional concerns that also overcame the stigma of mental health. Now in 2025, we find ourselves with 50 members that are constantly giving back to their community, creating a culture where students support each other in social situations, and conduct peer mentorship on a daily basis. It has been proven that the mental health of our young men requires a very unique approach; one that allows for understanding that young men struggle with mental health issues, but also is sensitive to the stigma around mental health for some of these young men.

Behind Happy Faces   Room 106    
Ross Szabo
Continue the conversation from Ross’ keynote address during a roundtable workshop discussion!

Getting into SHAPE: Improving the Quality of Comprehensive School Mental Health Systems
Room 108        
Melissa Heatly, Ph.D; Jessica Stanis, MS; Kailin Kucewicz, LMSW    
This breakout session will identify how the NYS System of Care (SOC) team has partnered with regional BOCES and school teams to advance the SHAPE System across Erie County. SHAPE Up New York is the state-wide implementation of a 6-month learning collaborative (LC) focused on advancing high-quality school mental health systems and supports within K – 12 school districts across NYS. The SHAPE Up New York Learning Collaborative was hosted by the NYS Office of Mental Health System of Care Project, in partnership with the Expanded School Mental Health team at the University of Rochester Medical Center. 
    
Prioritizing Mental Health and Wellness... It Matters!    Room 109    
Dr. Mai Nguyen, Director Buffalo Public Schools (BPS) Dept. of Social Emotional and Wellness Supports; Aundrea Sanders, Director BPS Crisis Prevention and Intervention Supports    
Explore how the Buffalo Public Schools addresses mental health challenges through creative and effective strategies. Our goal is to provide participants with actionable insights and resources that can be implemented in other school districts. BPS uses data to drive our mental health interventions: we rely resources such as the Youth Risk Behavior Survey and a Social Emotional Screener to gather relevant data. Through the use of the Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, BPS uses this data to support student mental health at Tier 1-what we do for all; Tier 2- what we do for some, and Tier 3: what we do for individuals.

11:15 -12 PM    
Breakout Sessions #2
                    
Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy and Latinx Youth Identity: Language, Literacy, and Belonging as Mental Health Pathways
Room 103    
Claribel González, Ph.D., RBERN West
This session explores how Latinx cultural frameworks can illuminate resilience, agency, and belonging among youth. Rather than framing students as “at risk” or deficient, the session positions cultural knowledge, linguistic identity, and creative survival strategies as protective mental health assets. Participants will engage with activities that reveal how youth navigate school and life challenges in culturally sustaining ways, and will leave with actionable strategies to recognize, affirm, and leverage these practices in their own organizations or classrooms. 

Reframing the Narrative: Empowering Youth through the 40 Developmental Assets   |  Room 104
Anna Kleyman, Buffalo Public Schools Department of Guidance and Counseling, School Counselor Coordinator
Much of today’s dialogue surrounding the youth mental health crisis centers on the barriers and deficits young people face. Recently, a high school student shared with me her deep desire to make a positive difference in the world—yet expressed feeling powerless and lacking the internal resources to effect meaningful change.
After guiding her to recognize the strengths and potential she already possessed, it became clear to me that both young people and the adults who support them would benefit from a deeper understanding of the Developmental Assets Framework. This evidence-based model identifies 40 key experiences and qualities that are proven to support healthy youth development and foster resilience, purpose, and success.
By the end of the session, participants will leave with a deeper conceptual understanding of youth development and a personalized plan to support positive change—making youth more likely to thrive now and in the future, more resilient in the face of challenges, and less likely to engage in high-risk behaviors.

Grief Support is Not Nice It’s Imperative 
Room 106    
Gwen Mysiak, Executive Director P.U.N.T. Pediatric Cancer Collaborative     
We recently opened our WNYCC grief center at 3966 Walden Ave., Lancaster. We provide support to children and families for several origins of death and will discuss the need for grief literacy throughout the WNY Community. We will review grief literacy and the do/do nots when supporting someone who has lost someone close to them. This will include the difference between empathy and sympathy, and the detrimental use of “at least”. It is a practical demonstration for everyday use. 

    
Connecting for Kids (C4K) Collaborative Dialogue: Advancing Cross-Sector Partnerships for Whole Child Wellbeing        |  Room 108
Allison Stiles PhD & Anna Cieri, PhD    
Presenters will guide participants through a Connecting for Kids (C4K) Collaborative Dialogue focused on a) identifying shared goals and values related to supporting students’ mental and physical health and academic wellbeing, b) reflect on strengths and barriers that their systems currently exhibit related to cross-sector collaboration, and c) identify actionable next steps to enhance cross-sector partnership. The goals of the session are twofold. First, we aim to create synergy across participants and identify steps that they can bring back to their systems to enhance collaboration. Second, we seek to introduce and familiarize participants with the C4K model as a potential tool for engaging their systems in enhancing cross sector collaboration. 

    
What is the Essence of Being a Human?
Room 109
Moon Evans, Ph.D. candidate, Jiahe WangXu, Ph.D., Hannah Rapp, Ph.D., and Robert Enright, Ph.D.    
This proposal presents a demo lesson from a forgiveness intervention program developed by Enright and the Human Development Group (Knutson & Enright, 2002). It is intended for teachers and mental health professionals and tailored for elementary students in grades K–2. The lesson is titled “A Person is a Person, No Matter Who and No Matter How.” 
12 -1 PM    
Lunch + Awards Ceremony

The Mental Health Impact Awards individuals and organizations that have demonstrated exceptional dedication and made a significant positive impact in promoting mental health within our region. These impact and leadership award categories are for a person in higher education, P-12 schools, agencies (public or private), community, government/policy, journalists. There will be one award recipient per category.    

            
1 PM TURN IN YOUR BINGO BOARDS!

1 -1:45 PM    
Breakout Sessions #3                                    

Where County Supports Youth and Families    Room 103    
Marie Sly LMSW,  Erie County Coordinator of Children Mental Health Services    
This session will educate the audience on the cross-departmental work which occurs within the county departments. This includes Children’s Single Point of access, Family Services Team, and Juvenile Delinquency Services Team. The audience will become familiar with times a family would benefit from County level services, as well as learn about youth/family focused community services accessed through County entry points and/or direct community referral. This includes services funded through Social Services, Department of Mental Health and the State Office of Mental Health, and State Department of Health. This session will identify and explore the benefits of System of Care values to assist families to gain necessary resources and skills to promote youth success in home, school, and community.

Providing Supportive Environments for Trans and Nonbinary Young People   |  Room 104    
Sare Martin (they/them), MSW and Begonia/Zeke Garcia (they/them), MSW    
This presentation will provide attendees with a better understanding of practices that can support transgender and nonbinary young people in schools, service-providing organizations, and the community. Using an intersectional lens, we will discuss administrative practices that can help provide accessibility to services for trans and nonbinary young people, as well as share practical tips for creating affirming and welcoming environments. 

Understanding Immigrant and Refugee Experiences  Room 106    
Elizabeth Kuttesch, RBERN West    
Our WNY school districts are home to a large number of refugee and immigrant youth. Understanding their experiences, including push factors for leaving home, resettlement trauma, and the tenuous, and often contentious, immigration pathways their families face, is important for supporting these students in their educational endeavors. In this session, we will ground in the NYSED CRSE Framework to consider tier I trauma-sensitive procedures that can be implemented at the district, building, and classroom levels to meet the mental health needs of newcomer students and families.

Food for Thought: Spotting the Signs of Eating Disorders in Schools  Room 108    
Jennifer Haak, MD, Kristen Cercone, PhD, Lisa Razenhofer, PhD    
Eating disorders have ballooned in frequency since the COVID pandemic. Schools see students more frequently than their pediatricians and can play an integral role in early detection, which affects recovery and prognosis. Staff might feel unsure of how to support a student, or how to talk with families to get students the help they need outside of school. This talk will also provide information to help schools play a supportive role and provide accommodations for students with eating disorders. The presentation will educate about eating disorders, early detection and the pivotal role that schools can play. It will also discuss resources in the community and how to access them, and ways to communicate with parents, families and adolescents about eating concerns.

Understanding Social Media and Internet Safety    Room 109
Julie Palmer, Executive Director, Kamyia Jacobs, Youth Social Worker    
This session will cover topics related to trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), including warning signs, how to engage effectively, and strategies for providing support. It will also address internet safety, child exploitation prevention, and the impact of social media. Participants will learn how to identify risk factors and engage in promoting safe practices.

2 -2:45 PM    
Breakout Sessions #4                    

Honoring Family Funds of Knowledge
Room 103    
Catrice Huff    
This session will explore the concept of Family Funds of Knowledge—the rich cultural, experiential, and practical knowledge that families bring to their children’s education. Participants will learn how to identify and honor these assets to build stronger, more inclusive partnerships between schools and families. The session will offer practical strategies for integrating family knowledge into classroom instruction, school culture, and engagement practices, with the goal of fostering equity, trust, and meaningful collaboration. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how these assets contribute to student identity, engagement, and academic success.

Building a Culture of Holistic Support for Families and Students in the Lackawanna City School District    Room 104    
Jennifer English (District Principal); Judy Faircloth (Parent, Family, Community Resource Center Coordinator); Jill Dougherty (Attendance Teacher); Amanda Kulinski (Attendance Teacher); Ashli Krotz (Principal of Special Education); Keith Kwiatkowski (School Resource Officer)    
The Lackawanna City School District (LCSD) has embraced a district-wide commitment to holistic support for our students and families, rooted in the understanding that academic success is only possible when basic needs are met. Guided by Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, we recognize that students and families facing challenges such as food insecurity, unstable housing, lack of transportation, or other barriers cannot be expected to focus on learning without first addressing these foundational needs. 
Through this holistic approach, LCSD is creating a school community where every student and family knows they are seen, supported, and valued. By aligning district resources with community partnerships, we are fostering a network of care that addresses immediate needs while also inspiring meaningful engagement in education.

Building Resilient Schools: Compeer Buffalo’s Approach to Student Mental Health   |  Room 106    
Hayley Kasprzycki (MSW), School Program Coordinator; Lisa Johnson, Chief Strategy Officer    
Compeer Buffalo is dedicated to supporting the mental and emotional well-being of youth through innovative, relationship-focused programming and evidence-based training. This 45-minute breakout session will highlight two impactful approaches:
1. School-Based Mentoring Program
2. Mental Health First Aid (Youth and Teen)
The goal of this session is to leave attendees with both a conceptual understanding of how mentoring and MHFA can transform school environments and practical strategies they can adapt to strengthen youth mental health initiatives within their own schools and organizations.
 
Panel Discussion On Disability Studies and Mental Health: Aspiring Teachers Envision the Accessible Classrooms of the Future 
Room 108    
Dr. Ajitpaul Mangat, Assistant Professor of English (Niagara University); Celena Barone, Adam Lombardi, Grace Elson, Julia Nielsen (English Education majors at Niagara University)    
This panel brings together future educators to consider the barriers that prevent the flourishing of the mental health and wellness of young students. Locating barriers in the external environment will allow these practitioners and burgeoning experts to critique understandings of mental disability as an individual problem while offering concrete strategies for creating a more accessible classroom. Some urgent questions that the panelists will consider include, how can we accommodate not only physical but also sensory and cognitive disabilities? How does gender affect the lived experience of disability? What does accessible teaching – from lesson plans to relationships with students to the physical classroom – look like? 
    
Leading with Our Resilience Everyday (LORE)
Room 109    
Andrew Prinzing & Courtney 
Santasero    
Our presentation uses a Restorative Practice format, with shared values and guidelines. We introduce a topic, and invite people to reflect on their personal connection to the content, then share in pairs or small groups, then share out with a larger group. 

3 - 4 PM    
Poster Sessions and 
Networking  |  Lobby

A Review on the Effects of Cellphone Restrictions in Schools: Are bans beneficial for students?
Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse 

Bridging Mental Health and Puberty Education : A Trauma-Informed Approach
University at Buffalo School of Social Work

Conjoint Behavioral Consultation: A Tool for Family Engagement
University at Buffalo School of Social Work
Exploring the Role of Activity in the Lives of Refugee Youth
University at Buffalo School of Social Work

Bridging Social Work and Occupational Therapy: Sensory-Informed Approaches to Youth Resiliency
University at Buffalo School of Social Work

Community Care Specialists
Erie 2 BOCES

Bridging the Gap: Addressing Depression and Anxiety in Young People with Chronic Illness
University at Buffalo School of Social Work

A Piece of the Puzzle: Facilitating Collaboration and Measuring Impact with SHAPE
Erie 1 BOCES Community Schools COSER

Insights from Peer & Family Support Programs
Mental Health Advocates of WNY

Do Community Schools Work for High-Needs Students? Evaluating Integrated Student Support Services and Outcomes for Equity.
University at Buffalo

Ethnic-Racial Identity and Critical Consciousness Development in Youth of Color
University at Buffalo
 

This event would not be possible without the vision, hardwork and dedication of the SMART Steering Committee

Ann Linder, Orchard Park Central School District
Anna Cieri, Suicide Prevention Coalition Of Erie County
Annahita (Anna) Ball, University at Buffalo, School of Social Work
Candace Reimer, Erie 1 BOCES
Catie Gavin, Erie County
Emily Sass, Erie 1 BOCES
Emily Schutte Watson, Erie 1 BOCES
Evanna Ramos, CYSHCN
Hannah Balfour, Erie 1 BOCES
Heather Wood, Erie County
Jean Sadowy, NYS Office of Mental Health
Jessica Karches, Erie 1 BOCES
Kailin Kucewicz, Erie 1 BOCES
Karen Rybicki, Erie County
Kelli Gaiser, New Directions Youth and Family Services
Lisa Chimera, Erie County
Mai Nguyen, Buffalo Public Schools
Marie Sly, Erie County Department of Mental Health
Melissa Brind’Amour, West Seneca Central School District
Melissa Rivers,  Erie 2 BOCES
Michael Capuana, Erie 1 BOCES
Michael Cornell, Erie 1 BOCES
Talisa King, Live Well Erie
Tera Siegfried, Erie 1 BOCES