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Welcome to Community Conversations 2021-2022!
November's Conversation is IN-PERSON at Viterbo Fine Arts Center. If we are able to live-stream or record it, we will send out additional information as it becomes available. No RSVP is required. Lunch will be provided on a first come, first serve basis. COVID-19 precautions should be taken, including the wearing of a face mask.
Youth Mental Health: Let's Talk About It As a precursor to a series of mental health topics that will take place in 2022, three panelists, who have provided support for youth with mental health issues, will discuss the current status of youth mental health and what programs are in place to support them. La Crosse County, La Crosse School District, and non-profits such as the Boys & Girls Club and the YMCA have identified youth mental health as a significant challenge in La Crosse. Our three panelists will engage the audience in discussion. Brett Knutson is the co-owner, President, and CEO of Driftless Recovery Services. Driftless Recovery Services is a behavioral health clinic based in downtown La Crosse that consists of six dual licensed therapists, an AODA specialist, and an M.D. Psychiatrist who works as a Service Physician. Brett has a Master Degree in Mental Health Counseling with a focus on adolescent development and addiction studies. His main focus is helping young people successfully navigate the difficult developmental transition through adolescence into young adulthood. Brett is a former Mental Health Liaison for the La Crosse School District, is on the Youth Advisory Committee for Hazelden Betty Ford, and is a football coach in Caledonia, MN. In addition to his clinical work, Brett is also a performance mental health trainer who works with regional NCAA and high school athletic programs as well as local athletic programs and athletes to help fine tune their mental performance as part of their athletic training.
Bridget Todd-Robbins is in her 6th year as the La Crosse Youth System of Care Administrator, a shared position between La Crosse County Human Services and the School District of La Crosse. In this position she provides interventions and supports for area youth who are at risk of entering the youth justice system. Ms. Todd Robbins describes her position as one where she gets to “live her values” as so much of the work is centered around advocating for and empowering youth and families in need. She also participates in collaborative efforts across systems around equity and inclusion. Ms. Todd-Robbins has a Master’s Degree in Therapeutic Recreation from UW-La Crosse. She is trained in cognitive-behavioral interventions, motivational interviewing, Youth Mental Health First Aid, and trauma informed care. Sara Jackson is in her 4th year as the Community School Coordinator at Hamilton Elementary School in the School District of La Crosse. Hamilton Elementary School is in its 4th year as an identified Community School within the District. A Community School is a welcoming and inclusive place that builds on the assets of the community to help serve the identified needs of the students, families, and community through strategic partnerships. A community school is the hub of the neighborhood and brings together teams of community members to develop plans for engaging their peers, implementing those plans, and working together until they achieve successful outcomes. Our Community School promotes family engagement, community partnerships, neighborhood development, and collaborative leadership and seeks to engage with stakeholders in ways that address the root causes of difficulties identified in a bi-annual Needs & Assets Assessment. Sara believes in the power of developing authentic relationships and leveraging those relationships to engage with people in meaningful ways that truly change trajectories for children and families. She also values collaborative leadership and is an active participant in various groups/committees across systems in efforts to create equitable outcomes for ALL students and families in our community. |
We welcome all who want to make a difference.
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In an effort to strengthen our community, Community Conversations looks to engage citizens in thoughtful, theological, non-partisan and non-political discussion about local economic and social issues. We invite anyone who is interested in making a difference.” |