San Bernardino County Educators Talk Student Wellness at Annual Conference

San Bernardino County educators were among a record-breaking number of attendees representing health care professionals, administrators, counselors, nutritionists and school law enforcement staff from San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles and Orange counties that flocked to Palm Desert to participate in the fourth annual Southern Region Student Wellness Conference last week. Sponsored by the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools and the County of San Bernardino Department of Behavioral Health, the conference's goal is to maximize collaboration between schools, mental health providers, law enforcement and community members to improve student capacity to learn and achieve wellness in a positive school and community environment. The five-day conference provided information on coordinated school health, positive youth development, safety, nutrition/physical activity, parent involvement, restorative justice mental health, Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports and impact of trauma on normal brain development. "We envision a community in which students have the capacity to thrive academically, emotionally, socially, and physically in an environment that positively supports their development," the official conference website states. During the conference, participants listened to several keynote speakers and participated in breakout sessions to help them attain knowledge about academic and behavioral strategies to promote positive student engagement; involvement in cross-sector collaboration, which will support renewed commitment; revitalization of efforts in promoting mental and physical wellness in their school and community; and collaboration to integrate evidence-based practices in their respective school and community.