Welcome to the second annual Youth and Mental Health Resiliency Summit where we are “Building Resilient Futures: Uniting Our Community for Youth Mental Health.”
Overview:
We are excited to present the second annual Youth and Mental Health Resiliency Summit, a cornerstone event of our community-led campaign. This summit aims to unite organizations, schools, and churches dedicated to youth well-being, fostering collaboration, sharing best practices, and equipping participants with the knowledge and tools to enhance youth mental health resilience.
Objectives for the summit:
- Facilitate networking and collaboration among community organizations.
- Share insights and best practices in promoting youth mental health.
- Provide practical tools and strategies for building resilience in young individuals.
- Raise awareness about the importance of mental health during Mental Health Awareness Month.
Cost: This summit is FREE to attend thanks to our partners and sponsors.
Partners and Sponsors supporting this collaborative program:
- Mental Health America - Wabash Valley Region
- Indiana Youth Institute
- Kokomo Thriving Center, Indiana Wesleyan University
- Thriving Kokomo Community Coalition (Kokomo and Howard County Nonprofit Council and Faith Leader Council) engaged organizations
Additional sponsorships are available. Please contact Ayla Vandergriff, Mental Health America at avandergriff@mhawv.org.
8:00 AM - 8:30 AM: Registration and Welcome Coffee
Registration (Kokomo Thriving Center Entry)
Coffee, Breakfast, and Networking (KTC West Hallway)
Sponsor: Available
Resource Fair Tables for Thriving Kokomo Community Coalition organizations (KTC 102 / West Hallway)
8:30 AM – 8:40 AM: Welcome to the Summit (KTC 114/116)
Speaker: Dr. Liz Kerns, Purdue University with Caden Kerns, Junior at Eastern High School
8:45 – 9:15 am: General Session 1: “Community Collaboration for Youth Mental Health Resilience” (KTC 114/116)
Speaker: Leadership Kokomo Cohort Members Local Mental Health Resources - Jenny Lytle; MHA’s Youth Advisory Councils and Youth Voices - Bethany Wenger, Howard County Health Department)
Description: Building a community resource guide that holistically identifies all the key players in the mental health eco-system. This will be unveiled at the summit and a discussion of the multi-stakeholders in this region. Discussion of the Howard County Youth Advisory Council that aims to provide a platform for students to come together and advocate for mental health support in schools.
9:15 – 10:30 am: General Session 2: “Empowering Youth: Initiatives for Mental Health Awareness” (KTC 114/116)
Speaker: Brandi Christiansen MHAWVR
Description: Presentation by CEO of Mental Health America Wabash Valley Region Mental Health recognizing May as Awareness Month and Benchmarking the Mental Health Landscape; Overview of some of the work being done locally to collaboratively understand and address youth and mental health resiliency by the more than 240+ members of the Thriving Kokomo Community Coalition.
10:30 AM - 10:40 PM: Break
10:40 AM - 11:40 AM: General Session 2: “State of the Child” by the Indiana Youth Institute; Benchmarking Indiana Youth and Their Mental Health” with Q&A Session (KTC 114/116)
Speaker: Olga Volokhova, Data & Evaluation Manager, Indiana Youth Institute
Description: Benchmarking the Youth and Mental Health Crisis, outlining the issues, understanding the current landscape locally to nationally.
11:40 AM - 12:00 PM: Break and Get Lunch
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM: Lunch and General Session 2: Indiana Youth Institute: “Building Resilience: Supporting Stressed and Anxious Youth” (KTC 114/116)
Speaker: Samantha Vidal, Professional Learning Specialist, Indiana Youth Institute
Lunch Sponsor: Available!
1:30 PM - 1:45 PM: Break
1:45 PM - 2:30 PM: Breakout Session 1 (Concurrent Sessions)
Breakout Session 1A: “Breaking the Silence: Addressing Stigmas Surrounding Youth Mental Health and Youth Empowerment through Advocacy" (KTC 114/116)
Speaker: Dane Alder, Lead Peer Coach for the Reach Youth Program, Turning Point
Description: Focus on recognizing signs and addressing stigmas; Focus on overcoming societal stigmas and fostering an environment where young individuals feel comfortable discussing mental health; Empower young individuals to become advocates for their mental health and discuss effective ways to amplify their voices
Breakout Session 1B: “Tech Talk: Digital Literacy - Navigating the Digital Landscape and Social Media on Youth Mental Health.” (KTC 117)
Speakers: TBD
Description: Discuss the role of technology in the lives of youth and strategies for promoting positive online mental health; Explore the impact of social media on youth mental health and strategies for fostering a positive online environment.
Breakout Session 1C: "Faith-Based Support: Strengthening Youth Mental Health through Spiritual Connections" (KTC 104)
Speaker: Pamela Kemper, Arise Ministry
Description: Explore how faith communities can play a vital role in supporting the mental health of young individuals.
2:30 PM - 2:45 PM: Break
2:45 PM – 3:30 PM: Breakout Session 2 (Concurrent Sessions)
Breakout Session 3A: "Connecting Hearts and Minds: Effective Communication and Coaching Strategies for Adults Working with Youth” (KTC 114/116)
Speaker: Kalena James, Coaching Faculty and K12 Coaching Bootcamp Instructor, Indiana Wesleyan University
Description: Explore practical and empathetic communication and coaching approaches that build trust and open dialogue with young people leveraging coaching skills; Strategies for open and supportive communication.
Breakout Session 3B: “Understanding the Impact of Economic Hardship on Youth Mental Health" (KTC 117)
Speaker: Deanna Ancil, Director of Administration and Development, Kokomo Urban Outreach
Description: Children facing economic hardship often encounter mental health challenges that differ from their more advantaged peers, and they can be quickly labeled “defiant,” “withdrawn,” or “attention‑seeker” before their true stressors are understood. Poverty brings unique cognitive, emotional, and social pressures that may look like behavioral “symptoms” but are really manifestations of scarcity’s impact. By exploring these dynamics together, our session will offer trauma‑informed, culturally responsive strategies that honor each child’s lived experience and build genuine resilience.
Breakout Session 3C: “Peer Support and Mentoring Networks: Building Stronger Communities for Youth in Community Programs and in School” (KTC 104)
Speaker: Stafka Poweleit, MSW, LCSW, Clinical Director, Mental Health America Wabash Valley Region
Description: Practical strategies for educators and education leaders; Discuss the role of peer support networks in creating a sense of belonging and understanding among youth facing mental health challenges.
3:30 PM - 3:45 PM: Break
3:45 PM - 4:30 PM: General Session 4: “45 ideas in 45 minutes for Community Next Steps” (KTC 114/116)
Facilitated by: Megan Henry, Kokomo Housing Authority, and Ayla Vandergriff, MHAWVR
Description: Join this fast-paced session where audience engagement and inclusion will fuel a list of 45 ideas in 45 minutes bringing together the best ideas from the day and identifying new ways to further strengthen the fabric of our community supporting youth and mental health resilience. Attendees will have the opportunity to collectively boil down their insights from the day and bring ideas for opportunities forward resulting in 45 ideas during this final 45-minute session.
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