Prevention & Early Intervention Foundations Training – Summer Series

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Condensed learning opportunities aligned with SMH-ON PEI trainings offered throughout the school year

Designed for supervisors and clinical leads, these sessions provide a high-level training overview of key concepts, core objectives, and practical implementation considerations to support clinician learning, supervision, and practice integration. Sessions are led by training leads and focus on supporting selection, uptake, implementation, and sustainability within local school board contexts.

This series will include weekly sessions offered throughout the summer to support ongoing learning. Sessions will also be repeated throughout the school year to provide continued opportunities for participation and learning.

During this series, mental health leaders will learn to:

understand the key concepts, core objectives, and intended outcomes of PEI trainings offered by SMH-ON, to support informed selection and alignment with their school board needs;identify practical implementation considerations that support clinician learning, supervision, and integration of PEI approaches into school mental health practice;apply strategies to support uptake, sustainability, and ongoing implementation planning within their local school board context.

Session 1: Identity-affirming approaches and implementation structures

Monday, July 6, 2026 | 10 - 11:30 a.m.

Explore foundational identity-affirming approaches at Tiers 2 and 3 and implementation structures that support successful uptake within a multitiered system of support. This session highlights practical considerations for supporting staff in integrating IA into practice, staff readiness, reflective implementation, and system-level considerations and supports that promote sustainability and consistency.

Session 2: ACT for Schools - Foundations

Tuesday, July 14, 2026 | 10 - 11:30 a.m.

ACT for Schools is a protocol designed for intermediate and secondary students with moderate mental health difficulties, delivered within a school setting. The protocol uses experiential learning activities and emphasizes responding to the unique needs, values, and perspectives of each student. At its core, ACT for Schools is flexible and student-centered, supporting staff to tailor interventions to the individual in front of them.

Session 3: Brief Coping Interventions (BCI)

Tuesday, July 21, 2026 | 10 - 11:30 a.m.

Brief Coping Interventions can be delivered to students as single-session, or up to four sessions, supports using online Coping Kits as part of a brief intervention model. The four coping kits teach self-regulation and problem-solving skills and are appropriate for students with mild to moderate mental health difficulties. BCIs also include a progress monitoring system that allows clinicians and students to track changes over time when using the coping kits.

Session 4: BRISC (Brief Intervention for School Clinicians)

Tuesday, July 28, 2026 | 10 - 11:30 a.m.

BRISC is an engagement, triage, and brief intervention strategy that is based on CBT principles and well-suited to students with mild to moderate mental health problems. The student’s goals are addressed using one or more research-based strategies matched to student needs. BRISC is delivered over approximately four sessions and emphasizes both social-emotional and academic outcomes.

Session 5: SBIRT (Screening Brief Intervention & Referral to Treatment)

August 4, 2026 | 10 - 11:30 a.m.

SBIRT training is an evidence-based public health protocol to screen and identify individuals, including young people, in their substance use. It is a promising practice school mental health professionals can use in response to substance use concerns with core components of screening for substance use, brief intervention (post screening) and referral for specialized substance use treatment and/or additional assessment (if required). This overview focuses on foundational knowledge and skills in SBIRT and motivational interviewing.

Session 6: CBT for Schools - Foundations

Tuesday, August 11, 2026 | 10 - 11:30 a.m.

A skills-based training designed to support school mental health professionals in applying the foundations of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) within the school setting. CBT for Schools introduces, or provides a refresher on, the core principles and practical use of CBT within school settings. This non-manualized approach emphasizes flexibility and the use of brief, skills-focused CBT strategies while using measurement-based care to monitor and reflect on student progress.

Session 7: STRONG (Supporting Transition Resilience of Newcomer Groups) - Foundations

Tuesday, August 18, 2026 | 10 - 11:30 a.m.

An evidence-informed, school-based intervention for newcomer youth (K-12th grades) to support their transition to a new school and community. It is intended for students experiencing psychological distress or difficulties functioning at home, school or in their community, often related to the adversities and trauma experienced during the transitions of migration and settlement.

Series dates

Sessions will be offered weekly, starting July 6th, 2026. All sessions will run 10 - 11:30 a.m. ET

Monday, July 6, 2026 | Identity-affirming approaches and implementation structuresTuesday, July 14, 2026 | ACT for Schools - FoundationsTuesday, July 21, 2026 | Brief Coping Interventions (BCI)Tuesday, July 28, 2026 | BRISC (Brief Intervention for School Clinicians)Tuesday, August 4, 2026 | SBIRT (Screening Brief Intervention & Referral to Treatment)Tuesday, August 11, 2026 | CBT for Schools - FoundationsTuesday, August 18, 2026 | STRONG (Supporting Transition Resilience of Newcomer Groups) - Foundations

These sessions are not full training sessions; rather, they provide a high-level overview of key concepts, core objectives, and practical implementation considerations to support clinician learning, supervision, and practice integration.

Audience

Mental health leaders (Managers of clinical or mental health services, Managers of psychology services, Managers of social work services, Mental health leaders, Other)

Language

These sessions will be delivered in English. Materials, breakout rooms, etc. will be available in French and English.

For more information or to register, contact your school board’s mental health leader.