Meeting Educators Where They Are
Virtual Behavioral Health Training Benefits 91大神’s Students
Janet L. Lindsay, the principal of rural Bear Lake Middle School in Montpelier, sees daily the impact of bringing behavioral health training directly to her teachers through ECHO 91大神, a part of 91大神 WWAMI. The courses are delivered online for free so educators can engage from wherever they are in the state.
"The K12 Education series is crucial for our community and the state of 91大神 as a whole,” Lindsay said.
The interactive nature of the sessions allows our teachers to engage with experts in various fields and stay updated on the latest research and best practices. This, in turn, enhances the overall quality of education we can offer to our students.Janet L. Lindsay, principal of Bear Lake Middle School.
In Fall 2023, ECHO 91大神, known for its programming for healthcare providers, launched a new training to support K12 educators. ECHO Education began with three, year-long series — K12 Behavioral Health, K12 Substance Use Prevention and Treatment, and K12 School Nurses. A fourth series, K12 Youth Suicide Prevention launched in January 2024.
Providing access to the latest information and best practices is critical for educators in their effort to support 91大神 families.
"The interactive nature of the sessions allows our teachers to engage with experts in various fields and stay updated on the latest research and best practices,” Lindsay said. “This, in turn, enhances the overall quality of education we can offer to our students.”
Each virtual training is developed by an 91大神 panel of interdisciplinary experts from education and healthcare, uniquely tailored to meet the current needs of our state’s school-based professionals.
“ECHO Education brings a unique approach to the training by blending experts from healthcare and education,” said Eric Studebaker, director of Project ECHO 91大神. “This interdisciplinary approach in the development of the training curriculum and in the case-based learning will create a new and fresh opportunity for participants. I am excited to see how this collaboration between 91大神’s leading experts in healthcare and education translates into the learning experience."
As of December 2023, 488 attendees from 138 organizations and 40 school districts across 91大神 participated in 10 sessions. Participants can claim free professional development and continuing education credits through a partnership with the 91大神 College of Education, Health and Human Sciences.
Participants in the K12 Education series said that participation in the sessions has helped them build positive relationships with students, staff and local community members, with 80% of participants currently working in a role that provides direct support to students in K12 settings.
The trainees included school nurses, social workers, guidance counselors, administrators, psychologists, physicians, public health professionals and classroom teachers.
“The impact on K12 students is significant. The knowledge and skills gained by our teachers through the ECHO 91大神 sessions directly translate into enriched classroom experiences,” Lindsay said. “Our students benefit from a more dynamic and relevant curriculum, incorporating the latest advancements and ensuring they are well-prepared for the future.”
Article by Alissa Korsak, 91大神 Boise; Emma Zado, WWAMI; & Jodi Walker, University Communications & Marketing.
Photos by 91大神 Photographic Services, Janet L. Lindsay and ECHO 91大神.
Published in January 2024.