California Center for School Climate (CCSC)

Dive into this workshop on high school mental health clubs, uncovering lessons that prompt a fresh perspective on school mental health strategies. Learn seamless methods to integrate student-led mental health clubs into your school environment, fostering a culture of understanding, connection, and resilience. Explore innovative approaches to secure funding for sustained club support. Join us for a transformative session, equipping educators with tools to cultivate a more compassionate and supportive high school community. 

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Session resources

• Session Slides
• Session Resources

Session Speakers: 

Kym Barber has worked in public education for over 25 years, having spent the last 11 years with the Stanislaus County Office of Education, supporting homeless and foster youth education, school safety, PBIS, and programs across the MTSS framework. In her current role as the youth programs coordinator, she has developed a unique collaboration with NAMI On Campus Clubs throughout Stanislaus County High Schools. Kym is a graduate of Chapman University, receiving her bachelor of arts degree in organizational leadership and completing two years of graduate work in education. She is passionate about helping students find their full potential, develop a sense of community, and celebrate their unique abilities. Kym also loves celebrating holidays and has a separate Pinterest board for each one!

Jennifer Baker, M.A., M.Ed., LMFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist and trainer with over 30 years of experience specializing in family systems, early childhood mental health, suicide prevention, and trauma-informed practices. She has worked in settings from public mental health and private practice to K–12 education. Jennifer is dedicated to supporting student and educator mental health and wellness and applying trauma-informed approaches to education, operating through a framework in which public health, mental health, and education intersect. As a multi-tiered systems of support coordinator at the Stanislaus County Office of Education, she supervises the Project Cal-Well AWARE grant and the Student Behavioral Health Incentive Program while also providing mental health consultation for other projects. She is a member of the California Department of Education Student Mental Health Policy Workgroup and the Statewide Suicide Prevention Partners. She is thrilled that the work she supports aligns with her mission of moving people toward mental well-being through education and the transformative power of a reflective lens. Jennifer loves the summertime, a good book, and cuddling up on the couch with her family and three spoiled cats while watching their favorite shows. 

Brittney Clark, Library/Media Clerk, is the sole Library staff at Orestimba High School in Newman, California. She is also one of three advisors for Orestimba’s National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) club, the NAMI Warriors. This club works hard to provide safe spaces for students to talk about mental health, decrease its stigma, and do regular community outreach. She also coordinates the NAMI Needs Shelf, which provides hygiene items and clothing to students in the district, the Apprentice/Career Expo that invites career representatives to the school to talk to students about post-graduation options that may not need a college track, and Red Cross blood drives. In her free time, she is president of her local labor union and spends time lobbying in Sacramento for public education. She is also a full-time student working on her Master’s degree in Counseling/Marriage, Family, and Child Therapy.

Session Moderator:

Kenwyn Derby (she/her) serves as a Technical Assistance Provider for the California Center for School Climate.

As a Senior Research Associate at WestEd, Kenwyn partners with educators, policymakers, and other stakeholders at local and state levels to understand contextualized problems of practice, to prioritize needs, to collect and analyze qualitative and quantitative data, and to apply evidence to increase equity and improve the experience and outcomes of students and others in human service systems. She provides coaching and technical assistance in contexts ranging from schools to cross-sector collaboratives, with an emphasis on supporting those in traditionally underserved communities. Her expertise includes facilitating and managing projects to improve youth well-being and mental health, to ease transitions for students, to reduce chronic absence and school dropout, to increase student and family engagement, and to create and sustain culture change.