6th Annual RC SELPA Mental Health Symposium: Mental Health Matters

This training equips educators to respond to problem behavior with confidence—without relying on punitive measures. Grounded in ABA, participants learn to catch students doing the right thing, teach coping and replacement skills, and build reinforcement-rich environments. By viewing behavior deficits as teachable skills, this therapeutic (though not talk-based) approach strengthens regulation, resilience, and student mental health.

Participants will:

• Feel better equipped to respond to problem behavior in the classroom
• Be less reliant on corrective and punitive measures to handle problem behavior
• Understand how positive reinforcement and teaching coping skills and replacement behaviors promote better mental health

Move beyond compliance-based behavioral models toward a neuro-affirming, trauma-informed co-regulation practice. Grounded in Dr. Palmer’s TEDx Talk, this session introduces the C.A.L.M. framework—a physiological intervention for high-intensity environments. Participants will learn to prioritize nervous system safety over behavioral control, gaining practical tools to stabilize dysregulated students while maintaining their own clinical and emotional equilibrium.

Participants will master the C.A.L.M. protocol to bridge the gap between "crisis management" and "whole-child wellness." The outcome is for ERMHS providers and educators to:

1. Identify the Neuro-Biological Shift: Recognize the transition from the "Social Engagement System" to "Survival Mode" before a behavioral outburst occurs.
2. Apply Neuro-Affirming Co-Regulation: Implement the C.A.L.M. steps to de-escalate without power struggles, honoring the student’s physiological needs.
3. Practice Self-Stabilization: Utilize "Thermostat" strategies to remain the regulated anchor in a dysregulated environment, reducing staff burnout and secondary trauma.

Romoland School District’s Director of Special Education and BCBA share their journey of establishing a robust Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). This session explores practical frameworks for meeting diverse behavioral needs, highlighting the collaborative strategies used to build a sustainable, district-wide infrastructure that fosters student success across all tiers.

Participants will leave with a scalable roadmap for integrating BCBA expertise into district-wide MTSS frameworks. Attendees will gain specific strategies for aligning behavioral interventions across tiers, establishing data-driven referral processes, and fostering the administrative-specialist collaboration necessary to sustain a proactive, inclusive school culture.