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Keep Kids Healthy, Happy and Safe - Free NEXUS lunch and forum - May 9


Reserve Now for NEXUS 2014 All-Day Conference
Access to Hope: Whole Child, & Whole Health…
Facilitating Health and Resiliency in the Community, Family, and School…
Friday, May 9th - FCPS Virginia Hills Center- 6520 Diana Lane-Alexandria, VA 22310
10AM-3:30 PM – Forums and lunch are free to all – The public is most welcome.
Contact: NEXUS Coordinator, Lainge Bailey by e-mail: laingebailey@earthlink.net; laingeb@cox.net or by phone: 703-660-2327
Please make reservations for EACH of the following you plan to attend:
• The AM Session beginning at 10 AM
• Luncheon, possible through a generous donation from Molina Healthcare – Lunch reservations will be accepted through May 4th
• The afternoon session, beginning at 1:30 PM & Let us know how you would like your name to appear on your educational credit certificate. This conference is dedicated to the late Cliff Hardison, Principal of West Potomac High School and a NEXUS founder. Throughout the day, we will learn from many participants about ways to build mental and physical health among the young. NEXUS encourages interactive discussion among attendees and panelists from coordinated and collaborative, professional and school communities. Questions in-mind include - how are we doing and what needs to be done to keep our children and young mentally and physically healthy?
Morning Discussion: Do you ever wonder what happens in the brain to induce a range of extreme behaviors from apathy to violence? Keynote: Stuart F. White, Ph.D., Post-doctoral Research Fellow, Section on Affective Cognitive Neuroscience National Institute of Mental Health, NIH 20892 -How does violent behavior happen? Can we do anything about it? About brain function and dysfunction of emotion-related systems in youth: What is NIH learning, how are they learning it and what does it mean for those teaching, treating or parenting the young? Dr. White will give an overview of the neurobiology of aggression, and discuss the intersection of these systems with psychiatric conditions and briefly touch on treatment. Dr. White will be available all-day interacting with panelists and the audience.
Fairfax County Public Schools Representatives - Assistant Superintendent for Cluster IV Deborah Tyler will facilitate a Coming Together panel comprised of FCPS school staffs, such as principals, APs, PE teachers, counselors, etc., who will discuss their work around prevention, wrap-around services and programs related to mental health and wellness. Dr. Dede Bailer, Coordinator FCPS School Psychology Services follows the County Youth Survey, a surveillance tool for students, parents and schools to determine how we are doing in our mission to grow Successful Youth. Alexander Case, Principal, West Potomac HS and back by popular demand, SGA students Amilcar Martinez (12th gr.), Maria Blanco (11th gr.), and Tanah Kaisa (10th gr.)  who share their leadership stories of how they encourage others to succeed, according to the Fairfax Youth Survey, and under the direction of the inimitable Sal Olivo
Afternoon Discussion -Scott Surovell (D.44th) will update us on mental and physical health-related legislation in Richmond. 

Dr. Gloria Addo-Ayensu, Director of Health for Fairfax County will facilitate discussion: Building Together Healthy and Safe Strategies among families and the young. Jesse Ellis, Prevention Manager, Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services, and Staff Coordinator of the Successful Children and Youth Policy Team (SCYPT) gives an overview of cross-county, collaborative efforts to improve the mental and physical health of the young. Panelists include Jack Dobbyn, Mount Vernon Representative to SCYPT, Julie Mayer, Assistant Director South County Court Services Unit, Fairfax County Juvenile and Domestic District Court,Ed Ryan, Gang Prevention Coordinator for the County, Lloyd Tucker, Region 1 Manager, Regional Services & Center Operations, Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services and Food: Best Brain Medicine experts -  Susan Moore, MS, RD, Dietitian-Nutritionist, available all-day & Pam Hess from the Arcadia Center for Sustainable Health.

NEXUS is an outreach committee of the Advisory Board serving the Joe & Fredona Gartlan Center for Community Mental Health in Mount Vernon, Virginia. The Advisory Board strives to increase public understanding and promote strong mental health outcomes for all ages. The Nexus Team focuses on the well-being of children, youth and their families. The Team is made-up of Advisory Board members along with other interested professionals and volunteers from the community. NEXUS public forums offer interactive opportunities for advocates, educators, families, legislators, providers, young people and the public to discuss legislation, research, programs and strategies, emphasizing resilience, recovery and wellness.
NEXUS reflects our goal to honor the efforts of those who work together for prevention or intervention in order to help all of our young learn healthy brain-ways in a stressful world.
Taking into consideration mind-body-behavior connections, we look forward to your participation.

Lainge Bailey, Coordinator for ...
NEXUS ...
Building Together Strong Outcomes Among Children and Youth
A committee of ...
The Advisory Board for the Joe and Fredona Gartlan Center for Community Mental Health
In Mount Vernon's District of Fairfax County, Virginia

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