Your Brain. Your Future. Your Choice.

iDECIDE@mgh.harvard.edu

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FACILITATORS

Introduction

iDECIDE facilitators come from many backgrounds and can be school or personnel from non-school partner organizations. The ideal facilitator is driven by a passion for supporting the future wellbeing of our youth, a willingness to learn techniques to best support them, and is dedicated to the iDECIDE mission. The iDECIDE team provides a workshop, continuing education, and facilitator coaching and support, so that facilitators can focus on what matters: listening, connecting with, and empowering our youth.

Facilitator requirements:

  • Middle or high schools in the state of Massachusetts;

  • Obtained a letter of commitment demonstrating school/district support;

  • Completes iDECIDE training;

  • Adheres to the standardized curriculum, materials and protocols;

  • Maintains certification and annual fidelity checks;

  • Possesses cultural competency;

  • Recognizes student substance use is a health issue that compromises well-being and can be appropriately addressed through education and intervention;

  • Builds rapport and make connections with students; and

  • Has positive, optimistic, authentic, engaging personality with clear communication skills.

If your school and/or district is not currently enrolled in iDECIDE and you are interested in joining, please see here for our template LOS. All schools trained in the iDECIDE must provide a LOS on school or district letterhead. We ask that the appropriate representative sign and return on school/district letterhead. You are welcome to provide one letter of support to cover multiple schools within the same district. Please return any LOS to Caroline Gray (project manager, cgray16@mgh.harvard.edu) or faxed to 617-643-1998.

Schools Enrolled in iDECIDE

Currently over 250 schools across Massachusetts have committed to implementing the iDECIDE. See the map below to see which schools have committed to responding to substance use infractions in a research-based, supportive, and equitable way; and in a way that addresses the mental health and wellbeing of the student to promote their future success.

How to Become an iDECIDE Facilitator

Facilitators will be required to attend a free, one-day training and participate in fidelity checks to maintain their certification. If you have questions regarding how to become an iDECIDE facilitator, please feel free to reach out to our team at iDECIDE@mgh.harvard.edu.

Additional Training Opportunities

  • Supporting Staff to Support Students (S2S)

    • The Department of Mental Health (DMH) in partnership with the Massachusetts School Mental Health Consortium (MASMHC), the International Trauma Center (ITC), Boston Children’s Foundation, and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (NCTSN) offers:

    • Professional development opportunities designed to improve schools’ and districts’ use of evidence-based practices to support student mental health and well-being.

    • Training sessions will be offered periodically throughout the 23-24 school year.

    • Participants can enroll in one or more training series.

      All training series are free of charge and will be offered virtually.

    • S2S Orientation Registration

  • QPR Institute

  • QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) is a suicide prevention training for participants to be able to recognize the warning signs of suicide and question, persuade, and refer people at risk for suicide for help

This is a joint project between the Office of the Child Advocate and UMass Chan Medical School! The center offers:

  • Information about adverse and positive childhood experiences

  • Best practices for becoming trauma-informed and responsive

  • Trainings, toolkits, and other resources

This Advisory reviews the evidence on prescription stimulant misuse among youth and young adults. It establishes prescription stimulant misuse as a public health problem, identifies associated risk and protective factors, and provides programs and action steps for stakeholders to prevent misuse.