**Community-Centered**

While you may hear phrases, such as “returning to normal” or “from the pandemic,” some may argue that we must not return to the same practices we used before the pandemic. New challenges still arise as we witness exacerbated mental health and behavioral health symptoms in children, youth, and young adults and the compassion fatigue caregivers experience during this time. This presents an opportunity to think more imaginatively in ensuring children, youth, young adults, and families have access to mental health and behavioral health services in their communities and schools. Join us for this listening session as we explore challenges and opportunities as we approach post-pandemic recovery in order to inform state policy. This event is hosted by DBHDS. Register here. 

Hosts:

• Chlo’e Edwards, Policy Analyst, Voices for Virginia’s Children
• Glencora Gudger, Behavioral Health Equity Consultant, DBHDS

Moderator:

• Kristin Lennox, Advocacy & Engagement Manager, Voices for Virginia’s Children

Participants:

• Anjali Ferguson, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Children’s Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University
• Chelsea Eickert, Alexandria (RAISE) Trauma-Informed Community Network
• Councilwoman Tina Stevens & Rodney Culbreath, Winchester Area (Resilience Rising) Trauma-Informed Community Network
• Heather Orrock, Acting Executive Director, VOCAL 
• Sophie Fontaine, Racial Truth & Reconciliation Virginia Engagement Committee Co-Chair & Youth & Young Adult Program Coordinator, NAMI Youth Move
• Sophia Booker, Racial Truth & Reconciliation Virginia Engagement Committee-Co-Chair & Youth Development Coordinator, Project LIFE
• Elijah Lee, Community Advocate, The Incredible Elijah
• Katie Zhang, Community Advocate
• Markia Anderson, Community Advocate
• Neera Datta, Community Advocate