Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) middle and high school students, along with their parents and caregivers were invited to attend the behavioral health conference at Thomas Stone High School on March 9. The focus of the event was to provide resources for parents/caregivers to learn more ways to support their children and for middle and high school students to learn how to support their overall well-being.

Thomas Stone was transformed into a behavioral health expo with workshops throughout the school, resource stations and a mental health keynote speaker, Mike Veny, in the main auditorium.

Some presenters talked about the effects of cyberbullying in adolescents and children while others focused on how to thrive in a post-pandemic society. Session target audiences ranged from parents to students to both. “Our goal for the presentation is to give parents tools to know how to support their children when they do experience cyberbullying,” Veronica Renderos, licensed master social worker (LMSW) at Youme Healthcare, said.

Some organizations that attended the event were the Maryland Coalition of Families, the Parents’ Place of Maryland, Charles County Health Department, ABC Fitness Connection and Stella’s Girls. Stations sprinkled in the cafeteria consisted of stress relief tools such as pop it fidgets and stress balls. Tables also had mental health brochures, free Narcan training and healthy nutrition demonstrations.

Click here for a list of presentations from the conference.

About CCPS

Charles County Public Schools provides 27,598 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with an academically challenging education. Located in Southern Maryland, Charles County Public Schools has 37 schools that offer a technologically advanced, progressive and high quality education that builds character, equips for leadership and prepares students for life, careers and higher education.

The Charles County public school system does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age or disability in its programs, activities or employment practices. For inquiries, please contact Kathy Kiessling, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (students) or Nikial M. Majors, Title IX/ADA/Section 504 Coordinator (employees/ adults), at Charles County Public Schools, Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building, P.O. Box 2770, La Plata, MD 20646; 301-932-6610/301-870-3814. For special accommodations call 301-934-7230 or TDD 1-800-735-2258 two weeks prior to the event.

CCPS provides nondiscriminatory equal access to school facilities in accordance with its Use of Facilities rules to designated youth groups (including, but not limited to, the Boy Scouts).