Partnering with Institutes of Higher Education with Dr. Hennessey Lustica and Karen Horn

On this episode of “In Session,” we talk about effective partnerships with institutes of higher education. Our guests include Hennessey Lustica, PhD, Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC), Community Schools Mental Health Director at Sodus Central School District in Sodus, New York and Mental Health School Professionals grant director.

We also welcome Karen Horn, MSW, Educational Consultant for School Mental Health Professionals at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and School-Based Mental Health grant recipient.

This conversation is guided by Frank Rider, a Technical Assistance Specialist at NCSSLE.

Learn more about the Wisconsin SMBH Program at: https://dpi.wi.gov/sspw/mental-health/school-based-mental-health-professionals-federal-grant-program

01:24 – Introduction of Dr. Hennessey Lustica.

02:03 – To Hennessey: What is the scope and nature of your partnership effort with higher education institutions in Western New York?

04:24 – Introduction of Karen Horn, MSW.

05:34 – To Karen: What is the scope and nature of your partnership effort with higher education institutions in Wisconsin?

09:54 – To Both: What have you learned in your process of trying to expand partnerships to incorporate a larger number of programs?

10:29 – To Hennessey: What motivated you and what did you learn in efforts of trying to expand from one higher education partner to 8 partners?

13:36 – To Karen: Can you talk about some of the advantages and limitations of working with one big college and university system?

19:17 – To both: How do you keep graduate students engaged in this work and interested in the field given recent burnout and retention issues? (Hennessey answers first)

22:50 – To Karen: What are some of the approaches you’re using to bring more diverse students into the graduate programs and continue learning opportunities as mental health professionals?

28:41 – To Both (Hennessey start): Could you talk about something value you learned out of necessity during the pandemic that you think will support your strategies in the longer term?

31:36 – To Karen: What are any adaptations related to the pandemic that you think will support your efforts in the long term?

34:45 – To Both (Hennessey first): What kind of aspirations do you have on your horizon that you’re hoping you initiative will help you achieve?

35:55 – To Karen: What are you envisioning or hoping for?

39:00 – Closing

“In Session” is brought to you by the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (www.safesupportivelearning.ed.gov) at The American Institutes for Research (www.air.org). This podcast is funded by the U.S. Department of Education.

For all questions or feedback, you can email ncssle@air.org. Thanks for listening!

Please note, the contents of this podcast do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the U.S. Department of Education, nor does it imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Education.