It’s a busy, busy time of year as schools are finishing up! We wanted to get this episode in before the end of May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month. Our guest today helps us understand the need for a more comprehensive and relevant curriculum focused on skill-building and emotional awareness instead of reacting to students’ mental health needs “after the fact.” Doesn’t it make more sense to support “mental wellness” than to simply address “mental illness”? That’s the idea behind Clayful! Join us to learn more!

Maria Barrera is the founder and CEO of Clayful, a company that began as a way to address the mental health crisis in a more preventative way. Clayful offers supportive tools and resources to help students become more resilient and emotionally aware before they get to their breaking point. Maria is committed to addressing the youth mental health crisis, and her dedication to training a diverse mental health workforce and establishing partnerships with schools have impacted thousands of students across the country.

Show Highlights:

• The need for more targeted interventions and skill-building in schools
• The origins of Clayful to address students’ needs during the pandemic
• The challenge in supporting students with behavior regulation issues
• Labels and language have POWER!
• The gist of CA Assembly Bill 2173: to change the language from “emotional disturbance” to “emotional disability”
• Clayful’s work in destigmatizing the need for emotional support
• Clayful allows students to connect with a coach on a weekly basis to develop a “protective layer.”
• The mental health crisis is here! We need to partner together to help as many young people as possible!

Links/Resources:

Connect with Maria Barrera and Clayful: Website and Email

Contact us on social media or through our website for more information on the IEP Learning Center: www.inclusiveeducationproject.org

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