10th Annual Wellness Together Conference: Full Schedule

10:30am PDT

Making the Fee Schedule Work: Lessons, Strategies, and Next Steps

Thursday September 10, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am PDT

This session will open with a concise, high-level overview of the CYBHI Fee Schedule, followed by an overview of SDCOEs coordinated approach to engaging and supporting more than 100 Local Educational Agencies (LEAs). The two SDCOE faciliators will describe the three implementation models being used to build readiness and participation across diverse LEAs.

The majority of the session will feature a moderated panel discussion with five LEAs representing a range of settings, including rural and urban communities, large districts, and charter schools. Panelists will share their journeys toward operational readiness and capacity building, highlighting practical lessons learned, common challenges, and effective strategies for successful participation in the fee schedule. Two co facilitators will guide the conversation, encouraging dialogue focused on real world implementation experiences and actionable best practices.

The session will conclude with an overview of tools, resources, and implementation supports developed by the SDCOE team to assist LEAs in navigating this evolving initiative. These adaptable resources will be shared as models that other counties can replicate or customize. A facilitated question and answer segment will close the session, allowing participants to engage directly with presenters and panelists.

Speakers

Heather Nemour

Coordinator, Student Services and Programs Division, San Diego County Office of Education

Coordinator, Student Wellness & School Culture for the San Diego COE. Ms. Nemour supports the 42 school districts and schools across the county and state in suicide prevention and mental health & wellness.

Violeta Mora

Program Specialist, San Diego County Office of Education

Thursday September 10, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am PDT
33 B

Breakout

2:30pm PDT

Going Analog in a Digital World

Thursday September 10, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT

33 B

The challenge of fostering deep learning in 2026 is no longer a question of access to information, but of the brain’s ability to process it. This session bridges the gap between cognitive theory and classroom reality by examining how "analog" learning environments optimize the seat of executive function for memory encoding and cognitive endurance. While digital platforms prioritize speed and shallow consumption, they often fragment the attention required for long-term retention.

Educators are witnessing a "volatility of attention" driven by the digital landscape. Constant digital noise creates a cognitive load that bypasses the deep-work pathways of the brain, leading to high-frequency distraction and a decline in academic stamina.
By returning to "back-to-basics" analog methods, I align pedagogy with how the human brain actually processes, stores, and retrieves information. Replacing digital dependency with metacognitive agency allows students to transform reactive, screen-driven impulses into intentional, self-driven mastery.

Participants will explore a proven framework for shifting the burden of cognitive work from the device back to the student. This session moves beyond theory to share real-world applications of analog-rich environments that stabilize focus. Attendees will leave with a clear "map" for weaving brain science directly into their academic fabric, ensuring that deep learning and human connection remain at the helm of student success.

Speakers

Tali Sherman

National Board Certified Teacher, Centinela Valley Union High School District

Tali Sherman is a National Board Certified Teacher with over two decades of experience in diverse Los Angeles educational settings. She is a leading expert in supporting schools with social and emotional learning (SEL) integration and as a skilled curriculum developer, educational... Read More →

Thursday September 10, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm PDT
33 B

Breakout

3:45pm PDT

Winning Beyond the Game: Coaching Strategies that Strengthen Mental Health and Performance

Thursday September 10, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm PDT

33 B

This presentation equips coaches, athletic directors, educators, and school leaders with practical strategies to support student-athlete mental health while improving performance and long-term development. The session begins by examining the growing prevalence of anxiety and depression among adolescents and highlights the influential role coaches play in shaping athletes' confidence, resilience, and emotional well-being. It introduces key concepts from child and adolescent development, including Erikson's stages of psychosocial development, to explain how coaching impacts identity and self-esteem.

Participants engage in interactive discussions exploring how anxiety manifests in sports and the effects of negative or highly critical coaching environments. The presentation then shifts to evidence-based coaching practices that foster confidence, reduce anxiety, and create psychologically safe team cultures. Topics include providing descriptive feedback, emphasizing effort over outcomes, using constructive praise, and applying the "Support–Instruction–Encouragement" feedback model. The session concludes with actionable takeaways emphasizing that positive coaching environments not only enhance athletic performance but also contribute to healthy emotional development, increased motivation, and lifelong success both on and off the field.

Continuing Education Session Information:

Course Syllabus | Speaker Resume | Session Flyer | Course Attendance | Course Evaluation

Upon completion of the course, attendance form, and evaluation, you will receive a Confirmation of Attendance Certificate through email. If you do not receive your Confirmation of Attendance Certificate within ten business days, please contact [email protected]

This course meets the qualifications for 1.0 hours of Continuing Education Credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. Wellness Together, Inc., Provider #141369, is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor Continuing Education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs. Wellness Together maintains responsibility for this course and its content.

Speakers

Clete Purinton, M. Ed.

Principal, Roseville City School District

Ashleigh Purinton

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, Oasis Kids Counseling, Inc

Ashleigh is a licensed clinician with over 15 years of experience supporting youth and young adults ages 10–21. She is passionate about walking alongside tweens, teens, and college students as they navigate the changes and challenges of growing up. Ashleigh equips students with... Read More →

Winning Beyond the Game Flyer pdf

Winning Beyond The Game Slides pdf

Thursday September 10, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm PDT
33 B

Breakout

Continuing Education Tracks BBS Continuing Education

8:00am PDT

Braiding Vision, Funding, and Partnerships to Sustain School-Based Wellness Models

Friday September 11, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am PDT

33 B

Developing and sustaining an integrated school-based wellness model requires more than adding services, it requires leadership moves that build coherence across vision, funding, partnerships, and systems. This session will share lessons from the Placer County Office of Education’s work to develop an integrated wellness model connected to Placer County’s broader System of Care. Participants will explore how a clear and durable vision can guide implementation, how braided funding approaches can support sustainability, and how intentional partnership development can strengthen access to coordinated supports for students and families. Using a narrative, story-based approach, the session will connect practical leadership decisions to real implementation challenges and opportunities. Participants will leave with tools and strategies they can apply in their own local context.

Speakers

Luke Anderson

Executive Director, Prevention Supports and Services, Placer County Office of Education & CA PBIS

Luke Anderson, Ed.S., BCBA, is the Executive Director of Prevention Supports and Services at the Placer County Office of Education. He leads efforts to build integrated systems of support that connect education, behavioral health, and community partners to improve student well-being... Read More →

Ali Murphy

Mental Health Director, Placer County Office of Education

Ali Murphy, LMFT, is the Director of Mental Health in the Prevention Supports and Services Department at the Placer County Office of Education. Within this role, Ali oversees school-mental health program integration including the implementation of Wellness Centers and school-based... Read More →

Wellness Together 2026 Braiding Vision, Funding, and Partnerships to Sustain School Based Wellness Models Google Slides pdf

Friday September 11, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am PDT
33 B

Breakout

9:15am PDT

Beyond the Degree: Navigating Your Path as a California Certified Wellness Coach (CWC)

Friday September 11, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am PDT

33 B

The Challenge: The "Experience Trap" & Youth Distress
College students and recent grads face a frustrating paradox: they are passionate about solving the youth mental health crisis, but entry-level jobs often demand years of clinical experience or expensive master's degrees. Meanwhile, California youth are drowning in stress and isolation, desperately needing relatable, culturally responsive mentors before they reach a clinical crisis point.

The Compass: The CWC Role (The Non-Clinical Revolution)
The California Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI) created the Certified Wellness Coach (CWC) role specifically to bridge this chasm. It is a free, non-clinical certification for people with Associate (CWC I) or Bachelor's (CWC II) degrees. It validates your lived experience and field hours, allowing you to get paid to deliver critical preventive care (wellness promotion, screenings, and group support) under supportive supervision.

The Map: The Certification Roadmap
A clear, step-by-step framework showing students how to leverage their current classes and practicum hours, navigate the "Registered" status, and step directly into a thriving career in schools or community clinics.

Speakers

Kimberly Lee

Sr. Director, Operations, Wellness Together

I'm Kim Lee, Senior Director of Operations at Wellness Together. I oversee HR, IT, and internal communications for the organization. Talk to me about what it's actually like to work here, whether you're curious about joining the team as a Mental Health Specialist, becoming a Certified... Read More →

Pauline Atenio

Friday September 11, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am PDT
33 B

Breakout

Audience Human Resources Professionals, HR Staff, Education Leaders, Higher Ed Faculty, Mental Health Professionals

10:30am PDT

Care in Action: Building Systems of Support in Schools for Immigrant Students and Families

Friday September 11, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am PDT

33 B

The community of Oceanside has been heavily impacted by ICE. Our team in OUSD is working to keep our students and families safe through policies, practices, staff trainings, know your rights trainings for the community, collaboration with local organizations and tailored supports for families. In our presentation we will share what we have done so far in our district and provide tangible steps for others to do so in their own office, classroom or organization. Participants will learn some best practices and ways to support and defend their own communities.

Speakers

Maria Al-Shamma

Lead District Social Worker and LGBTQ+ Youth Liaison , Oceanside Unified School District

Maria Al-Shamma (she/her) is Lead District Social Worker & LGBTQ+ Youth Liaison in Oceanside Unified School District. She serves on the boards of both the North County LGBTQ Resource Center and the California Association of School Social Workers. She is a , Welcoming Schools National... Read More →