About Us
Background
SMHI Team
Lee Stickle, MSEd, Project Director (not pictured)
Cherie Blanchat, LSCSW, Project Coordinator/State Trainer
Cherie is a licensed specialist clinical social worker with 17 years of experience in the field of school social work and school mental health practices within a Multi-Tier System of Support (MTSS) framework, specifically, Kansas MTSS and Alignment. She has strong working knowledge of the Interconnected Systems framework and is highly skilled in facilitating implementation of “tiered, trauma-responsive, cross-system (school-community) mental health processes and practices, including community outreach, content development, staff development (utilizing the Kansas Standards for Professional Learning), and family engagement (utilizing the Kansas Family Engagement Standards). Cherie served as lead for the Technical Assistance System Network (TASN), School Mental Health Initiative (SMHI), beginning in 2014 when it was first established within the TASN Autism and Tertiary Behavior Supports project and as project coordinator, beginning in 2018 when the Kansas State Department of Education was awarded the State Personnel Professional Development Grant for the development of the School Mental Health Professional Development Coaching System. Her previous experiences include providing training and coaching to schools in School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports, Functional Behavioral Assessment, and transition for children/youth with complex needs. Cherie has taught school social work at the University of Kansas, provided professional development to educators through Ottawa University on issues relevant to the needs of immigrant Latino students, and she is co-author of two articles – one relating to the concept of setting conditions in the functional assessment process and the other on the social-emotional well-being of undocumented Latino immigrants in the United States.
Laura Hattrup, LSCSW, State Trainer
Laura is a licensed specialist clinical social worker with 17 years of experience in school social work and school mental health practices within a Multi-Tier System of Support (MTSS) framework. She has strong working knowledge of the Interconnected Systems framework and is skilled in facilitating implementation of “tiered, trauma-responsive, cross-system (school-community) mental health processes and practices, including community outreach, content development, staff development (utilizing the Kansas Standards for Professional Learning), and family engagement (utilizing the Kansas Family Engagement Standards). Laura served as a state trainer for the Technical Assistance System Network (TASN), School Mental Health Initiative (SMHI), beginning in 2018 when the Kansas State Department of Education was awarded the State Personnel Professional Development Grant for the development of the School Mental Health Professional Development Coaching System. Her previous experiences included providing direct services to children/youth with complex needs, and supporting staff and caregivers serving these children/youth. She also provided coaching to schools on School-Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports and the Neurosequential Model in Education.
Christin Sheldon, LMSW, State Trainer
Christin’s work within the Technical Assistance System Network (TASN) has included co-presenting regional trainings on the topics of trauma, toxic stress, and well-being to educators across the state of Kansas. She has also participated in the development of numerous resources that reflect evidence-based practices and enhance mental health-related education and awareness for school communities. Christin currently serves as a state trainer for the TASN School Mental Health Initiative, supporting the growth of partnerships between schools, students, families, and community partners with the development of a systematic, coordinated tiered system of trauma-responsive school mental health practices.
Amy Wells, MEd, State Trainer
Amy is a licensed educator and school leader with 19 years of experience in the field of education and leadership. She has strong working knowledge of the Interconnected Systems Framework and is highly skilled in facilitating the implementation of "tiered, trauma-responsive, cross-system (school-community) mental health processes and practices,” including community outreach, content development, staff development (utilizing the Kansas Standards for Professional Learning), and family engagement (utilizing the Kansas Family Engagement Standards). Amy served as a trainer for the Technical Assistance System Network (TASN), School Mental Health Initiative (SMHI) beginning in 2018, when the Kansas State Department of Education was awarded the State Personnel Professional Development Grant (SPDG) for the development of the School Mental Health Professional Development Coaching System (SMHPDCS). Her previous experiences included providing direct support for children experiencing social-emotional and behavioral difficulties at school; developing systems for monitoring and addressing social-emotional needs; supporting families in need; and providing training, coaching, and support to staff in trauma, behavior management, and School-Wide Multi-tiered System of Supports. Amy has provided professional development to educators focused on technology integration and school-wide practices for accommodating and supporting trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences. As a building principal, Amy was trained in Adaptive Schools and used these skills to facilitate a council consisting of parents, staff, and community mental health to solve the adaptive challenges related to trauma that faced the school and community.