Course Description
This course explores the evolving landscape of school-aged mental health in a post-COVID world and the expanding role of occupational therapy in supporting students’ emotional, behavioral, and functional participation. Drawing from Dr. Monica Keen’s clinical experience and her doctoral capstone research on interprofessional mental health collaboration, this session examines current mental-health trends, trauma-informed care, behavior changes following the pandemic, and evidence-aligned OT strategies for school settings. Participants will learn practical, occupation-based approaches for addressing emotional regulation, engagement, and school participation within a tiered model of support. The course concludes with collaborative discussion and actionable steps for strengthening OT’s role in school-based mental health.
Learning Objectives
1. Learners will identify three mental illness diagnoses of school-aged
children.
2. Learners will identify reasons/events for childhood mental illness
and how it impacts occupational engagement.
3. Learners will recognize the role of OT in addressing these mental
health issues in the school setting.
Contact Hours
This course is 1 hour in length. (0.1 AOTA CEUs)
OTSchoolhouse.com is an AOTA Approved Provider of professional development, #0252.
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy
As an AOTA-Approved provider of professional development, OTSchoolhouse.com courses are accepted by NBCOT® at a rate of 1.25 NBCOT PDUs per each hour of course content.
NBCOT® is a registered trademark of The National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.
Register for this course and future courses inside the OT Schoolhouse Collaborative for as little as $120
Agenda
0-5 minutes
Introduction
5-15 minutes
Understanding Post-COVID Mental Health Trends in School-Aged Children
15-25 minutes
Trauma-Informed & Mental Health–Aligned OT Principles
25-40 minutes
OT’s Role on Interprofessional Mental Health Teams
40-50 minutes
OT Intervention Strategies for Supporting Mental Health in Schools
50-55 minutes
Post-Pandemic Considerations & Future Directions for School-Based OTs
55-60 minutes
Questions and Answers
Your Instructor
Dr. Monica Keen, OTD, OTR/L
Dr. Monica Keen is the Program Director of the Doctor of Occupational Therapy Program at Presbyterian College and has been a licensed OT for 36 years. After a long career spanning mental health, acute care, skilled nursing, and 27 years in school-based practice, she transitioned to full-time academia in 2022. She also teaches pediatrics and mental health labs as an adjunct at Baylor University and previously taught for seven years at MUSC.
Dr. Keen has authored book chapters and presented widely on school-based OT, mental health, and handwriting, including multiple webinars and a doctoral capstone on OT’s role in supporting children’s mental health. She has been featured on the OT Schoolhouse Podcast and presents nationally on school-based mental health. She currently serves as Co-Chair for Mental Health within the South Carolina Occupational Therapy Association.
She holds degrees from MUSC, Boston University, and the University of St. Augustine. Her professional passions include mental health, trauma-informed care, pediatrics, and autism. Dr. Keen lives in Greenville, SC, and enjoys running, hiking, college football, and spending time outdoors with her two Boston Terriers.
Registration
To access this course and others, become a member of the OT Schoolhouse Collaborative.
OTS Collab is an online community dedicated to providing school-based OT practitioners with highly valuable professional development and interactive support to implement learned strategies. In OTS Collab, we learn together, support and encourage one another, and celebrate our achievements as a collective whole.
Click here to learn more about the OT Schoolhouse Collaborative and register in our dedicated community of school-based OT practitioners.
Instructional Methods
A combination of speaker presentation with a slide deck and both synchronous & asynchronous Q+A with the presenter.
Target Audience
& Educational Level
This is an introductory level course intended for occupational therapy practitioners working in school systems or with a goal to better understand occupational therapy in school systems.
Course Completion Requirements
To receive a certificate for this course, you must watch the recorded course in its entirety. Then, you will need to take a learning assessment test and earn a score 75% or higher. If you pass, a certificate will be automatically generated and sent to your email.
Special Needs Requests
This course will include closed captioning and a transcript may be available upon request. You may also rewatch the course or sections of the course as needed. Additional accommodations may be requested by reaching out to us via email.
Financial & Non-financial Disclosures
Speaker Disclosure
Moni is receiving an honorarium for this course.
Sponsor Disclosure
The OTS Collaborative Community is a product of the OT Schoolhouse.
Content Disclosure
This learning event does not focus exclusively on any specific product or service.
Terms and Conditions
Schoolhouse Education, LLC will keep a record of your completed CE courses. When applicable, transcript services may include reporting to professional associations and/or state licensure boards. While Schoolhouse Education, LLC will make all reasonable efforts to offer CE credit for its courses, it is not responsible for state or national, or regulatory current policies or changes in CE requirements that may make courses ineligible for CE credits.
Participant Agreement
By registering for or attending any event or activity associated with the Schoolhouse Education, LLC and OT Schoolhouse, I agree to the following:
Professional Development/Information Disclaimer
The material presented in this course is not intended to represent the only or the best methods appropriate for the occupational therapy and/or medical condition or professional development issues being discussed but rather is intended to present the opinions of the presenters, which may be helpful to other health care professionals at arriving at their own conclusions and consequent application. Attendees participating in this professional development education program do so with full knowledge that they waive any claim they may have against the A-Z School-Based OT Course, Schoolhouse Education, LLC, and OT School House and its staff or representatives for reliance on any information presented during these educational activities.
Waiver of Liability Agreement
I release Schoolhouse Education, LLC, OT Schoolhouse, and its staff, presenters, and any other individuals or entities associated with this course from any and all liability connected with my participation, as well as from any liability related to changes to the schedule, events or activities. I acknowledge and agree that I am participating on my own choice and assume all risk in connection thereof and that in the event that a need for emergency medical service arises, I authorize and consent to such services being provided at my own expense.
Cancelation & Refund Policy
In the event that Schoolhouse Education, LLC must cancel the event for any reason, participants will be offered a credit toward the rescheduled event. OT Schoolhouse Collaborative subscribers may cancel their subscription at any time.