Sarah Howroyd, LCSW, Manchester, CT HOPE Initiative Co-Founder

Sarah Howroyd will share best evidence-based practices for making connections on mental health and/or substance use issues. She will provide professional insight into working with this population as well as her own story of hope, resilience, and perseverance after darkness. Sarah will also discuss the stresses people face in the present pandemic and how this can exacerbate issues surrounding mental health and/or addictions.

Aisha S. Hamid, MPH, CHES, CPS
Program Manager Connecticut Clearinghouse, Wheeler Clinic

This is a training on Adolescent Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (Adolescent SBIRT) with a brief curriculum supplement on the unique risks of adolescent girls for opioid misuse. Adolescent SBIRT is a comprehensive public health approach to the prevention, early intervention, and timely referral to treatment for substance use.

Participants will learn:

• Current information and research on a variety of substances
• Adolescent brain development and the impact of substance use
• How to effectively utilize the Adolescent SBIRT screening tools and protocol
• Unique risk factors for adolescent girls and opioid misuse

Kelly Perales, LCSW, Co-Director of the Midwest PBIS Network & McKenzie Harrington-Bacote, Office of School Wellness, Laconia School District, New Hampshire

This session will provide a district example of building a continuum of prevention through intervention for substance misuse within a multi-tiered system of support. Participants will learn about resources, strategies, and tools to support the complex social-emotional-behavioral health needs within schools during this unprecedented time. The Laconia School District will share how it has leveraged the MTSS Framework to address substance misuse and provide recommendations for school-based preventions and interventions.

Kelly Perales, LCSW, Co-Director of the Midwest PBIS Network

This keynote will highlight how the core features of a Multi-Tiered System of Support can be used to align and integrate the work of substance abuse prevention and intervention within schools. Core features will be defined and examples provided of how multidisciplinary teams, including community partners, can support these efforts. When we give equal priority to creating nurturing environments that support the social-emotional-behavioral health of all, we can create equity and excellence in education.

Supporting Special Education Leaders In an Ever Evolving Educational Environment

The Bureau of Special Education, in being respectful and responsive to the current demands placed on Connecticut’s Special Education Leaders, has adjusted the typical format of the Back to School Event.

Keynote Presentation – Thursday, October 8, 2020

Let's Make Lemonade! Progress in the Times of COVID-19
Presenter: Dr. Frances Stetson

It is a long held belief that when truly difficult times arrive, it offers savvy leaders the opportunity to reconsider – reimagine – and revitalize our processes and results. This is particularly true as we all face COVID-19 and its challenges for special educators. There truly are opportunities to rethink our delivery and we will look back on this time as one of personal and professional trials and undiscovered gifts! Leadership in 2020! As Winston Churchill said, "Never let a good crisis go to waste!"

Welcome from Dr. Miguel Cardona, Commissioner of Education

Bureau of Special Education Update from Bryan Klimkiewicz, Special Education Division Director

Download Powerpoint Presentation (PDF)

Additional recorded sessions:

Data Updates: Jim Moriarty & Diane Murphy

Secondary Transition Updates: Alycia Trakas

IDEA Part B Grant: Tom Boudreau

Part III – Special Education Leader Topic Discussions – November 2020

Regional ConnCASE panel discussions based upon a special education topic identified by participants. Sessions will focus on successes and challenges experienced during the first two months of the school year (shared resources and best practices strategies). These sessions will be facilitated by SERC and supported by the BSE. Stephen Proffitt is in the process of scheduling these sessions with the Regional Directors.

Bookmark this page: https://ctserc.org/bts20 for more information. For technical access issues, please contact Stephen Proffitt, Director of Instructional Programs at SERC, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For program/event questions, please contact Jay Brown, Bureau of Special Education, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Webinar Archive: Maintenance of Effort (MOE) & IDEA Part B Grant: