The Mental Health Board and the Center for Emotional Wellness of the Northwest Suburbs have partnered to offer this training opportunity for our Behavioral Health network.
REGISTER HERE!
FREE: 1 IDFPR CEU for LSW/LCSW, LPC/LCPC, Psychologists, and ISBE CPDU’s for School Professionals
SUMMARY
This session provides a comprehensive framework for helping students successfully transition back to school following hospitalization, illness, medical leave, or school refusal. Attendees will explore strategies to re-engage students, create supportive transition plans, and collaborate effectively with families and teachers. The session emphasizes emotional safety, academic readiness, and sustained support through intentional planning, follow-up, and teamwork.
OBJECTIVES
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Develop individualized transition plans with appropriate accommodations and supports for students returning from extended absences.
- Collaborate with teachers, families, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure consistent communication and shared responsibility.
- Implement ongoing follow-up and aftercare systems to monitor progress, address barriers, and promote long-term reintegration and success.
PRESENTERS
Dr. Michelle (Shelley) Fisher, LCSW, earned her Bachelor’s degree from James Madison University, a Master’s degree in Social Work from Boston College, and a Doctorate in Social Work from George Williams College of Aurora University. Her 25+ year social work career includes child protective services, adoption, medical and forensic social work, teaching at the Master’s level, private practice, and, since 2009, school social work.
Dr. Fisher’s passion for advocating for vulnerable children and adolescents led to her doctoral research, which focused on supporting transgender students and their families within the academic setting. She continues to provide professional development and consultation around accommodating transgender students within the educational environment to administrators, teachers, and staff members in multiple school districts. Additionally, Dr. Fisher has presented on a variety of topics focused on the mental health and social-emotional wellbeing of children and adolescents, both virtually and in-person, to parents, administrators, teachers, coaches, executive directors, camp directors, and camp counselors.
Jacqueline Rhew, CADC, LCPC, is the co-founder of the Center for Emotional Wellness of the Northwest Suburbs. She is an expert in her field and is called upon by hundreds of school districts, family agencies and mental health facilities — locally and nationally — for consulting staff to better serve their youth. Jacqueline served as a Clinical Consultant for AMITA Health Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital for many years, and previously served as Assistant Director for the School Anxiety/School Refusal Program — a program she was instrumental in creating and developing. She has facilitated 300-plus workshops for professionals and parents — locally and nationally — on topics ranging from anxiety, school refusal, parenting, and self-injury.
