Scanlan Center for School Mental Health
2022 Iowa BEST Summit audience
2023 Iowa BEST Summit
Join us in Des Moines, Iowa
Iowa Events Center
730 3rd Street
Des Moines, IA 50309
Registration Opening Summer 2023

Building statewide capacity to support mental wellness for our students and educators

Join more than 1,600 other education professionals, school mental health champions, and researchers from across the state for the 2023 Iowa BEST (Behavioral, Equitable, Social-Emotional, Trauma-Informed Health in Schools) Summit.

The Summit is your destination for practical solutions around school-based social-emotional-behavioral health. Come together to bolster mental health supports across our educational system, apply the latest research to address mental health holistically, develop innovative strategies to embed student and educator wellness into the learning environment, and strengthen system capacity for care.

Who Should Attend?
  • PreK-12 teachers, school counselors, administrators, paraeducators, and school mental health providers

  • School district staff and leadership

  • Building leadership teams

  • Policymakers

  • AEA personnel supporting social-emotional-behavioral health and accelerating learning

  • AEA personnel supporting specific subgroups (e.g., special education, preschool, English learners)

  • University faculty who support preservice educators

  • University and college staff and faculty

  • Community partners including mental health providers, primary care physicians, Children’s Behavioral Health System Board members, and state medical association members

Why Should You Attend?
  • Take in the latest research, resources, and best practices to help activate and build mental wellness supports and capacity for your school, district, or region

  • Engage in deeper learning and knowledge sharing that leads to innovative solutions

  • Be a champion for school mental health systems change in your own school or community

  • Meet other colleagues and change-makers in the space

  • Learn and obtain CEUs (Participants can receive one Iowa Licensure Renewal Unit for attending the Summit and completing all readings and discussions)

Coming soon

Coming soon

(Coming soon)

Coming soon

Participants can receive one Iowa Licensure Renewal Unit (ILRU) for attending the Summit and completing all readings and discussions via the online course platform through the Baker Teacher Leader Center. More information coming soon!

Hilton Des Moines Downtown

(0.2 miles from Iowa Events Center; attached to the Events Center by skywalk)

  • 435 Park St, Des Moines, IA 50309
  • 515-241-1456

Fairfield Inn and Suites

(0.3 miles from Iowa Events Center)

  • 207 Crocker St, Des Moines, IA 50309
  • 515-350-7997

Renaissance Des Moines Savery

(0.4 miles from Iowa Events Center)

  • 401 Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309
  • 515-244-2151

Holiday Inn Des Moines DTWN – Mercy Area

(0.4 miles from Iowa Events Center)

  • 1050 6th Ave, Des Moines, IA 50314
  • 515-283-0151

Comfort Inn & Suites Event Center

(0.5 miles from Iowa Events Center)

  • 929 3rd St, Des Moines, IA 50309
  • 515-282-5251

Embassy Suites by Hilton Des Moines Downtown

(0.5 miles from Iowa Events Center)

  • 101 E Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309
  • 515-244-1700

Staybridge Suites Des Moines Downtown

(0.6 miles from Iowa Events Center)

  • 201 E Locust St, Des Moines, IA 50309
  • 515-280-3828

Hyatt Place Des Moines/Downtown

(0.6 miles from Iowa Events Center)

  • 418 6th Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309
  • 515-282-5555

AC Hotel Des Moines East Village

(0.7 miles from Iowa Events Center)

  • 401 E Grand Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309
  • 515-518-6060

Coming soon

Glimpse from Last Year