View the 2023 Iowa BEST Summit schedule & directory.

1. Caring for Students (K-12) 

This strand will focus on increasing knowledge of common mental health concerns, best practices in addressing an array of mental health needs, and critical skills for appropriate responding to student mental health concerns. Learning outcomes for this strand will be to improve mental health literacy for educators, school administrators, and district leaders; clinical skills for school-based mental health providers; and effective strategies for coordinating and accessing school and community supports.  

2. Caring for Educators (K-12) 

This strand aims to provide educators, school administrators, and district leaders with the knowledge and tools they need to build healthy relationships and systems of wellness to support the well-being of everyone within a school community. The sessions in this strand will be focused on offering educators an opportunity to do the “inner work” of exploring how their life experiences have informed the development of their social, emotional, and behavioral skills – including self-awareness, social awareness, emotional regulation, and relationship skills. Building on this work, sessions in this strand will offer opportunities for educators to better understand holistic wellness, and how to utilize personal and professional wellness strengths to build up areas of growth. Finally, this strand will provide time, space, and guidance for educators to learn how to build effective peer-support networks.

3. Caring for Classrooms (K-12) 

This strand will focus on evidence-based practices for creating caring, positive, safe, and consistent classroom environments. Learning outcomes for this strand will be to increase the knowledge of educators as it relates to implementing classroom management practices; cultivating a sense of belonging; and linking practices to a schoolwide system.

4. Caring for School Communities and Families (K-12)

The sessions in this strand will be focused on offering educators opportunities to learn about research-based practices in supporting family and community engagement, collaboration with community stakeholders, and promoting wellness with those they serve. Building on this work, sessions in this strand will offer opportunities for educators to better understand how family and community wellness impacts the effectiveness of schools, how to engage families and communities through multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), and individual and systematic roles and responsibilities in promoting family and community wellness.  

5. Caring for Iowa University and College Campuses (Higher Education) 

This strand focuses on the fact that staff and faculty are busy enough, in ongoing turbulent times, managing the stress and distress in our own lives.  Despite this, we are called on moreso than ever to also help manage the stress and distress of students, colleagues, and supervisees. And while stress and distress often occupy our attention, it is equally vital to keep sight of where we all continue to flourish and thrive. The higher education strand features a plenary session from the Regent Universities and their work on creating “health-promoting campuses.”  There will also be multiple concurrent sessions with workshops focused on “caring for self” and focused on “caring for others,”  led by higher education experts from around the state. There will additionally be a roundtable opportunity for attendees to meet others from around the state to share struggles, successes, information, collaborative opportunities, and resources. Come be a part of this first-ever gathering of higher education mental health and wellbeing professionals as we gather to connect over campus mental health and wellbeing.

Experience next-level mental health awareness training at the highly anticipated pre-conference workshop – Imagine Iowa: Building Partners in Mental Health Training.

What is Imagine Iowa?

Imagine Iowa is a new evidence-informed, culturally responsive mental health awareness program, co-developed with Iowa youth, designed to support K-12 educators in improving their knowledge, skills, and attitudes about mental health.

This training is an essential tool for educators who want to support and improve their mental health knowledge and evidence-based applications in their classrooms and schools, as well as their own personal lives.

By the end of the training program, participants will be able to:

• Utilize effective communication skills for broaching mental health with students in an approachable wayIdentify indicators and risk factors associated with a mental health crisis, including suicide, and how to respond appropriately
• Identify strategies for building meaningful and sustainable relationships with students dealing with mental health concerns
• Develop a personal wellness plan to maintain consistent self-care while navigating mental health situations at school/work

Participants will begin to explore these topics in-person and be provided with the opportunity to engage in continual learning via digital platforms, after in-person professional development, to become partners in school mental health.You will leave prepared to be an effective partner in mental health within your school community.

When and where? 

• Wednesday, October 4 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Hilton Des Moines Downtown Ballroom; and
• Thursday, October 5 from 10:30 – 11:45 a.m. (during Breakout Session #1 for Iowa BEST Summit) at the Iowa Events Center

Who is eligible?

K-12 educators in Iowa (i.e., administrators, teachers, school counselors, school social workers, paraeducators, etc.) that have registered for the 2023 Iowa BEST Summit, October 5-6, 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa.

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED 

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. To receive ILRU credit:

1) Register for the 2023 Iowa BEST Summit.

2) Complete this additional registration and click “Enroll”.

Course Requirements: Attend both days of the Summit and engage with the learning materials (complete readings and discussions) via the online course platform through the Scanlan Center for School Mental Health and the Baker Teacher Leader Center. You will need to attend a presentation or workshop for each session of the Summit. In addition to each session, you will be asked to share what you learned and how you will apply this learning to your practice. There will also be 2-3 brief surveys related to the quality of the education you receive.

Course Materials: All course material will be provided via the online course platform you will access after you register for the conference and the course. You will receive an email (sent to the address you used to register for the credit) inviting you to the online course platform.

If you have questions about IRLU registration, please contact Mariana Colombo at mariana-colombo@uiowa.edu.

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

Iowa Best Summit Reservation Link (Special Discount for Iowa Educators)

The link expires on the morning of September 11^th at 12AM, any rooms not used will go back out to public sell and rate cannot be guaranteed after that date.

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