Issue link: http://denverseminary.uberflip.com/i/1300894
22 FALL 2020 Denver Seminary's School Counseling Mental Health Initiative (SCMHI) was created out of a desire to better understand and then turn the tide of fear and loss being experienced in the lives of children and schools. SCMHI hopes to increase research-based knowledge and collaboration between Denver-area school systems, school counselors, mental health providers, and the Seminary. Specifically, the initiative seeks to research the mental health needs of Denver-area students as well as school counseling-based interventions and facilitate trainings for educators. The purpose is to collaboratively develop interventions and programming in schools to reduce the impact of mental illness and increase the wellness of students, families, school staff, and communities. The research and evidence-based practice knowledge generated by SCMHI will be disseminated into schools and provide continuing education to school counseling educators and mental health providers. These goals are even more crucial in light of the mental health strain being placed on children and communities due to issues such as COVID-19 and racial disparity. Despite the limitations of face-to face-interactions during this past season, SCMHI continues to form strategic partnerships and lay the groundwork for real, positive, and lasting change. Among the highlights are the formation of a full team including a research assistant and two student assistants, letters of support from the Colorado Department of Education and the Colorado Department of Higher Education, and the securing of partnerships with a large Christian K–12 school and major metro school district. Denver Seminary's School Counseling Mental Health Initiative An alumnus of Denver Seminary with an MA in Counseling, Dr. Adam Wilson spent fifteen years working with children and families as a counselor with Southwest Counseling Associates. In 2011, Adam began teaching courses in human development, and later psychopharmacology, as adjunct faculty member for Denver Seminary. "I come from a family of teachers, but never could have predicted the passion I would experience while coming alongside students learning to carry out God's calling." In 2017, Adam moved into a full-time faculty position in the counseling division at Denver Seminary. In addition to teaching in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, he directs the School Counseling program as well as the School Counseling Mental Health Initiative. Adam is the co-author of the chapter "The Neurobiology of Stress and Trauma" in the book Treating Trauma in Christian Counseling, edited by H. D. Gingrich & F. C. Gingrich (2018). Adam is married to his high school sweetheart, Katie, and they enjoy spending time as a family outdoors with their three children. SNAPSHOT Adam Wilson SERVE