Elizabeth Koschmann, Ph.D., assistant research scientist at the Department of Psychiatry and Comprehensive Depression Center, and program director for TRAILS, was recently named to Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Return to School Advisory Council.
Koschmann is part of a diverse group of 25 individuals, including leaders in healthcare and education, state policymakers and legislators, and community members, who will work closely with the governor to help ensure a safe and appropriate re-opening for schools across Michigan. The advisory council meets regularly to discuss strategies to enable a safe, equitable and efficient return to school.
As program director for TRAILS, Koschmann works to make effective mental health services accessible in all schools. TRAILS spent much of March and April adapting their existing materials and resources to enable virtual delivery of student support services during recent school closures. These tools are publicly available for free on the TRAILS website, www.TRAILStoWellness.org. TRAILS also offered several free training opportunities for school staff and mental health providers during this unprecedented time, drawing more than 1,500 attendees. Webinars focused on social emotional learning lessons that teachers could offer to students virtually as strategies for coping with anxiety and depression, and techniques for self-care.
“I am grateful to have this opportunity to serve on the advisory council to help ensure a safe transition back to school,” Koschmann said. “Of particular focus for me will be access to mental health supports for students and families across Michigan, especially those in areas that have been disproportionately impacted by negative social determinants of health and lack of equity in healthcare access.”
Read the governor’s full press release here.
