Nurse to discuss mental health issues among school-age children

Posted at 1:22 am August 4, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

A registered nurse who works for Anderson County Schools will discuss mental health issues among school-age children in Oak Ridge on Saturday.

The talk is hosted by the Grace Lutheran Mental Health Ministry. It’s title “Mental Health: Back to School Basics,” a free community program scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, August 4, in the church’s fellowship hall.

Kim Guinn, a registered nurse and director of the Project AWARE Initiative for Anderson County Schools, will discuss the current prevalence and status of mental health issues among school-age children and the correlation between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and mental health problems, a press release said.

Guinn noted she will take a close look at the brain and the role it plays in emotional reactions, reward seeking behaviors, and the stress response, the press release said. She will share the conclusions of an influential school-based study conducted in Spokane, Washington, and point to ways that schools can provide safe, stable, and nurturing environments that promote resilience and effectively prevent and mitigate the impact of ACEs through evidence-based programs, the release said.

In addition to her background as an emergency room nurse, cardio-thoracic surgical nurse, and hospital nursing supervisor, Guinn also holds a master’s degree in Health Services Administration from the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois, the press release said.

She began her position with Anderson County Schools as a school nurse in 2005 and moved into the Coordinated School Health position in 2007. Guinn was later appointed to the role of East Tennessee regional coordinator by the Tennessee Department of Education’s Office of Coordinated School Health.

As director of the Project AWARE Initiative for Anderson County Schools, Guinn advocates for children’s mental health, the press release said. For more information on AWARE, see the Anderson County School’s website.

Grace Lutheran Church is located at 131 West Getttysburg Avenue in central Oak Ridge, behind Woodland Elementary School. The Saturday afternoon presentation is open to everyone, and childcare will be provided.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

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