May 2025 – Mental Health & Social-Emotional Learning Meeting Recap

Meeting Minutes, Presentation Slides, and link to the YouTube Recording of the presentation can be found in our BAYA Meeting & Minutes Archive, down at the bottom of the page.

Thank you to all who were able to attend our meeting on Tuesday, May 20th over Zoom. We were happy to have our new membership from Stockton Unified School District join us.

Recap of Books & Programs Share-Out

• (Upcoming) Hayward Public Library offered a DJ Course this summer.
• (Upcoming) Monterey Public Library is offering Dungeons & Dragons as a 6-week course
• (Book Recommendation) Run Away With Me by Brian Selznick
• (Book Recommendation) I Am the Swarm by Hayley Chewins
• (Program Review) Hayward Public Library offered pressed flower bookmarks that were incredibly easy. They required: mod podge, paint brushes, pressed flowers, and wooden bookmarks.
• Stockton Unified School District Librarian offered a Breakout Challenge adapted from an Agatha Christie and classic mystery fiction challenge and focused it around Freda Khalo. They’re looking to do more monthly challenges based on system-wide themes.

Presentation by California’s Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI,) part of Cal Health & Human Services.

Introduction by Berit Mansour (Berit.Mansour @ chhs.ca.gov) and Stefanie Boltz (Stefanie.Boltz @ chhs.ca.gov) with presentation by Khoa-Nathan Ngo (ngokhoanathan @ gmail.com)

List of Links

• Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative Impact
• California Wellness Coach, Certified Wellness Coach
• Apps
  • BrightLife Kids: for 0-12 year olds, their parents and caregivers. Access expert coaching, live, 1:1 video sessions, secure chat and more. No insurance needed. (EN, SP) BrightLife Kids offer telephone support for 17 other languages BrightLife Kids: (888) 224-7332
  • Soluna: for teens and young adults, 13-25. A digital platform providing free/confidential support for Californian ages 13-25. Chat with a professional coach, discover interactive tools and more. No insurance needed. (EN/SP) Soluna offers telephone support for 17 other languages. Soluna: (844) 582-2111
  • MirrorJournal: a secure, private journaling space for teens to write freely, explore their emotions, and develop self-awareness without fear of external judgment or criticism.
• CYBHI – Free Digital Resources – links to all resources, such as BrightLife Kids, Soluna, MirrorJournal, LiveBeyond, Never a Bother, and Take Space to Pause
• LiveBeyond Booklist
• If you’re looking for Mental Health Awareness Month Resources, please reach out to Berit Mansour (email contact above).

Next Meeting will be Tuesday, July 22, from 10-12PM on Collection Development, Readers’ Advisory & DEI