Discovering Mental Health & Law Enforcement
Tonya Davis, Program & Event Facilitator
The pandemic has changed the way that many things look in 2020, including the delivery of BB2C's programs and events. But the needs of our students haven’t changed. Time hasn’t stopped and neither have our students or our community. In fact, moving our events and programs online has allowed us to engage students from a wider geographical area. It has allowed us to think outside the box. It has reinforced the importance of keeping everyone connected. And it has allowed us to offer recording of our events to those who are interested but were unable to attend.
One event series that we have been able to continue by offering virtually is our Discover Day Series. This fall we hosted both Discover Mental Health Day and Discover Law Enforcement Day. Students were able to hear from various professionals in each field. Discussions included what types of positions people held and what their jobs looked like, how the panelists prepared for their careers- including what trainings, classes, and education they received, and time for students to ask questions and learn more about their specific interests. We had 50 students participate in these events. And the feedback from the students was overwhelmingly that their interest in these fields stems from wanting to help people.
We would like to thank staff from Life & Purpose Behavioral Health, Memorial Health System, and Family Counseling & Rehabilitation Center of Ohio for being panelists at our Discover Mental Health Day. A special thanks to the Marietta College Music Therapy Program for providing scholarships to four high school students who attended this event so that they could also attend the virtual American Music Therapy Association Conference. This was the first year local high school students had an opportunity to attend this national conference.
Our Discover Law Enforcement Day panelists came from the Washington County Sherriff’s Office, the Marietta City Police Department, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Marietta College Police Department, and the Belpre City Police Department. Kristianna Weppler was also a panelist who was able to share her crime scene and forensics expertise. As one of our students who joined us from Cambridge, Ohio said about Discover Law Enforcement Day, “That was beyond amazing!!! I learned so much from that hour and a half!”
Keep an eye out for our spring Discover Days. If you are a business or professional interested in being involved in or sponsoring a future Discover Day or a student who would like to access the recordings from our fall Discover Day events, please email Tonya Davis, Event & Program Facilitator.