Video of Raising Resilient Youth Community Event

Keynote Presenter: Dr. Kevin Antshel, Ph.D. is a Professor of Psychology at Syracuse University (SU). Dr. Antshel is also the Director of the SU Clinical Psychology doctoral program, a practicing psychologist and board certified in clinical child and adolescent psychology. Dr. Antshel will discuss how and why stress and anxiety are on rise in children and adolescents as well as practical strategies for parents regarding how to support their children.  Following the presentation, Dr. Antshel will engage with other panelists on this topic answering questions from parents, staff and community members.

Moderator: Jason Thomson, Superintendent Baldwinsville Central School District. Superintendent Thomson has been an educator for 20 years. He spent the majority of his career working in Delaware County, N.Y. There he taught special education as well as health education.  He served as a summer school principal for Delaware-Chenango-Madison-Otsego (DCMO) BOCES, the Dean of Students and Vice Principal at Walton Central School. He was superintendent of Delaware Academy Central School District at Delhi from 2011 to 2020. Prior to that he worked for the Franklin Central School District for five years.

Panelist:  Steve Drapeau, LMHC, has been providing clinical services in the CNY area for over 15 years. Steve is currently employed by the NYS Office for People with Developmental Disabilities where he specializes in supporting people with developmental disabilities. Prior to working with the State, he was employed by Liberty Resources providing similar services while also providing outpatient therapy services where he used a cognitive behavioral approach to address mental health disorders.  He has trained hundreds of people in strategies in crisis prevention, mental health disorders, learning theory and dual diagnosis.  Steve earned his MA in Counseling Psychology from Lesley University; he earned his BS in Psychology from Ithaca College.

Panelist: Jennifer Homeyer is the Principal at McNamara Elementary School in the Baldwinsville Central School District.  Jennifer Homeyer joined the Baldwinsville Central School District in 2019. Ms. Homeyer works closely with students and staff in order to build students' tool belts so that they can become lifelong learners and have the tools to navigate life.  Ms. Homeyer is honored to work with the staff at McNamara who put social emotional learning at the forefront and work to meet the needs of the WHOLE learner each and every day!

Jillian Kilts is a sophomore at C.W Baker High school. Jillian serves as a student representative on the Districts Mental Wellness Committee. Jillian strives to collaborate with and represent all students in order to provide a voice and advocate on the student body's perspective for mental health initiatives and programs. She has experienced her own struggles with mental health, making her a great representative because of her ability to relate with her peers. She is very passionate about mental health and wellness and works to raise awareness for problems and solutions relating to this topic.