PSV: Our Families Our Peace--How to Be an Ally for Children's Mental Health

This dynamic session walks families through what mental health symptoms and challenges feel like, sound like, and look like for their adolescent children academically, socially, and emotionally. Participants will further learn about the impact of allostatic load, micro/macro aggressions, imposter phenomenon, and racial trauma on their children. Families will then explore the four C’s of Care which include: Communicate-Conversation starters, Connect with your child, Check out resources, and Care for myself to support the mental health and well-being of themselves and their children.

This session is faciliated by Parastoo Massoumi, PhD, a consultant for The Steve Fund. Dr. Massoumi oversaw the organizations national SHINE Your Light campaign focused on the mental health and well-being of girls and young women of color. She has over a decade worth of experience serving students and families of color with high school, college and career preparation. Parastoo recently received her Doctorate in Education from Harvard University where she explores the organizational conditions that enable BIPOC women lead organizations to achieve educational and social justice. She is also the founder of My Narrative Ink. providing anti-oppressive and social justice based education consulting, professional development, research and evaluation, and curriculum design services to non-profit organizations, schools, and universities across the country. Dr. Massoum is deeply committed to disrupting and dismantling white supremacy and other oppressive systems (i.e. sexism, heterosexim, religious oppression, ableism, xenophobia, etc.) through her work as a scholar and practitioner. Throughout her career, she has learned that building collective and sustained action grounded in love and liberation, is not only invaluable, but necessary to advance racial and social justice.

The Steve Fund is the nation’s leading organization focused on supporting the mental health and emotional well-being of young people of color. The Steve Fund works with colleges and universities, non-profits, researchers, mental health experts, families, and young people to promote programs and strategies that build understanding and assistance for the mental and emotional health of the nation’s young people of color.