2024 Children's Mental Health Advocacy Conference

The virtual Lives in the Balance 2024 Children's Mental Health Advocacy Conference is the leading annual conference on legislation and advocacy related to the treatment of children...it is free to attend, but advance registration is required. You'll learn about federal, state, and provincial legislation in the U.S. and Canada aimed at ending punitive, exclusionary disciplinary practices, the research documenting the harm done by these practices, evidence-based alternative methodologies, and how to advocate for these bills. If you can't attend live or stay for the entire conference, your registration gives you access to the recording. Last year's conference attracted over 3000 registrants.

Here is a brief look at some of the confirmed presenters...speakers will be added as they are confirmed:

• Sonia Vohit, PhD, Legal Policy Specialist and Bess Herbert, Advocacy Specialist, End Corporal Punishment
• Jeffery Burton, M.Ed, Assistant Principal
• Blair Wriston, Senior Government Affairs Manager, The Education Trust
• Joan Durrant, PhD, International Expert on Corporal Punishment
• Representative Margaret Croke
• Representative Marco Erickson
• Robyn Linscott, Director of Education and Family Policy, The Arc
• Representative Regina English
• Gary R. Lyons, EdD, MPA, Vice President of Innovation and External Affairs/Senior Diversity Officer of The Baker Center  
• Jillian Brown, parent 
• Sabrina Bernadel, Manager of the Education Civil Rights Alliance (ECRA) at the National Center for Youth Law
• Tom Nolan, EdD, Author, Commentator, Criminologist 
• Emilie Munson, Data Reporter for The Times Union
• Dr. Ross Greene, PhD, Founding Director, Lives in the Balance
• Ben Jones, J.D.,  Director of Legal and Policy Initiatives at Lives in the Balance

Conference Directors:

• Maile Munson, Director of Advocacy, Lives in the Balance
• Ross Greene, PhD., Founding Director, Lives in the Balance

Keeping All Students Safe Act

Murphy Reintroduces Legislation to Protect Students

Protecting Our Students in Schools Act

Murphy to Reintroduce Legislation to End Corporal Punishment in Schools

Counseling Not Criminalization Act

The Counseling Not Criminalization in Schools Act would invest in safe and nurturing school climates that support all students

Ending PUSHOUT Act (H.R.2690)

The Ending Punitive, Unfair, School-Based Harm that is Overt and Unresponsive to Trauma

Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act

KHANNA, MERKLEY, CORNYN, TUBERVILLE, AND CARTER INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO END CHILDREN’S ABUSE IN RESIDENTIAL TREATMENT CENTERS.

Safe Schools Improvement Act

THE SAFE SCHOOLS IMPROVEMENT ACT Legislation Introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Bob Casey

Host or Publisher Lives in the Balance