Agenda for Children OST

In partnership with the Cambridge Health Public Health Department

Danielle McPeack, MPH, (She/They), Cambridge Public Health Dept., Prevention and Recovery Specialist

Sarah Lincoln, MPH (She/Her), Cambridge Public Health Dept., Youth Engagement Manager

This course covers:
- Common mental health challenges for youth
- A 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations

Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.

At the Joint Network meeting in May, we’ll spend time reconnecting with tools many of us are familiar with, the CPS Community Partners Portal (CPP) and OST Demographic Dashboard. The CPP and Dashboard create bridges between OST programs and CPS, and offers valuable insight into student enrollment that can strengthen how we support young people. We’ll explore their purposes, share how it’s being used across programs and CPS, and create space for you to think about how they can support your students, staff and work.

We’ll also build in brief, dedicated time for both MSN and ESN groups to connect, align, and share updates.

As we head into summer planning, we’ll engage in a reflective activity focused on intentionality and pacing thinking about how we set ourselves up for a sustainable, grounded, and impactful summer experience for both staff and youth.
Looking forward to being in community together!

Date/Time: Wednesday, May 6, 10am-12pm
Location: Moore Youth Center, 12 Gilmore St., Cambridge

Identity and Power at Work: Being the Change We Seek
Facilitators: Anissa Ray and Kristen L. Handricken

Our identities shape how we see the world—and how the world sees us. In this interactive workshop, participants will explore the ways that identity, privilege, and power dynamics influence our relationships, decisions, and organizational culture. Together, we’ll reflect on how each of us can lead with greater awareness and accountability, and practice strategies for aligning our daily actions with the values of equity and inclusion.

Kristen L. Handricken is a nationally recognized leader in organizational learning and development, helping institutions translate values-based commitments into meaningful organizational change. With over 25 years of experience spanning education, public health, government, and human services, she collaborates with organizations to operationalize justice, equity, and inclusion through strategic planning, leadership development, and structural transformation.

Kristen has held senior leadership roles across universities, public health systems, and nonprofit organizations, including serving as Executive Director of the Resource Center for Parents and Children, Director of Learning and Training at Boston University and Senior Trainer for Health Equity and Racial Justice at the Boston Public Health Commission. In these roles, she led large-scale learning and organizational development initiatives serving tens of thousands of staff, faculty, and students, helping institutions align policies, leadership practices, and workforce systems with their stated equity commitments.

Kristen’s work brings together research, facilitation, and organizational strategy. She is widely respected for her ability to guide organizations through difficult conversations and structural change processes using restorative practices, trauma-informed approaches, and organizational development methods. In addition to her consulting work, Kristen currently serves as a Research Associate at the Wellesley Centers for Women and contributes to national research initiatives focused on equity in education and public health. She has also served as adjunct faculty at several universities and has published research on school climate, youth development, and educational equity.

Anissa Ray is a leadership and workforce development strategist with more than 20 years of experience advancing equity-centered change across public health, housing, and human service systems. As a consultant with Institute Equity, she partners with organizations to design inclusive leadership pipelines, strengthen organizational learning systems, and build workplace cultures where equity, belonging, and professional growth are embedded in everyday practice.

Anissa currently serves in senior leadership roles at the Boston Public Health Commission, where she directs multiple professional development initiatives supporting a workforce of more than 1,400 employees. She has designed and implemented twelve Emerging Leaders programs that have successfully moved more than half of participants into leadership roles, helping organizations cultivate diverse leadership from within.

Anissa’s work also includes developing large-scale onboarding systems, training and supporting thousands of municipal and community public health service providers, and aligning workforce development initiatives with public health strategy and equity goals. Grounded in adult learning, instructional design, and anti-racist organizational practice, Anissa brings a practical, systems-focused approach to helping institutions build sustainable leadership pathways and equitable workforce systems.

New! Report on the Impact of OST Scholarships on Children, Youth and Families
https://www.agendaforchildrenost.org/publications.html
This report details the profound human impact of the Out-of-School Time (OST) Scholarships on 193 families and 215 children over the past five years.

Based on comprehensive survey data and in-depth family interviews, the findings demonstrate that OST scholarships function as critical "human infrastructure" for our city.

The data confirms that the City is not merely funding a service; it is funding a "Community as Caregiver"—a village that stabilizes households, enables economic mobility, and fosters child development.

Hello OST Providers, Community Partners, and CPS Staff,

With a new season, comes new transitions! Join us at the Cambridge Community Center for our next network meeting tomorrow, Wednesday, April 1st. We’ll be discussing how to champion our youth's evolving voices and identities as they prepare for the big leaps ahead—moving from their current classrooms into summer and onward to the next grade.

Also, collaboratively we'll craft thoughtful, intentional questions to bring directly to young people in your programs, to elevate their perspectives and to center their upcoming transitions -- from spring to summer and beyond!

Date/Time: Wednesday, April 1, 10am-12pm
Location: Cambridge Community Center, 5 Callender St, Cambridge

See you there!

-Vanessa