2024-25 Newsroom
Discover the U-TTEC Lab’s 2024 community impact!
For media inquiries, contact Grecia.Corona@Utah.edu.
Featured Articles & News
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College of Education
Utah youth mental health advocacy event builds momentum for change
“On May 6, 2025, the Utah School Mental Health Collaborative (USMHC) and Mending Minds Village hosted the Youth Mental Health Advocacy Event at the Utah State Capitol, honoring National Children's Mental Health Awareness Month. With support from Voices for Utah Children, Live Like Sam, and WeBeWell, the event welcomed about 80 attendees, including parents, community members, and policymakers, to raise awareness and foster advocacy for youth mental health.”
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Fox 13 News
Teens, adults alike learn about breaking barriers at youth mental health roundtable
“In light of Youth Mental Health Awareness Month, local advocates and youths gathered Tuesday at the Utah State Capitol to explore problems and solutions focused on mental health in the state.
“Some of the biggest things we heard from the community was feeling like as many resources as there are, a lot of families don’t know they exist,” Kaden Mattinson, the executive director of the organization Mending Minds Village. “So, that creates a big problem.””
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Utah Public Radio
Youth and families invited to mental health event at Utah State Capitol
“In honor of Children's Mental Health Awareness Month, the Utah School Mental Health Collaborative and Mending Minds Village are inviting youth and parents from across the state to attend their inaugural Children's Mental Health Advocacy Event at the Utah State Capitol on Tuesday, May 6.”
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Public News Service
Report: UT fares well in offering school mental health resources
“Utah has made investments in mental health resources for school-age children a priority and they appear to be working to help more kids in crisis.
A new report card on school mental health resources by the advocacy group Inseparable said the state has made improvements.”
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Utah State Legislature
Health Curriculum and Procedures Amendments
“This bill amends provisions regarding health instruction and physical and mental health procedures in the public education system.”
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Summer Institute for School Psychology
Teleconsultation in Schools with Dr. Aaron Fischer
“This weeks guest, Dr. Aaron Fischer is an associate professor of School Psychology at the University of Utah. He is the director of the University of Utah Technology in Training, Education and Consultation (U-TEC) lab and co-director of the Utah School Mental Health Collaborative, which works with different Utah districts to provide assistance, training and direct mental health support for effective integration of behaviour health services in education settings. His work is centers on the development and integration of effective technological tools for psychological teleconsultation. In this episode, he outlines how in-person consultation and teleconsulation differ, perceptions of technology and advances since COVID-19, and how these tools can be used to overcome access barriers to services.”
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FOX 13 Salt Lake City
Are too many kids put in seclusion in Utah's schools? It's hard to know.
Utah districts and charter schools reported turning to seclusion more than 1,300 times in the 2020-2021 school year, according to a FOX 13 News analysis of the most recent federal data available on the practice. The data shows most of those instances were among elementary school children.
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FOX 13 Salt Lake City
Opponents want a timeout on forcing kids into padded rooms in UT schools.
These rooms go by many names, some more innocuous-sounding than others – from “seclusionary time-out rooms” and “isolation boxes,” to “calming rooms” or “quiet rooms.” Whatever they’re called, they’re meant to be used for one purpose: to maintain safety in Utah classrooms by secluding children who pose an immediate threat of “serious physical harm” to themselves or others.
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College of Education News
Professors Keith Radley & Aaron Fischer Rank in National School Psychology Activity
“The College of Education is proud to share that Professor Keith Radley and Professor Aaron Fischer have been recognized on the list of “Top 50 School Faculty Scholars” through their contributions and representation to the field of school psychology.”
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Utah College of Education
USMHC, Live Like Sam, & WeBeWell Partner to Support Student Wellbeing in Summit & Wasatch Counties
"The Utah School Mental Health Collaborative, an effort driven by the Huntsman Mental Health Institute and the College of Education, is happy to share that they are teaming up with the Live Like Sam Foundation and WeBeWell."
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Utah State Legislature
Education & Mental Health Coordinating Committee
-Sep. 19, 2024
This legislative discussion highlights the importance of mental health in schools, emphasizing the need for resources, collaboration, and evidence-based support for student well-being. Leaders share insights on current efforts and opportunities to enhance mental health services in Utah schools.
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Vimeo Presentation
Live Like Sam Gala Presentation 2024
Live Like Sam delivers youth well-being and life skills programs.
This video features students from Park City High School, Dr. Aaron Fischer (Lab Director, U-TTEC Lab), Vanina Torreya (Latino Outreach Coordinator), Sam Walsh (PCHS Intervention Counselor), Jennifer Mulholland (Plenty Consulting), Ron Jackenthal (Live Like Sam Founder), Caleb Fine (TMJH Principal), and Alex Becraft (WeBeWell Thrive Founder).
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KPCW News
Live Like Sam nonprofit details new partnership with Utah School Mental Health Collaborative
"Live Like Sam founder Ron Jackenthal and Dr. Aaron Fischer have details about a new partnership with the Utah School Mental Health Collaborative and the upcoming Live Like Sam Gala fundraiser."
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The Park Record
A team focused on wellness jells around Live Like Sam
"Panelists representing Live Like Sam, the Utah School Mental Health Collaborative, government agencies and others spoke in turn Wednesday evening at Park City Hospital’s Blair Education Center about their role on a team working ever closer together on behalf of local students."
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The Park Record
Live Like Sam Expands Its Reach
"Now that we have graduate students in the schools, we can provide services that are needed right on site. The grad students can also identify the kids that might need extra support and provide a more thorough referral program. We can treat them with group programs or focused psychiatric care or we can connect them with community programs, like Live Like Sam."
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Town Lift Park City News
"The Utah School Mental Health Collaborative (USMHC) has partnered with the Live Like Sam Foundation and WeBeWell to bolster student mental health support in Summit and Wasatch counties."
Featured Articles & News
College of Education News
Professors Keith Radley & Aaron Fischer Rank in National School Psychology Activity
“The College of Education is proud to share that Professor Keith Radley and Professor Aaron Fischer have been recognized on the list of “Top 50 School Faculty Scholars” through their contributions and representation to the field of school psychology.”
FOX 13 Salt Lake City
Opponents want a timeout on forcing kids into padded rooms in UT schools.
These rooms go by many names, some more innocuous-sounding than others – from “seclusionary time-out rooms” and “isolation boxes,” to “calming rooms” or “quiet rooms.” Whatever they’re called, they’re meant to be used for one purpose: to maintain safety in Utah classrooms by secluding children who pose an immediate threat of “serious physical harm” to themselves or others.
Utah State Legislature
Education & Mental Health Coordinating Committee
-Sep. 19, 2024
This legislative discussion highlights the importance of mental health in schools, emphasizing the need for resources, collaboration, and evidence-based support for student well-being. Leaders share insights on current efforts and opportunities to enhance mental health services in Utah schools.
The Park Record
A team focused on wellness jells around Live Like Sam
"Panelists representing Live Like Sam, the Utah School Mental Health Collaborative, government agencies and others spoke in turn Wednesday evening at Park City Hospital’s Blair Education Center about their role on a team working ever closer together on behalf of local students."
FOX 13 Salt Lake City
Are too many kids put in seclusion in Utah's schools? It's hard to know.
Utah districts and charter schools reported turning to seclusion more than 1,300 times in the 2020-2021 school year, according to a FOX 13 News analysis of the most recent federal data available on the practice. The data shows most of those instances were among elementary school children.
Utah College of Education
USMHC, Live Like Sam, & WeBeWell Partner to Support Student Wellbeing in Summit & Wasatch Counties
"The Utah School Mental Health Collaborative, an effort driven by the Huntsman Mental Health Institute and the College of Education, is happy to share that they are teaming up with the Live Like Sam Foundation and WeBeWell."
KPCW News
Live Like Sam nonprofit details new partnership with Utah School Mental Health Collaborative
"Live Like Sam founder Ron Jackenthal and Dr. Aaron Fischer have details about a new partnership with the Utah School Mental Health Collaborative and the upcoming Live Like Sam Gala fundraiser."
Vimeo Presentation
Live Like Sam Gala Presentation 2024
Live Like Sam delivers youth well-being and life skills programs.
This video features students from Park City High School, Dr. Aaron Fischer (Lab Director, U-TTEC Lab), Vanina Torreya (Latino Outreach Coordinator), Sam Walsh (PCHS Intervention Counselor), Jennifer Mulholland (Plenty Consulting), Ron Jackenthal (Live Like Sam Founder), Caleb Fine (TMJH Principal), and Alex Becraft (WeBeWell Thrive Founder).
The Park Record
Live Like Sam Expands Its Reach
"Now that we have graduate students in the schools, we can provide services that are needed right on site. The grad students can also identify the kids that might need extra support and provide a more thorough referral program. We can treat them with group programs or focused psychiatric care or we can connect them with community programs, like Live Like Sam."
Utah State Legislature
Health Curriculum and Procedures Amendments
“This bill amends provisions regarding health instruction and physical and mental health procedures in the public education system.”
Public News Service
Report: Utah fares well in offering school mental health resources
“Utah has made investments in mental health resources for school-age children a priority and they appear to be working to help more kids in crisis.
A new report card on school mental health resources by the advocacy group Inseparable said the state has made improvements.”
Town Lift Park City News
"The Utah School Mental Health Collaborative (USMHC) has partnered with the Live Like Sam Foundation and WeBeWell to bolster student mental health support in Summit and Wasatch counties."
Fox13 News
Teens, adults alike learn about breaking barriers at youth mental health roundtable
“In light of Youth Mental Health Awareness Month, local advocates and youths gathered Tuesday at the Utah State Capitol to explore problems and solutions focused on mental health in the state.
“Some of the biggest things we heard from the community was feeling like as many resources as there are, a lot of families don’t know they exist,” Kaden Mattinson, the executive director of the organization Mending Minds Village. “So, that creates a big problem.””
Utah Public Radio
Youth and families invited to mental health event at Utah State Capitol
“In honor of Children's Mental Health Awareness Month, the Utah School Mental Health Collaborative and Mending Minds Village are inviting youth and parents from across the state to attend their inaugural Children's Mental Health Advocacy Event at the Utah State Capitol on Tuesday, May 6.
Dr. Aaron Fischer, co-director of the Utah School Mental Health Collaborative, said the event is all about community connection and visibility.“
Summer Institute for School Psychology
Teleconsultation in Schools with Dr. Aaron Fischer
“This weeks guest, Dr. Aaron Fischer is an associate professor of School Psychology at the University of Utah. He is the director of the University of Utah Technology in Training, Education and Consultation (U-TEC) lab and co-director of the Utah School Mental Health Collaborative, which works with different Utah districts to provide assistance, training and direct mental health support for effective integration of behaviour health services in education settings.”
College of Education
Utah youth mental health advocacy event builds momentum for change
“On May 6, 2025, the Utah School Mental Health Collaborative (USMHC) and Mending Minds Village hosted the Youth Mental Health Advocacy Event at the Utah State Capitol, honoring National Children's Mental Health Awareness Month. With support from Voices for Utah Children, Live Like Sam, and WeBeWell, the event welcomed about 80 attendees, including parents, community members, and policymakers, to raise awareness and foster advocacy for youth mental health.”