Stepping Stones Mental Health Services

"Through her knowledge of my child's needs, the staff was educated about David's issues and how those issues impact his ability to learn in the public school environment." more

"Great presentation. You really put things in perspective - gave us the "big picture." more

"Thank you for sharing so openly with us to help illustrate what you taught so passionately. You are an inspiration."

"Susan is a fantastic presenter. She is believable because she has is living with mental illness. I would LOVE to have more in-service time with her."

Advocacy and Committee Work

Stepping Stones takes an active role in changing legislation and supportive strategies in the public and private sectors for children's education and mental health. Susan Mikolic, R.N., and President of Stepping Stones has been and is involved in many committees and groups.

She currently serves on the Ohio Department of Education's State Advisory Panel for Exceptional Children (SAPEC), a federally mandated advisory body to the Ohio Department of Education. She also served on the Ohio Department of Education's Positive Behavior Support Advisory Committee.

Ms. Mikolic co-chaired the Ohio Department of Mental Health's Strategic School Success task force that wrote the school success component of the strategic plan for the Children's Division of the Ohio Department of Mental Health. She also served on the task force and steering committee of the Ohio collaborative project: "Mental Health, Schools, and Families Working Together Toward a Shared Agenda". Ms. Mikolic also co-chaired the Professional Development workgroup of the "Mental Health, Schools, and Families Working Together Toward a Shared Agenda" committee.

Ms. Mikolic served for four years on the Eastshore SERRC (Special Education Regional Resource Center) ED task force to redesign education to children with Emotional Disturbances in Lake & Geauga counties.

She also actively participates in the North East Action Network (NEAN), a regional collaborative of the Ohio Mental Health Network for School Success, affiliated with the OSU Center for Learning Excellence and the Miami University Center for School-based Mental Health Programs. NEAN represents Cuyahoga, Lake, Ashtabula, and Geauga counties and works toward developing quality school-based mental health services.

Susan Mikolic served a 3 year term on the NAMI Ohio board of directors representing pediatric mental health issues. She also chaired the 'NAMI Ohio Children's Committee' for two years. She has served as the immediate past president of NAMI (National Alliance of the Mentally Ill) of Lake County & past board member of NAMI Metro Cleveland.

Ms. Mikolic spear-headed the Ohio Department of Education / Ohio Department of Mental Health collaborative efforts to include pediatric mental health / school success professional development requirements for teachers. These requirements were eventually included in Senate Bill 2 regarding teacher excellence and signed into legislation on March 10, 2004.

For a more complete listing of community service and system advocacy work, please see the Curriculum Vitae.

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