Shericka Smith
DSW, LCSW
Presenter's Bio:
Shericka is a mental health coordinator and crisis response team lead for Fayette County Public Schools in Lexington, Kentucky. Shericka obtained an undergraduate degree from Transylvania University, then earned her Masters in School Social Work from the University of Louisville. Most recently, she obtained her Doctorate in Social Work at the University of Kentucky where she researched the impact of childhood trauma and the lack of mental health resources for minority families. She has been able to speak nationally about her research on trauma as well as on crisis response and preparedness. She is passionate about navigating a path to better and more equitable mental health resources for minorities especially following a traumatic event or crisis
When the ACE is a Losing Hand: Rethinking Why Minorities Don't Seek Mental Health Treatment
Course Summary:
Minorites, especially Black males, experience trauma at a higher rate than their White counterparts, yet they seek mental health treatment at a lower rate. Untreated childhood trauma can lead to poor outcomes in adulthood such as mental illnesses, involvement in the criminal justice system, and inability to trust and form healthy relationships. Let's examine these potential outcomes and explore the reason why minorities do not seek mental health treatment. Finally, I hope to leave the audience with new ways to engage these families, meet them where they are, and help them get the mental health support they need, especially Black boys. I will also introduce a new clinical tool for clinicians when working with minority families to help with cultural competence.
