On Our Sleeves. Plus, celebrating Public Education Matters Day
Educators know mental health must be treated like physical health - it's a basic need that must be met for students to be able to successfully learn and grow in our schools. But, since even before the pandemic, there's been a growing mental health crisis among children. Dr. Ariana Hoet, executive clinical director for Nationwide Children's Hospital's On Our Sleeves program, joins the Ohio Education Association for this episode to discuss factors that contribute to the crisis, what can be done to support students in schools, and the resources available to help educators help kids. In this episode, we also hear some of the message and a new resolution from the Ohio House of Representatives that was shared with educators as part OEA's first-ever Public Education Matters Day celebrations across the state.
IMPORTANT RESOURCES | Click here to learn more about On Our Sleeves, and check out some of the following resources for educators:
IMPORTANT RESOURCES | Click here to learn more about On Our Sleeves, and check out some of the following resources for educators:
- GoNoodle: https://www.gonoodle.com/tags/L2nZb2/all-the-feels
- Teacher curriculums: https://www.onoursleeves.org/mental-wellness-tools-guides/educator-sign-up
- Sign up for teacher listserv: https://www.onoursleeves.org/sign-up (just click educator)
Follow On Our Sleeves on Instagram at @onoursleevesofficial and On Our Sleeves on Facebook.
SUBSCRIBE | Click here to subscribe to Public Education Matters on Apple Podcasts or click here to subscribe on Google podcasts so you don't miss a thing. And don't forget you can listen to all of the previous episodes anytime on your favorite podcast platform, or by clicking here.
MORE DETAILS | Click here to learn more about the Public Education Matters Day celebrations around the state.
Featured Public Education Matters guests:
- Dr. Ariana Hoet, PhD, On Our Sleeves Executive Clinical Director
- Ariana Hoet, pediatric psychologist at Nationwide Children's Hospital and executive clinical director of On Our Sleeves, is the driving force behind its mission of providing educational resources that break stigmas, increase mental health literacy, and support children’s mental health.
- Dr. Hoet believes all children and families should have a fair opportunity to be as healthy as possible. That enthusiasm extends into her desire for making sure that people of all backgrounds are accepted and celebrated – a passion born from her own experience as an immigrant to the U.S. from Venezuela. Her work in this arena led her to being recognized as a Distinguished Hispanic Ohioan by the Ohio Commission on Hispanic/Latino Affairs and an “EXTRAordinary” Volunteer by the Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio for her work within the Spanish-speaking community.
- Dr. Hoet works in Pediatric Primary Care where she serves primarily Latino and Somali immigrant children. She is also a clinical assistant professor of Pediatrics in the Department of Pediatric Psychology and Neuropsychology at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University, with a role in training the next generation of behavioral health professionals who will tackle the emerging mental health crisis in children.
- Dr. Hoet has become a go-to national expert for outlets including USA Today, CNN, Good Morning America, and Newsweek because she is a vital public voice for youth mental health, and also because she has made an impact on countless young lives in her clinical practice.
- The work of On Our Sleeves and Dr. Hoet helped draw U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy to Nationwide Children’s in October of 2022 to discuss the county’s growing pediatric mental health crisis. In panel discussions before central Ohio business executives at Nationwide Children’s, and with hundreds of college students at Otterbein University, Dr. Hoet and Dr. Murthy spoke passionately about addressing often-misunderstood mental health challenges.
- Dr. Hoet is the proud mom of a toddler and enjoys family time, dancing, and Ohio State football. She is also involved in Latino community events, both personally and professionally. Dr. Hoet is the co-founder and vice president of Parenting Culture, a national non-profit for culturally responsive and inclusive parenting resources and a board member of Proyecto Mariposas, the Columbus non-profit serving Latina mothers and daughters.
- She received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from The Ohio State University and a doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. She completed her residency at The University of Colorado School of Medicine and a post-doctoral fellowship at Akron Children’s Hospital.
- Jeff Wensing, Ohio Education Association Vice President
- A high school math teacher in Parma City Schools, Jeff Wensing has been a public education advocate and leader for more than 30 years. Jeff served as President of the Parma Education Association from 2012-2018 and as President of the North Eastern Ohio Education Association (NEOEA) from 2016-2018. One of Jeff’s accomplishments as a local and district leader was organizing members and the community to elect a new Parma Board of Education majority in 2017.
Jeff has served on OEA’s Constitution and Bylaws Committee and President’s Cabinet, as Vice Chair of OEA’s District Leaders Council, and as a member of the Fiscal Fitness Review Committee and Systemic Practices Committee.
Since his election as OEA Vice President in 2019, Jeff has continued to emphasize the importance of organizing members throughout the state. He believes the OEA must support locals in order to both maintain and grow membership.
Jeff believes it is critical to listen to members before decisions are made, ensure communication throughout the process, and engage in full transparency. In his second term as Vice President, he has continued to focus on the OEA’s strategic issues, shared values, and the students members work with each day.
- A high school math teacher in Parma City Schools, Jeff Wensing has been a public education advocate and leader for more than 30 years. Jeff served as President of the Parma Education Association from 2012-2018 and as President of the North Eastern Ohio Education Association (NEOEA) from 2016-2018. One of Jeff’s accomplishments as a local and district leader was organizing members and the community to elect a new Parma Board of Education majority in 2017.
Connect with OEA:
- Email educationmatters@ohea.org with your feedback or ideas for future Public Education Matters topics
- Like OEA on Facebook
- Follow OEA on Twitter
- Follow OEA on Instagram
- Get the latest news and statements from OEA here
- Learn more about where OEA stands on the issues
- Keep up to date on the legislation affecting Ohio public schools and educators with OEA's Legislative Watch
About us:
- The Ohio Education Association represents about 120,000 teachers, faculty members and support professionals who work in Ohio’s schools, colleges, and universities to help improve public education and the lives of Ohio’s children. OEA members provide professional services to benefit students, schools, and the public in virtually every position needed to run Ohio’s schools.
- Education Matters host Katie Olmsted serves as Media Relations Consultant for the Ohio Education Association. She joined OEA in May 2020, after a ten-year career as an Emmy Award winning television reporter, anchor, and producer. Katie comes from a family of educators and is passionate about telling educators' stories and advocating for Ohio's students. She lives in Central Ohio with her husband and two young children.
This episode was recorded on September 20 and September 30, 2023.
