MindPeace

10/07/2026

Upcoming Training!!
 
Join Child Focus for Putting the Science of Early Childhood Mental Health to Work in Therapeutic Services, a training focused on applying early childhood mental health principles to therapeutic work with young children and their caregivers.

Date: October 22, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM -12:15 PM (ET)
Location: Child Focus Training Center

3 CEUs available for $15 for Ohio Licensed Social Workers, Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Ohio Licensed Psychologists.
Only 25 spots remain!
Register here: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/tpd5vz8/lp/8dd75f20-ac05-49f3-99d4-0ffe662e8b45

08/25/2026

🤠 Giddy up! It was a rodeo-themed day at White Oak Middle School as MindPeace provided staff training on how to make the most of their MindPeace Room®.

By giving staff the tools to support students' emotional health, we're helping everyone stay in the saddle through life's ups and downs. MindPeace is committed to helping schools create spaces of wellness, connection, and support, and our MindPeace Room® is an important part of that mission. Here's to creating a calm space where students can take the reins on their well-being! 🐴💙

08/25/2026

Congratulations to the Hamilton County Youth Center on this well-deserved recognition! 🎉 The Barbara Allen-Hagen Award is a testament to the dedication, innovation, and unwavering commitment of your staff to helping young people succeed.

We’re honored that MindPeace was selected to help create and build the multisensory environment and calming spaces that support youth wellness and growth. We’re proud to be part of this impactful work and would love to help other youth-serving organizations create sensory environments that help young people thrive. 💙👏

BIG NEWS!

The Hamilton County Youth Center has been named the 2026 Detention Winner of the Barbara Allen-Hagen Award, recognizing programs that exemplify a commitment to treating every young person as one of our own while achieving positive outcomes for youth, staff and families.

Since 2023, our Youth Center has helped 26 youth earn their high school diplomas, expanded behavioral health services, created a first-of-its-kind multisensory calming space, and developed new opportunities through partnerships with the Cincinnati Zoo and Contemporary Arts Center.

We are incredibly proud of our Youth Center staff and their commitment to helping every kid in our care build a path toward a successful future.

08/17/2026

📹 Watch this transformation unfold at Covedale School!

What started as a standard staff lounge is now a dedicated Staff MindPeace Room designed to help educators and school staff pause, recharge, and prioritize their mental well-being.

At MindPeace, we believe that supporting students begins with supporting the adults who care for them every day. That's why we help schools create welcoming wellness spaces where staff can take a moment to reset and return to their work feeling refreshed and supported.

➡️ Swipe to see the before and after photos and watch the time-lapse of this amazing makeover.

Because caring for those who care for students makes a difference for the entire school community.

05/28/2026

During the recent Family Education Day we were honored to have Katie Bruening from share her insights on teaching youth about the mental health wheel and building a strong foundation for lifelong wellness.
Her perspective on how she sees the youth learning and engaging was truly inspiring—take a moment to hear what she had to say 💬

05/26/2026

⏳ Just 7 days until the MindPeace School Administrator Forum.

In one week, school leaders from across our region will gather for an important conversation about the future of school mental health systems with featured speaker Eric Arzubi, MD.

Together, we’ll explore how schools can move:
➡️ from reacting to crises
➡️ toward creating systems that help prevent crisis.

We’re looking forward to a day filled with practical insight, collaboration, and meaningful connection with administrators committed to supporting student well-being.

Participants are encouraged to complete registration soon: http://bit.ly/4dzdWfm

05/20/2026

CINCINNATI, Ohio — May 15, 2026— MindPeace is proud to announce the appointment of Nicole Pfirman, M.Ed., OTR/L, as its new Executive Director, ushering in a new chapter of leadership dedicated to expanding youth mental health supports and strengthening school-based systems of care to improve the lives of youth across Southwest Ohio. Nicole will officially transition into the role in August 2026.

Nicole brings extensive experience as an educational leader in school-based mental health, with a unique occupation-based perspective that recognizes meaningful engagement in daily activities as foundational to identity, connection, and overall wellness. Throughout her career, she has focused on aligning educational and medical models through collaborative, multidisciplinary approaches that support the whole child.

With deep expertise in behavioral and mental health services, Nicole has championed integrated systems that bridge the classroom and the clinic, ensuring students receive the coordinated support they need to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. Her leadership has centered on designing innovative, sustainable systems that challenge traditional approaches and create lasting outcomes for students, families, educators, and communities.

“MindPeace has long been a leader in transforming how schools and communities respond to youth mental health needs,” said Pfirman. “I am honored to lead this incredible organization and build upon its strong foundation of innovation, collaboration, and advocacy. We will continue expanding access to care and creating systems where every child can thrive.”

Nicole succeeds founder and longtime leader, Susan Shelton, whose visionary leadership helped establish MindPeace as a nationally recognized model for bringing a continuum of mental health services into schools throughout Southwest Ohio. Through Shelton's unmatched energy, experience, and unwavering dedication, MindPeace has transformed access to care for over 130,000 young people and 240+ school teams, with a focus on strengthening partnerships between schools, healthcare providers, and communities.

About MindPeace
MindPeace began in 2003 as a project of the Junior League of Cincinnati and became a 501c(3) in 2008. MindPeace is dedicated to improving the mental health and wellness of youth and families through school-based partnerships, system collaboration, and expanded access to care. By connecting education, healthcare, and community partners, MindPeace helps create environments where all students can succeed and thrive. For more information about MindPeace visit mindpeacecincinnati.com.

05/19/2026

What if schools could spend less time reacting to crises — and more time preventing them?

MindPeace is excited to welcome Eric Arzubi, MD for our upcoming School Administrator Forum focused on building stronger, more proactive mental health systems in schools.

Dr. Arzubi is a nationally recognized child and adult psychiatrist, TEDx speaker, CEO of Frontier Psychiatry, and Assistant Clinical Professor at the Yale Child Study Center. His work helps schools move from crisis response toward practical prevention strategies that support both students and educators.

We’re looking forward to a day of learning, collaboration, and connection with school leaders from across the region — ending with a networking reception for attendees.

All school administrators welcome. Space is limited and registration is through EventBrite. This event is in person at Kenwood Country Club. Use: http://bit.ly/4dzdWfm

05/19/2026

Waiting for a developmental or autism evaluation can feel overwhelming for families — especially when you simply want to help your child now. 💜

The good news: support does not have to wait.

If your child is between the ages of 3–5, this resource from Cincinnati Children's helps walk families through possible next steps, including:
• Preschool special education evaluations through your local school district
• Speech, occupational, physical, and behavioral therapy options
• Ways to begin accessing support while waiting for a formal evaluation

We’re grateful to Cincinnati Children's for creating and sharing clear guidance that helps families better understand available supports during what can often feel like a long waiting period.

Early support matters — and families should know they are not alone while they wait.

05/15/2026

Transitions can feel exciting, overwhelming, uncertain — or all three at once. One of the strongest things a student can do during times of change is ask for help.

We’re honored to have Kaity Rowe, a Well-Being Coach and Supervisor from TriHealth at Xavier University, share her perspective on how high school students can build confidence, advocate for themselves, and reduce hesitancy by reaching out for support.

In this video, Kaity reflects on what she’s learned from working alongside students and why connection, communication, and support matter during important life transitions.

Looking for additional support tools? MindPeace transition guides are available on our website to help students and families navigate change with confidence.