MIND (Mental Health International Network of Dissemination) Collaboration with William J. Leever, Psy.D. Psychologist and Raisa Ray, Ph.D. Psychologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital (USA) is designed to strengthen Ukraine’s professional and institutional capacity in child and adolescent mental health across the contexts of war, crisis response, long-term recovery, and societal resilience. The initiative builds a sustainable international collaboration that brings together evidence-based clinical expertise, academic education, interdisciplinary practice, and applied psychosocial interventions into a unified, scalable model.

The initiative focuses on developing a resilient MHPSS ecosystem that supports children, adolescents, families, educators, healthcare professionals, and vulnerable communities affected by prolonged crises. Particular emphasis is placed on trauma-informed, developmentally sensitive, and culturally adaptive approaches aligned with international standards and the evolving needs of Ukraine’s recovery landscape.

Core components of the initiative include:

• integration of expert-led lectures, workshops, and clinical discussions into continuous professional education and university-based training systems;
• implementation of a train-the-trainer model to ensure national scalability and long-term sustainability of expertise transfer;
• interdisciplinary case-based forums, supervision sessions, and applied consultations for psychologists, educators, social workers, rehabilitation specialists, and healthcare professionals;
• development of educational modules and microqualification pathways in child and adolescent mental health;
• adaptation of global clinical expertise and evidence-based MHPSS methodologies to Ukrainian realities and trauma contexts;
• strengthening institutional cooperation between academic, medical, rehabilitation, and social sectors;
• support for the development of psychologically safe, resilience-oriented, and healing-centered educational and community environments.

The initiative isn't just a series of isolated training activities; it's a strategic ecosystem for knowledge transfer and systems development. It contributes to long-term workforce development, institutional resilience, interdisciplinary integration, and the modernization of mental health and psychosocial support services in Ukraine.

Through international partnership, capacity-building, and sustainable educational integration, the initiative supports the formation of a new generation of professionals equipped to address complex trauma, crisis-related mental health challenges, and long-term psychosocial recovery. It also reinforces Ukraine’s transition toward accessible, evidence-informed, human-centered, and scalable MHPSS systems integrated into healthcare, education, rehabilitation, and community support structures.

We are sincerely grateful to the outstanding clinical psychologists, researchers, and educators at Nationwide Children's Hospital for their unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine by sharing world-class expertise, evidence-based clinical knowledge, and practical experience. Their generous contribution to the professional development of Ukrainian specialists is helping strengthen our national capacity to respond to the complex mental health needs of children, adolescents, families, and communities affected by war.

We invite psychologists, educators, healthcare professionals, rehabilitation specialists, students, and everyone committed to advancing mental health and psychosocial support to explore the full series of expert lectures delivered by the leading clinical psychologists of Nationwide Children's Hospital via the following link:

🔗In this lecture, Dr. Megan Norris and Dr. Barbara Mackinaw-Koons, PhD, specialists from the Center for Autism Services and Transition (CAST) at Nationwide Children's Hospital (USA), present evidence-based approaches to supporting children and adults with neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual disabilities, and other developmental differences. The speakers explore practical strategies for effective communication, sensory support, crisis response, the use of visual supports and social stories, and self-regulation techniques that promote safety, reduce stress, and enhance the well-being of individuals with special needs during emergencies and other high-stress situations.

🔗This lecture focuses on the psychosocial support of children and adolescents experiencing grief, loss, and the traumatic consequences of war. Dr. Megan Schaefer, a psychologist at Nationwide Children's Hospital (USA), explains how children at different developmental stages understand death and respond to loss, while presenting evidence-based strategies for supporting families, assessing children's emotional needs, and providing timely, trauma-informed professional intervention.

🔗 In this lecture, Dr. Caroline Hodgson, psychologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital (USA), presents evidence-based approaches to suicide-risk assessment, safety planning, self-harm prevention, and psychological support for children and adolescents affected by war. The lecture highlights practical strategies for crisis intervention, family involvement, and strengthening young people’s emotional resilience.

Together, we are building a more resilient, compassionate, and evidence-informed future for Ukraine's children and families. Our heartfelt appreciation goes to every expert who has contributed their knowledge, time, and dedication to this important international initiative. Your partnership is making a lasting difference.