The CSIU AWARE IMPACT Youth Mental Health Summit was held at the Miller Center in Lewisburg on March 10.
Organized by the CSIU team and mental health intern Collin Geise, a senior at Danville Area High School, the event brought together students and educators from across the region to promote mental health awareness, connection and support.
Students heard from guest speakers Chaz Perez and Dr. Anne Marie Morse and engaged with community organizations and activities focused on well-being and peer support.
Esports: Fourth Annual Region 4 Rocket League Tournament The CSIU hosted its fourth annual Region 4 Rocket League Tournament, bringing together 19 teams from eight school districts and engaging more than 70 students in a day of competitive esports. The event highlighted strong student participation and collaboration across A (varsity) and B (junior varsity) divisions. Berwick Area won the A division title, defeating Milton Area, while Milton D captured the B division title over Mifflinburg Area. The tournament also featured student leadership, including a Milton Area High School student who served as the event’s shoutcaster.
Rocket League continues to provide a platform for developing critical skills such as teamwork, communication, strategic thinking and rapid decision-making. This annual event reflects CSIU’s commitment to innovative, student-centered learning opportunities that engage students in meaningful and relevant ways.
The CSIU extends its appreciation to Colleen Epler-Ruths, Kaitlyn Hock and the technology team for their leadership and coordination in delivering a successful event.
Behavioral Health Highlights Youth Mental Health Intern Experience CSIU's youth mental health intern, Collin Geise, is a high school student employed by the organization to support regional behavioral health initiatives. This year, he led the planning and facilitation of CSIU's third annual Youth Mental Health Summit – a significant accomplishment that reflects both his growing leadership and CSIU's commitment to elevating youth voice in mental health discussions. His work demonstrates the impact of entrusting young people with meaningful responsibility.
Integrated Multi-Tiered System Supports (MTSS) Coaching and Consultation CSIU's integrated MTSS coaching and consultation model continues to produce meaningful results. By aligning behavioral health expertise with systems-level support, CSIU has helped member districts adopt more proactive, data-informed approaches to student academic, behavioral, and mental health needs. This shift has reduced reliance on reactive crisis responses while building sustainable, school-based capacity that benefits students, staff and families.
NEST Clinic Growth and Professional Development The NEST Outpatient Clinic currently operates with two licensed providers serving students, expanding access to therapy and psychiatric services across the region. NEST also offers structured professional development and formal internship placements for social work and licensed professional counselor candidates, supporting current students' needs while strengthening the region’s future behavioral health workforce.
2026 Columbia MontourTransition Conference Students from Columbia and Montour counties participated in the annual Transition Conference on March 5, 2026, with more than 125 students attending from Benton Area, Bloomsburg Area, Central Columbia, Danville Area, Millville Area, Milton Area, Southern Columbia Area and Warrior Run school districts, as well as the Columbia-Montour Area Vo-Tech school.
Students attended presentations from the Bloomsburg University Police Department on topics including online safety for young adults and “Adulting 101.” They also participated in a session led by Dr. Sam Faulkner of CSIU focused on preparing for life after graduation.
The conference provided practical guidance and resources to support successful transitions to adulthood. In addition, four Schloss Award recipients from Southern Columbia Area, Milton Area, Danville Area and Warrior Run school districts were recognized.
SmartSub The Computer Services department has released its marketing campaign for SmartSub, a new substitute management system designed to streamline and improve absence management for K-12 schools and intermediate units. SmartSub automates substitute placement, enhances communication, and integrates with our CSIU FIS system to reduce administrative effort and payroll errors. The system is expected to increase fill rates, minimize disruption from staff absences, and provide a more efficient experience for schools and substitutes. Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, SmartSub will be available for all CSIU FIS clients.
Extra Learning Opportunities & Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool Youth Development Network (PSAYDN) Events
The 2026 Extra Learning Opportunities Conference for Pennsylvania’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers was held Feb. 24-26, 2026, offering intensive learning opportunities to nearly 250 out-of-school-time (OST) practitioners.
Keynote speaker Cornelius Minor delivered an address titled “Keeping the Focus on our Afterschool Students in Uncertain Times.” The conference featured 25 workshops on topics including goal-setting frameworks, supporting neurodivergent students, sustainability and grant writing, Science, Technology & Engineering, Environmental Literacy and Sustainability (STEELS) standards in action, digital wellness for youth, and arts-based literacy strategies.
Two pre-conference trainings on student voice and trauma-informed leadership were held Feb. 23–24 for 12 participants in the 2026 Excellence in Leadership Certification cohort.
PSAYDN hosted a convening Feb. 26, 2026, at the Harrisburg Hilton that included meetings of the Policy and Communications Committee, the Quality and Professional Development Committee, and the Executive Committee.
The morning session, facilitated by the PSAYDN director, focused on reviewing progress since the 2019 PSAYDN Retreat, including return- on-investment achievements, advancements in securing a state budget line item, and next steps in data collection and strategic planning.
The afternoon session featured facilitation by Brenda McLaughlin of The Learning Agenda and OST policy advisor Jennifer Peck. The session focused on strengthening alignment across committees and exploring strategies and policy models from other states to advance PSAYDN’s advocacy efforts.
Upcoming Board Meetings: April 15, May 20, and June 17
Youth Mental Health Intern Experience 
The conference provided practical guidance and resources to support successful transitions to adulthood. In addition, four Schloss Award recipients from Southern Columbia Area, Milton Area, Danville Area and Warrior Run school districts were recognized.
