PRESS RELEASE: Southern Region Student Wellness Conference Wraps Up with Unveiling of New Brand Identity

ANAHEIM — San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS), in partnership with San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), welcomed nearly 1,000 attendees to the 2024 Southern Region Student Wellness Conference (SRSWC) July 8-10. In pursuit of health and wellness, the three-day conference held at the Disneyland Hotel Conference Center in Anaheim is designed to empower educational partners such as mental health professionals, administrators, educators, school counselors, school safety staff, healthcare providers, and the community to address the needs of the whole child.

“We saw the need to focus on and develop wellness within the education community more than a decade ago with our first SRSWC,” said County Superintendent Ted Alejandre. “We are elated to see how much this conference has grown and the changes it has inspired for not only our students, but staff and the community at large.”

The theme for this year’s conference, Game On! Build – Benefit - Belong, highlighted the partnerships, teamwork and goals of the educational community. In pursuit of meeting the needs of the whole child, the phrase signifies the commitment to work together to address challenges, implement change and celebrate successes.

At the conference opening, Dr. Georgina Yoshioka, Director of Behavioral Health, emphasized the critical role of mental health in education. Dr. Yoshioka stated, “In education, we understand that the well-being of our students extends far beyond academics. It is crucial to recognize the impact of mental health on a student’s ability to learn, grow, and thrive.” San Bernardino County remains steadfast in its commitment to prioritizing mental health initiatives in schools. Dr. Yoshioka further highlighted, “By addressing behavioral health in schools, we support individual students and create a positive and inclusive environment for all.”

The 2024 SRSWC featured nationally recognized speakers such as California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, original Freedom Writer Dr. Manny Scott, Blue Zones champion Nick Buettner, and K12 Lab Director of Community and Implementation at the Stanford d.school Laura McBain.

Participants had the opportunity to explore and attend more than 50 compelling breakout sessions supporting five content strands focused on mental health and wellness, culture and climate, nutrition and health education, community schools, and collaborative leadership for equity, inclusion and engagement.

Additionally, the SRSWC offered a wellness room as a tranquil sanctuary, where attendees could peacefully engage in mindful journaling, guided mindfulness, sound baths, and yoga sessions.

“We know that in order to support the whole child, we have to support the whole employee,” said County Superintendent Alejandre. “SRSWC not only provided wellness strategies to implement in the classroom, but also actions staff could utilize to prioritize their health as well.”

A true collective impact effort, the SRSWC was proud to have the support of critical and influential organizations as sponsors, such as Inland Empire Health Plan, Kaiser Permanente and Molina Healthcare. Attendees were also welcome to explore the exceptional services of more than a dozen conference exhibitors, including SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union, Alliant International University, Youth Creating Change, Big Smiles, and Thriving YOUniversity.

Following the closing General Session, conference leaders unveiled the new brand identity for the annual conference, which included a new name, logo and tagline. After nearly a decade, the SRSWC will now be known as “The Wellness Conference." The conference’s new tagline, “Connecting School, Family & Community,” summarizes the mission to address the needs of the whole child through collaborative efforts.?

The updated visual identity will appear on all conference-related content and collateral immediately and includes a brand-new website, thewellnessconference.net.

The rebranding of the SRSWC to “The Wellness Conference” was driven by the desire to better reflect the conference’s comprehensive approach to health and wellness, and the evolution to a statewide and national reach beyond Southern California. The new name and logo embody the commitment to fostering connections between schools, families and communities, ensuring a holistic support system for the well-being of every child.

The Wellness Conference will welcome attendees back to the Disneyland Hotel Conference Center July 9-11, 2025.

For more news and information, visit the?SBCSS Newsroom and follow us @SBCountySchools on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube. #transforminglives For more news and information from the Department of Behavioral Health (DBH), follow @sbcDBH on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

The mission of San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools is to?transform lives through education. Working in collaboration with school districts, families, community partners and other agencies, we provide leadership, advocacy and services to ensure equitable, innovative and inspiring educational practices. This endeavor is essential to the quality of life and economic vitality of our communities.