Philadelphia JED Campus Cohort Convenes to Emphasize Promising Practices

The Philadelphia JED Campus cohort met at Widener University in Chester, Pennsylvania, on Nov. 1 to hear practical insights and strategies to enhance their implementation of JED Campus initiatives. 

The Philadelphia cohort, sponsored by Spring Point Partners, will come together for four annual meetings during their cohort journey. Members engage directly with experts and community partners, explore promising practices, and strengthen connections within the cohort. The November convening marked the second of four planned gatherings for the cohort.

Year one focused on connection and laying a strong foundation, while year two emphasized sharing and learning promising practices. Representatives from 11 higher education institutions and organizations, including special guests from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the Philadelphia Mayor’s Office of Education, came together for a day-long program titled Building Your Implementation Toolkit.

The day began with a thought-provoking keynote by Dr. Kamla Modi, Senior Director of Learning and Evaluation at JED, who explored barriers to mental health support among U.S. teens. 

Attendees then engaged in one of three breakout sessions to discuss simplifying strategic plans and mobilizing data, supporting student-athletes more holistically, and reshaping faculty partnerships to better address student mental health.

Participants later dove into the intersection of student wellness and sociopolitical stress during election season with JED Campus Advisor Dr. Jeni Beckman. The day concluded with a session by the Office of Postsecondary and Higher Education, highlighting the connection between mental health and students’ basic needs.

These convenings are a vital part of the JED Campus cohort journey to engender this social connectedness and resource sharing as each campus works to break down barriers to mental health support for college students. 

Learn more about how JED can support your college, university, or state’s system of higher education.