Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) Superintendent of Schools Maria V. Navarro, Ed.D., will be joining Ivy and Pearls of Southern Maryland Community Charities and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Nu Zeta Omega Chapter of Waldorf for a public policy forum on Saturday, Dec. 9. The event’s topic is Giving Hope: Addressing the Crisis of Suicide Amongst Black Youth.

The forum is free and open to the public with registration required to attend. The event will take place at the College of Southern Maryland, La Plata campus in the Center for Business and Industry (BI) Building, Room 113 from 10 a.m. to noon. Check-in for the event is at 9:30 a.m. Navarro will be presenting on the panel about Parental Training: Youth Mental Health First Aid.

The goal of the forum is to address the mental health of Black youth, educate about the issues that can impact youth and provide resources for parents. The forum will include mental health experts and healthcare professionals with facilitated breakout sessions for parents and youth.

CCPS provides an academically challenging education to 27,598 students in grades prekindergarten through 12 with a technologically advanced, progressive, and high-quality education that builds character, equips students for leadership, and prepares them for life, careers, and higher education. Located in Southern Maryland, CCPS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex