Tracey Grose

Tracey Grose graduated from the University of Toronto, Scarborough Campus earning a bachelor’s degree in biology and psychology. She then earned a certificate offered between York University and Seneca College, in Vocational Rehabilitation. After a short career in Vocational counselling, Tracey felt there were greater challenges ahead and left Canada to pursue her Master of Social work degree at the University of Georgia, in Athens Georgia, USA. Tracey also holds a certificate in School Social work from Wayne State University which is a requirement to practice school social work in the USA.  Tracey lived and worked in the US for 8 years, working in children’s community mental health in Detroit, Michigan and Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.

Tracey returned with her husband to settle in the Durham region. She worked at Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health services, in adolescent outpatient services. She then obtained a permanent position as the first black social worker, with the Durham District Board of Education (DDSB).

Tracey has taken on many initiatives while working with the DDSB, such as coordinator of the Return Ticket program, Executive on Durham Black Educators Network (DBEN), chair of the OASW school social worker provincial advisory committee, Community connection for the Ontario Association of Children’s Aid Societies (OACAS) committee “One Vision, One Voice” study and community representative on the African Canadian adaptation of Stop Now and Plan (SNAP).

Tracey’s areas of interest include social justice education, optimizing the educational experience of black students in the Ontario, addressing systemic barriers to student success, community partnerships and organizing social workers to advocate for youth mental health. With over 20 years’ experience in the field of child and youth mental health, Tracey believes schools are the first and ideal location to enhance a better understanding of youth mental health and well-being.

Tracey recently completed a 5-year secondment to School Mental Health Ontario (SMH-ON) as a Prevention and Early Intervention Consultant and Culturally Responsive Services Lead with – https://smho-smso.ca/ . School Mental Health Ontario is a provincial implementation support team. They help school districts enhance student mental health through the use of evidence-informed strategies and services.

Tracey believes school are the ideal location to work alongside community and healthcare settings to support the mental health needs of every students. They are the ideal place for mental health promotion, the prevention of mental health problems, and the early identification of mental health concerns.

When high-quality school mental health service delivery is introduced, scaled, and sustained within and across school districts in a systematic and intentional manner, it has the potential to help every student build and maintain good mental health throughout their lives. Realizing this potential depends on offering supports and services that respond to students’ needs, strengths, cultures, and identities.