For important resources and to learn more about the programs offered by ICAN, click here.
On Monday, April 27, at 6:00 p.m., the district is hosting its fourth “Virtual Community Meeting.” All district residents are invited to participate.
As part of the meeting, Jeremy Butler of the Integrated Community Alternatives Network (ICAN), will present “Living in Virtual Reality.”
“Living in Virtual Reality” 
Every year new technologies are developed which are intended to bring us closer together. However, as more and more young people move from face-to-face contact with their peers towards interacting across a variety of digital platforms, we often see a stark disconnect and the results could be hurting our young people. This is truer more now than ever before amidst this “new normal” of everyone living, working and learning in “Virtual Reality.” In this interactive workshop, participants will learn about how this boom of technology is affecting young people and the impact that social media is having on their mental health and overall well-being.
About ICAN
ICAN (formerly Kids Oneida), founded in 1997, is an innovative, community-based provider that facilitates individual and family-driven services to restore social, emotional and behavioral health and well-being to keep families together. The organization currently provides support to more than 1,500 individuals and families each day – prenatally through end of life – in over six counties.
About Jeremy Butler
Jeremy Butler is the Director of Community Initiatives for ICAN, a co-chair of the Mohawk Valley Regional Youth Justice Team and the incumbent President of the Oneida County Youth Services Council. In his current positon, Jeremy oversees all school-based, juvenile justice and community education programs working to carry out the agency’s vision of keeping families together. He has helped to create, implement and oversee the service design, implementation and evaluation for these programs. Prior to ICAN, he was the Chief Program Officer for Safe Schools Mohawk Valley for more than 11 years, where he oversaw the amalgamation of all agency programs and services. Jeremy has implemented various nationally recognized school-based initiatives such as PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Supports) and GEAR UP. His entire professional career, starting at the House of Good Shepherd, has been focused on providing positive supports to our most at-risk and vulnerable youth to help them make positive and healthy decisions so they can live happy, healthy and productive lives.
To participate in the virtual meeting by video conference/computer:
Link – meet.google.com/ujz-zrgy-dfx
To participate in the virtual meeting by phone:
Phone Number – 1-704-412-3530
Access Code – 800549022
The Westmoreland Central School District kindly asks all participants to use proper online etiquette. Always remember to use respectful behavior and language and stick to the topics being discussed. Additionally, at the beginning of the meeting, all participants will be muted. A participant should only unmute him or herself when asking a question during a Q & A period. After the question is asked, the participant should re-mute him or herself in fairness to all of those who are participating.
We look forward to virtually meeting with you!