Tovah Denaro (she/her) is the founder and lead consultant of IBC. She began this work in 2011, through her own experience in the classroom as a Special Education teacher for youth impacted with Emotional and Behavioral Disabilities. Through her years in the classroom, she began to strategically focus her work on supporting youth who are historically marginalized. Specifically, BIPOC youth, youth in Special Education, youth who are or have been incarcerated, and youth that identify within the LGTBQIA+ community. Tovah founded IBC, is to ensure that any adult who is working with youth within a historically marginalized group, has the skill and the understanding of what it means to build sustaining relationships with youth and to recognize the power that an adult/student relationship has on keeping youth engaged and in school.

Innovative Behavioral Consulting collaborates with school districts and communities to focus on the mental health and wellbeing of youth, families, and staff. IBC works with communities to understand brain development, unpack the data of school districts to determine areas of need, and learn about historically marginalized youth within the school system. We work alongside gender expansive youth and families to help navigate the multiple systems they are involved in to ensure rights and responsibilities are understood and being followed. This is all through a Trauma-Sensitive lens to ensure the best outcome, safety, and sense of belonging for youth and families.

IBC understands that supporting and working with youth cannot be done without adults understanding the historical trauma, present day trauma, and our youth’s personal experiences within the framework of the school. IBC also acknowledges the need for adults within a school building to understand their own mental health need and recognize the importance of wellness inside and outside of the school building.

At IBC, we call our guiding values our core values, because they truly make up the core of who we are. Our values are to build authentic relationships with youth, families, communities, and schools, challenge injustice, and to acknowledge the unique strengths and challenges of our youth. These values lead the work and the mission of IBC forward. These values help IBC support school districts and their communities to develop purposeful partnerships in support of improved outcomes for youth through a Culturally Responsive and Trauma Sensitive lens. The values drive this through a comprehensive Trauma Informed Multi-Tiered System of Support, based on the individual needs of each school and district. The future of IBC is about spreading Trauma Sensitive and Culturally Responsive Mental Health practices to school districts across the state of Washington, emphasizing social emotional learning and wellness systems for all.

www.innovativebehaviors.org