New England MHTTC

The Massachusetts Psychosis Network for Early Treatment (MAPNET) and the New England Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) will host a virtual monthly “Early Psychosis Prescriber Consultation Series” led by Dr. Matcheri Keshavan on prescribing practices for early psychosis, including a review of a selected monthly topic. Our next call is on Monday, July 1st from 11am-12pm EST. Our topic for this month is “Long Acting Injectables” and will be presented by Dr. Raúl Condemarín.   Dr. Raúl Condemarín is a psychiatrist with many years of experience as a psycho-pharmacologist and psychotherapist. He is board certified in Psychiatry, Addiction Medicine, Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychoanalysis. His main areas of expertise are: psychopharmacology, anxiety and mood disorders, and substance abuse disorders. He has conducted research and published in the areas of addiction, psychodynamic psychopharmacology, and the relationship between medical and psychiatric disorders. Dr. Condemarín holds an appointment as Clinical Instructor in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School through his affiliation with Massachusetts Mental Health Center, where he teaches and supervises medical students and residents. He is Editor and Trustee of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis and Dynamic Psychiatry. He is fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese.   Attendees are invited to bring deidentified case questions to discuss with the group. Cases do not have to relate to the monthly topic but should be focused on prescribing issues in early psychosis care. Attendance will be limited to 20 participants and will be on a first come, first serve basis.     If you would like accommodations to participate in any of our events, please contact us at [email protected] ahead of the event date. For example, if you would like an ASL interpreter, please let us know 3 weeks ahead of the event date so we have sufficient time to secure the services.  

  The Person-Centered Recovery Planning (PCRP) Consultation Corner is a 6-month learning series featuring a monthly webinar on the “FAQs” of PCRP; offering practical tools and resources to support quality PCRP at the level of both individual service delivery and organizational systems change; and providing follow-up “office hours” through smaller-group technical assistance for webinar participants who wish to take a “deeper dive” on a given topic. The topic for webinar session 4 is "Promises and Pitfalls-Designing Planning Templates & Electronic Health Records to Support PCRP." The design of planning templates and electronic health records can present as a major obstacle to the quality implementation of Person-Centered Recovery Planning. Traditional designs are frequently dominated by problems, pathology, and complex workflows that focus more on the support of billing and compliance rather than on the support of the person and their recovery and life goals. In contrast, a thoughtfully designed EHR can facilitate person-centered practice by increasing the focus on key recovery concepts, facilitating dialogue between providers and persons served, and generating the co-creation of meaningful plans to help shape the person’s recovery. By elucidating common design pitfalls and identifying promising design practices, this webinar will offer practical guidance to mental health systems so they can move toward the development of EHRs that facilitate, rather than hinder, the uptake of Person-Centered Recovery Planning. At the end of the session, participants will be able to Identify at least 2 key questions to consider in the process of selecting an EHR vendor. Describe at least 3 EHR design strategies to maximize a recovery-oriented approach in Person-Centered Recovery Planning. Describe at least 2 implementation strategies to support the quality uptake of newly designed EHR recovery planning platforms.   While the Consultation Corner’s webinar series is open to a national audience, priority for technical assistance office hours following this webinar session on July 10 will be given to webinar participants from the New England (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Maine, Rhode Island, New Hampshire) and South Southwest (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas) regions.   Presenters: Janis Tondora and Dan Wartenberg Janis Tondora, Psy.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine.  Her work involves supporting the implementation of person-centered practices that help people with behavioral health concerns and other disabilities to get more control over decisions about their services so they can live a good life as they define it. She has provided training and consultation to over 25 states seeking to implement Person-Centered Recovery Planning and has shared her work with the field in dozens of publications, including her 2014 book, Partnering for Recovery in Mental Health: A Practical Guide to Person-Centered Planning. Janis’ consultation and publications have been widely used by both public and private service systems to advance the implementation of recovery-oriented practices in the U.S. and abroad. She is a life-long resident of Connecticut where she lives with her husband and beloved labradoodles after recently becoming an empty-nester with two children in college.   This series is co-sponsored by the New England and South Southwest MHTTCs. More information about the series.   Continuing Education Units for this event are offered by the Office of Professional Development, Steve Hicks School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Austin: · Social Work · Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) · Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)   Continuing Education Units for this event are offered by the Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health/South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center, The University of Texas at Austin as recognized by the Texas Certification Board: · Mental Health Peer Specialist (MHPS) · Recovery Support Peer Specialist (RSPS) · Re-Entry Peer Specialist (JI-RPS) · Peer Specialist Supervisor (PSS) · Certified Family Partner (CFP)   These entities are recognized as providers of continuing education credits, however, attendees are responsible for checking with their licensing or credentialing board to ensure acceptance of the CEUs issued. If you have questions about CEUs for a credential that you do not see listed here, contact [email protected].     If you would like accommodations to participate in any of our events, please contact us at [email protected] ahead of the event date. For example, if you would like an ASL interpreter, please let us know 3 weeks ahead of the event date so we have sufficient time to secure the services.  

Calling all practicing Youth Peers across the country from diverse locations and organizations! We want to hear from you about a crucial tool for youth peer support specialists: the self-assessment tool. Join us in this important conversation and contribute to the growth and effectiveness of youth peer support practice. You will be provided a stipend for participation.   Facilitator: Rowan Willis-Powell (she/they) is an experienced systems transformation advocate with 10 years of experience using their living expertise to uplift the voices of youth peers, guide development of youth peer programs, educate the behavioral health community about supporting LGBTQIA individuals, and advocate for appropriate and equitable suicide prevention and intervention for youth. Rowan has 10 years of experience connecting and mentoring young adults with lived experience in behavioral health service settings to peer support career pathways and leadership opportunities on community, state, and national levels. Rowan has supported numerous organizations and groups with the process of developing or strengthening their youth serving programs and always strives to ensure that youth voice and youth engagement are at the focus of the work.   If you would like accommodations to participate in any of our events, please contact us at [email protected] ahead of the event date. For example, if you would like an ASL interpreter, please let us know 3 weeks ahead of the event date so we have sufficient time to secure the services.  

Three unique perspectives…one unifying vision – a world in which every LGTBQ youth has access to an affirming school community where they feel safe, respected, and embraced.  We concluded Pride Month with a dynamic panel presentation offering insights from personal, parental, and professional perspectives borne out of groundbreaking work and advocacy in support of LGBTQ youth. Be inspired and learn ways that you can contribute to urgently needed culture and systems change! Overviewed common terminology and misconceptions of the non-binary and trans community Information about the current state of mental health and distress among LGBTQ youth Heard from experts with both lived and professional experience around the importance of gender-inclusive communities in supporting the wellness of LGBTQ youth Learned about ways to support and advocate for your LGBTQ child and maintain your wellness as a parent Heard about a range of practical school-based strategies for creating gender-inclusive, welcoming communities where LGBTQ youth can thrive Panelists Tony Ferraiolo is internationally known as a compassionate and empowering Life Coach who has earned his reputation as a thought-provoking and motivational speaker and trainer. Since 2005, Tony has worked with individuals, groups, and educational institutions to reach thousands of people worldwide. In 2008, he was the founder of multiple support groups for transgender and nonbinary youth and their families. The work Tony does has allowed him to see firsthand how children’s lives are transformed from hopelessness to hopefulness through the process of simply affirming their gender, and he has witnessed firsthand the positive impact that this has on them and their families. Tony is the subject of the award-winning documentary A Self-Made Man and the author of the book series Artistic Expressions of Transgender Youth. And his soon to be released memoir “Finding My Way Out of The Darkness.” He is the co-founder of the Jim Collins Foundation where he held the position of president of the board for ten years. Melissa Combs is the parent of two high school teens. Her journey through the public school system as the parent of a transgender child inspired her to launch the Out Accountability Project, an organization that aims to help schools create and maintain safe, affirming learning environments for LGBTQ+ youth. Professionally, she is a consultant and has worked with more than 50 nonprofits, primarily in fundraising, communications, and public relations. Christy Olezeski, PhD, is the Director and co-founder of the Yale Pediatric Gender Program (YPGP), an interdisciplinary team that provides services for transgender and gender expansive (TGE) youth and families in Connecticut. The team includes professionals in the fields of psychology, endocrinology, psychiatry, gynecology, reproductive medicine, medical ethics and law. The YGP mission is to provide comprehensive, interdisciplinary, family-centered care for children, adolescents and young adults questioning their assigned gender and/or seeking gender-affirming consultation and care in a compassionate, respectful and supportive environment. This program is regionally well-regarded, serving clients from all 8 counties in the state, as well as 7 states outside of Connecticut.  

This June 25, 2024 webinar provided cultural considerations and tips for culturally responsive care when working with individuals who experience psychosis. Some of the learning goals of this webinar included: Understanding the pervasive impact of culture on engagement, rapport building, assessment, and treatment outcomes. Identifying strategies to work on becoming a culturally responsive, anti-oppressive clinician outside of the therapy room. Developing a framework of development that prepares you to Receive and Respond to Feedback from people with lived experience of various different social identities and backgrounds. Building an ethic of cultural humility that centers respectful curiosity and openness to unfamiliar cultural and social concepts across the spectrum of ability, gender, sexuality, race, and culture. Differentiating between cultural humility, cultural responsiveness, and cultural competence as broader concepts that must inform a holistic idea of cultural understanding. Presenters: Vera A. Muñiz-Saurré (they/éle) is a nonbinary, queer, Peruvian public health professional of mixed Spanish and Andean ancestry working as a Program Coordinator and Peer Advocate for the Massachusetts Psychosis Prevention Partnership (M3P) and Building Bridges towards Equity in Psychosis Intervention and Careers (2B-EPIC) grants at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and a Peer Counselor at the Lab for Early Psychosis at McLean Hospital. Vera is diagnosed with Schizoaffective disorder, a survivor of conversion therapy targeting their sexuality, and identifies as Mad and a psychiatric survivor. Starting in 2017, Vera helped found and admin the Psychosis Spectrum Server on Discord and still helps maintain that community! Vera’s ideology and public health approach centers abolition of long-standing oppressive systemic structures, investment in harm reduction-based support services, and reindigenization of academic knowledge systems in both theory and application. Chia Hsuan Sabrina Chang (she/her) is a psychologist, Instructor at Harvard Medical School, and site supervisor for Boston University's Center for Multicultural Training in Psychology. She is proud of her identities as a first-generation immigrant and Asian-American woman, especially in the predominantly white profession of psychology. She has published several peer reviewed papers and a book chapter on cultural psychology and gender affirming care. She is passionate about providing culturally responsive, anti-oppressive therapy and supervision, the latter of which earned her the Teaching and Mentorship Award from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. She is the founder of the Anti-Racism Task Force at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center, which was bestowed the Performance Recognition Award by the Department of Mental Health. In the community, she is passionate about using her expertise as a psychologist to instigate anti-racist change and received a citation from the Massachusetts Senate for her advocacy work.

This Family Workforce event featured the National Federation of Families and a panel of their New England affiliates. Gail Cormier, Project Director with the National Federation of Families, talked about National offerings including Family Peer Support certification, Family workforce education and technical assistance, and their transition to lifespan support as well as general offerings. Representatives from New England affiliates introduced their affiliates highlighting any unique offerings in their prospective states. This webinar was an excellent opportunity for providers who work with families to learn about the offerings of the National Federation of Families and local affiliates as well as anyone who might be interested.