Training and Events Calendar

This multidisciplinary conference will explore the diverse pathways to emotional well-being, from evidence-based to applied contemporary practices. Delve into current trends and innovative strategies that are transforming how we understand and support mental health. Discover future opportunities and advancements designed to revolutionize emotional well-being in personal, professional, and societal contexts. This conference is a must-attend for anyone passionate about fostering a healthier, more resilient world.

This presentation will provide an overview of the 988 Lifeline, which provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress and crisis resources for people experiencing emotional distress or suicidal crisis. We will discuss when and how 988 could be helpful during interactions with patients, students or colleagues and offer additional resources for people who are in emotional crisis.

CONFERENCE DETAILS The Northwest MHTTC sponsored a number of free in-person spots to the 2024 National Association of Social Workers (NASW) WA Statewide Conference at the Northern Quest Resort & Casino near Spokane, WA. The 2024 NASW-WA Conference includes 1.5 days of engaging workshops, inspiring keynotes, and valuable networking opportunities, and will explore the theme:"Building Connections for a Socially Just Future." Conference Details: Dates: September 19-21, 2024 Thursday, September 19th – Evening Conference Reception (time TBD) Friday, September 20th – 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM PST Saturday, September 21st – 8:00 AM - 12:15 PM PST Location: Northern Quest Resort & Casino, Airway Heights, WA Highlights: Two-hour keynote presentations, 1.5-hour breakout sessions, and ample networking time

Registration is now closed for this opportunity. ABOUT THE TRAINING The Northwest MHTTC sponsored a limited number of spots to the live virtual training Suicide Care in Health Care Systems. It is hosted by the University of Washington Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Center for Suicide Prevention & Recovery (CSPAR) and Suicide Care Research Center (SCRC) and supported in part by the National Institute of Health grant number P50MH129708. This two-part, 6-hour LIVE virtual training is designed to provide primary care providers and behavioral health clinicians with an understanding of how best to serve patients across the suicide care pathway. The training will provide a conceptual model for understanding how suicidality develops and becomes acute as well as what the recommended pathway of care should be for patients at risk of suicide. This clinical pathway moves from identification of suicidal ideation to assessment, formulation, management, treatment, recovery, and follow‐up monitoring. FACILITATOR   Jeffrey Sung, MD Dr. Jeff Sung is a board-certified psychiatrist and clinical assistant professor in UW Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. His work focuses on education and training in the areas of suicide prevention and suicide care. Particular interests include supporting clinicians who have experienced the loss of a patient to suicide and building knowledge among health care professionals about cultural aspects of firearm ownership and use.

About this Virtual Training It's crucial that school-based professionals have the information and skills they need to understand how student behavioral health information can be shared and protected. By creating a strong network of school professionals that understand the federal health privacy laws that impact their students, schools will be equipped to address the rising need for behavioral health services and improve health outcomes. To assist mental health professionals working in K-12 schools in understanding how the federal health privacy laws apply to student mental health information, the Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) Network and the Center of Excellence for Protected Health Information (CoE-PHI) are hosting a 90-minute virtual training that will: Describe how federal health privacy laws (e.g., HIPAA and FERPA) apply to student mental health information Explain how student mental health information can be protected and shared in compliance with federal health privacy laws Discuss common scenarios involving student mental health information that arise in school settings through case study discussions led by clinical and legal experts Demonstrate how relevant resources and technical assistance can be accessed through the MHTTC Network and the CoE-PHI Please note: This learning session builds on the 2-part learning series, Federal Health Privacy Laws: Basics for School Professionals, held by the MHTTC Network and the CoE-PHI in Spring 2023. We encourage you to access the recordings from last year’s learning series and we look forward to sharing new clinical scenarios with you this year! Who Should Attend? Health and mental health providers employed by a school district Community providers contracted by a school district to work on site School-Based/School-Linked Health Center providers School administrators, teachers, school counselors, athletic trainers, and other school personnel Certificates of attendance will be made available to attendees who attend at least half of the session. CEU's are not available for this session. Questions? Please contact Jessica Gonzalez at [email protected]. Speaker Lineup Abigail English, JD Abigail English is a lawyer, researcher, and advocate for the rights of vulnerable young people. She provides consultation services to nonprofit organizations and public agencies on legal and policy issues in adolescent and young adult health including federal and state health privacy laws. She is currently a consultant for the National Center for Youth Law and for the Center of Excellence for Protected Health Information and an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at UNC Chapel Hill. She also serves as Senior Policy Fellow for the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM); in 2007-2008 she was President of SAHM.   Katy Stinchfield, MS, LPC, RPT  Katy Stinchfield is a private practice school mental health consultant and clinical supervisor working in rural community mental health in Oregon. She is the past Director of Behavioral Health Programs at the National School-Based Health Alliance (SBHA), where she led SBHA’s mental health and substance abuse prevention initiatives for schools and school-based health centers (SBHCs). Katy has worked with children and families in the mental health, education, and social services fields for over 20 years.  She is both a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Licensed School Counselor in Oregon, as well as a Registered Play Therapist (RPT).    Steve North, MD, MPH, FAAFP, FASAM  Dr. North is a practicing rural family physician with additional certification in adolescent medicine and addiction medicine. He is currently the Vice President of Medical Operations for Eleanor Health, a technology enabled outpatient substance use disorder program grounded in harm reduction and focused on the whole person. Additionally, he founded and serves as the medical director for the Health-e-Schools school based telemedicine program. Since 2011 Health-e-Schools has been providing access to health care for students and faculty at schools and currently serves ~120 schools in 11 predominantly rural North Carolina counties. 

Person-centered planning (PCP) is based on the truths that people know what’s best for themselves and that self-determination and human rights are essential for wellness. A recently released PCP Issue Brief offers a wide range of guidance and tools for State Mental Health Authorities (SMHAs) committed to implementing PCP in a manner that is both more consistent and more fully aligned with SAMHSA's Working Definition of Recovery.    This webinar presents a call to action for all behavioral health stakeholders to demand that we move beyond the “rhetoric” of person-centered care to achieve a reality where services and planning are more fully accessible, authentically recovery-oriented, and truly, culturally centered around the individual. Emphasis will be placed on the critical role that people with lived experience, including peer professionals, should play at all stages of PCP implementation and systems change.  Presenters: Janis Tondora, Psy.D., (she/her), is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine.    Amy Pierce, MHPS, PSS, ALF (she/her), Peer Specialist, Peer Supervisor, Consultant.     Jessi Davis (She/They), Peer Specialist, Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health, Workforce Development and Consulting.   National Recovery Month Toolkit Use this Toolkit to learn more about how SAMHSA supports people in recovery and how you can share this information with your audience. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of those in or seeking recovery from mental and substance use disorders. Click to View the National Recovery Month Toolkit

DESCRIPTION This presentation aims to address the critical and often overlooked issue of suicide within the Black community. Suicide is a growing public health concern, and understanding its unique implications in the Black community is essential for effective prevention and intervention efforts. The presentation will cover various aspects, including risk factors, warning signs, social determinants, and culturally competent strategies for prevention. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Discuss specific risk factors that contribute to rates of suicide in the Black community, including socio-economic factors, exposure to violence, and systemic racism. Discuss the importance of community-based approaches and the role of families, schools, and religious institutions in prevention efforts. Highlight the importance of building strong support networks for Black youth, including peer support, mentoring programs, and mental health resources. Provide information on available resources and organizations dedicated to suicide prevention in the Black community. Emphasize the importance of culturally relevant mental health education and self-care practices. Provide guidelines on how to implement effective screening and early intervention programs. PRESENTERS Sheritta Carmichael, MD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA. She received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in biology at the University of Georgia. Dr. Carmichael went on to attend medical school at Mercer University School of Medicine in Savannah, Ga. She completed her residency training at Mountain Area Health Education Center. She completed her Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at Morehouse School of Medicine, earning her Board Eligible status in 2022. Kamille Williams, MD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Morehouse School of Medicine. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Spelman College before attending Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN, for her medical degree. Dr. Williams then completed her General Psychiatry Residency Training and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Training at Morehouse School of Medicine. Dr. Williams is an Early Career Psychiatrist with Double Board Certification in Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatry. HOST Annelle Primm MD, MPH is the Senior Medical Director of the Steve Fund, an organization focused on the mental health of young people of color. She is also a member of the Black Psychiatrists of America Council of Elders. This webinar is part of the Health Equity Webinar Series, an ongoing collaboration between the Central East MHTTC and the Black Psychiatrists of America to increase education and awareness surrounding mental health in the Black community. View past webinars in the series

Please Note: Registration is closed for this event. This free community of practice event is for early childhood providers who work with children ages 0-5 in a variety of service settings. Participants should have completed formal ASQ-3(TM) & ASQ: SE-2(TM) Training of Trainers and aim to either start or enhance the quality of their training.  This event will support ASQ-3(TM) and ASQ:SE-2(TM) introductory trainers with preparing for their first training or enhancing the quality of the introductory trainings they already provide. This CoP will include a sample training, a planning tool, and time to begin developing introductory trainings with a seasoned trainer. The event is open to qualified early childhood providers in the HHS Region VI states: Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Event Description Increasingly, rural systems of care are employing a range of Evidence-Based Practices (EBPs), such as Assertive Community Treatment (ACT), supported employment, and supported housing, to meet the needs of persons with serious mental illness. Rural systems often modify these EBP’s in some manner to accommodate rural environments that consistently contend with workforce limitations, small populations, intermittent broadband and cell phone service, and long distances.      Join us for this important knowledge exchange on Tuesday, 9/24 and Thursday, 9/26, from 9:00 am MT – 12:00 pm MT. Please note this training has been changed from an in-person event to two virtual training sessions.   In Session 1, we will focus upon the science and adaptation of EBP to rural practice.    In Session 2, we will focus on rural implementors and providers discussing their real-world rural challenges to implementation and on-going adoption challenges and opportunities.  This will be followed by a summary discussion of State Policy that can support rural adoption of EBPs.    If you have any questions, please contact Genevieve Berry at [email protected] 

This is Session 3 of the "Empowering Pathways" series. Event Description This training provides participants with tools and techniques to implement strength-based goal setting within behavioral health practices. By focusing on clients' inherent strengths, rather than deficits, this approach empowers individuals to set and achieve meaningful, personalized goals that foster resilience and recovery. Participants will learn how to collaborate effectively with clients to identify strengths, set achievable goals, and track progress. This training is ideal for behavioral health professionals seeking to enhance client outcomes through a positive, empowering framework.  Learning Outcomes:  Participants will learn ways to identify and leverage client strengths to develop personalized, achievable goals in behavioral health settings.  Participants will identify at least 2 techniques for facilitating collaborative goal-setting conversations that empower clients and foster engagement.  Participants will gain strategies for tracking and adjusting goals to ensure continuous client progress and motivation.  Trainer Lamarr Lewis is a dedicated advocate, author, and agent of change. With a focus on community-based mental and public health, he works with diverse groups including individuals living with psychiatric disabilities, people in recovery from substance abuse, and at-hope youth (He does not use the term at-risk).    He is an alumnus of Wittenberg University graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with minors in Africana Studies and Religion. He later received his master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Argosy University.    His career spans over twenty years with experience as a therapist, consultant, public speaker, facilitator, trainer, and human service professional. He has been a featured expert for such organizations as; Boeing, Region IV Public Health Training Center, Fulton County Probate Court, Mississippi Department of Health, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, and many more.    His lifelong mission is to leave the world better than how he found it.  

In this webinar, we will revisit the topic of mental health care for people who are Blind*. Our panel of experts from Prevent Blindness includes: Julie Grutzmacher, MPH, MSW, Director of Patient Advocacy and Public Health Initiatives; Shervonne Poleon, Ph.D, an award-winning researcher studying sociobehavioral factors in the management of eye disease, and Connie Hills, Ph.D, a recognized consultant, speaker and clinical psychologist with lived experience of age-related macular degeneration. Our speakers will share considerations for the clinician who plans to, is currently seeing, or is unfamiliar with Blind patients for psychotherapy, counseling, or medication management. They will also share research findings on quality of life among Blind people that can help mental health providers conceptualize their treatment approaches with Blind patients. This webinar is intended for a broad audience of mental health providers, trainees and students. Please come with an open mind. *We use the word “Blind” for the purpose of this webinar to encompass all individuals with low vision, vision loss, or blindness. Presenter Bios: Connie Hills, PhD is a Consultant, Speaker and Psychologist with 30 years of experience providing clinical services, teaching, and research in the field of Mental Health. Utilizing a mind/body framework is a central theme in her work. Connie holds a Master of Arts degree in Mental Health Counseling, a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and is a licensed psychologist in the state of California. She has been living with Age-Related Macular Degeneration for 10 years. Connie is a Mental Health Intern with Prevent Blindness where she works to help to build bridges between the Mental Health and Blind communities. Shervonne Poleon, PhD is a St. Lucian national who holds a doctoral degree in Vision Science from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Shervonne’s research focuses on the impact of social and behavioral factors on disease management in glaucoma and other chronic diseases. She has a strong passion for patient advocacy and was the recipient of the 2021 Prevent Blindness Rising Visionary Award. In 2023, Shervonne was also recognized by the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) and received the ARVO Emerging Advocate Award. She is determined to improve overall eye health by directly addressing the social, behavioral, and psychological barriers that limit access, delivery, and uptake of eye care resources. In addition to her research, Shervonne serves as a mental health intern with Prevent Blindness, where she explores the impact of visual impairment and blindness on mental health and psychological wellness. Julie Grutzmacher, MSW, MPH is Director of Patient Advocacy and Public Health Initiatives at Prevent Blindness. She holds a dual master’s degree in social work and public health and has more than twenty years of experience advocating for equitable access to and delivery of healthcare services. Julie’s work has led her to academic medical facilities, federally qualified health centers, academia, and non-profit organizations, servicing communities impacted by HIV/AIDS, premature and low birth weight babies, and high-risk pregnancies. She has experience building, implementing, and evaluating educational training programs from scratch, first in academia with medical residents and then at Prevent Blindness with the ASPECT program designed to strengthen patient empowerment efforts for the visually impaired and blind and their allies. Julie is passionate about her work to reduce barriers to eyecare and to optimize health, including mental health outcomes, among persons with low and no vision.

United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc. and New England MHTTC would like to invite you and your staff to attend "Reclaiming Native Psychological Brilliance: Wise Practices," a Tribal Behavioral Health ECHO webinar series. Native Psychological Brilliance refers to the intelligence, strengths, balance, innate resources, and resilience of Native people. The topic for September's session is "Traditional Practices in Action-Case Examples." This no-cost telehealth series will be held on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 11:00 am Pacific/12:00 pm Mountain/1:00 pm Central/2:00 pm Eastern. Each session will be one hour in length and will provide an opportunity for participants to:   Gain skills on strength-based approaches in partnership with Native People to enhance Native behavioral health Discuss ways that Native brilliance is demonstrated and supports behavioral health Learn about Native brilliance examples to share with behavioral health and other health care staff, as well as with local Tribal Nation citizens   The concept of Native psychological brilliance will be celebrated through Native music video and Native spoken word performances as part of each session. Who should attend? Tribal health directors, clinic staff, counselors, social workers, physicians, nurses, Tribal Epidemiology Center staff, and anyone supporting Tribal communities through the health or behavioral health sector are welcome to join. Continuing education credits will be provided.   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.  

Burnout is a general term that describes the chronic and cumulative effect of different stresses at work and how it negatively impacts the worker’s health and wellbeing. If unaddressed, the various stresses of Human Services work contribute to an erosion of compassion and empathy which reduces a worker’s effectiveness in helping others, rendering the worker ineffective and lacking confidence. This class builds awareness of the signs and stages of Compassion Fatigue and Burnout and offers strategies for cultivating compassion satisfaction for the individual and in team dynamics.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES Recognize warning signs of burnout and compassion fatigue Review of the “why” of caregiver work Assess current potential for compassion satisfaction Introduce strategies for reducing burnout in an individual and team   CONTINUING EDUCATION Registrants who fully attend this training will be eligible to receive 2 continuing education (CE) hours certified by the Minnesota Board of Social Work and MN Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy. CE certificates are provided by People Incorporated Training Institute.   PRESENTER Raymond Young, CPS, BA, has 15 years of experience training diverse groups of adult, youth, and adolescent learners prior to joining the Training Institute at People Incorporated Mental Health Services. He has trained mental health workers, police officers, transportation professionals, business partners, and clients. Ray received his certification as a Certified Peer Specialist from the Minnesota Department of Human Services in 2017 and has since worked with individuals with various mental health conditions and behavioral health concerns. He has also studied Drug and Alcohol Counseling. Ray has a passion for working with youth in Youth Leadership Programs and as a mentor in the community.   This training is provided by our valued partners at the People Incorporated Training Institute.   The Great Lakes MHTTC is offering this training for individuals working in HHS Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI. This training is being provided in response to a need identified by Region 5 stakeholders.

The Northwest MHTTC team participated in program planning for the 5th annual Re-Imagining Behavioral Health: Race, Equity and Social Justice Conference hosted by the Behavioral Health Institute at Harborview Medical Center. CONFERENCE DETAILS The two half-day free virtual conference hosted by the Behavioral Health Institute at Harborview and funded by the Washington State Health Care Authority is designed to empower individuals and teams in Washington State and beyond who want to advance health equity and support diversity and inclusion in behavioral health care. The conference is an opportunity to connect with others and join in a meaningful conversation about healing racial trauma, dismantling racism, and combating systemic racism and social injustices through the lens of mental health and substance use issues. Our Northwest MHTTC Staff have been actively involved in the planning process alongside a committee of partners, thought leaders and experts in the fields of race, equity, social justice, and behavioral health located throughout Washington State. We are honored to provide support and looking forward to this year's amazing conference! Please contact [email protected] with any questions concerning this conference.

Event Description This is Session 3 of the Thriving Together series. Learning objectives for this session include: Explore factors such as leadership styles, communication practices, reward systems, and employee support programs influence the overall culture of care within the organization.  Evaluate the components of organizational culture, including norms, values, beliefs, and behaviors, through qualitative and quantitative methods, to identify areas for improvement or alignment with organizational goals and values.  Establish metrics and identify measures to track progress, identify areas of success, and make data-driven adjustments to strategies and initiatives that promote organizational wellness. Trainers Rachel Navarro, PhD, LP  Topaza Yu