Join Pacific Southwest MHTTC Associate Director Heliana Ramirez, PhD, LISW, and Program Manager Tiara Peterkin, LCSW, for an interactive discussion about virtual and socially distanced resources for mood management over the 2020 holiday season. Learn about apps, virtual support groups, curated videos about resilience in diverse communities, and the presenters’ own “secret sauce” for managing the ups and downs of the 2020 holiday season as Latinx and Black mental health providers. Share your own self-help skills and the resources you provide clients to get through the difficulties of the holiday season—we look forward to learning with one another!
An optional 1.5 Continuing Education Hours are available for mental health professionals. There is no fee to attend this virtual event; a processing fee of $25 will be payable to Center for Applied Research Solutions (CARS) if you would like CEHs. CEHs are available for ASW, BRN, LCSW, LEP, LMFT, LPCC, and/or PPS as required by the CA Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) and CA Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). CARS is an approved provider for CA BRN #16303 and CAMFT #131736.
Heliana Ramirez, PhD, LISW, is a licensed clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience and Associate Director of the Pacific Southwest MHTTC. Dr. Ramirez has addressed a variety of clinical issues through individual and group interventions including suicide prevention and postvention, Veteran post-deployment health, psychosocial rehabilitation, LGBTQ minority stress and resilience, trauma-informed care with combat Veterans and survivors of sexual assault, HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C prevention, and substance abuse harm reduction efforts. Dr. Ramirez’s suicide prevention work with clients includes suicide assessments, developing Safety Plans, crisis intervention, and processing the impacts of suicide attempts through suicide post-ventions following hospitalization. Dr. Ramirez organized the nation’s first multi-state LGBT Veteran Suicide Prevention Conference and produced a documentary about trauma and recovery among LGBT Veterans that addresses suicide from a strengths based and culturally-specific perspective (www.camouflagecloset.com).
Tiara Peterkin, LCSW, is an advanced practice clinical social worker who has been working in the field for 8 years and a Project Manager with the Pacific Southwest MHTTC. Ms. Peterkin started her journey into social work in 2007 as a Peace Corps Volunteer serving as a Youth Development Volunteer in Costa Rica. After completing her social work degree with a concentration in mental health and military social work, she worked in several Veterans Affairs social work programs, including homeless outreach, combat PTSD, the emergency department, homeless case management, suicide prevention, and outpatient mental health. Under her stewardship, the suicide prevention program was able to increase outreach and engagement activities throughout the Pacific Basin and has received supplemental funding from the national office to demonstrate innovative practices in suicide prevention. Ms. Peterkin is passionate about suicide prevention and is thrilled to share her knowledge with the audience.
