Training and Events Calendar

The South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center is thrilled to host a free, one-hour event on Reflective Supervision. This event is specifically for those new to the concept or within three years of practice/participation. The webinar is open to early childhood mental and behavioral health providers within the HHS Region VI states including Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.  The South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center is honored to host Nat Vikitsreth, a nationally award-winning decolonized therapist and facilitator, trans rights activist, and host of the Come Back to Care Podcast, to present on the topic. This webinar is open to all curious and compassionate early childhood providers who meet the criteria listed above and are looking to understand Reflective Supervision as a means to grow, create, and connect.  The heART of Reflective Supervision: Attunement, Reflection, and Togetherness webinar will help shape experiences providing and participating in reflective practices across disciplines. Join us for an hour of education, “a-hah” moments, and strategies to elevate the work in and around Reflective Supervision.  Objectives Participants will be able to: Define Reflective Supervision and the participating roles Learn strategies for providing and receiving Reflective Supervision Describe how equity and the parallel process are involved in Reflective Supervision Facilitator Nat Vikitsreth, LCSW (she/her) works as a nationally award-winning decolonized therapist and facilitator, a trans rights activist, and host of the Come Back to Care Podcast, which you can visit here. She founded Come Back to Care to help anyone who loves and raises children to heal as they get free.   

WEDNESDAY, May 22, 2024 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. PT Session 4 of 4 in the "Rooting Young Adult Mental Health Services in Culturally Sustaining Values & Practices" Series (view series main page for full details)    Honoring and Supporting Peer Support in Healing-Centered Approaches May 22, 2024: Session 4   This session’s essential question is: How might organizations truly value, uplift, and support the wisdom and skill of those with lived experience? Join us as we explore peer support in healing-centered engagement. The learning objectives include: How YYA serving organizations can implement peer support providers, and uplift lived experience professionals Learn about the power and benefits of peer support in a young person's life Ways to implement peer support in young people's treatment plan as a way to promote employment opportunities and belonging How to create youth leadership programming and youth voice initiatives   Main Series Program Goals Counter the impacts of vicarious trauma and burn out by creating a safe and responsive learning community for the YYA workforce to be heard and seen in their efforts to support the holistic needs of their clientele. Build an understanding of healing centered engagement and approaches to youth development and case management that strengthens service provision for transition-aged youth. Expand our organizational and individual capacity to support young adult holistic wellness, critical consciousness development, and collective healing.     Audience All community-based organizations, institutions, and mental health professionals, including peer support specialists, therapists, psychologists, counselors, and others who support the mental health and wellness of transition-aged youth.     Meet the Co-Facilitators & Faculty   Oriana Ides, MA, APCC, PPS (she/hers) Oriana Ides is a School Mental Health Training Specialist at CARS (the Center for Applied Research Solutions) and approaches healing the wounds of trauma and oppression as core elements of social justice. She has worked with young people across the life course from elementary school to college, and has served as teacher-leader, school counselor, classroom educator and program director. She is committed to generating equity within school structures and policies by focusing on evidence-based mental health techniques and institutional design.   Falilah “Aisha” Bilal (she/her) Falilah “Aisha” Bilal has worked joyously for over 30 years creating innovative, relevant evidence-based strategies to transform, empower and develop individuals, systems, organizations and contemporary thought. Ms. Bilal’s work is centered in healing practices, empowering youth and families, and self-discovery.  Ms. Bilal specializes in the field of youth development, healing informed organizational development, and strategic fundraising consultation. Currently Ms. Bilal serves as the Chief of Staff for the Black Organizing Project as well as directs her own consulting company where she provides trainings, curriculum development, healing experiences, coaching, and executive leadership to local and national agencies, companies and programs. Previously, Ms. Bilal served as a Senior Trainer with the National Black Women’s Justice Institute and a Radical Healer with Flourish Agenda.  She served as the Executive Director for M.I.S.S.S.E.Y. raising over 2 million dollars in funds to support sexually exploited children and young adults.   She has worked for numerous Bay Area agencies including World Trust, Alameda County Sheriff’s Department, Oakland Bay Area CARES Mentoring Movement, GirlSource, Office of Family, Children and Youth, City of Oakland, and the Young Women’s Freedom Center. Ms. Bilal holds a M.A. in Counseling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies and a B.A. in Theater Arts and Child Psychology from San Francisco State University.

  With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many healthcare providers found themselves abruptly thrust into the world of telehealth services delivery. As agencies, clinicians, and clients increased the use of these new technologies and methods of clinical practice and collaboration, an apparent need for ethical best practices within this modality arose. This presentation will emphasize ethical best practices using technology and telehealth, ethical responses to unique challenges faced by clients and providers using this modality, and ethical concerns unique to using virtual methods in clinical practice.    LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of this educational activity, learners will be able to: Identify ethical concerns specific to virtual service delivery in their clinical practice.  Identify ethical responses to challenges associated with the use of virtual technologies.  Identify and mitigate limitations in the use of technology and virtual platforms in their work.     CERTIFICATES: Registrants who fully attend this event or training will receive a certificate of attendance via email within two weeks after the event or training.      PRESENTER:  Dr. Jill D. Stinson is a licensed clinical psychologist and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at East Tennessee State University. She received her dual doctorate in Clinical Psychology and Psychology, Policy, and Law from the University of Arizona prior to serving as the Director of Sex Offender Treatment at Fulton State Hospital with the Missouri Department of Mental Health. Her teaching focuses on professional ethics, forensic psychology, and psychological assessment, while her research focuses on serious mental illness, personality disorders, self-regulatory problems, and histories of early childhood maltreatment in persons who have committed violent and sexual offenses, as well as issues related to community re-entry, stigma, and suicidality in justice-involved populations. Dr. Stinson has authored three books related to etiology and treatment of sexual offending and motivation to engage in therapy. She is the incoming Editor-in-Chief for Sexual Abuse, Chair of the ETSU Campus IRB, and Secretary of the Board of the Council of University Directors of Clinical Psychology.      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.

A series of monthly calls for ACT psychiatric care providers. Offered in collaboration with the Institute for Best Practices at the University of North Carolina. ABOUT THIS EVENT Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is a multidisciplinary, team-based model that provides intensive community-based and outreach-oriented services to people who experience the most severe and persistent mental illness. The vast majority also have a co-occurring substance use disorder and many experience comorbid medical illnesses. The Northwest MHTTC is hosting a series for ACT psychiatric care providers. We welcome all ACT psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and other prescribers. Sessions will be held once a month on Thursdays at 12:00-1:30 pm Pacific/3:00-4:30 pm Eastern. Learn more about the series and upcoming sessions here. This presentation will define an ACT Psychiatrist, discuss ACT Team and Psychiatrist expectations, and share how to best advocate for the client while working within a multidisciplinary team setting. Learning Objectives At the end of the presentation participants should be able to do the following: Describe ways in which ACT psychiatry differs from other psychiatric practices and is a unique version of community psychiatry Identify skill sets important for ACT Psychiatrists Understand personal characteristics which serve ACT Psychiatrists well and make the work fulfilling FACILITATORS Steve Harker, MD Dr. Steve Harker has been committed to the ACT model for almost 20 years in a variety of roles. Dr. Harker is an ACT psychiatrist based in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is a certified ACT Fidelity Reviewer and frequently conducts case consultations to PACT teams in Washington state. He also advises students in Hennepin-Regions' psychiatry residency program and conducts training in Hennepin-Regions' Training Institute.   Ann Hackman, MD Dr. Ann Hackman is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.  She completed her psychiatry residency training at the University of Maryland in 1994.  She is a board certified psychiatrist with added qualifications in forensics and addictions.  She is the Division Director for Community Psychiatry, Medical Director for the University of Maryland’s Programs of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT), Senior Education Consultant and Senior Psychiatrist for the Recovery After Initial Schizophrenia Episode (RA1SE) program.  She has longstanding interest in serious mental illness, in the treatment of people living with schizophrenia and in underserved populations including people experiencing homelessness.

Restorative practices in schools focus on building and maintaining positive relationships, addressing conflicts, and repairing harm. It involves proactive approaches like circles and community-building activities, as well as reactive processes like restorative conferences to resolve conflicts and restore relationships. By prioritizing empathy, accountability, and communication, restorative practices foster a supportive and inclusive school culture, reducing disciplinary issues and promoting social-emotional development among students. This presentation will provide an introduction to and review of restorative practices and will address readiness for implementation at the school level.

TUESDAY, MAY 28, 2024 10:00 - 11:15 a.m. HT / 12:00 - 1:15 p.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. MT / 2:00 - 3:15 p.m. CT / 3:00 - 4:15 p.m. ET Session 5 of 8 in the "Provider Plática Learning Collaborative" Series / Sesión 5 de 8 de la Serie "Colaboración de Aprendizaje para una Plática entre Profesionales" (view series main page for full details / consultar la página principal de la serie para ver toda la información) Provider Plática Learning Collaborative: Supporting the Training Needs of Practitioners of Spanish Language Mental Health Services Colaboración de Aprendizaje para una Plática entre Profesionales: Respaldando las Necesidades de Capacitación de los Profesionales que Prestan Servicios de Salud Mental en Español May 28: Session 5 / 28 de mayo: Sesión 5   Welcome to Session 5 in this series! / ¡Bienvenidos a la Sesión 5 de esta serie!   Collaboratively held by the National Training & Technical Assistance Center (NTTAC) and the Pacific Southwest MHTTC this Provider Platica program is a monthly collaborative space for peer learning and resourcing. This session and all that follow are an open, bilingual space for members of the mental health workforce to share common challenges and experiences when providing services to Spanish-speaking communities with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) as well as high-quality resources and innovative solutions. All levels of Spanish language proficiency and comfort are welcome. Este programa de Plática entre Profesionales, llevado a cabo colaborativamente por el Centro Nacional de Capacitación y Asistencia Técnica (NTTAC por sus siglas en inglés) y el Centro de Transferencia de Tecnología de Salud Mental del Sudoeste del Pacífico (MHTTC por sus siglas en inglés), es un espacio mensual de colaboración para el aprendizaje entre pares y la facilitación de recursos. Esta y todas las demás sesiones son un espacio abierto y bilingüe donde los miembros de la fuerza laboral de salud mental podrán compartir desafíos y experiencias en común a la hora de prestar servicios a las comunidades de habla hispana con un Dominio Limitado del Inglés (LEP por sus siglas en inglés), así como recursos de alta calidad y soluciones innovadoras. Son bienvenidas las personas con cualquier nivel de dominio del español y comodidad con el mismo.   Audience / Audiencia Mental health professionals across the country and U.S. territories, including clinicians, peer counselors and others who provide services to Spanish-speaking individuals with Limited English Proficiency (LEP). We welcome providers in a wide range of professional settings, including clinical, community and government agencies, education, private practice, and more. Profesionales de la salud mental de todo Estados Unidos y sus territorios, incluidos médicos clínicos, consejeros entre pares y otras personas que prestan servicios a hablantes de español con un Dominio Limitado del Inglés (LEP por sus siglas en inglés). Les damos la bienvenida a profesionales provenientes de una amplia variedad de entornos, que incluye instituciones clínicas, comunitarias, gubernamentales, educativas, consultorios privados y demás.   About the Facilitators / Conozcan a las Facilitadoras Lisa Teyechea (she/her) is highly skilled and experienced in technical assistance, training, and project developer in areas of public health, prevention, and behavioral health. Other skills include evaluation and grant writing. More than 20 years designing and implementing systems of care and programming at agency and community levels, while approaching work with a trauma-informed lens. Lisa Teyechea (ella) está altamente capacitada y posee una enorme experiencia en asistencia técnica, capacitación y desarrollo de proyectos en las áreas de salud pública, prevención y salud conductual. Entre otras habilidades suyas se incluyen la evaluación y redacción de solicitudes de subvenciones. Posee más de 20 años de experiencia diseñando e implementando sistemas de atención y programas a nivel institucional y comunitario, abordando su labor desde una perspectiva informada sobre el trauma.     Kristi Silva (she/her) has over 15 years’ experience providing culturally responsive training and technical assistance – especially for Latine and Native American communities – at the local, state, and national level. In addition to subject matter expertise in health equity and policy, Ms. Silva is an experienced researcher and evaluator, with specialization in community-developed best practices requiring an adapted evaluation methodology. She has worked in partnership with communities impacted by pan-generational trauma to develop strengths-based policies and practices that are sustainable and rooted in a social justice framework. As a professional who now serves communities like the one she comes from, Ms. Silva brings an essential lens of lived experience to the work. Kristi Silva (ella) tiene más de 15 años de experiencia brindando capacitación y asistencia técnica culturalmente receptiva —especialmente a comunidades latinas e indígenas norteamericanas— a nivel local, estatal y nacional. Además de ser experta en asuntos de equidad y políticas de salud, la Srta. Silva es una evaluadora e investigadora experimentada, especializada en mejores prácticas desarrolladas por la comunidad que requieran una metodología de evaluación adaptada. Ha trabajado junto con comunidades impactadas por el trauma pangeneracional para desarrollar prácticas y políticas basadas en las fortalezas que sean sostenibles y se fundamenten en un marco de justicia social. Como una profesional que ahora atiende a comunidades similares a aquellas de donde proviene, la Srta. Silva lleva a cabo su trabajo con una perspectiva fundamental de experiencias de vida.     (view series main page for full details / consultar la página principal de la serie para ver toda la información)  

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. 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.  

  The Mid-America MHTTC is a proud sponsor and member of the planning committee for the Middle America School Mental Health Conference.    Learn more: Middle America School Mental Health Conference    

ABOUT THIS EVENT The Northwest MHTTC is excited to collaborate with the Mountain West AIDS Education & Training Center Program (AETC) on this webinar series related to sexual health.  Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) data collection and documentation are a key component of enhancing meaningful dialogue during clinical encounters and promoting the provision of high-quality care. The collection of SOGI data are a critical step in systematically documenting and addressing health disparities affecting LGBTQIA+ persons. Client-provider discussions about SOGI can facilitate a more accurate assessment of self-reported health and behaviors. Accurate SOGI data collection is a vital part of establishing a good client-provider relationship and conveys competence and humility. The second session of the series will highlight best practices for obtaining and documenting SOGI data and help build provider skills and confidence in these activities. Learning Objectives  Define and differentiate sexual orientation, gender, and sex.  Differentiate gender modality, identity, and expression.  Identify how asking questions about sexual orientation, gender, and sex improves healthcare for the patient and explain this value to others.  Describe how stigma operates in healthcare environments and identify strategies to counter stigma.  Utilize affirming language when asking sexual orientation, gender, and sex questions of all patients.  Part 2 of the Sexual Health Series (click to view all sessions in this series). FACILITATORS Lydia Chwastiak, MD, MPH Dr. Chwastiak received her MD degree from the University of Pennsylvania, completed residencies in both internal medicine and psychiatry, and obtained research training through an NRSA-funded fellowship in psychiatry and primary care at UW. Over the past eighteen years, her research has focused on improving the medical care and medical outcomes among individuals with schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses. She has authored or co-authored more than 60 peer-reviewed publications related to epidemiology and treatment of cardiovascular risk factors among patients with serious mental illness. She has been the Principal Investigator or a co-I on numerous (federally- and non-federally) funded research projects to develop and implement interventions to improve cardiovascular and mental health outcomes among complex patients in low resource settings in the US and in India and Nepal. Dr. Chwastiak is the Principal Investigator and co-Director of the SAMHSA-funded Northwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (NW-MHTTC), which aims to support the implementation of evidence-based practices for patients with serious mental illness across a variety of settings in HHS Region 10. Dayna Morrison, BA, MHP Dayna K. Morrison, BA, MHP, brings over 20 years of experience working with people living with HIV/AIDS in Oregon and abroad. In her current role as Program Manager for the Oregon AETC and Lead Faculty for SOGI (sexual orientation/gender identity), Ms. Morrison has provided capacity building assistance to health care systems, federally qualified health centers, and clinicians in efforts to build more inclusive healthcare environments. Additionally, she has coordinated the LGBTQ+ Health Coalition of the Columbia-Willamette since 2010 representing LGBTQ+ voices in Health Equity Workgroups through the Oregon Health Authority. Previous professional positions include Director of HIV Services at Quest Center for Integrative Health, and Program Coordinator for the CDC Global AIDS Program.   Rachel Greim, MPH Rachel Greim (she/her) is the Equity Manager with the Oregon AIDS Education and Training Center (AETC), located at the Oregon Primary Care Association. She is originally from southern California and moved to Portland to complete her MPH at the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health, where she focused on reproductive health, community health, and sexual and gender minority health. In her work at the AETC, she coordinates the biennial 2SLGBTQ+ Meaningful Care Conference and delivers trainings on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) to clinics and other healthcare settings. Her work also supports the Oregon Health Authority’s Office of Equity and Inclusion in implementing SOGI data collection by state-funded programs. In addition to her SOGI work, Rachel coordinates trainings on antiracism and trauma-informed care for HIV care and service providers around the state of Oregon.

Event Description Historically, school psychologists functioned in narrow roles in school districts, and many school districts lacked the mental health services students require.  Multi-tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) is based on a public health model of providing services and interventions to students as needed.  This training will discuss the components of a school-based behavioral health model that addresses students’ mental health needs from prevention/promotion to early intervention to intensive services. Learning Objectives: 1.Participants will understand the components of behavioral services in an MTSS model 2.Participants will learn about how universal behavioral health screening occurs in schools 3.Participants will learn about workforce development strategies needed to create an effective mental health workforce 4. Participants will learn how to develop partnerships required to implement comprehensive behavioral health models to schools Trainer Andria Amador, Ed.D, NCSP Andria Amador is the Senior Director of Behavioral Health Services for the Boston Public Schools (BPS).  Andria has dedicated her career to urban school psychology and began her career as a school psychologist before becoming an administrator.  Andria, along with her staff and partners, have developed the Comprehensive Behavioral Health Model (CBHM).  CBHM is a multi-tiered system of supports designed to support the behavioral health needs of students across a continuum of prevention, early-intervention and intensive services.  Implementation of CBHM requires BPS school psychologists to expand their scope of service delivery to include all NASP Domains of Practice.  Andria had the pleasure of serving as the Past President of the Massachusetts School Psychology Association.  She is the Delegate Representative for the Northeast for the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and is also the coordinator of the NASP Supervision Interest Group.

  Learn more: Nebraska School Mental Health Conference    

This 90-minute virtual consultation call with ACT teams and ACT stakeholders consists of a mini-didactic training on a topic of relevance and interest to ACT teams, plus opportunities to pose consultation questions and learn from other ACT teams and their shared experiences within ACT. ABOUT THIS EVENT Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is a multidisciplinary, team-based model that provides intensive community-based and outreach-oriented services to people who experience the most severe and persistent mental illness. The vast majority also have a co-occurring substance use disorder and many experience comorbid medical illnesses as well as homelessness. This is a vulnerable population and their providers – ACT teams – are at elevated risk themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Northwest MHTTC is partnering with the Institute for Best Practices at the University of North Carolina to host and facilitate regular meetings for ACT teams.  Goals of the meetings are to: connect with one another share strategies and resources for adapting team practices and communications    facilitate connection to the most up-to-date resources    For more information or questions, contact: Maria Monroe-DeVita, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine and Director of the Washington State Center of Excellence in First Episode Psychosis or Lorna Moser, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Director of the Institute for Best Practice, Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS SERIES FACILITATORS Lorna Moser, PhD Dr. Lorna Moser is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, and the Director of the Institute for Best Practice, Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health.     Maria Monroe-DeVita, PhD Dr. Monroe-DeVita is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine and the Director, Washington State Center of Excellence in First Episode Psychosis.    

Join us for the South Southwest MHTTC First Episode Psychosis (FEP) Conference on June 5th – 6th. Our 2024 theme, Pausing with Purpose: Guiding FEP Care with Human Connection, focuses on the crucial role of human connection in effective FEP care. The theme underscores the importance of fostering genuine relationships among those involved in FEP care, including team members, young people in services, family and other supporters, as well as connecting with ourselves. We invite those committed to transforming FEP care, including providers, researchers, and those with lived experience, to join us for the South Southwest MHTTC FEP conference. Let’s pause and reflect on how being in a relationship can drive FEP care.   Click here for more information

  Humor is a part of daily living that has been shown to improve mental, physical, and emotional health. Laughter can bring us through some of the darkest times when hope seems glim. Despite the benefits and need for laughter and humor, helping professionals are taught very little about the therapeutic benefits of humor in treatment and recovery. In fact, it is sometimes discouraged in the helping professions. In this presentation you will learn strategies to incorporate humor in your work with clients.     LEARNING OBJECTIVES: By the end of this presentation, you will be able to: Understand the research on the benefits of using humor to improve physical, mental and emotional health Use humor more effectively in your work with clients Use humor to improve rapport with clients and to help clients grow in recovery Use humor to help reduce burnout and increase organizational morale     CERTIFICATES: Registrants who fully attend this webinar will receive a certificate of attendance via email within two weeks after the event.      PRESENTER: Tom Farley Tom Farley grew up in Madison, WI and graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in Marketing.  He began his career in banking and finance, living and working in the New York City area.  From 1999 to 2012, he ran The Chris Farley Foundation, a nationally recognized non-profit dedicated to substance abuse prevention. Like his brother, Tom was successful in opening the “eyes and ears” of youth audiences through the powerful and effective use of humor.  In 2008 he wrote “The Chris Farley Show”, a New York Time bestselling biography of his late brother, the actor and comedian Chris Farley.  He has been interviewed on The Today Show, Good Morning America, Larry King Live, Fox News and The View. He has also been featured in People Magazine, USA Today and several national and regional newspapers and publications. Tom has served on the Dane County Human Services board and several non-profit boards. Tom works for Rosecrance Behavioral Health as the Professional Relations Coordinator for Wisconsin. He is also a motivational speaker, delivering messages on prevention and recovery. Tom lives in Madison, WI.     The Great Lakes A/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 South Southwest MHTTC hosted the Educator Wellness and Trauma-Informed Classrooms Master Training event for Texas Education Service Centers (ESC).  This optional learning community is a space to share new resources, research, and tools to support the implementation of this training in Texas. We will provide a space to share what is working, any challenges experienced, and brainstorm ways that the South Southwest MHTTC can support the leaders implementing this training. This group meets the first Thursday of every month from 9:00 - 10:00 am CT.

This workshop will explore the vast array of situations and settings in which a harm reduction lens can be utilized in behavioral health. Harm reduction incorporates a spectrum of evidence-based and evidence-informed strategies (from safer use, to managed use, to abstinence) to meet individuals engaged in high-risk behavior “where they're at” while addressing symptoms and diagnoses. Join this 4-hour virtual training for an introduction to harm reduction, to learn how to implement harm reduction strategies, and for tools to navigate conversations on access to lethal means. The six principles of harm reduction will be taught (humanism, pragmatism, individualism, autonomy, incrementalism, and accountability without termination), including how they relate to the role of the clinician. Important Note: A recording of this webinar will NOT be provided. Please only register for this event if you are able to attend live.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES After attending this training, participants will be able to: Understand harm reduction opportunities, and the role of safe injection facilities and housing first opportunities in harm reduction Understand the role of the clinician, and list ways a clinician might assist the person served in their treatment Demonstrate knowledge on the 6 principles of harm reduction specific to healthcare settings   CONTINUING EDUCATION Participants who fully attend this virtual training will be eligible to receive 4 continuing education (CE) hours certified by NBCC. The hosting agency (WAFCA) will manage the dissemination of CE certificates after the conclusion of the event.   PRESENTER Myranda Green, LLMSW Myranda Green holds a Bachelor’s degree in social work from Grand Valley State University and a Master’s degree in social work from Western Michigan University. She has extensive experience developing and managing crisis services systems, making her a vital member of TBD Solutions Clinical and Crisis Services team. Myranda also brings leadership skills and a passion for developing relationships to her consultant role.   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 is proud to collaborate with the University of Washington Integrated Care Training Program (UW ICTP) to present "Cultivating Integrated Care within the Behavioral Health Ecosystem," an in-person conference being held June 6-7, 2024, in Seattle, WA. ABOUT THIS EVENT Integrated care is a crucial component of the behavioral health ecosystem. Supporting our patients and care teams in integrated care requires critical innovations, rethinking approaches and strengthening systems. Join a community of partners to share ideas, learn about clinical and community-level innovations in integrated care, and help improve behavioral healthcare and health equity in the State of Washington and beyond. This conference is open to medical and behavioral health clinicians in integrated care settings, program and clinic administrators, policymakers, peer supports, and other staff supporting integrated care work. For more details and to register, please view the flyer and visit the 2024 Integrated Care Conference website.   Dates Thursday, June 6, 2024,1:00 PM - 6:45 PM PST Friday, June 7, 2024, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM PST Location DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel | 18740 International Blvd, Seattle, WA 98188 The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel is located near the light rail station with direct access to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Conference Breakout Threads Building Connections Across the Behavioral Health Ecosystem Integrated Care Skills Workshops Workforce Strategies in Integrated Care Pre-Conference Skills Sessions  

The South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC), invites Region 6 Peer Specialists and Family Partners to participate in our monthly networking meetings. These no-cost, virtual meetings offer you the opportunity to collaborate with other Peer Specialists and Family Partners in a supportive, mentoring environment. The goal is to provide a space for resource sharing, support around ways to be most effective when working with clients, options for self-care strategies, and more! This event takes place on the first Friday of each month from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. CT.  About the Facilitator:  Jessi Davis (she/they) is an experienced Program Coordinator with a demonstrated history of working in the Peer Support, Mental Health, and Substance Use Recovery fields. Jessi is known for work surrounding Youth and Young Adult Peer Support training, technical assistance, and leadership. Their qualifications include Mental Health Peer Specialist, Recovery Support Peer Specialist, Peer Recovery Support Specialist – Transitional Aged Youth, and Digital Peer Support certifications. Currently working at the South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center, Jessi works to provide support, technical assistance, and training to the peer workforce throughout the 5 states and all tribal communities within Region 6. They have spent much of their career focused on Youth and Young Adult Peer Support and is currently the President of the National Association of Peer Supporters.

This learning community is closed to select participants.  To learn more about this series, visit the homepage: Implementing Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) in Kansas  

Motivational Interviewing (MI) is an evidence-based collaborative conversational style used to help strengthen an individual's own motivation and commitment to change. In this interactive, skills-based workshop, participants will have the opportunity to learn about and practice the spirit, relational skills, and technical skills of MI.   Note: Participants must complete Motivational Interviewing: Relational Skills (Level 1) to be eligible to attend Motivational Interviewing: Technical Skills (Level 2). Those who fully attend Level 1 will automatically receive an invitation to register to attend Level 2. More info can be found on our MI and SBIRT Training 2024 webpage.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Define and summarize the processes of focusing and evoking Identify different strategies for focusing and how to apply them to client interactions Define and recognize change talk, sustain talk, and discordance Differentiate between client cues of readiness, ambivalence, and discordance Construct effective responses to different client cues Design a plan for advancing individual MI skills   CONTINUING EDUCATION: Registrants who fully attend this training will be eligible to receive 9 NAADAC certified continuing education (CE) hours. CE certificates are sent via email within two weeks after the conclusion of the training.   TRAINER: Sue EckMaahs has practiced and trained Motivational Interviewing (MI) for over 30 years.  With a background in Sociology, she has provided MI implementation, training, and coaching services to thousands of professionals and over two hundred organizations, nationally & internationally.  Her audience spans mental health, substance abuse, public health & primary care, education, child protection/family reunification, workforce development, and re-entry/corrections.  On a personal note, she loves hiking with her partner Steve & dog, Cassie.     To ensure all participants get the most out of these interactive virtual trainings, we ask that everyone be prepared to do the following in every session: The Great Lakes A/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 South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) invites peer specialists from across Region 6 to apply for the Healing & Power in Peer Support training. Studies have shown that most people will experience trauma at least once in their lifetimes. In order to be effective, peer specialists should have an embodied understanding of trauma and healing. The Healing & Power in Peer Support training was developed to train peer supporters on the concepts of power and healing-centered practice, and how those concepts impact peer support. The Youth and Young Adult Peer Support training is available for anyone who works, or is interested in working, as a peer specialist. The only prerequisite to attendance is that participants must have previous formal training in peer support practice (e.g., their state’s Peer Specialist certification training, Intentional Peer Support, etc.). This three-day training provides participants with a foundation for how power shows up in peer support relationships, how Healing-Centered Engagement principles can foster healing relationships and “power with,” and how peer specialists can integrate healing-centered principles into their practice of supporting others and themselves. This is a highly experiential training, where participants will integrate practice with their own lived experience through structured reflection, group discussion, and interactive activities. The application deadline is May 22, 2024. Learning Objectives: At the end of this training, it is envisioned that participants will be able ​​to: Identify the basic principles of Healing-Centered Engagement; Employ radical acceptance and empathy to foster healing relationships; Define the concept of “meaning-making” and how storytelling plays a role in healing; Apply skills for holding space in relation to supporting self and others; Describe the different forms that power can take; Assess power dynamics within a peer support relationship to foster “power with” another person; and Understand how racism and oppression impact power dynamics both broadly and specifically to peer support.     Facilitators: Jessi Davis (she/they) is an experienced Program Coordinator and Peer Specialist with a demonstrated history of working in the Peer Support, Mental Health, and Substance Use Recovery industries. Jessi is known for work surrounding Youth and Young Adult Peer Support training, technical assistance, and leadership. Currently working at the South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center, Jessi works to provide support, technical assistance, and training to the Peer Workforce throughout the 5 states and all tribal communities within Region 6. They have spent much of their career focused on promoting access to quality Peer Specialist services across the lifespan. Darcy Kues (she/her) is a Project Manager with the South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center and the Addiction Research Institute, where she writes curricula focused on peer support and recovery services. She has over 7 years of experience in curriculum development, grant writing, and program coordination for peer support services and recovery-oriented behavioral health. Darcy has developed trainings on reentry peer support, youth and young adult peer support, trauma responsiveness, peer support supervision, LGBTQ affirming services, and more. She is committed to building a world where recovery and lived experience are centered at every level of decision-making.

  “There is no health without mental health.”  – World Health Organization (WHO)   The notion of integrated care in the field of healthcare has evolved over time. Historically, integrated care referred to the integration of mental health and addictions treatment, which is now called behavioral health. Today, integrated care refers to the integration of behavioral health and physical health.   Integrated care is a best practice for supporting person-centered holistic healthcare due to the use of interprofessional collaboration with a focus on achieving the Quintuple Aim in healthcare. There is an expanding lens of integrated care beyond biomedicine that incorporates co-production of knowledge. This 90-minute virtual session will cover what constitutes integrated care, the shift from fee-for-service to value-based care, the collaborative care model, resource hubs, practice frameworks, and expanding perspectives on this evolving approach to care.       LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Participants will: Be able to define integrated care within the context of mainstream medicine Learn about the Collaborative Care Model as an integrated care best practice Understand integrated care practice frameworks and expanding care perspectives     CERTIFICATES: Registrants who fully attend this event or training will receive a certificate of attendance via email within two weeks after the event or training.        PRESENTER: Jean Balestrery, PhD Jean E. Balestrery holds a Joint PhD in Social Work and Anthropology from University of Michigan, a MA in Anthropology from University of Michigan, a MSW from University of Washington and a BA from Brown University. Dr. Balestrery is founder and CEO of Integrated Care Counsel, LLC, a Spirit of Eagles Hampton Faculty Fellow and a licensed independent behavioral health clinician. An interdisciplinary scholar-practitioner with more than twenty years of combined experience in research, training and practice, Dr. Balestrery has presented research nationally and internationally with a focus on holistic health and wellbeing across the life course. Dr. Balestrery is currently a National Association of Social Workers Committee Member for LGBTQ+ Issues, Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Grant Reviewer and Study of Environmental Arctic Change (SEARCH) Co-Production of Knowledge discussion participant.     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.

Event Description Clinical and psychological assessments are crucial diagnostic tools; however, it is the assessor, not the assessment, that diagnoses, and as such our tools are only as good as our understanding of science and theory. We will review important trauma theory and science and its implications for diagnosis; and considerations for taking a trauma-informed approach to psychological and clinical assessment will be discussed.  Trainer Melanie Wilcox, PhD, ABPP  Dr. Melanie Wilcox is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences, Institute of Public and Preventive Health, and Department of Psychiatry at Augusta University. She is also a licensed psychologist and board certified in counseling psychology and works part-time in private practice providing both therapy and assessment via telehealth. Her clinical areas of expertise include culturally responsive and trauma-informed care as well as substance abuse and addiction. Her research focuses on culturally response and antiracist psychotherapy and training, racial and socioeconomic inequity in higher education, and racial and social justice more broadly. She is in her final year as a member of the American Psychological Association’s Board of Educational Affairs, which she chaired in 2020, and is currently President Elect-Elect of APA Division 17, the Society of Counseling Psychology. 

ABOUT THIS EVENT The Northwest MHTTC is excited to collaborate with the Mountain West AIDS Education & Training Center Program (AETC) on this webinar series related to sexual health.  The prevalence of HIV among people who have serious mental illnesses is four times as high as that of the general population. Factors that contribute to increased HIV risk include: psychiatric symptoms (e.g., disorganized thoughts and behaviors, delusions and poor executive functioning); higher rates of co-occurring substance use and other HIV risk behaviors; increased risk of social vulnerabilities, including poverty and housing instability; structural barriers (such as stigma and discrimination) to accessing medical care and prevention services in traditional medical settings. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) refers to medications for HIV-negative people to prevent them from getting HIV-infected. Current guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend informing all sexually active adults and adolescents about PrEP, but in a large 2020 survey of outpatient mental health care programs, only 33% of programs offered HIV testing and only 20% prescribed PrEP. Behavioral health treatment settings offer opportunities for identifying the need for PrEP and linking clients to services. Our third session will provide information about the effectiveness of PrEP for reducing risk of acquiring HIV and describe criteria for eligibility and best practices for initiating and monitoring persons receiving PrEP prescriptions. Learning Objectives: • Provide an overview of PrEP • Review PrEP efficacy and effectiveness • Assess PrEP side effects, risks, HIV-1 drug resistance, and other concerns Part 3 of the Sexual Health Series (click to view all sessions in this series). FACILITATORS Lydia Chwastiak, MD, MPH Dr. Chwastiak received her MD degree from the University of Pennsylvania, completed residencies in both internal medicine and psychiatry, and obtained research training through an NRSA-funded fellowship in psychiatry and primary care at UW. Over the past eighteen years, her research has focused on improving the medical care and medical outcomes among individuals with schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses. She has authored or co-authored more than 60 peer-reviewed publications related to epidemiology and treatment of cardiovascular risk factors among patients with serious mental illness. She has been the Principal Investigator or a co-I on numerous (federally- and non-federally) funded research projects to develop and implement interventions to improve cardiovascular and mental health outcomes among complex patients in low resource settings in the US and in India and Nepal. Dr. Chwastiak is the Principal Investigator and co-Director of the SAMHSA-funded Northwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (NW-MHTTC), which aims to support the implementation of evidence-based practices for patients with serious mental illness across a variety of settings in HHS Region 10. Joanne D. Stekler, MD, MPH Dr. Stekler began her career working to expand routine HIV antibody testing and access to pooled HIV nucleic acid amplification testing to diagnose acute HIV infection. She has led several studies investigating novel methods to diagnose acute and early HIV infection; comparisons of point-of-care HIV tests; and home, self-testing for HIV infection. Her current work is evaluating the feasibility of implementing point-of-care nucleic acid tests for HIV diagnosis and treatment monitoring in community and clinical sites in Seattle. Her other interests include HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and use of technology for HIV prevention. Dr. Stekler started the first community-based PrEP clinic in Seattle in 2013 and the first telePrEP clinic in 2015. Through collaborations with the Washington State Department of Health and Mountain West AIDS Education and Training Center, she has been working to expand access to PrEP to reduce healthcare disparities among populations disproportionately impacted by HIV.