Past Events

April 8, 2021 8:30am-12:30pm CST 9:30am-1:30pm EST The Great Lakes MHTTC offers this training for mental health and other behavioral health professionals in HHS Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, and WI. Distress Tolerance Skills module is the fifth in a series of seven DBT modules that will be presented every three weeks. Upcoming DBT Training webinars: (click on title to for link to registration for each session) DBT: Adolescent Adaptation Part I April 29. 2021    1:00–5:00 pm CST/2:00–6:00 pm EST DBT: Adolescent Adaptation Part II May 20, 2021  1:00–5:00 pm CST/2:00–6:00 pm EST This module includes crisis survival skills, building distress tolerance, and teaching reality acceptance skills. Learning Objectives Learn the relationship between distress tolerance skills and the secondary targets of inhibited emotions and unrelenting crisis.   Learn and be able to teach and illustrate the crisis survival skills of DBT. Learn and be able to teach and illustrate the reality acceptance skills of DBT. Audience: Mental health clinicians, community outreach workers, SUD counselors, crisis workers. Presenter:  Neal Moglowsky, L.P.C. DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, DBT Certified Clinician™ Neal Moglowsky earned his MS degree in Educational Psychology from UW-Milwaukee and is a Licensed Professional Counselor.  He completed advanced training in the treatment of anxiety disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and panic disorder.  Neal also enjoys working with couples.  He has been intensively trained in Exposure/Response Prevention for the treatment of anxiety disorders, as well as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) for difficulties regulating emotions.  Neal has been conducting DBT skills training groups since 1997.  He also has an interest in integrating mindfulness practices into his clinical work to help increase self-awareness and teach clients how to better control their focus and attention.  Neal has an infectious sense of commitment and motivation to enhance the health of the clients he works with.  His goal is to empower his clients to let their values and ethics drive their life choices rather than their emotions and impulses.  Neal is a Certified DBT Clinician through the Linehan Board of CertificationTM.

Wyoming Association of Special Education Administrators: Trauma Informed Practices in Schools Part 1 April 8, 2021 8:00am - 12:00pm MST This session is only available to attendees of the  Wyoming Association of Special Education Administrators Conference. This session will provide an overview of the HEARTS (Healthy Environments and Supports for Schools) framework focusing on trauma and stress, compassion and dependability, and cultural humility and equity.   Participants will:   Identify how trauma can impact learning, self-regulation, and subsequent behavior. Learn strategies to apply trauma knowledge to your classroom and/or school. Learn strategies for promoting trauma-informed school communities through the integration of cultural humility and equity.    Trainer Stefanie Winfield, MSW Stefanie Winfield is the School Mental Health Coordinator for the Mountain Plains MHTTC and a Research and Technical Assistance Associate with the WICHE Behavioral Health Program. As the school mental health lead, her work focuses on providing intensive technical assistance and training to educators, teachers, administrators, and school staff on ways to improve and enhance school mental health. Stefanie has extensive experience working in schools promoting youth sexual health, conflict and anger management, behavioral health education, and school-based health care.  

SERIES DESCRIPTION The Central East MHTTC in collaboration with the National Center for School Mental Health is pleased to offer a school mental health webinar series with a focus on advancing high quality, sustainable school mental health from a multi-tiered system of support, trauma sensitive, and culturally responsive and equitable lens. To familiarize yourself with the foundations of school mental health, please review the school mental health guidance document. Download the Series flyer here.   OBJECTIVES Gain increased awareness of high quality, sustainable multi-tiered system of school mental health supports and services Support trauma-informed systems in schools Discover the impacts of social determinants of health on student academic and social-emotional-behavioral success Learn to provide more culturally responsive and equitable services and supports Hear perspectives on school mental health from school, district and state levels Obtain insight into how youth, families, schools and communities can best work together to address student mental health needs   WHO SHOULD ATTEND? Educators, Administrators, Health and Behavioral Health Care Professionals, Child-Serving Agency Staff, Policymakers and Advocates    Scheduled Webinars for January – June 2021 Wednesday, January 6, 2021, 3:00-4:00 PM ET Trauma Responsive Care for Younger Students Slides   Recording Wednesday, February 3, 2021, 3:00-4:00 PM ET Addressing Systemic Racism: Creating Safe and Equitable Schools Slides   Recording Wednesday, March 3, 2021, 3:00-4:00 PM ET Creating Safe and Equitable Schools: Tier II Interventions and Considerations Slides   Recording Wednesday, April 7, 2021, 3:00-4:00 PM ET National Association of School Psychologists: School-Community Partnerships Slides   Recording Wednesday, May 5, 2021, 3:00-4:00 PM ET Youth MOVE: Leveraging Youth Advocacy Slides   Recording Wednesday, June 2, 2021, 3:00-4:00 PM ET Supporting Students Impacted by Racial Stress and Trauma Slides   Recording   Registration questions, Dr. Sylvia McCree-Huntley, [email protected] 410-706-0981

  Learn skills for Effective Communication and De-escalation Techniques with Colleagues, Patients, Staff and Community Members in a small group training setting with breakout rooms and a facilitated learning environment. This is part of Dr. Mauseth's Disaster Response and Behavioral Health series--click here for the full list of events Each topic is offered twice in the same week to allow more people to attend. You are welcome to attend any of the modules on any topic-- there is no prerequisite or attendance requirement to take part. Each module will teach skills and include break-out rooms. Since registration is limited, please check your schedule before registering. Presenter: Dr. Kira Mauseth is a practicing clinical psychologist who sees patients at Snohomish Psychology Associates, teaches as a Senior Instructor at Seattle University and serves as a co-lead for the Behavioral Health Strike Team for the WA State Department of Health. Her work and research interests focus on resilience, trauma and disaster behavioral health. She has worked extensively in Haiti with earthquake survivors, in Jordan with Syrian refugees and with first responders and health care workers throughout Puget Sound the United States. Dr. Mauseth also conducts trainings with organizations and educational groups about disaster preparedness and resilience building within local communities.   Want more information? Visit the Northwest MHTTC's Resource Library and Websites by Topic  and sign up for our monthly newsletter for regular updates about events, trainings, and resources available to the Northwest region.

NO-COST SPRING SEMINAR: NOW OPEN FOR REGISTRATION    Moving towards a trauma-informed and resilient organization involves intentional and equitable approaches to systemic and organizational change. This includes focusing on the well-being of all people within a system so that they can bring their whole, human selves to the important work they do to care for others.    The Pacific Southwest MHTTC is offering a Spring TIRO Health Care Leadership Seminar. This three-part learning series will help leaders at all levels understand the fundamentals of leading their organization towards becoming more trauma-informed and resilience-oriented.     WHO SHOULD REGISTER?    Executive, site level, and department leadership across all disciplines of the health center (including school based health centers); clinicians and clinical support staff, especially peer support staff; and administrators and health providers. Inter-professional teams are highly encouraged.    Note: Registrants must commit to attending all main sessions (in black font below); Communities of Practice (in green) and Practice Labs (in blue) are optional but highly recommended.    At this time, the seminar is only open to those living in Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and U.S. Pacific Islands of American Samoa, Guam, Marshall Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau.    WHAT WILL WE BE LEARNING?     Session content is comprised of a blend of brain science, principles for building a safe environment, and promising practices for trauma-informed systems. These are the main sessions and are mandatory for participation.     REGISTER HERE >   • • • • • •   Communities of Practice are peer support-based discussion sessions based on trauma-informed principles where participants will be able to share reflections, ask questions, and network with colleagues about their successes and challenges. These are optional though strongly encouraged.    REGISTER HERE >   • • • • • •   Practice Labs are case study-based sessions where the facilitators and participants present real life leadership dilemmas and receive coaching and advice from each other. Practice labs are optional and are also open to participants from the TIRO Fall Seminar Series (with CPCA).     REGISTER HERE >   • • • • • •   SCHEDULE & SYLLABUS (subject to change)   PART 1   Building the Foundations: TIRO Health Care Practices, Principles, and Paradigms    4/7 - Welcome and Introduction to the Seminar 2:00-3:15 p.m. PT (view your time zone) 4/14 - Community of Practice 1 - Safety, Trust & Transparency   2:00-3:15 p.m. PT (view your time zone)   • • • • • •     PART 2   Drafting the Blueprint: TIRO Health Care Approaches in Ourselves and Our Organizations    4/21 - The What: The Architecture of Human Development, Trauma, and Healing 2:00-3:15 p.m. PT (view your time zone) 4/28 - The So What: Key Principles of Trauma-Informed Approaches to Care 2:00-3:15 p.m. PT (view your time zone) 5/5 - Community of Practice 2 - Cultural Humility 2:00-3:15 p.m. PT (view your time zone) 5/12 - The Now What: Envisioning New Possibilities 2:00-3:15 p.m. PT (view your time zone)  5/19 - Practice Lab (also open to Fall CPCA seminar participants) 2:00-3:15 p.m. PT (view your time zone) 5/26 - Community of Practice 3 - Voice, Choice & Agency 2:00-3:15 p.m. PT (view your time zone)   • • • • • •   PART 3  Scaffolding the House: TIRO Health Care Approaches in Work Culture    6/2 - The What: Self and Collective Care 2:00-3:15 p.m. PT (view your time zone) 6/9 - The So What: Healthy Empathy, Boundaries, and Balance  2:00-3:15 p.m. PT (view your time zone) 6/16 - Community of Practice 4 - Peer Support + Collaboration & Mutuality 2:00-3:15 p.m. PT (view your time zone) 6/23 - The Now What: Low Impact Debriefing, Reflective Mentorship and Collegiality  2:00-3:15 p.m. PT (view your time zone) 6/30 - Practice Lab (also open to Fall CPCA seminar participants)   2:00-3:15 p.m. PT (view your time zone) 7/7 - Closing: Where Do We Go from Here? Moving our Learning into Leading  2:00-3:15 p.m. PT (view your time zone)      ABOUT YOUR FACULTY NKEM NDEFO, MSN, CNM, RN Nkem Ndefo is the founder and president of Lumos Transforms and creator of The Resilience Toolkit, a model that promotes embodied self-awareness and self-regulation in an ecologically sensitive framework and social justice context. Licensed as a Registered Nurse and Nurse Midwife, Nkem also has extensive post-graduate training in complementary health modalities and emotional therapies. She brings an abundance of experience as a clinician, educator, consultant, and community strategist to innovative programs that address stress and trauma and build resilience for individuals, organizations, and communities across sectors, both in the U.S. and internationally. LEORA WOLF-PRUSAN, EdD Leora Wolf-Prusan is the Director of Partnerships & Teaching at the Center for Applied Research Solutions (CARS). She provides consulting and training around issues related to trauma-informed and resilience-oriented leadership, organizational and school climate and positive youth development, provider mental health and wellness, grief in the workplace, and anti-racism and health, among much more. Leora is a full-spectrum doula. 

Please join us for our ESAS Webinar on April 7th from 12-1:30pm CST! Featuring our special guest speaker, Avis Garcia, PhD, LAT, LPC, NCC, Northern Arapaho

The school mental health supplement to the Northwest MHTTC is excited to co-sponsor the UW SMART Center's 2021 Virtual Speaker Series. Originally a series of in-person events, we have moved these presentations to a virtual format due to COVID-19. Join us on Wednesday, April 7th from 8:30 - 9:45am for a presentation by Ilene Schwartz, Ph.D., BCBA-D & Ginger Kwan of Open Doors for Multicultural Families who will present: "Using a Racial Equity Theory of Change (RETOC) to Facilitate Collaboration Between University Researchers and a Community Based Organization".   Open Doors for Multicultural Families and the Haring Center for Inclusive Education have been working together to increase the capacity of programs and provides to meet the needs of diverse children and families who have disabilities.  Recently we have worked through a process to create a joint Racial Equity Theory of Change (RETOC).  In this presentation we will share how this collaboration between a community based organization (CBO) and a university-based program came to be and what we do to support this partnership. We will also introduce the RETOC process and share the results of our process. Objectives: Participants will become familiar with the RETOC process Participants will increase their knowledge of variables that support the collaboration between CBOs and university-based organizations. *Clock Hours are Available!* Please note: This event will be limited to 500 attendees. Access to the live event will be available to registered participants on a first come, first serve basis. To secure a spot, we invite you to log on 5 - 10 minutes prior to the event. About the Presenters: Ginger Kwan, Executive Director of Open Doors for Multicultural Families Ilene S. Schwartz, Ph.D., BCBA-D Dr. Ilene Schwartz is a professor in the Area of Special Education at the University of Washington and the Director of the Haring Center for Research and Training in Education at UW. She earned her Ph.D. in child and developmental psychology from the University of Kansas and is a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA-D). Dr. Schwartz has an active research and professional training agenda with primary interests in the area of autism, inclusive education, and the sustainability of educational interventions. She has had consistent funding from the U.S. Department of Education since 1990 and serves on a number of editorial review boards including the Topics in Early Childhood Special Education and the Journal of Early Intervention. Dr. Schwartz is the director of Project DATA, a model reschool program for children with autism that has been in operation since 1997; and is currently working on projects to improve the quality of inclusive educational services in Washington state for students in P-12. Learn more and register for other events in the series here. Want more information and school mental health resources? Visit the Northwest MHTTC's School Mental Health page and sign up for our monthly newsletter for regular updates about events, trainings, and resources available to the Northwest region.

The Great Lakes MHTTC and ATTC offer this training for behavioral health professionals in HHS Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, and WI Motivational Interviewing is an evidence-based practice used to help people overcome their ambivalence about change.  In this interactive, skills-based workshop, participants will have the opportunity to learn about and practice the spirit of MI and both the relational and technical skills.  Prerequisite:   Participants in the Technical Skills training are required to complete Motivational Interviewing Foundation Relational Skills prior the Technical Skills training series:  Motivational Interviewing Foundation: Relational Skills (April 7, 21 and 28, 2021)  LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Define and summarize the processes of focusing and evoking Identify different strategies for focusing and prepare 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 This is a three-part series, participants will need to attend all three sessions.  The trainings dates and times are:  April 7, 2021 April 21, 2021 April 28, 2021 All trainings will be from 8:30 - 11:30 AM CST CEUS: 9 NAADAC CEUs will be awarded to participants who attend all three sessions. Partial credit will not be awarded. Trainer:  Laura A. Saunders, MSSW, is the Wisconsin State Project Manager for the Great Lakes Addiction, Mental Health and Prevention Technology Transfer Centers. Her position is housed at the UW–Madison, where she’s worked since 1988. Since 2001, Laura has provided SBIRT and Motivational Interviewing training to physicians, nurses, medical students, psychologists, specialty addiction treatment providers, social workers, physical therapists, health educators, and staff who work in correctional settings. She has provided feedback and coaching to hundreds of social workers, correctional staff, and other human service providers who are interested in using evidence-based practices with fidelity. Laura joined the international group of Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) in 2006 (Sophia, Bulgaria) and is an active member of the Wisconsin MINT group.

Come join our partners at UMASS Boston and our panel of Latinx and immigrant students, alumni, faculty, and staff from the Yale Program for Recovery and Community Health.   Hear from Latinx panelists how their cultural knowledge helped transform challenging lived experiences into careers “making a living while making a difference”. Learn about culturally affirming UMB resources promoting the educational success, wellness, resilience, recovery, and leadership of Latinx students to achieve goals and develop meaningful career paths.• Discover the many employers and professional settings seeking staff with cultural knowledge promoting equity and social justice for all our communities Learn how a minor in Latinx studies can support your academic and career success, complementing other experiences and amplifying positive personal and community impacts of your education. And, more!  

Join us for this quarterly learning and discussion opportunity for supervisors of peer staff in HHS Region 10 (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington). Topics are developed in response to group need. Facilitated through Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon, and supported by the University of Washington's Northwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center. Learn more about our events with MHAAO here. Facilitators Adrienne Scavera is the Training and Outreach Department Director for Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon (MHAAO), one of Oregon's oldest and largest peer-run organizations. In her role as a department director, Adrienne works to support the peer workforce from initial entry and training to systems-level advocacy. Currently, Adrienne serves on several committees and boards, including the Oregon Health Authority’s Training Evaluation and Metrics Program Scoring Committee and the state Traditional Health Worker Commission. In her work, Adrienne prioritizes the experience of individuals as the experts on their own lives. Over the years, she has worked in research, direct service, program development, management, training, and with non-profits, educational institutions, and peer-run organizations. She enjoys writing about herself in third person, well-organized spaces, and friendly animals. Janie Gullickson is a person in long-term recovery and for her that means she has not used alcohol or other drugs in over 12 years. Janie is in recovery from both addiction and mental health challenges as well as homelessness, incarceration, and criminal justice involvement. She navigated all types of systems and institutions that can accompany such life experiences, from frequent hospitalizations to prison. Janie was released from Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in September of 2006. Janie first began her work as a Peer Support Specialist/Recovery Mentor for Yamhill County HHS in McMinnville, Oregon in 2011. Janie joined the peer-run organization Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon (MHAAO) as a project assistant in 2014. In May of 2017 Janie became MHAAO’s Executive Director. She also earned her Master of Public Administration: Health Administration (MPA: HA) degree from Portland State University in June of 2017. Janie is passionate about social justice issues with a focus on mental health and addiction recovery, peer programs and services and advocacy in these realms. Want more information? Visit the Northwest MHTTC's Resource Library and Websites by Topic  and sign up for our monthly newsletter for regular updates about events, trainings, and resources available to the Northwest region.

Quarterly meet-up for non-provider ACT stakeholders who assume a role of overseeing ACT from a mental health authority perspective, funding ACT, providing ACT training and technical supports, which includes leading ACT fidelity reviews. The intent is to create a unique space to share challenges and solutions related ACT operations and services during the COVID-19 pandemic. This meet-up is hosted by Lorna Moser, PhD, of the Institute for Best Practices, UNC Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health and Maria Monroe-DeVita, PhD of the University of Washington Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Northwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center, the sponsor for these ACT meet-up events. 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. For more information or questions, contact: Lorna Moser, PhD, Director of the UNC ACT Technical Assistance Center in the UNC Department of Psychiatry’s Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health; and Coordinator of the North Carolina ACT Coalition. Maria Monroe-DeVita, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine; Co-Director of the Northwest MHTTC; and Director, Washington State Center of Excellence in First Episode Psychosis.    

About the Event:  Mental health care providers currently face a variety of challenges in their work-place setting and are at a high risk for experiencing burnout – negatively impacting professional and personal outcomes. Interventions to reduce burnout in mental health care professionals are needed. One promising intervention, entitled Burnout Reduction: Enhanced Awareness, Tools, Handouts, and Education (BREATHE), supports individual providers by focusing on building individual resilience and skills. Module 3 of this 3-part series focuses on building social support and integrating wellness practices in daily life.    Learning Objectives 1. Identify ways to address stressful interactions with others.   2. Identify strategies to build more social support at work.  3. Discuss ways to integrate wellness practices into daily life.     About the Presenter:  Michelle P. Salyers, Ph.D., is a Professor of Psychology at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). She directs the ACT Center of Indiana, a collaboration of academic and community partners, including researchers, administrators, clinicians, consumers, and family members who share an interest in recovery-oriented, evidence-based practices. The overarching goal of her work is to help adults with severe mental illness live meaningful lives in the community. Her research addresses both consumers of mental health services and the providers of those services. She is increasingly targeting the interaction of consumers and providers, looking for the best way to support relationships that promote recovery and well-being. Her current work involves developing effective ways to reduce staff burnout and to increase shared decision-making in mental health care.  

Please note: this session is now full and no longer accepting new registrations due to high demand. Learn skills for Effective Communication and De-escalation Techniques with Colleagues, Patients, Staff and Community Members in a small group training setting with breakout rooms and a facilitated learning environment. This is part of Dr. Mauseth's Disaster Response and Behavioral Health series--click here for the full list of events Each topic is offered twice in the same week to allow more people to attend. You are welcome to attend any of the modules on any topic-- there is no prerequisite or attendance requirement to take part. Each module will teach skills and include break-out rooms. Since registration is limited, please check your schedule before registering. Presenter: Dr. Kira Mauseth is a practicing clinical psychologist who sees patients at Snohomish Psychology Associates, teaches as a Senior Instructor at Seattle University and serves as a co-lead for the Behavioral Health Strike Team for the WA State Department of Health. Her work and research interests focus on resilience, trauma and disaster behavioral health. She has worked extensively in Haiti with earthquake survivors, in Jordan with Syrian refugees and with first responders and health care workers throughout Puget Sound the United States. Dr. Mauseth also conducts trainings with organizations and educational groups about disaster preparedness and resilience building within local communities.   Want more information? Visit the Northwest MHTTC's Resource Library and Websites by Topic  and sign up for our monthly newsletter for regular updates about events, trainings, and resources available to the Northwest region.

In this presentation, we describe varied forms of grief complicated contrasting them with manifestations of typical grief—and noting factors that make individuals at-risk for complications in the grieving process. We also describe varied evidence-based interventive strategies that have been used with individuals struggling with complicated grief. Finally, we note the ways complicated grief is acknowledged within the DSM-5 and the new diagnosis for Prolonged Grief Disorder that will be evident in the DSM-5-TR.   Presenter: Dr. Kenneth J. Doka is a Professor Emeritus, The College of New Rochelle, and Senior Consultant to the Hospice Foundation of America. Dr. Doka has extensive experience in the area of grief, is a prolific author and speaker, providing keynoted addresses internationally.  Dr. Doka participates in the annual Hospice Foundation of America Teleconference and has appeared on CNN and Nightline. In addition, he has served as. a consultant to medical, nursing, funeral service, and hospice organizations as well as businesses and educational and social service agencies. Dr. Doka was elected President of the Association for Death Education and Counseling in 1993. In 1995, he was elected to the Board of Directors of the International Work Group on Dying, Death, and Bereavement and served as chair from 1997-1999. The Association for Death Education and Counseling presented him with an Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Death Education in 1998 and Significant Contribution to the Field of Thanatology in 2014. In 2000 Scott and White presented him an award for Outstanding Contributions to Thanatology and Hospice. His Alma Mater Concordia College presented him with their first Distinguished   Alumnus Award. He is a recipient of the Caring Hands Award as well as the Dr. Robert Fulton CDEB Founder’s Award. In 2006, Dr. Doka was grandfathered in as a Mental Health Counselor under NY State’s first licensure of counselors. In addition, Dr. Doka is an ordained Lutheran Minister.

Current research supports that we, employees of systems and organizations, cannot produce desired outcomes for those we serve without a stable, engaged, and healthy workforce. As helping professionals, our wellbeing is affected; we often times take care of others and forget to tend to our own needs in the process. This training will provide an understanding of how to sustain yourself in the work by providing key learnings and mindset shift.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES:   Gain a deeper understanding of the meaning of workforce wellbeing and individual resilience Gain a deeper understanding of the parallel process of wellbeing for you and wellbeing for those you serve Gain ideas of how to attend to and improve your own wellbeing   Presenter:  Dr. Amelia Franck Meyer is the founder and CEO of the national non-profit, Alia: Innovations for people and systems impacted by childhood trauma. Amelia and Team Alia are leading a national movement to keep children safe with, not from, their families. Alia works with child welfare leaders who are innovators and early adapters in jurisdictions around the country and the globe to create transformational change child welfare. The new way of work is referred to as an “UnSystem;” although we don’t know what the new way will eventually be called, we know it’s not this system. Amelia was named as one of People Magazine’s “25 Women Changing the World” in 2018, and in 2020, Amelia was also named by AARP MN and Pollen Midwest as a 50over50 Honoree—System Reformer in the Disruptor Category. Amelia has a widely viewed TEDx Talk on the Human Need for Belonging. Along with many awards from her alma maters, Amelia has also been honored was a Bush Fellow and an Ashoka Fellow.

The Digital Peer Support Specialists: How We Got Here and Where We're Going April 6, 2021 10:00 - 11:00am MST 11:00 - 12:00pm CST This session will present a new category of peer support endorsement training - the digital peer support specialist. Dr. Karen Fortuna will discuss the latest scientific evidence regarding digital peer support services including telephone-based, video games, and smartphone app peer support services, the current landscape of offerings within the United States. Additional information will be provided on how to select technologies that promote recovery and discuss ethical challenges and opportunities to the future of peer support.   Learning Objectives Understand the evidence of digital peer support in supporting individual's mental health and substance use challenges Consider ethical issues in the development and use of digital peer support services in your work Comprehend the landscape of digital peer support services offered through the United States   Trainer Karen Fortuna, Ph.D., LICSW, Dartmouth College, Geisel School of Medicine

This is a closed event for Texas DFPS PEI Staff and Contractors. This event is by invitation only and will explore the benefits, practices and implementation strategies for Reflective Supervision.

The Great Lakes MHTTC offers this training for school mental health professionals and other behavioral health professionals in HHS Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, and WI. This is part two of the series, to register for part one click here In the wake of COVID-19 school closures, educators, parents, and students across the globe are coping with a new reality. In this webinar series we will explore research on belonging and connectedness, they key tenants of virtual communication for educators, and effective strategies for building virtual connectedness. Research has demonstrated just how vital school and teacher connections are for students. Students who feel connected to their school are less likely to be truant or have disciplinary issues and are more likely to succeed academically, as well as graduate.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Discuss the benefits of developing meaningful connections with students by providing effective relationship-building strategies for educators. Discuss utilizing weekly “check-ins” to measure student’s emotional well-being, as well as the importance of stimulating peer-to-peer connections.   Speaker: Angela Begres Angela is a licensed clinical social worker who obtained her MSW at the University of Chicago. She is an experienced trainer and presenter contracted both independently and through various nonprofits in the Chicago area, Michigan, and others, with experience integrating mental health education programs into the curriculum for students and staff within the Chicago and West Cook County public schools. In Partnership with the National Alliance for Mental Health (NAMI) Metro Suburban, Angela also developed a program to help decrease student stress and implement mindfulness in the classrooms. She has also worked with Chicago Family Services (DCFS) providing parenting education, with efforts to get parents reunited with their children.   Certificates of attendance will be available to all who attend the presentation in full.

The Phyllis & Harvey Sandler School of Social Work at Florida Atlantic University® and the National Hispanic & Latino Mental Health Technology Transfer Center will be hosting a free webinar for school mental health providers serving Hispanic and Latino families, children, and youths. The Phyllis & Harvey Sandler School of Social Work at Florida Atlantic University® is an approved provider of the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and Mental Health Counseling, the Florida Board of Psychology, the Florida Office of School Psychology, and the Florida Board of Nursing (BAP #50- 6251), as well as the Florida Certification Board (#5350-A) and the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE). Many states accept CEUs from CSWE-accredited institutions in other states.   Suicide prevention is an area of our work that is difficult to sustain a long-term commitment to. The emotional work takes a toll, and we must seek self-care regularly. Prevention strategies for Latinx and Indigenous populations are not singular nor is there one approach for all individuals or communities. Understanding the importance of cultural elements and the need to adapt any prevention strategies in order to be most effective is a primary task. Providers, community leaders, and parents must work together to uncover the reasons behind young people and adults reporting feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and despair. Visionaries and leaders must activate hope and compassion for those who seek a new approach to life’s problems. This session will explore strategies to encourage new approaches to prevention and treatment. Learning objectives: 1. Identify and discuss the current trends in data specific to hopelessness, feeling sad, and suicidal ideation among Latinx and Indigenous populations while considering suicidal behaviors beginning in adolescence. 2. Identify and discuss the intersections of racism and discrimination as they relate to suicide among Latinx and Indigenous populations. 3. Provide examples and resources for prevention strategies that have shown to be effective with Latinx and Indigenous populations.   Who should attend? This is an intermediate level workshop designed for mental health providers, school mental health providers, and school administrators.   About the speaker: J Rocky Romero, PhD, LMSW- Dr. Romero is the CEO and owner of JR Romero & Associates, a training and consultant company he started almost 20 years ago. Dr. Romero is a former Assistant Professor of the New Mexico Highlands University School of Social Work in Albuquerque, NM. He served as the co-chair for Governor Richardson’s appointed NM Higher Education Department on Cultural Competency Task-Force. Dr. Romero has also served as an Executive Council member for the NM-Consortium for Behavioral Health Training and Research to include other boards and committees. He completed his doctoral studies at the University of New Mexico in Language, Literacy and Sociocultural Studies with a focus on analyzing legal discourse through a critical race theory lens. Dr. Romero has been a trainer and consultant for the NATIONAL HISPANIC AND LATINO MHTTC for the last 10 years and a national trainer for Clare|Matrix, formerly the Matrix Institute, for the last 12 years. He is focused on culturally appropriate treatment while focusing on reducing health disparities for people of color. Lastly, Dr. Romero is focused on the intersections of racism, discrimination, and the impact of racialized legal discourse on people of color.

This month's national ACT Team meeting topic is “How to Have a Supportive Conversation About the Vaccine: Tips for ACT Teams” with Pat Deegan. This session will share new decision-aid tools: Me and the Covine Vaccine (English) Me and the Covine Vaccine (Spanish/español) COVID-19 Vaccine Conversation Tip Sheet Christians and the Vaccine 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. Learn more about the meetings here. 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 during the COVID-19 pandemic.   For more information or questions, contact: Maria Monroe-DeVita or Lorna Moser, PhD, Director of the UNC ACT Technical Assistance Center in the UNC Department of Psychiatry’s Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health; and Coordinator of the North Carolina ACT Coalition.  

School Mental Health Professionals Learning Series Winter 2021 Part 3 April 5, 2021 9:00am - 10:00am MST 10:00am - 11:00am CST The School Mental Health Professionals Learning Series is a free, professional development training series that addresses the pressing needs of mental health professionals from Region 8 (ND, SD, MT, UT WY, and CO). Each session will begin with a short presentation by an expert in the field, followed by discussion and review of topical case studies. Each participant is expected to present one case study. The group will meet once a month via Zoom.    This series is a continuation of our Fall 2020 School Mental Health Professional Learning Series. Previous attendance of the Fall series is not required, and we encourage new participants to sign up!   Attendance is limited to 30 individuals. To register, please contact Stefanie Winfield at [email protected]. Dates February 1, 2021 - 9:00am MST - Part 1 March 1, 2021 - 9:00am MST - Part 2 April 5, 2021 - 9:00am MST - Part 3 May 3, 2021 - 9:00am MST - Part 4 Facilitator Stefanie Winfield, MSW

Rebekah Demirel continues her provider well-being series in this sixth event. We know how much caring is needed in our world, though caring at times can feel like too heavy a load to carry. This session will focus on finding ways to keep caring, without carrying a burden. The Northwest MHTTC is excited to collaborate with Rebekah Demirel L.Ac. MPCC to deliver a webinar and podcast series as part of our Provider Well-Being activities. Series Description: "We Make The Path By Walking" is an eight-part webinar series designed to help us reckon with our turbulent world, offering support and direction for a clearer path forward and featuring an open forum. Interactive sessions bring focus and connection through meaningful group discussion, opening opportunities for personal exploration, insight and the discovery of new ways to navigate life with resilience and hope. Psychotherapeutic modalities drawn from East Asian medicine equips participants with self-nurturance skills such as, meditation and breathing practices, voice-work and body awareness techniques for day-to-day well-being and sharing with others. Presenter: Rebekah Demirel L.Ac.  MPCC is the founder and director of Trauma Integration Programs, with more than a decade as an ambulance paramedic, twenty-two years as a paramedic trainer, eighteen years of mental health counseling experience, specializing in traumatic stress and she is a licensed East Asian medicine practitioner and acupuncturist. Rebekah’s unique skill set and experience are informed by her own traumatic childhood and teen years spent on the street and in the foster care system, giving her a special familiarity and empathy for trauma and loss.      Want more information? Visit the Northwest MHTTC's Resource Library and Websites by Topic  and sign up for our monthly newsletter for regular updates about events, trainings, and resources available to the Northwest region.

Region 6 Peer Specialists and Family Partners working in First Episode Psychosis (FEP) and Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) teams! The South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC), in collaboration with PEPPNET, invites you to participate in our newly established monthly networking meetings. These no-cost, virtual meetings offer you the opportunity to collaborate with other FEP/CSC Team Peer Specialists and Family Partners in a supportive, mentoring environment. The goal is provide a space for resource sharing, support around ways to be most effective when working with FEP/CSC clients, options for self-care strategies, and more!