Past Events

Registration has closed for this event. Conversations around bias, race, and equity can prove uncomfortable; however, open communication is critical for advancing principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in your mental health organization. Meeting the needs of clients in the diverse Pacific Southwest requires attention to these principles and mental health providers must first build their personal capacity if they hope to deliver equitable services.    Mitigating bias and advancing diversity, equity and inclusion require personal skill-building. These sessions will provide you with tools to communicate, facilitate, and engage in conflict more effectively. Participants will learn the principles of engaging in courageous conversations to advance equity. Opportunities for practicing with peers and self-reflection are embedded in the sessions. Upon completion of the six-part, instructor-led series, participants will leave with a personal action plan and skills they need to advance equity in their work through courageous conversations.

The Great Lakes MHTTC offers this training for school mental health professionals and other behavioral health providers in HHS Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, and WI. This is part one of a two-part series.  To register for part two click here Now more than ever it is crucial to connect with the people close to you and to utilize the digital tools at hand. In a climate of social distancing, human connection is important for mental health. Humans have a natural need for social connection and enjoy feeling valued, cared for, and supported by others. 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. Learning Objectives: Provide data on the impact of social distancing to our mental health Discuss the risks of social isolation and loneliness to our health Provide strategies to maintain meaningful 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 session in full.

The concept of self-compassion will be elucidated through an experiential exercise, and the definition of self-compassion will be articulated. Several self-compassion practices will be presented. For more information on the final session in this series, click here.

Rebekah Demirel continues her provider well-being series in this fifth event. For many of us working in the fields of mental health services or teaching, we may notice that the very issues we help our clients with, are things we recognize in ourselves. Some of us didn’t learn how to care for ourselves because we weren’t adequately cared for in crucial stages of development. This session is focused on re-learning how to tend to ourselves with tender care. We’ll discuss how this useful teaching tool in our work not only gives us empathy, but can help us heal our own wounds. 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.  

Trauma and Intimate Partner Violence - Training for Cass Clay YWCA This event is open only to providers and affiliates of the Cass Clay YWCA serving the Fargo-Moorehead area. If you are interested in attending a similar training please contact David Terry at [email protected]  This training session is being provided to the Cass Clay YWCA team, and their partners, in response to a technical assistance request received by the Mountain Plains Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (Mountain Plains MHTTC) and Mountain Plains Addiction Technology Transfer Center (Mountain Plains ATTC). Dr. Tami DeCoteau, PhD, will provide a two-hour training exploring the impact of trauma on victims of intimate partner violence. This session will discuss the definitions of trauma, examine the neurophysiology of trauma responses, and model best practices for supporting clients and patients who have experienced trauma and intimate partner violence.  

Description: This webinar will explore how culture may influence and impact the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) instructor’s expectations and interactions with others, and how cultural experiences can impact mood and behavior.   Presenters: Jessica Henry, Ph.D., Vice President of Program Development and Evaluation for Black Mental Wellness, Corp., and Founder and CEO of Community Impact: Consultation & Psychological Services, received her B.S. from Howard University, M.A. from Columbia University, and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from The George Washington University. Also, she is currently the Clinical Director of a level-5 close security male prison. In essence, Dr. Henry is dedicated to reducing and eliminating barriers to receiving mental health treatment for African Americans and minorities and increasing access to mental health care for individuals and communities impacted by traumatic events. Dana Cunningham, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist and Faculty Consultant at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Cunningham is the Program Director of the Prince George’s School Mental Health Initiative, which is a school-based mental health program designed to support the emotional and behavioral needs of students in special education. Dr. Cunningham is also the Vice President of Community Outreach and Engagement in Black Mental Wellness. Dr. Cunningham obtained her bachelor’s degree from Spelman College and completed her doctoral training in Clinical Psychology at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Dr. Cunningham’s clinical and research interests include trauma, children of incarcerated parents, and increasing access to care for underserved youth.   Learning Objectives: •    Identify the role of culture in shaping interactions with others •    Define concepts associated with culturally responsive care •    Identify opportunities to incorporate culturally responsive practices within MHFA   Who Should Attend? Mental Health First Aid Instructors   Certificates of attendance will be available to viewers of 50% (30 minutes) or more of the live webinar (via email within 30 business days post-event). The webinar slide presentation and recording will be posted to the website.   This is a closed registration event.   

    The COVID-19 pandemic on top of growing racial tensions across the nation are impacting youth mental health—including stress, anxiety, and fear. With school closures and the digital divide, young people are missing a sense of structure and stimulation and are at greater risk for social isolation while not receiving the social support that is essential for their overall mental health and well-being. Join this NNED Virtual Roundtable in collaboration with the MHTTC Network Coordinating Office to learn how community-based organizations (CBOs) working with underserved and racially/ethnically diverse youth—Black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), immigrant and refugee, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and 2-spirit (LGBTQIA2S+)—are quickly shifting their practices and programs in today’s unprecedented environment to address these mental health needs. Responses to these growing needs of youth include bolstering methods for telehealth, shifting to more remote positions, and providing services in innovative ways. Panelists will share methods for how they are enhancing their staff’s skills and shifting roles to build resilience and competently respond in crisis situations. Objectives: Understand the national context of the behavioral health issues that underserved and racially/ethnically diverse youth are currently facing; Identify innovative approaches CBOs are taking to meet diverse youth where they are; Learn about unique CBO partnerships to address the behavioral health needs of diverse youth; and Learn how CBOs are increasing their staff capacity, socio-emotional skills, and self-care to quickly adapt and respond to crises. This is Part 1 of a 2021 NNED Virtual Roundtable series "Community-Based Organizations Build Pathways to Behavioral Health Equity for Communities of Color." Learn more about the panelists and the 2021 NNED Virtual Roundtable Series: https://nned.net/8349/ Facilitator Rachele Espiritu, PhD Founding Partner, Change Matrix Director, National Facilitation Center for the NNED  

Overview: This webinar will share best practices and lessons learned about creating permanent supportive housing programs for rural communities that meet SAMSHA fidelity guidelines. The presentation covers the philosophy, funding, and solutions for program challenges and potential next steps for interested communities.   Learning objectives: Introduce the permanent supportive housing (PSH) model Explore PSH models through a rural lens Analyze lessons learned from establishing rural PSH Describe the next steps for communities interested in implementing rural PSH   Speaker: Jennifer Lopez is a permanent supportive housing consultant with 22 years of experience in the field of affordable housing and homelessness programming. Based in Durango, Colorado, Lopez brings significant experience and ideas from multiple communities in her role as the co-founder and manager of Project Moxie, a consulting firm that helps communities plan for the implementation of permanent supportive housing. Since 2017, she has provided technical assistance to develop permanent supportive housing (PSH) in New Mexico, Colorado and Mammoth Lakes, California. In 2019, Lopez helped to facilitate the first affordable housing investment strategy for the Colorado Health Foundation as part of its health equity work in Colorado. Lopez also brings significant experience in affordable housing finance and program development to her work with local communities. This includes structuring complex bond and tax credit financing for affordable housing and supportive housing. From 2014-2017, Lopez worked across Colorado’s state agencies as the Director of Homelessness Initiatives for then-Gov. John Hickenlooper, implementing outcome-based policies and programs to prevent and end homelessness in Colorado.

In this presentation, Mid-America MHTTC specialists and partners with Omaha-based Community Alliance will demonstrate ways in which family peer support empowers families to support their loved one’s path towards recovery. In particular, participants will learn how recipients of family peer support: Learn to support their loved one’s autonomy; Learn to establish a focus on recovery with other members of the mental health team; Learn to prepare the mental health team to engage in recovery-oriented dialogue.   Family Peer Support: An Emerging Workforce  

This webinar series was recorded and you can access the recording and slides for both sessions here.  If you are interested in other Southeast MHTTC resources, including infographics and webinar recordings on the topics of school mental health policy, financing, workforce, trauma-informed prevention and outreach, and more -  please click here!        This webinar will provide an overview of practices and policies that can improve the school experiences of LGBTQ+ students. GLSEN Director of Public Policy, Aaron Ridings, will discuss policies that support LGBTQ+ youth in schools. GLSEN Senior Manager of Youth Programs, a.t. furuya, will discuss school practices that address the needs of LGBTQ+ students. LGBTQ+ Youth Speakers from the GLSEN National School Council will speak about how these school changes and supports would benefit them.        

  Overview Join the Mid-America MHTTC for an informational 101 on our approach to supporting health care workers: The Adult Resilience Curriculum for Health Professionals. This webinar is geared toward health care professionals, administrators, and stakeholders interested in developing a culture of well-being. Attendees will walk away with an understanding of the what, why, and how of the Adult Resilience Curriculum (ARC), as well as the most up-to-date information on stress: how it affects us psychologically and biologically, why it is necessary in certain situations, and how it relates to our overall well-being. ARC for Health Professionals is a 10-module model for implementing well-being at both the individual and organizational level. The curriculum is rooted in adult positive psychology and organizational well-being theories and has been adapted to apply across medical and educational settings. During the webinar, our Center will also present upcoming activities and trainings related to professional well-being, including a visit from two special guests: Dr. Jordan Thayer and Dr. Hannah West, to preview their new podcast, Burnout Busters.   Speakers   Dr. Erika Franta is the school mental health program director for the Mid-America MHTTC and an assistant professor in the psychology department at the Munroe-Meyer Institute at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Dr. Franta has specialized training in juvenile forensic assessments and treatment, which led to her passion for increasing access to mental and behavioral health care for children, adolescents, and families through school, medical, and community systems. Dr. Franta approaches her work through a strengths-based and prevention lens and takes a systems-level approach to implementation of mental health initiatives across all settings. She oversees our Center's team of faculty and regional trainers and engages in training and technical assistance with educational leadership teams and school mental health providers in implementation of comprehensive school mental health supports. Dr. Franta also provides training and supervision in psycho-educational assessments, school consultation, and integrated care. She received her doctorate in School Psychology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She completed her doctoral internship at Travis County Juvenile Probation in Austin, Texas, and her post-doctoral training at the Munroe-Meyer Institute.  Brittany Liebsack, PhD, LP, is a faculty trainer for the Mid-America MHTTC's school mental health team, developing and providing training and technical assistance at the universal, targeted and intensive levels. Passionate about the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based practices for children and their families, Dr. Liebsack helps our Center implement comprehensive mental health programming via the most accessible mental health providers for youths and teens: our schools. Throughout her undergraduate and post-baccalaureate research and clinical experiences, Dr. Liebsack became aware of and frustrated by the research-to-practice gap in the use of evidence-based practices in community settings and routine care. This led to her pursuit of graduate training and research interests in implementation, dissemination, and patient/family engagement in and barriers to treatment. Dr. Liebsack’s clinical interests include school mental health, integrated primary care, trauma/anxiety, and externalizing behavior. She earned her Ph.D. in Psychology at West Virginia State and completed her pre-doctoral internship at the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Munroe-Meyer Institute, where she is now a postdoctoral fellow. Jordan Thayer, PhD, PLP, is a postdoctoral fellow at the Munroe-Meyer Institute (MMI) for Genetics and Rehabilitation at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and is a member of the research and implementation team behind the Adult Resilience Curriculum (ARC). He received his doctorate in school psychology from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In both graduate school and in his work at MMI, he has split his time between collaborative research with schools and staff and practicing school-based mental health. These experiences developed Dr. Thayer's appreciation for the real-world challenges that every teacher faces when trying to implement what we know works to help kids develop academically, socially, emotionally, and mentally — particularly when teaching children with diverse backgrounds, experiences, and cultural values. Although recognized, these challenges are not always addressed, leaving teachers stressed and overwhelmed. ARC was designed to provide a flexible, contextual approach to support teachers’ personal well-being development by incorporating various skills and strategies into their daily lives. Dr. Thayer also works with school leaders and policymakers to remove outside factors that cause educator stress so that teachers’ well-being is supported by their own skills and by their environment. Hannah West, PhD, PLP, is a regional trainer for the Mid-America MHTTC and postdoctoral behavioral health provider at Sunflower Pediatric Behavioral Health in Shawnee, Kansas. Dr. West completed an undergraduate degree in psychology at Henderson State University, a master’s degree in clinical psychology at Missouri State University, and a doctorate in school psychology at Oklahoma State University. Dr. West is passionate about assisting schools and districts at the systems level through consultation and coaching to match student academic, behavioral and mental health needs with resources available through the development of multi-tiered systems of support. As a trainer for the National Association of School Psychologists’ (NASP) PREPaRE curriculum, she is also passionate about working with schools to implement best-practice prevention, intervention, and postvention supports related to school crises. She began working with the Mid-America MHTTC's school mental health team during her predoctoral internship at the Munroe-Meyer Institute, but recently was promoted to regional trainer in Missouri and Kansas. Professional Well-Being ARC for Health Professionals  

  Brought to you by Northwest MHTTC in collaboration with C4 Innovations Please note: we are no longer accepting applications for this opportunity; due to high demand, all seats have been filled. The Northwest MHTTC is excited to sponsor up to 25 spots for members of the workforce in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington State (HHS Region 10) to participate in this live learning community hosted by our partner, C4 Innovations.  We will email only those who are accepted or wait-listed to confirm their status and to follow up with registration details. We will conduct a lottery to select applicants and to create a wait list from the applications we receive.   Learning Community Description & Learning Objectives When we compassionately and skillfully incorporate best practices into our work, people are more likely to trust and allow us to partner with them to make positive changes in their lives. Embodying best practices is essential in our work with people who have too often been marginalized and mistreated. This training provides an overview of selected person-centered, racially-equitable, housing-focused, trauma-informed, recovery-oriented, peer-integrated, self-compassionate approaches that inform our work. Describe the four elements of the mindset and heart-set of best practices Give an example each of how white dominant culture perpetuates racism at interpersonal, institutional, and structural levels Describe three principles of trauma-informed practice Identify three benefits of integrating peer providers in service delivery Name three ways to foster personal resilience and renewal   Schedule This 5-week live learning community will be held over 5 Thursdays: March 18-April 15, 2021, at 10-11:15 AM Pacific Time. Target Audience Staff at all levels of health and human service agencies seeking to incorporate best practices into their programs. Training Certificates and Formal CEUs Available Certificates of completion will be awarded to participants who have attended all five live webcasts (or watched the webcast recordings in their entirety), completed all required learning activities, scored higher than 80% on each weekly quiz, and completed the course evaluation form and the certificate request form. Six (6) hours of continuing education credit will be awarded upon completion of this course through ASWB and NBCC. Ten (10) hours of continuing education credit will be awarded upon completion of this course through NAADAC. Certificates will be emailed directly to participants roughly two weeks after completion of the final session. Facilitators Ken Kraybill, MSW, has worked in healthcare, behavioral health, homelessness, and housing for the past 35 years. He is a Senior Trainer at C4 Innovations and is dedicated to improving the quality of care provided to marginalized and vulnerable people. Ken develops curricula and facilitates in-person and online training nationally on topics including Motivational Interviewing, trauma-informed care, outreach and engagement, clinical case management, peer integration, Critical Time Intervention, and supervision. Ken has a Master of Social Work from the University of Washington in Seattle and an undergraduate degree from Goshen College in Indiana. Kristen Harper, MEd, has spent her career creating, sustaining, and accrediting recovery high schools and helping others access recovery support services locally, nationally, and internationally. She delivers technical assistance to a wide range of community-based recovery support organizations, including secondary and postsecondary educational institutions. She founded the Center for Addiction Recovery at the College of Public Health at Georgia Southern University. Nastacia' Moore, BA, is a Training and Technical Assistance Coordinator for SPARC, a C4 Racial Equity Initiative working with communities to develop systems-level responses to historical racial inequities. She also provides technical assistance to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Continuums of Care. Prior to joining C4, she was lead HMIS trainer for the Indiana Balance of State and Program Manager of a permanent supportive housing program for families in Dayton, OH. 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.

The Great Lakes MHTTC offers this training in partnership with the Illinois Association for Behavioral Health for behavioral health professionals in HHS Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, and WI. This training will explore compassion fatigue: what it is, how it happens, and what to do about it.    Learning Objectives • Describe factors that lead to compassion fatigue • Demonstrate building blocks of empathy and navigating compassion fatigue • Develop plan for self-care strategies to increase first and second session attendance. Fee: $30.00 covers the cost of CEUs Note: this training has a registration limit of 45 participants.   Speaker Caddy Frink a woman in long-term recovery and Training Manager at Minnesota Recovery Connection, a Recovery Community Organization in St. Paul, MN. Caddy is a trained facilitator of the Recovery Coach Academy, Compassion Fatigue for Peer Recovery Support Professionals, Harm Reduction a Recovery Coach Pathway, Cultural Competence, and Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI). Caddy works within the recovery community to break stigma of SUD and support the community of recovery. She's worked with local and state agencies to ensure that the integrity of peer recovery support training is maintained. Through her work leading the Peer Support Alliance, she ensures that the Peer Recovery workforce has access to continuing education opportunities and to volunteer and employment opportunities to grow their skills as a Peer Recovery Support professional. When she's not advocating for recovery, you can find her.....(cats, gardening, organizing, friends, family) in Minneapolis, MN. CEUs IAODAPCA/ICB Categories: TBD *Pending approval Department of Financial and Professional Regulation:  Registered Social Worker CE Sponsor (LCSW, LSW, LCPC, LPC) Psychologist CE Sponsor

March 18, 2021 8:30am-12:30pm CST 9:30am-1:30pm EST The Great Lakes MHTTC offers this training to mental health and other behavioral health professionals in HHS Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, and WI. Interpersonal Effectiveness Skills module is the fourth 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 Distress Tolerance Skills April 8, 2021  8:30am–12:30pm CST/9:30am–1:30pm EST 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 will provide goals for interpersonal effectiveness and obtaining objectives skillfully in relationships.   Learning Objectives 1. Describe how Interpersonal Effectiveness skills fit within the larger picture of DBT. 2. Identify situations where clients can use Interpersonal Effectiveness skills. 3. Describe ways to teach Interpersonal Effectiveness skills to clients   Audience Mental health clinicians, community outreach workers, SUD counselors, crisis workers.   Presenter Kim Skerven, PhD DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified DBT Clinician Center for Behavioral Medicine   Kim Skerven, PhD, is a Licensed Psychologist and DBT-Linehan Board of Certification, Certified DBT Clinician. She practices DBT at the Center for Behavioral Medicine in Brookfield, WI. Dr. Skerven offers individual DBT, facilitates DBT Skills Training Groups, and provides supervision in DBT.          

Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Learning Objectives Learn how to help an adolescent experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. Note: You can attend this presentation on March 18 OR May 18. Please indicate your choice on the registration form.   Fee: $30.00 covers the cost of CEUs (IAODAPCA Continuing Education Units) Number of Units Offered: 6.5 Category:  Counselor I or II, Preventionist I or II, CARS I or II, CODP I or II, PCGC II, CCJP II, CAAP I, CRSS I or II, CPRS I or II, MAATP I or II, NCRS II, CFPP II, ATE, CVSS II Program No: 14654 Department of Financial and Professional Regulation Registered Social Worker CE Sponsor (LCSW, LSW, LCPC, LPC) License No 159.000535 Psychologist CE Sponsor License No. 268.000100 For more information about this training, please contact Riley Blythe: [email protected]  

Ethics in Practice 2021 - HHS Region 8 - Repeat Session March 18, 2021 8:00am - 11:30am MST | 9:00am - 12:30pm CST This session is hosted by the Mountain Plains ATTC and is a repeat of our March 11th training. No new material will be covered.   Join the Mountain Plains Addiction Technology Transfer Center (Mountain Plains ATTC) and Mountain Plains Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (Mountain Plains MHTTC) for a three-and-a-half-hour presentation on professional ethics for mental health professionals. Professionals across the Mountain Plains region face unique challenges when providing care in rural and remote settings and when using televideo services. During this session, Dr. Mita Johnson, President of the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC), will share insights and best practices from her 30-plus years of professional counseling practice.   This training is available only to individuals working in HHS Region 8 States (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, and WY). Registration is free and required. You must register and attend a live session to claim a certificate of attendance.   Topics Boundary issues and dual relationships Maintaining scope of practice Safe and ethical use of technology Appropriate referral to treatment Being an ethical professional Maintaining a culture of ethical practice   Certificates of Attendance No pre-approved Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available for this session. Certificates of attendance are available for this session and will reflect 3 hours of training attendance. Certificates of attendance can be self-submitted to attendee's licensing boards as appropriate. In order to receive a certificate of attendance, you must register and attend the entire live training session. Training attendance will be tracked by the email address used during registration using the Zoom Webinar platform. Please do not share your registration link with colleagues. If you have a colleague interested in attending this training please encourage them to register and attend this session using their own email address.   Trainer Dr. Mita Johnson, EdD, LPC, MAC, SAP Dr. Mita M. Johnson has been practicing in the world of counseling, and addictions counseling, for the past 30 years. Dr. Johnson has extensive experience as an addiction counselor and brings that expertise and leadership in advancing ethical practice. She is the President of NAADAC and is a member of the Executive Committee. Her academic background includes an Ed.D in counselor education and supervision. Dr. Johnson is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Masters Addiction Counselor, and Substance Abuse Professional.

Join us for a monthly open consultation call for the adult peer workforce on documentation. Facilitated by Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon, these are open monthly consultation calls for Region 10 (Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Idaho) supporting the adult peer workforce. These calls are intended for peer support specialists, supervisors of peers, and administrators of peer-delivered services and programs. You may join any or all of these calls. While we use a recurring Zoom link, you are welcome to choose the sessions that work for your schedule and interests. Facilitator 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. 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.

The Great Lakes MHTTC and PTTC offer this training for behavioral health professionals in HHS Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, and WI. All 45 minutes sessions will be from 12:30-1:15 PM CST. You will need to register for each session you want to attend. The Great Lakes MHTTC and PTTC will host a series of interactive calls for people who want to broaden and enhance their use of Motivational Interviewing skills in their role of leader or supervisor. This learning opportunity provides supervisors with a no-cost, easy to access opportunity to continue to build their practice skills towards fidelity. All sessions will be geared towards multiple levels of learning.  Supervisors may choose to attend all sessions or select from the menu of options. Dates and topics are listed below. Learning Objectives: Observe and practice fundamental skills: Listening, open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summarization Describe Motivational Interviewing: purpose, benefits and limitations Prepare to apply the spirit of Motivational Interviewing to supervision interactions   Dates and Topics:  1/20/21: Motivational interviewing and supervision: The evidence base REGISTER 2/17/21: REALLY listening to understand REGISTER 3/17/21: The spirit of MI in supervision REGISTER 4/21/21: Let your employee know you’re working hard to understand them REGISTER 5/19/21: Guiding others towards change with your open mind REGISTER 6/16/21: Taming your inner cheerleader- Increasing confidence and importance to change in your staff REGISTER JULY: NO SESSION 8/18/21: Encouraging change while handling being stuck with care REGISTER 9/15/21: A big clue that you and the employee aren’t on the same page REGISTER 10/20/21: Growing and supporting change in your employee REGISTER 11/17/21: Planning for change REGISTER DECEMBER: NO SESSION

Join Aleks as she helps us identify stigmas and stereotypes of mental illness and then adopt a mental wellness perspective that promotes positivity into practice. The Northwest MHTTC is excited to collaborate with Aleks Martin, MSW, LSWAIC, SUDP, to deliver a webinar and podcast series as part of our support for provider well-being. Find out more about the series here. Presenter Aleks Martin (S/he pronouns, but they is ok) has been in the health and social service field for over 20 years. Aleks was drawn to the LGBTQI2+ community in their mid-twenties working for a national HIV-prevention study with youth called, Young Asian Men’s Study (YAMS). This exposed them to the great work of HIV workers from other organizations and how community-based programs are critical in reaching out to the most vulnerable populations. During this time, they worked as a Disease Intervention Specialist with Public Health - Seattle & King County for 7 years, including working on the pilot study for the Rapid HIV Test Kit (then a 20-minute test). A big portion of their professional career was spent at Seattle Counseling Service, a behavioral health agency for the LGBTQ community. From 2003 to 2019, Aleks started as Database Manager, Health Educator, Program Coordinator to Chemical Dependency Counselor and Addictions Program Supervisor. This was the safe space where their yearning for higher education was cultivated so they could serve their community further. As a graduate of the University of Washington’s School of Social Work - Masters Program, Aleks developed their skills as a mental health clinician and social justice advocate. Aleks’ perspectives where shifted and allowed them to have a wider lens for diversity, inclusion and equity. Aleks was inspired to start a private practice to address the special needs of the LGBTQI2+ and BBIPOC (Black, Brown, Indigenous and People of Color), particularly Queer and Trans Asian and Pacific Islander people dealing with unique and special issues that intersect with race/culture and gender/sexuality like coming out, spiritual conflicts, cultural dissonance, gender transition, social navigation at work and other environments, interpersonal relationships from intimacy to friendships, understanding relationships with non-LGBTQI2+ partner(s), and so on. 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.

The Northwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center School Mental Health Team will be presenting at  The 18th International Virtual Conference on Positive Behavior Support! Presentation materials & recordings will be posted here after the event. About The Conference: The Association for Positive Behavior Support’s 18th International Virtual Conference on Positive Behavior Support will feature over 100 oral presentations, posters and pre-conference workshops highlighting empirical findings, assessment and intervention methods, current topics, and other aspects of Positive Behavior Support (PBS).   When: March 17 (9:30am - 7:00pm) to - March 19 (9:30am - 7:00pm) See the Agenda. Download the Conference Brochure. Visit here for more detailed information. Northwest MHTTC Conference Presentation & Session Details Mental Health & PBIS: Regional Collaboration and Capacity Building A panel of NW region collaborators share an ongoing effort across four states to meet the needs of students & support their well-being by leveraging resources & building a common way of work using MTSS core features.   Objectives: Participants will learn how multiple SEAs, training and TA providers, universities, and professional organizations are streamlining and coordinating efforts to support all students, families and staff.  Participants will be able to describe some examples of how this group of collaborators are building a common way of work using the MTSS core features, assessing needs and addressing workforce gaps through training and implementation supports, creating learning communities and building infrastructure to support these efforts over time.  Participants will learn more about how to leverage different funds to achieve common goals.   Presenters:  Kelcey Schmitz [email protected] University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA Susan Barrett [email protected] Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, USA Justyn Poulos [email protected] Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Olympia, WA, USA Eric Bruns [email protected] University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA Jessica Swain-Bradway [email protected] Northwest PBIS Network, Portland, OR, USA Kurt Hatch [email protected] Association of Washington School Principals, Olympia, WA, USA Katie Bubak-Azevedo [email protected] Idaho State Department of Education, Boise, ID, USA 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 to behavioral health and prevention practitioners 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 relational skills.  LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Describe Motivational Interviewing: purpose, benefits and limitations Summarize each of the four processes in Motivational Interviewing Recognize differences between engagement helps and harms Prepare to apply the spirit of Motivational Interviewing to patient interactions Observe and practice fundamental skills: Listening, open-ended questions, affirmations, reflective listening, and summarization. This is a three-part training.  Participants will need to attend all of the sessions.  The session dates and times are:  March 17, 2021 March 24, 2021 March 31, 2021 All session times are 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.

Description: Both loneliness and social isolation pose myriad health risks. They have been linked to diverse health outcomes like depression, reduced cognitive functioning, and reduced immune functioning. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to implementation of unprecedented “social distancing” strategies crucial to limiting the spread of the virus. In addition to quarantine and isolation procedures for those exposed to or infected with COVID-19, social distancing is a required measure amongst the general population to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. This webinar will discuss these constructs, how COVID-19 has affected our ability to manage them and review coping strategies to help combat the negative implications of these constructs. Download Flyer   Presenter: Scott Lewis, Ph.D. has over twenty years of experience in mental health and substance use treatment. He has worked as a crisis clinician and outpatient co-occurring disorder therapist. His managerial experience has included supervising an outpatient dual diagnosis clinic, administrator for a long-term residential substance abuse rehabilitation center and is currently the Program Director for the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Western Psychiatric Hospital’s inpatient, dual diagnosis and trauma units. He received his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Penn State University, his masters degree in professional counseling from Carlow University, and his doctorate in counseling education and supervision from Duquesne University.   Learning Objectives: Define the constructs of loneliness, isolation, and social distancing, their intra-relatedness, and the mechanisms by which they lead to poor physical and mental health  Review how the COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased attention on social isolation and loneliness affecting individuals of all ages Review intervention strategies to help combat loneliness and social isolation   Who Should Attend? All medical professionals, behavioral health professionals, school personnel, community members, researchers   Certificates of attendance will be available to viewers of 50% (30 minutes) or more of the live webinar (via email within 30 business days post-event). CEUs are not offered for this session. Webinar slide presentations and recordings will be posted to the website.  

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common and debilitating condition. Lifetime prevalence in the U.S. has been found to be 2.5% and OCD is considered a top 10 cause of disability by the World Health Organization. This presentation will use didactic training along with a question and answer session to explore what OCD is and what it is not. We will also include the similarities and differences regarding pediatric presentation of OCD and compare it to adults. We will then differentiate OCD from anxiety and discuss when obsessive- compulsive symptoms warrant an actual diagnosis and what falls within the “normal range.” The COVID-19 pandemic will be explored regarding its impact on both the general population and OCD sufferers. Despite being common and debilitating, OCD is also very manageable when treated properly. A behavioral therapy technique known as exposure and ritual prevention (ERP) is the treatment of choice for OCD. The last segment of this presentation will focus on practical strategies when working with someone with OCD and the specific components of ERP. Learning Objectives Attendees will learn: The symptoms of OCD and conditions commonly mistaken for OCD. The similarities and differences between pediatric OCD presentation and that of adults. The psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.   Presenter:  Bradley Riemann, PhD, Chief Clinical Officer of Rogers Behavioral Health System Dr. Riemann is the chief clinical officer and clinical director, OCD Center and CBT Services at Rogers Memorial Hospital. Dr. Riemann is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board, and Chair of the Clinical Advisory Committee of the International OCD Foundation. Read Dr. Riemann’s complete bio.