Past Events

  DESCRIPTION Eating disorders affect millions of Americans every year, and yet relatively few mental health professionals are prepared to work with this population. This 90-minute webinar will provide a foundation of core competencies that all mental health professionals need in order to recognize disordered eating in their clients, make appropriate treatment recommendations, and provide direct support, when appropriate. Led from a weight-inclusive, Health At Every Size(R) perspective, this training emphasizes basic skills and awareness every clinician should have for navigating mild or past disordered eating, as well as how to know when to refer a client for more specialized care.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES Identify how to recognize disordered eating in clients Define the levels of care for disordered eating, and when to refer clients out Identify how to use existing skills and approaches to serve clients struggling with food and body issues Describe how to support client stability in recovery from a past eating disorder Discuss how to work with clients on body image issues   PRESENTER Natasia James, MS is a Resident in Counseling with Rock Recovery, an eating disorder nonprofit based in Arlington, Virginia. She received her Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2021 at the University of Kentucky. She has a wide breadth of experience in the mental health field, including experience with both adolescents and adults with eating disorders in the Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient levels of care. Her approach is to create a space for clients to feel comfortable and safe, encourage self-exploration to resolve core issues regarding their disordered eating/negative body image, and help clients to evolve in their authenticity. She is passionate about creating inclusive spaces, and access to high quality of care for under-resourced communities.          

  ***This series is only open to HHS Region 5 Project AWARE grantees. Email Sarah Parker McMinn for the meeting link.***   The Midwest Center for School Mental Health and the Great Lakes MHTTC will be hosting a series of three interactive learning sessions for Project AWARE grantees. The sessions will focus on working towards sustainability of Project AWARE initiatives, with a focus on strategic planning, communication, partnerships and engagement, and organizational capacity. Each session will combine presentation, peer learning, and discussion.     TRAINING SCHEDULE: All sessions will take place virtually from 9:00 AM–10:30 AM CT/10:00 AM–11:30 AM ET. February 22: Sustainability and Strategic Planning March 28: Organizational Capacity and Communications April 25: Partnerships and Engagement (including with youth and parents)     HOW TO ATTEND: HHS Region 5 Project AWARE grantees should email Sarah Parker McMinn ([email protected]) for the Zoom meeting link and registration details.     CERTIFICATES: Registrants who fully attend this event or training will receive a certificate of attendance via email within two weeks after the conclusion of the event or training.     PRESENTERS: Mark Sander, PsyD Dr. Sander is a Senior Clinical Psychologist for Hennepin County and the Director of School Mental Health for Hennepin County and the Minneapolis Public Schools. He is a Certified Master Trainer on the Adverse Childhood Experience Study and a Visiting Scholar at Wilder Research. He is also on the Advisory Board for the Center for School Mental Health at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and a Board Member for the Minnesota Trauma Project. Dr. Sander has published journal articles and book chapters on school mental health and has presented extensively on school mental health and ACEs and developing trauma sensitive schools at local, state and national conferences. He has a private practice is Minnetonka, Minnesota.   Cheryl Holm-Hansen, PhD Dr. Holm-Hansen is a community psychologist who brings 30 years of experience conducting community-based research related to children’s mental health. In addition to serving as the Co-Director of the Midwest Center for School Mental Health, she manages a consulting firm specializing in children’s mental health research and strategic planning.   Her portfolio includes many evaluation and research projects designed to help schools, mental health providers, and local/state governments understand community needs, develop effective services, build stronger systems, and demonstrate impact. Prior to establishing her consulting practice, Dr. Holm-Hansen spent 21 years as a Senior Research Manager at Wilder Research in Saint Paul, Minnesota.     This training is provided with our valued partners from the Midwest Center for School Mental Health.     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.

Job Development is an important component of providing best-practice employment services and includes initiating and developing relationships with employers. However, many vocational services staff express discomfort and limited skills in interacting with the business community. This training will provide attendees with the tools to confidently approach employers and market their employment services.

1 in 36 school-age children are autistic. Autistic students are much more likely than non-autistic students to experience mental health challenges, including difficulty with emotion regulation and anxiety that may be exacerbated by experiences of bullying, victimization, and segregation within schools. There is an urgent need to support the mental and behavioral health of autistic students. The purpose of our two-part webinar office hours series is to provide overviews of how to identify and support anxiety in autistic students and to apply these strategies within case studies. This webinar will center on evidence-based approaches and practices that can be used within schools to help manage anxiety in autistic students. By the end of the webinar, participants will be able to: Describe evidence-based approaches to support anxiety in autistic students. Understand different ways that mental health programming can be delivered to autistic students in schools. Identify strategies that may support an autistic student as illustrated within two case examples.  

About the Event: Join us for this live webinar! Presenters will share ways that spirituality/religion (S/R) can promote strengths and struggles in the context of mental health challenges as well as discuss the process for offering spiritually competent care within mental health service organizations. Attendees will discover ways to collaborate with faith-based organizations in order to provide more holistic and long-term care as well as assess one's own clinical competence at attending to a client's spirituality/religion. Learning Objectives: 1) Understand ways that spirituality/religion (S/R) promote strengths and struggles in the context of mental health challenges 2) Learn processes to offer spiritually competent care within mental health service organizations 3) Discover ways to collaborate with faith-based organizations to provide more holistic and long-term care that might enhance recovery over time 4) Assess one's own clinical competence when it comes to attending to clients' S/R and identify one action step for further professional development   About the Presenters:  Joseph Currier, PhD, is Professor of Psychology at University of South Alabama (USA), licensed psychology, and Clinical Supervisor at Vets Recover A clinical psychologist by training, his research focuses on moral injury and applied psychology of religion/spirituality. He has published 124 peer-reviewed articles in support of these lines of work along with two books, entitled Trauma, Meaning, and Spirituality: Translating Research into Clinical Practice and Addressing Moral Injury in Clinical Practice. His work has been funded by the John Templeton Foundation (JTF), Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), and SAMHSA. He is Principal Investigator of the “Spiritual and Religious Competencies Project,” a JTF-funded grant aimed at catalyzing systemic and cultural changes in mental health fields to train clinicians to attend to peoples’ faith or spirituality. He is an editorial board member with Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, Spirituality in Clinical Practice, Traumatology, and Death Studies. He also served as Director of Clinical Training for the Clinical and Counseling Psychology Doctoral Program at USA from 2015-2020 and was a RWFJ Clinical Scholar Fellow from 2018-2021.   Melissa McKnight, MPH, is the Director of Community Integration with Vets Recover- a non-profit organization committed to transforming the culture of care by removing barriers to care, delivering quality integrated health care, and building a better community through recovery and connection.  Before joining the VRR team, Melissa worked in public health service as the Health Equity Officer at the Mobile County Health Department (2021-2022) and Deputy Health Director at the Jackson County Department of Public Health (2016-2021).  She has been long committed to improving the all persons’ well-being of all using a health equity framework, and through  community-based participatory research. Melissa is the Project Director on the SAMHSA Mental Health Awareness Training grant, providing Mental Health First Aid to Service Members, Veterans, First Responders, and their Families as well as the community at large in Mobile and Baldwin Counties.   Glen Milstein, PhD, is a licensed clinical psychologist and tenured Associate Professor of Psychology at the City College of New York.  He worked for ten years in psychiatric hospitals, struggling with how to bridge interventions of clinical science to life in community.  He saw the tenacity of religious beliefs and practices both help persons to cope, as well as at times impede clinical care. In order to recognize the borders between lived religion and clinical science, as well as to bridge these borders to facilitate community reintegration, our team developed and implements an adaptive public mental health program of Community Outreach & Professional Engagement (COPE).  A twenty-year program of research has led to peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, funding from the John Templeton Foundation, the Department of Veteran Affairs and the NIMH. COPE has been implemented with community mental health centers, churches, the Red Cross, and the United States Military. Dr. Milstein spent his recent sabbatical in the United Kingdom at the University of Cambridge in a dual position as a Visiting Scholar at the Cambridge Inter-Faith Programme in the Faculty of Divinity and as a Visiting Researcher at Darwin College.  

  Learn more: 31st Annual Coordinated School Health Conference     

The Region 6 Peer Support Advisory Committee (PSAC) to the South Southwest MHTTC meets on a monthly basis to collaborate across the states and tribal communities to identify and address common areas of need and share resources. Based on feedback from the PSAC, and needs identified by peers across Region 6, the MHTTC organizes training and technical assistance focused on peer retention and workforce development. This is a closed meeting.

This 2-hour webinar will discuss how race-based traumatic stress impacts mental health and how providers can create a safer environment for their clients. ABOUT THIS EVENT Racial trauma, or race-based traumatic stress, is the cumulative effect of racism on an individual’s mental and physical health. Trauma induced anxiety arrests the vocal process and blocks the creative flow of authentic self-expression. The trauma affects the involuntary nervous system, body, brain, and memory function. It is hard to recognize this level of trauma therefore clients are mislabeled as oppositional defiant, difficult to engage, or resistant. A lack of knowledge compromises clinical discussions and outcomes. It is imperative for a safe environment to be created where individuals can be seen fully as they are, without pretense. People of color, traditionally, don't feel welcomed and tend to avoid mainstream clinical resources and consequently are unable to access much needed sometimes critical resources.    Learning Objectives: Increase awareness of how trauma shows up in the body and impacts mental health Learn the difference between voicelessness and silence     Create a safe and supportive clinical environment for the voiceless  Decrease harm to marginalized communities seeking mental health services   Presentation Resources  Slides Implicit Bias Test Healing the Hidden Wounds of Racial Trauma by Kenneth V. Hardy, PhD Article: Experiencing racism may physically change your brain Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine by Uché Blackstock, MD FACILITATOR Sherronda Jamerson, MA, SUDP Sherronda Jamerson obtained a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology in 2012 from City University College in Seattle, WA, and became certified as a Chemical Dependency Professional in 2007. Her experiences include developing, implementing, and presenting EDI trainings to associations of healthcare professionals, healthcare providers, schools, and community-based organizations. She has also presented at state and national behavioral health conferences on the topics of DEI and Healthcare Equity. She presents with confidence and passion.    

Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Psychosis (CBT-P) is an evidence-based approach to support recovery for individuals experiencing psychosis. Case conceptualization can guide CBT-P individual treatment and team-based treatment in a multidisciplinary setting, such as a First Episode Psychosis (FEP) team. In these monthly case-based learning calls, First Episode Psychosis (FEP) Team Leads and Therapists in MHTTC Region 6 will practice using case conceptualization models for young people on their FEP teams. Each month, up to two providers will have the opportunity to present their case conceptualization and receive feedback from the group. Providers will be asked to submit their case conceptualization one week in advance of the call. Samantha Reznik, PhD, will facilitate the calls. Although the calls will practice using a CBT-P case conceptualization, other modalities may be integrated as clinically indicated by the conceptualization and an emphasis will be placed on shared decision-making and recovery-oriented approaches. Participants should expect to learn basic theory of CBT-P case conceptualization rather than to be competent in provision of full CBT-P. Further CBT-P training options will be discussed during the series.   Interested parties should register by completing this form by December 18, 2023 and expect to share at least one case conceptualization within the six-month series as well as having some materials to review in January. Applications will be reviewed and all applicants will be notified of the status of their selection by January 5, 2024. Accepted participants are expected to share at least one case conceptualization within the six-month series and will have some pre-work materials to review in January.   Facilitator Samantha Reznik is the current research postdoctoral fellow with the Advancing the Early Psychosis Intervention Network in Texas (EPINET-TX) project at the Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health (TIEMH), University of Texas at Austin. She has specialized in providing recovery-oriented services to individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness (SMI) and other underserved populations. She completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Arizona. She trained in Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) and Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Psychosis (CBT-P) at the Early Psychosis Intervention Center (EPICenter) in Tucson, Arizona. She completed an advanced clinical fellowship in rehabilitation and recovery for SMI at VA San Diego Healthcare System/University of California San Diego (VASDHS/UCSD), where she expanded her training in CBT-P and learned how to integrate Recovery-Oriented Cognitive Therapy (CT-R). She also completed a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)-funded clinical internship at University of Kansas Medical Center to specialize in working with underserved populations.     Positionality statement:   I have been passionate about CBT-P since I saw how it can be used to effectively partner with young people in service of recovery. One important area of non-expertise in my use of CBT-P is that I do not have lived experience of psychosis or participating in CBT-P. Having a positionality as only provider rather than receiver of services, I am mindful that lived experiences may or may not align with the evidence base of CBT-P. I work to honor each individual’s lived experience of participating in CBT-P by sharing and collaboratively building any case conceptualizations and partnering in setting goals and techniques. I apply CBT-P flexibly and use CBT-P case conceptualization to guide therapy, which often incorporates strategies from other modalities.

  DESCRIPTION Black Americans have a disproportionately higher risk of cardiovascular disease and hypertension than other ethnic or racial groups. They are also at higher risk for heart disease due to pre-existing mental health disorders. In observance of National Heart Health Month (February), this webinar will examine how mental health conditions like anxiety and depression can increase risk factors for heart disease within the Black population.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES Describe the prevalence of both cardiovascular disease and mental health disorder in the African American community Describe the risk factors associated with both mental health disorders and cardiovascular disease in the African American community Discuss strategies to improve outcomes and reduce morbidity and mortality in African Americans with mental health conditions and co-occurring heart disease   PRESENTER Welton C. Washington, MD is a clinical adjunct professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and is an attending psychiatrist at Washtenaw County Community Mental Health. He is an American Psychiatric Association member. He has been awarded the Nancy C.A. Roeske, M.D. award for Excellence in Medical Student Education, the Alpha Omega Alpha award for Volunteer Clinical Faculty of the Year, and the Irma Bland, MD Certificate of Excellence in Teaching Residents. He currently serves on the executive board of the Black Psychiatrists of America. He completed his undergraduate training at Morehouse College and both his medical training and psychiatry residency at the University of Michigan. Dr. Washington is also a member of the Executive Board for Physicians for the Prevention of Gun Violence.     HOST Annelle Primm MD, MPH is the Senior Medical Director of the Steve Fund, an organization focused on the mental health of young people of color. She is also a member of the Black Psychiatrists of America Council of Elders.           AUDIENCE This webinar is part of the Health Equity Webinar Series, an ongoing collaboration between the Central East MHTTC and the Black Psychiatrists of America to increase education and awareness surrounding mental health in the Black community.   View past webinars in the series 

  One of the most difficult challenges for a recently promoted leader is navigating the change in relationship with former team members. Peers and friends are now direct reports and look to you for leadership. This complex situation requires proactive engagement from new leaders to recognize and manage the changes in authority while maintaining a focus on organizational goals. Newly promoted supervisors can intentionally address this dynamic by using specific strategies to make this transitional period as smooth as possible. This session presents some of those strategies.      LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Describe common pitfalls with solutions Articulate the parameters of the professional relationship Initiate practical strategies for the transitional period     CONTINUING EDUCATION: Registrants who fully attend this training will be eligible to receive 1 continuing education (CE) hour certified by the Minnesota Board of Social Work. CE certificates are provided by People Incorporated Training Institute.     PRESENTER:   Russ Turner, MA, Director of the People Incorporated Training Institute During Russ’s 16-year tenure, he has written and taught thousands of hours of person-centered curriculum to help people become more effective helpers, communicators, and leaders. His audience includes workers and leaders across a wide range of organizations from human services, healthcare, and libraries, to law enforcement and corrections. He trains trainers, works with management, and has consulted and coached on training projects across multiple sectors of the economy. He has worked as an educator for three decades in a variety of countries and settings including Japan, the Czech Republic, and the UK. His teaching philosophy is that adults learn best when they are challenged, the material is applicable to work situations, and sessions are interactive and engaging.     This training is provided by our valued partners at the People Incorporated Training Institute.     The Great Lakes MHTTC is offering this training for individuals working in HHS Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI. This training is being provided in response to a need identified by Region 5 stakeholders.

  Presenting: Supporting Transgender and Nonbinary Students in Rural Schools    Learn more: NASP 2024 Annual Convention    

  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.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES Increase understanding of factors that contribute to youth suicide and racial disparities in suicide Explore factors within schools that contribute to mental health disparities among minoritized youth Identify resources and strategies to intervene with youth who are at risk for suicide     PRESENTERS Janelle R. Goodwill, PhD Neubauer Family Assistant Professor, University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice Dr. Goodwill’s research aims to promote mental health and prevent suicide among Black Americans. She utilizes survey, qualitative, and intervention data to explore how positive psychological factors like hope, joy, and meaning in life can be used to foster well-being across the life course. She is currently leading several projects that focus on issues related to suicide prevention for Black communities in Chicago, while also writing extensively about Black Americans' mental health experiences during COVID-19. Dr. Goodwill earned her MSW, MS in psychology, and joint PhD in social work and psychology from the University of Michigan. She completed her undergraduate studies in psychology at Michigan State University and joined the faculty at UChicago in 2020.     Danielle R. Harrell, PhD, LCSW Assistant Professor, University of Texas at Arlington School of Social Work Dr. Harrell’s research focuses on understanding school contextual factors associated with youth mental health (e.g., depression and suicidal behaviors) and academic functioning among youth of color within K-12 schools. She also focuses on the role of school social workers in improving outcomes for students and their families, and the school community. She is the Principal Investigator on a University funded grant titled “Early Emergence of Suicidal Behavior: Understanding Emotion Regulation Difficulties and Perceptions of School Connectedness among Black Children.” Dr. Harrell received her PhD in Social Work with a minor in Educational Research from Louisiana State University. Prior to her work in higher education, Dr. Harrell was a school social worker and currently holds a Qualified School Social Work Certification in the state of Louisiana. She is also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Texas and Louisiana.    AUDIENCE Educators, Administrators, Health and Behavioral Health Care Professionals, Central East (Region 3) Project AWARE Grantees, Policymakers and Advocates, and Child-Serving Agency Staff

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

  This presentation will feature Ohio leaders with expertise in advocacy, policy, research, and organizational transformation around behavioral health and racial and ethnic equity. This multi-organizational collaborative team has worked together since early 2022 to conceptualize, design, and create a series of research reports analyzing the opportunities and recommendations for change to improve behavioral health for Ohio’s marginalized racial and ethnic populations. To date, the collaborative has produced two reports, the first presenting the big picture around racial and ethnic equity and behavioral health as an introduction to the topic; the second report focuses on the workforce, featuring a breakdown of the racial and ethnic composition of Ohio’s behavioral health providers and recommendations for improvement in data collection, policy, diversity in education, and more. The final reports are in-process and will focus on treatment and funding. Come learn about the reasons behind the project, its team structure and work processes, and the ways the research reports are already making an impact in Ohio.     LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Analyze the opportunities for change to improve behavioral health for Ohio’s marginalized racial and ethnic populations. Describe racial and ethnic composition of Ohio’s behavioral health providers. List recommendations for improvement in data collection, policy, and diversity in education.     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.      PRESENTERS:   Tracy Plouck is an assistant clinical professor at Ohio University, where she works to support the Ohio Alliance for Population Health and cross-college health initiatives. As a part of this effort, Tracy works with local communities throughout the state to build population health capacity.   From 2011 to 2018, Tracy was director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. During that time, she also served as president of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors and as vice chair of the Council of State Governments’ Justice Center. For more than 20 years, Tracy held a variety of leadership roles for the state of Ohio, having served twice as the state’s Medicaid director and also deputy director of both the Ohio Office of Budget and Management and the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities.    From 2019 to 2022, Tracy was a member of the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) Board of Directors, where she served as Board Treasurer and Governance Committee Chair.  She is currently a Board member of Del-Mor Dwellings, which provides permanent supportive housing for individuals with serious mental illness in Delaware and Morrow Counties.         Tracy completed her BA at Kent State University and her MPA at The Ohio State University.       Joan M. Englund is the executive director of the Mental Health & Addiction Advocacy Coalition (“MHAC”) and has served in that position since February 2003. The MHAC is comprised of over 130 organizations around the state of Ohio, including: behavioral health agencies serving both adults and children, health and human service agencies, the faith-based community, government and advocacy organizations, major medical institutions, and the corporate arena. The MHAC fosters education and awareness of mental health and addiction issues while advocating for public policies and strategies that support effective, well-funded services, systems and supports for those in need, resulting in stronger Ohio communities. As the MHAC Executive Director, Ms. Englund has advocated extensively at the local and state levels regarding behavioral health public policy issues. Additionally, she provides administrative and strategic support for MHAC membership and leadership, working with consultants and local and statewide organizations and coalitions to achieve MHAC goals.   Prior to serving as the MHAC Executive Director, Ms. Englund was the director of Advancement and legal Affairs for Bridgeway, Inc., the legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio, and a litigation associate withArter and Hadden. She obtained both her Bachelor of Science Degree, in Social Work, and her law degree from The Ohio State University.   Dr. Cory E. Cronin is an associate professor in Ohio University’s Department of Social and Public Health and director of the Appalachian Institute to Advance Health Equity Science. He received his PhD in medical sociology from Case Western Reserve University, and he has also earned a Master of Health Services Administration from Xavier University. Dr. Cronin has expertise in health care delivery and health care policy, and his research largely focuses on using quantitative data and administrative records to explore population health issues. He has particular interest in how health care organizations, policy, and environment promote or detract from health and health care access, and has published on a range of topics related to hospital community benefit efforts. Prior to beginning his academic career, Dr. Cronin held positions in hospital administration and health care consulting. In recent years, his research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the National Institutes of Health.                   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.

Join Us to Learn Realistic, Achievable Habits that Strengthen Our Mind and Improve Wellbeing SMART offers an innovative, modern, uplifting, and highly scalable approach to enhance individual resilience. Developed by Dr. Amit Sood at the Mayo Clinic, SMART is offered as a four-module structured program. SMART has been tested and found efficacious in over 30 clinical trials for decreasing symptoms of stress, anxiety, and burnout, and increasing resilience, wellbeing, mindfulness, happiness, and positive health behaviors. This is a closed training for staff members at Community Healthcore.

About this Event:  Join us for the third session in our 4-part series "Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): From Introduction to Applied Practice" as our instructor introduces participants to the tenets of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and guides them from the introductory stage to applied practice with different mental health conditions and scenarios. Participants will learn and practice strategies from each tenet of ACT ranging from brief interventions to more in-depth processes. Case examples will be used throughout, and participants will have the opportunity to ask the instructor questions as well as practice different strategies and processes with guided prompts.   Be Here Now: Present Moment Awareness and Self as Context  The third session will focus on Present Moment Awareness and Self as Context in the ACT framework. Rationale, underlying processes, and strategies for practice will be discussed. Opportunities for experiential practice will be introduced.   To register for other sessions in this series, please click here!

  Event Description This training will focus on addressing behavioral health provider burnout by enhancing the well-being of those on the frontlines of community based mental health care. Participants will develop a comprehensive, multi-faceted approach that considers their self-care needs to continue the delivery of high-quality services. By taking proactive steps to promote holistic well-being and resilience, participants can help to create a healthier and more sustainable work environment for dedicated mental health professionals and those they serve. After this training, participants will learn the following, - Foster a positive and supportive work culture that emphasizes open communication, teamwork, and mutual respect. - Address any systemic issues contributing to burnout, such as inadequate resources, communication problems, or lack of support. - Recognize signs of burnout to acquire appropriate assistance for themselves and others. Trainer Lamarr Lewis Lamarr Lewis, is a dedicated advocate, author, and agent of change. With a focus on community-based mental and public health, he works with diverse groups including individuals living with psychiatric disabilities, people in recovery from substance abuse, and at-hope youth (He does not use the term at-risk). He is an alumnus of Wittenberg University graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with minors in Africana Studies and Religion. He later received his master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Argosy University. His career spans over twenty years with experience as a therapist, consultant, public speaker, facilitator, trainer, and human service professional. He has been a featured expert for such organizations as; Boeing, Region IV Public Health Training Center, Fulton County Probate Court, Mississippi Department of Health, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, and many more. His lifelong mission is to leave the world better than how he found it.

The purpose of this presentation is to help Mental Health and Substance Use providers as well as the Recovery Community at large better understand the potential support needs of people with IDD with or without co-occurring Mental Health and/or Substance Use Challenges that they interact with either socially, academically, and/or professionally by providing examples of potential support needs and methods that can be used to help address support needs. Learning Objectives: 1. Define Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities are 2. Identify different potential support needs of people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities including vital support needs around Sensory Processing Disorders like Tactile Dysfunction and Proprioceptive Dysfunction 3. Execute a more trauma-informed and person-centered approach to interacting with persons with Proprioceptive Dysfunction and/or Tactile Dysfunction       About the Facilitator:  Jordan Smelley is a Mental Health Peer Support Specialist in Texas and a person in long-term recovery from Intellectual and Developmental Differences with Co-occurring Mental Health challenges. Jordan partly defines his own recovery in relation to the opportunities available to present and educate the community on topics around supporting persons with IDD.  Jordan was awarded the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Texas Chapter’s Empowerment Award for Excellence in Promotion of Self-Advocacy at its 47th Annual Convention on November 16, 2023 in recognition of Jordan’s Self-Advocacy efforts around expanding supports available to persons with Intellectual and/or Developmental Differences.

This event is an excellent opportunity for professionals in the early childhood mental and behavioral health field to learn about ASQ-3™ and ASQ:SE-2™, two important developmental screening tools that are widely used in all child-serving settings. Led by certified trainer, Holly Gursslin M.Ed, NCC, LPC attendees will gain practical skills and knowledge to use these tools to effectively identify and monitor developmental and social-emotional needs in young children. This event is currently full. Click here to reserve your spot on the waitlist. Click below to download the flyer  

Check & Connect Mentor Training is an in-depth, competency-based training designed to provide Check & Connect mentors with the information, competencies, and skills needed to be an effective Check & Connect mentor at their local site. This training is designed for those assigned the role of Check & Connect mentor as well as those interested in Check & Connect mentoring principles and practices. Check & Connect site coordinators and administrators are also encouraged to attend. **Participants must have previously completed the Check & Connect Preparation & Implementation training. This is a self-paced online training course, with optional weekly TA sessions throughout. Contact Amanda Boquist with questions at [email protected].   Learn more about the training at https://checkandconnect.umn.edu/training_consultation/mentors.html.

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

A learning community among state education and mental health leaders involved in Project AWARE grants in the region.

  Event Description Rural behavioral health practice has unique challenges, two of which are the high provider turnover rate and provider recruitment. Join us to learn how focusing on organizational wellness can bolster both the recruitment and retention of rural behavioral health providers. While this webinar will briefly discuss the reasons for high provider turnover, it will emphasize why workers stay in their jobs. We will then focus on practical suggestions for creating a workplace climate of wellness focused on care, respect, compassion, shared values as well as sustaining such a climate that benefits all healthcare providers and staff alike.   Trainers Rachel Navarro, PhD, LP Topaza Yu