Past Events

This will be our annual Advisory Board Meeting, to discuss the action plan and progress report.

5th annual Family Engagement Conference at San Jacinto College. Learn from experts on a variety of topics important for your child's future success! Sessions include tips on social media, college and career readiness and much more! Preventing Substance Abuse  This session will review what you can do today to help prevent your child from becoming involved in substance abuse.   

About the Conference: The 5th Annual Idaho Positive Behavior Network Conference brings together educators to focus on evidence-based best practices for effectively supporting students’ social, emotional, mental health, and academic needs while fostering a collective problem-solving environment of innovation, resilience, safety, and success. This year, the Idaho Positive Behavior Network is thrilled to welcome speaker, Susan Barrett, an expert on school mental health for the keynote session! What: 5th Annual Idaho Positive Behavior Network Conference When: Friday, February 7th, 2020, 8am - 4pm Where: Boise State University, Student Union Building > Learn more about the conference and register 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.

Recovery from SMI has been studied and documented by researchers, practitioners, and individuals with lived experience around the world and across time. Recovery is real. Recovery can be supported by practices and services that encourage participant engagement, community inclusion, valued social roles, and overall wellness. This webinar series will introduce you to recovery from SMI and many of the evidence-based and promising practices that support recovery.  This session focuses on how to support individuals to begin or return to higher education.

This webinar reviews the state of knowledge on suicide attempts by adolescent Latinas who have reported higher-than-average rates over the past 30 years.  Dr. Zayas will cover the developmental issues of adolescence and cultural and family systems that bear on Latina’s suicide attempts.  Some time will be devoted to how the girls describe suicide attempts. Approaches to prevention and identification in schools and to family-centered treatments will be discussed. Upon completion of training, participants can be expected to: 1. Understand the epidemiology of suicide attempts by adolescent Latinas in comparison to other ethnic and racial youth. 2. Recognize the numerous elements (individual psychology, family, social, culture, gender, etc.) that converge to create the conditions in which Latinas attempt suicide. 3. Identify preventive interventions that can be undertaken in schools and by clinicians, and the family-centered treatments that have the greatest potential for dealing with Latina suicidality.

This training will present the key elements of recovery from serious mental illnesses based on the research literature and reviews of first-person accounts. The 8 Dimensions of Wellness will be reviewed and strategies for utilizing the 8 Dimensions with individuals participating in your services will be presented. Additionally, assessing readiness for and commitment to making change will be discussed including how to incorporate stage of readiness and commitment for change into goal setting. This training will be interactive with opportunities for skills practice.    Trainer: Joni Dolce, MS, CRC, CPRP, is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions in the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions at Rutgers, School of Health Professions. Joni has several years of experience working in behavioral healthcare settings, namely supported employment. Joni teaches courses in the AS and BS in Psychiatric Rehabilitation programs as well as providing training and technical assistance to behavioral healthcare providers. Her research interests include staff training and employment services. She presents nationally on the topic of employment services and is listed as a Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) recommended speaker on the topic of creating workplaces that support mental health.

Millard Public Schools (MPS) is participating in a four part professional development series designed for Behavior Coaches and Coaches of Coaches throughout their district. The series will include content on the roles and competencies of behavior coaches, data-based decision making, tiered problem-solving, and team collaboration. The goals of the series include helping all coaches to (1) Develop behavior coaching competencies; (2) Be able to identify, interpret, and use data across MTSS-B tiers of support; (3) Unify around a common behavioral problem-solving model; and (4) Develop the needed interpersonal and collaborative skills to guide the problem solving process. 

Millard Public Schools (MPS) is participating in a four part professional development series designed for Behavior Coaches and Coaches of Coaches throughout their district. The series will include content on the roles and competencies of behavior coaches, data-based decision making, tiered problem-solving, and team collaboration. The goals of the series include helping all coaches to (1) Develop behavior coaching competencies; (2) Be able to identify, interpret, and use data across MTSS-B tiers of support; (3) Unify around a common behavioral problem-solving model; and (4) Develop the needed interpersonal and collaborative skills to guide the problem solving process. 

Early termination from substance use disorder treatment is greater among African Americans seeking recovery than the general population. In this webinar, you will learn strategies to engage African-American clients in SUD treatment. Topics covered include:  overcoming barriers to mistrust engaging clients within the first 10 minute of contact;  creating a welcoming environment  increasing treatment retention and completion addressing intersectionality and microaggressions  effective cross-cultural counseling  Presenter Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC, is the author of five books focused on behavioral health. Recent writings include Slipping through the Cracks: Intervention Strategies for Clients with Multiple Addictions and Disorders, Recovery Management, and Relationship Detox: Helping Clients Develop Healthy Relationships in Recovery. He has had two stories published in the New York Times best-selling books series, Chicken Soup for the Soul. His numerous awards include a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Illinois Addiction Counselor Certification Board. His 30-year career in behavioral health includes teaching at the University of Chicago, Illinois State University, Illinois School of Professional Psychology, and Loyola University of Chicago, School of Social Work. Mark also created and curates the Online Museum of African American Addictions, Treatment, and Recovery. 

Join us for a webinar with Jeff Donald, Mindfulness Coordinator, Montgomery County Public Schools—the largest school district in Maryland—focused on the county's intentional turn to infusing mindfulness and implementing trauma-informed school based mental health programs. Jeff will share how within a short period of time his yoga/meditation practices have expanded from serving one school to requests for services for over 50% of Montgomery County Schools. He will also describe the program he is spearheading to train teachers to implement yoga/meditation in classrooms, as well as the impact on students. Attendees will experience guided meditations and learn pointers for implementation of yoga and mindfulness practices, with a focus on secondary schools.

This is a learning collaborative for state-level Project AWARE staff from mental health agencies, universities and education agencies in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. Project AWARE (Advancing Wellness and Resilience in Education) grants are State Education Agency grants awarded by SAMHSA. The purpose of Project AWARE grants is to build or expand the capacity of State Educational Agencies, in partnership with State Mental Health Agencies overseeing school-aged youth and local education agencies, to: (1) increase awareness of mental health issues among school-aged youth; (2) provide training for school personnel and other adults who interact with school-aged youth to detect and respond to mental health issues; and (3) connect school-aged youth, who may have behavioral health issues (including serious emotional disturbance or serious mental illness), and their families to needed services.

Corey Smith, PhD, will moderate a panel of experts focused on the role of pastoral care in supporting farmers in crisis. The panel will provide data and an overview of farm stress and the role faith communities play in supporting farmers and members of rural communities. This data and policy review will be followed by an in-depth look at how agricultural workers engage with faith communities and the long-term benefits and improvements faith-based organizations provide.

More agencies are seeing the benefits of the youth peer support specialist role, and are working hard to integrate this role within their mental health services. One challenge that many agencies have is mitigating the high level of burnout for youth peer support specialists while growing the workforce within their organization and/or community. In this webinar, two experienced youth peer support specialists (and youth peer support specialist supervisors) will discuss concrete strategies for retaining and growing the youth peer support workforce.   Trainers: Caitlin Baird Caitlin Baird is a Project Manager and Trainer with Pathways RTC at Portland State University. Caitlin has experience working directly with transition-aged youth and young adults as a peer support specialist and as a supervisor for peer support specialists in wraparound and other mental health settings.       Maria Hermsen-Kritz Maria Hermsen-Kritz is a Research Assistant with Pathways RTC at Portland State University. She has experience providing peer support for transition-aged youth,supervising youth peer support specialists,and managing a youth drop-in center program.     Upload the flyer here

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp) ePrimer is a 3-hour, self-paced course is open to all types of providers, hosted on the HealtheKnowledge platform. It is designed to serve as a primer in foundational concepts related to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and its application to psychotic symptoms and experiences. Learners will start by testing their knowledge on a 30-item, adapted CBT quiz, and will then be guided to complete brief modules on the topics of: Psychosis education, CBT fundamentals, and Applying CBT to psychosis. Finally, learners will apply what they’ve learned to a practice and self-reflection exercise. Resources for further learning are provided.  This online course was created by the Northwest Region 10 Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) with support from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).  Physicians, physician assistants, primary care ARNPs, psychologists, and other health care providers may be eligible for CME or CEUs for completing the course.  Trainer Sarah Kopelovich, PhD University of Washington, School of Medicine Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences Professor, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis Northwest MHTTC Role: Director of Training Sarah Kopelovich, PhD, is a forensically-trained, licensed clinical psychologist at the University of Washington School of Medicine, based at Harborview Medical Center. Dr. Kopelovich is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and holds a Professorship in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis. Her research aims to enhance implementation and dissemination strategies for psychosocial interventions indicated for individuals with Psychotic Spectrum Disorders. She leads the only CBT for psychosis Provider Network in the country, which has received continual state funding since 2015. She regularly conducts workshops, seminars, and professional consultation across the country for mental health practitioners in CBT for psychosis (CBTp) and CBTp-informed care; Coordinated Specialty Care for First Episode Psychosis and Assertive Community Treatment; and diagnostic, suicide, and violence risk assessment. Dr. Kopelovich is core faculty with the Northwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center and currently serves as the Director of Training. Registration How to register for a course at HealtheKnowledge and how to get technical support  

The Safety Planning Intervention Training is a 6 hour face-to-face training. It is didactic in nature with opportunities for observation and practice. Participants will have the chance to work in small groups and will participate in role-playing exercises. It is important to remember that safety planning is an intervention, not just a form to complete. This training emphasizes the skills necessary to make safety planning a collaborative process so the resulting product is meaningful to the individual at potential risk of self-harm. As a train-the-trainer event, this workshop will also provide guidance and tools to train and support staff members in developing the competencies needed to effectively perform this intervention.

This training will present the key elements of recovery from serious mental illnesses based on the research literature and reviews of first-person accounts. The 8 Dimensions of Wellness will be reviewed and strategies for utilizing the 8 Dimensions with individuals participating in your services will be presented. Additionally, assessing readiness for and commitment to making change will be discussed including how to incorporate stage of readiness and commitment for change into goal setting. This training will be interactive with opportunities for skills practice.    Trainer: Joni Dolce, MS, CRC, CPRP, is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions in the Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions at Rutgers, School of Health Professions. Joni has several years of experience working in behavioral healthcare settings, namely supported employment. Joni teaches courses in the AS and BS in Psychiatric Rehabilitation programs as well as providing training and technical assistance to behavioral healthcare providers. Her research interests include staff training and employment services. She presents nationally on the topic of employment services and is listed as a Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) recommended speaker on the topic of creating workplaces that support mental health.

Description This 8-hour course teaches participants how to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The training helps them identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. This training is supported by the Central East MHTTC.

In this webinar we will review risk factors associated with higher risk for suicidal behaviors, with a particular focus on individuals with clinical high risk and early psychosis. We will also review the essentials components of a safety plan and review some treatment approaches that target suicidal behavior.​ Presenter (s): Shirley Yen, PhD

This training will provide attendees with the foundational elements of motivational interviewing and the stages of change model; demonstration and practice of skills and strategies to implement motivational interviewing in your work; and approaches to match your interventions to your participant’s stage of change. This training will be informational and interactive. Following this training, staff will participate in an ongoing learning community with other providers to discuss implementation of MI techniques learned. (Closed)

The School Mental Health Learning Community is a 6-month program focused on improving state and district capacity to implement effective multi-tiered systems of school mental health support. Based on input from our region's state leaders, this intensive learning opportunity is uniquely focused on the region's needs and interests. This program is closed to selected teams from schools and districts across HHS Region 7.

Crisis results from impediments to life goals that people believe they cannot overcome through customary choices and behaviors. For individuals with behavioral health disorders, crisis situations may place them at greater risk. This two-part interactive webinar series will highlight a variety of crisis situations, including but not limited to aggressive outbursts, disruptive behaviors, suicidal ideation and homicidal ideation. Strategies for assessment and intervention, and the roles of different providers (e.g., doctors, psychologists, nurses, educators, social workers, counselors, and other behavioral health professionals) will be examined and then time given to practice these de-escalation skills. Finally, the importance of de-briefing and post de-escalation events will be discussed along with specifics regarding implementing de-escalation techniques into practice.

Join our Virtual Learning Community on Clinical Supervision to enhance your understanding and skills regarding effective clinical supervision in mental health settings.  What:  This virtual learning community will meet twice per month for six months to discuss clinical supervision and apply it to real life scenarios. Each month will focus on a clinical supervision topic. Relevant background information and information needed to implement the topic will be presented along with case presentations and mentoring/coaching/troubleshooting in response to participants’ implementation of the topic in their work.  Participants will receive expert coaching from the facilitator and participate in peer coaching with other participants.  The topics that will be covered include: •    The Common Factors and Three Functions of Supervision •    Function 1: The Restorative Function of Clinical Supervision •    Function 2: The Formative Function of Clinical Supervision •    Function 3: The Normative Function of Clinical Supervision •    Implementation of Clinical Supervision •    Performance Evaluation in Clinical Supervision When: This virtual learning community will meet twice per month for six months from February through July via Zoom videoconferencing on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month from 1:00pm – 2:00pm ET.  Who:  The learning community will be limited to 25 participants. Participants should be employed within mental health organizations in NJ, NY, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands and providing clinical supervision to staff members. You do not need to be an Approved Clinical Supervisor to participate in this Learning Community.  If you would like to be considered for participation, please complete an application found here:  https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_571mpuj34gmyaNf and submit by Tuesday, January 28, 2020. You will be notified of acceptance by Tuesday, February 4, 2020.  If you have any questions, please contact Katty Rivera at [email protected]. 

Join our Virtual Learning Community on Employment Supports to enhance your skills in supporting people with mental health conditions to get and maintain competitive employment.  What:  This virtual learning community will meet twice per month for six months to discuss employment support strategies and apply them to real life scenarios. Each month will focus on an employment support topic. Relevant background information and information needed to implement the topic will be presented along with case presentations and mentoring/coaching/troubleshooting in response to participants’ implementation of the topic in their work.  Participants will receive expert coaching from the facilitator and participate in peer coaching with other participants.  The topics that will be covered include: • Developing a Career Profile  • Inclusive Workplace Cultures: Assessing for Fit • Marketing Planning • Introducing your Employment Services to Employers • Managing Personal Information in Employment • Career Advancement When: This virtual learning community will meet twice per month for six months from February through July via Zoom videoconferencing on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month from 10:00am – 11:00am ET.  Who:  The learning community will be limited to 25 participants. Participants should be employed within mental health organizations in NJ, NY, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands and providing employment support services to individuals with mental health conditions. Job roles could include (but are not limited to): employment or vocational specialists, job coaches, etc.  Interested? If you would like to be considered for participation, please complete an application by clicking on the Application found here:  https://rutgers.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bkMi9KUlVxYvdGt and submit by Tuesday, January 28, 2020. You will be notified of acceptance by Tuesday, February 4, 2020.  If you have any questions, please contact Katty Rivera at [email protected]

Wyoming Secondary School Principals Conference presentation.This session will discuss what mental health screening in schools is, its purpose and importance. We will discuss the action steps of screening, review common barriers to school mental health screening and strategies to address those barriers. There will be time for strategic planning and brainstorming action steps to better address school mental health screening in your school or district. This session will utilize the National School Mental Health Curriculum.