Past Events

This is a provider level training offered by a certified ASQ Trainer (someone who has completed a Training of Trainers course). In this workshop, participants will: complete an overview of the screening tools including history and purpose, learn the tools’ features, learn to score, interpret and communicate results to families, and finally build a referral list of places in their communities to serve children post positive screens. This workshop will use lecture, case review, small group work, and large group discussion. Participation is by invitation only.

This session discusses signs, symptoms and impact of various mental health challenges; ways to interact with young persons struggling emotionally; and accommodations that can be used with young persons with mental health challenges. This training is a private event. If you are interested in similar training for your school, please contact Sarah Nielsen at [email protected]. This training is being provided to Century Elementary, Grafton, ND; Smee School District-Wakpala School, Wakpala, SD; Redfield Elementary, Redfield, SD; West Central Middle School, Hartford, SD; Boulder Elementary, Boulder, MT.

Times: 6-7 p.m. ET / 3-4 p.m. PT / 1-2 p.m. HT Integrating cultural and linguistic considerations in our mental health services requires shifts in values, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. If we are truly invested in improving the client’s experience as they enter our organizations and in creating equitable systems for services, we need to be open to changes. We can all lead and engage in a change process to integrate cultural and linguistic considerations into our policy, infrastructure, workforce, community engagement, and programs and services. This webinar provides a conceptual foundation of the importance of culture, including definitions, frameworks, and concepts. We will look at a self-assessment tool to examine cultural and linguistic competence (CLC) in our organization, and we will explore the leadership required to motivate and integrate CLC into systems and service delivery.   Participants will be able to: Recognize and explain the importance of culture and language in mental health services. Use CLC strategies to meet the needs of culturally diverse populations. Identify ways participants can lead (promote) CLC in service delivery. Explore ways to make the CLC change stick! Audience: Mental Health Services Program Directors, Administrators, Providers, and other Personnel involved in Mental Health Services and Supports.

First in a Two-part Webinar Series Join us for an overview of the K-8 Second Step Social-Emotional Learning Program. Second Step is a program rooted in social-emotional learning (SEL) that helps transform schools into supportive, successful learning environments uniquely equipped to help children thrive. More than just a classroom curriculum, Second Step’s holistic approach helps create a more empathetic society. Second Step provides education professionals, families, and the larger community with tools to enable them to take an active role in the social-emotional growth and safety of today’s children. The Great Lakes MHTTC School-based Supplement is offering this two-part webinar series in partnership with Committee for Children/Second Step. Zach Sherman has worked at Committee for Children since 2013, supporting educators and administrators in the Central region of the US.  He has helped to improve the help section on SecondStep.org, making it quick and easy for users to find answers to their questions and use our programs more effectively.  Zach received a dual-major degree in economics and international political economy from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA. Webinar 2: Second Step Leadership Institute: An Introduction and Call for Applications January 16, 2020 11:00-12:00 CST Register  

Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools (CBITS) is a skills-based, group intervention aimed at relieving symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, and general anxiety among children exposed to trauma. Children learn skills in relaxation, challenging upsetting thoughts, and social problem solving, and children work on processing traumatic memories and grief. Participation by invitation only.

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)

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)

Webinar Description: This presentation will describe research on the causes of overdose and suicide-related to opioids and pain, as well as interventions and policies that can be used to address both problems, which are high priorities to VA efforts to improve patient health. This webinar is the second in a series on the links between opioid use, overdose, and suicide. The first webinar, The Integration of Opioid and Suicide Identification, Prevention, and Care: A National Perspective, was presented by Dr. Jane Pearson and Dr. Richard McKeon on November 4, 2019. Learning Objectives:         • To describe the potential pathways between pain and opioid use with suicide and overdose, and how the two causes of death are related to one another.         • To explain how specific intervention approaches may reduce both suicide and overdose mortality. Presenters: Amy S.B. Bohnert, Ph.D., Associate Professor Mark Ilgen, Ph.D., Clinical Psychologist University of Michigan School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry This webinar is held as a collaborative effort between the Great Lakes ATTC, the Great Lakes MHTTC, the Central East ATTC, and the Central East MHTTC.

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. Participation by invitation only.

This is a provider level training offered by a certified ASQ Trainer (someone who has completed a Training of Trainers course). In this workshop, participants will: complete an overview of the screening tools including history and purpose, learn the tools’ features, learn to score, interpret and communicate results to families, and finally build a referral list of places in their communities to serve children post positive screens. This workshop will use lecture, case review, small group work, and large group discussion.

Robin Landwehr, LPCC, will discuss burnout prevention strategies for mental health providers working with farming, ranching, and rural populations. This session will focus on the unique challenges and stressors faced by individuals working to support persons experiencing farm stress and working to meet the needs of individuals living in rural communities. Robin will also discuss ways for providers to increase compassion satisfaction, minimize compassion fatigue, and prevent the onset of burnout related to mental health work.

Description This training will provide participants with a basic understanding of mental illness in relation to its causes, defining characteristics, and impact on society.  A summary biblical perspective on mental illness will also be offered to help individuals respond to those with mental illness in ways that are faithful, compassionate and recovery oriented.   Presenter Dave Eckert, MDiv, CPRP, is the Director of Intersect, an initiative of Access Services that supports those at the intersection of faith and mental health. This training is supported by the Central East MHTTC.   Course Objectives Participants will learn a definition of mental illness and increase their awareness of its impact. Participants will be able to identify the contributing factors to mental illness. Participants will gain an understanding of patterns of mental illness in our culture. Participants will learn a bible perspective of mental illness.

To address suicide as a public health crisis, leading experts and health care organizations through Forefront Suicide Prevention (University of WA) previously collaborated to develop All Patients Safe: Suicide Prevention for Medical Professionals.  All Patients Safe is a three- or six-hour interactive self-paced training course designed to provide the necessary tools to medical providers for preventing and educating patients about suicide. The Northwest MHTTC is partnering to provide access to this online training to the two states in our region with the highest suicide rates: Alaska & Idaho.   Suicide is a silent epidemic and public health crisis.  In the US, suicide is a more common cause of death than breast cancer, prostate cancer, or traffic fatalities.   This unique training is designed by and for providers working in medical settings.  All Patients Safe: Suicide Prevention for Medical Professionals will teach providers to: Understand medical providers’ role in suicide prevention Integrate screening and assessment tools into their practice Educate patients on keeping homes safe Refer patients to additional resources Follow up with those at risk for suicide  

On this webinar, the developer of a therapeutic intervention for adults, youth, and families who are experiencing behavioral health problems related to past or ongoing traumatic victimization or adversity will provide an introductory overview of Trauma Affect Regulation: Guide for Education and Therapy© (TARGET). The intervention provides unique psychoeducation based on a translation of neurobiological research on the impact of trauma on brain functioning, and a practical transtheoretical sequential skillset for recovering from complex traumatic stress symptoms (“survival mode”) and associated behavioral health problems and developing resilience. A description of the research will provide support on the use and implementation of TARGET’s effectiveness.

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 part of the series focuses on key elements of recovery and recovery oriented services.

ABOUT THIS LEARNING SERIES The overarching goal of this series is to provide monthly community learning forums that address topics relevant to working with young adults of transition age. These forums will provide opportunities for peer-learning to build knowledge and skills for TAY-serving providers, advocates, champions, and allies. Please feel free to share this opportunity with colleagues and champions who may want to be involved. We are looking forward to having you join us!   UPCOMING SESSIONS We will be hosting monthly, 60-minute calls using the Adobe Connect platform. After the month of October, these sessions will take place on the third Wednesday of each month at 10:00 AM PT (see schedule below).   We want the CA TAY PLC to bring together diverse expertise from across sectors.  A tentative schedule and topics have been developed, based on feedback from the PLC planning session. TAY PLC SCHEDULE •Wednesday, October 16, from 10-11 a.m. PT (kickoff session re-scheduled from 9/25) (Register) •Wednesday, October 30, from 10-11 a.m. PT (Register) •Wednesday, November 20, from 10-11 a.m. PT (Register) •Wednesday, December 18, from 10-11 a.m. PT (Register)

This session will discuss strategies to implement the Comfortable Cafeteria program; strategies to implement Refreshing Recess program; and strategies to promote leisure participation for all students. This training is a private event. If you are interested in similar training for your school, please contact Sarah Nielsen at [email protected]. This training is being provided to Lennox School District, Lennox SD; WilMac Multi-District Special Education Unit, Williston, ND.

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.

Meg Moynihan and Monica McConkey will provide an overview of the tools and strategies they use every day to address the mental health needs of farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers living and working in rural and remote settings. This session will highlight examples of resources available to support farmers experiencing stress and mental health challenges as well as discuss best practices for providers working with this population.

Featuring keynote Sandra Smith, Ph.D., RPS, LCDC-I, Peer Programs Manager at ViaHope in Austin, TX and co-author of the Reentry Peer Specialists training curriculum, D.S. “Red” Gilbert, Mental Health Peer Specialist/Reentry Peer Specialist at Texas Rio Grande Legal Aide Public Defenders Office in Beeville, TX, and Joe Powell, President and CEO of the Association of Persons Affected by Addiction in Dallas, TX. Increased attention to the overrepresentation of individuals with behavioral health challenges in prisons and jails across the country has led policymakers to establish reforms aimed at reducing the number of people in custody. According to the Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), access to community-based supports and services is critical to promoting recovery throughout the reentry process. During this 90-minute webcast, presenters will identify the factors contributing to justice system involvement among individuals experiencing mental illness and the ways in incarceration can contribute to adverse mental health outcomes. The presenters will also introduce participants to Reentry Peer Specialists, an emerging role in the mental health workforce that draws on the shared lived experiences in the justice and mental health systems to support community reintegration. CEUs will be available!

The SSW-MHTTC will be hosting a free Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training event for the Communities in Schools Central Texas staff. YMHFA 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. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders. Training materials will be free to participants.

This session will discuss strategies to implement the Comfortable Cafeteria program strategies to implement Refreshing Recess program; and strategies to promote leisure participation for all students. This training is a private event. If you are interested in similar training for your school, please contact Sarah Nielsen at [email protected]. This training is being provided to Redfield Elementary, Redfield, SD.

In an effort to support teams working in the area of First Episode Psychosis (FEP), the South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) is hosting standing FEP Mentoring Calls. These monthly, hour long Zoom meetings that will allow for open discussion, group support, and resource sharing. This is an opportunity to grow as a community of support within our FEP teams. We will identify general topics, as well as schedule role specific calls. Zoom information: https://zoom.us/j/817083117?pwd=a0NUNmRJZVA0TEtMUlFhbjBodSs3Zz09 Meeting ID: 817 083 117 Password: 415555 Call In Information: 1-669-900-6833 (San Jose) 1-929-436-2866 (New York) Meeting ID: 817 083 117