Past Events

Join us for this webinar in our Mental Health in Native Communities series. Jacque Gray, PhD, will present, "The Path to Crisis Response and Recovery." Note: an opportunity to collaborate in a TA project with the National American Indian and Alaska Native MHTTC will be announced in this webinar. Applications and information will be given at the end of Dr. Gray’s presentation, and two pilot sites will be chosen from the applicants.

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. We are pleased to offer trainings in the northern and southern regions of the state. CRC CEUs are provided by the NJ Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Time: 6-7 p.m. ET / 3-4 p.m. PT / 1-2 p.m. HT / 9-10 a.m. ChT All health service systems are undergoing fundamental changes in order to embrace the diversity of populations in the U.S. today. Many health systems continue to grapple with the numerous challenges of implementing systemic change to respond effectively to the multiple needs of diverse cultural and linguistic groups. Organizations working together as part of a broader system often do not know where to start the work of integrating cultural and linguistic competence. To do this work, organizations first need to come to a common understanding of culture and cultural competence and adopt a systemic framework for its integration into services and supports. This presentation will provide a conceptual framework for cultural competence in health. Participants will not only define and identify the framework and underlying principles of cultural competence, they will begin to explore how these principles will influence their roles and functions. Further learning: Participants in this session will have the opportunity for continued learning in a related Community of Practice. Invitations to participate will be released after the webinar.   Learning Objectives: Identify the components of a conceptual framework for cultural competence. Differentiate characteristics of culturally competent organizations and systems. Describe the implications for cultural competence in services and support systems. Determine steps to provide leadership in becoming more culturally and linguistically competent.   Intended Audience: Policy makers Mental health leaders Service providers Human resource officers Community partners Mental health advocates   ABOUT THE PRESENTERS Naomi Ortega Tein is a Change Specialist at Change Matrix and supports resource development for the Pacific Southwest MHTTC. She has over 25 years of experience working on systems change and capacity building at the community, state, and national levels. Particular focus areas include: community health, immigrant and Latino health, maternal and child health, behavioral health, and education. Naomi holds a Master's in Public Health from UNC-Chapel Hill and is fluent in Spanish.   Dr. Rachele Espiritu is the co-director of SAMHSA's Pacific Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (Hawaii, California, Arizona, Nevada, and the Pacific Islands). Dr. Espiritu provides training, technical assistance, and capacity building at the local, territory, tribal, state, and national level in multiple systems, including mental health, substance use, public health, and education. She is a founding partner with Change Matrix LLC, a minority- and women-owned small business that motivates, manages and measures change to support systems that improve lives. She is a former School Board Member of Denver Public Schools (DPS), where she provided direction and leadership for Whole Child efforts and successfully passed a resolution for DPS to become a trauma-informed school district.

Presentation Title: Youth Substance Use and Mental Health: Understanding Trends and Identifying Problems

Presentation Title: Understanding and Recognizing Student's Mental Health Challenges and Building Resilience

Time: 6-7 p.m. ET / 3-4 p.m. PT / 1-2 p.m. HT / 9-10 a.m. ChT Join Leah Harris and Kelechi Ubozoh in exploring what a trauma-informed suicide prevention approach for educators might look like. This webinar will begin with the perspective of a young person with lived experience of suicidal thoughts.  Presenters will identify common myths and misconceptions about students and suicide, and explore the vital importance of including students as partners in suicide prevention efforts. Examples of promising student-led initiatives, including peer-to-peer programs and school awareness campaigns, will be provided.   Learning Objectives Participants will: Identify several myths or stereotypes about suicide and students Explore a framework for understanding suicide prevention through a trauma-informed and healing-centered lens Understand the links between trauma, toxic stress and suicide and the latest findings in neuroscience that cite connectedness as a vital protective factor Describe the central values of trauma-informed practice and how to apply them to suicide prevention efforts in educational settings Name examples of model student-led suicide prevention programs and campaigns   Open to participants of all experience and knowledge levels.   This is the second session in the Mental Health Literacy & Student Learning Outcomes webinar series.   About the Presenters Leah Harris, MA is a  mother, writer, and suicide attempt survivor who is passionate about trauma-informed and social justice-based approaches to suicide prevention. She is a consultant and trainer in trauma-informed approaches across sectors and communities, including education, health care, and human services. She serves on the consumer/survivor subcommittee of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and was a member of the Attempt Survivors Task force of the National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention. Ms. Harris received the first prize in the 2018 Paul G. Quinnett Lived Experience Writing Contest sponsored by the American Association of Suicidology. Her story is featured in The S Word, a documentary about suicide.   Kelechi Ubozoh is a nationally recognized suicide prevention advocate and was featured in the SAMSHA Award-Winning documentary, The S Word, which follows the lives of suicide attempt survivors in an effort to end the stigma and silence around suicide. This year her story of recovery was featured in O, The Oprah Magazine. In July of 2019, her book with co-editor L.D. Green, We’ve Been Too Patient will be released from North Atlantic Books and Penguin Random House. We’ve Been Too Patient is a collection of diverse stories of radical healing and consider the recent movement towards reform in the mental health field, including the consumer movement, peer support, and trauma-informed care.  Last year, Ms. Ubozoh appeared on CBS This Morning with Gayle King, Good Morning America, and ABC Channel 7 News to support a national conversation about suicide prevention. She currently works at CalMHSA as the Tech Suite Peer and Community Engagement Manger.  

This Virtual Learning Session is 1 of 5 monthly learning sessions that are a part of the National School Mental Health Learning Collaborative and open to Learning Collaborative participants. Some didactic content will be presented, aligned with the National School Mental Health Curriculum modules, and states will be asked to share progress and lessons learned on specific improvement goals related to school mental health. In addition, states and MHTTCs will be asked to exchange resources, tools, templates, and other materials within the collaborative to promote shared learning.  Please note that all Virtual Learning Sessions will be recorded and archived on the MHTTC website.

Hosted by the Arundel County Department of Education, this forum will feature Dr. Anna Muller from the University of Chicago. She is a suicide prevention expert and will be addressing this issue with parents, students, educators and the public at large. The Central East Mental Health Technology Transfer Center in collaboration with the National Center for School Mental Health will provide information on national and local suicide prevention resources.

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. We are pleased to offer trainings in the northern and southern regions of the state. CRC CEUs are provided by the NJ Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Annual meeting of the SSW-MHTTC Regional Advisory Board.

This is part two of a three part webinar series. Dr. Andrew J. McLean, MD MPH will discuss the concept of psychosis and symptom features, share how to identify the phases of psychosis, and provide an overview of best practices of care for first episode psychosis. Time: 1:00-2:00 pm Central

The population of people living with serious mental illness (SMI) is aging. People with SMI are living longer, despite risks for significant physical health conditions and functional disabilities.  People with SMI may also experience accelerated aging demonstrating issues with mobility, cognitive processing, and health conditions at an earlier age.  Mental health providers should be aware of the intersectionality of the issues, strengths, challenges and best practice interventions to support this emerging population. This 2 part series will introduce the audience to: Issues Faced by Older Adults with SMI: Basic overview of population, including growth of the population, issues faced by older adults living with mental illness, and bi-directionality of health and psychiatric symptoms. Interventions: Evidence-based and best practice recommendations and considerations.

March 26 @ 12:00pm MST Learn more about the toolkit which offers the support necessary to establish the primary care provider as one member of a team, fully equipped to reduce suicide risk among their patients. Registration Deadline: March 25 Register Online

This training 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.

Join us for First Episode Psychosis: The Why, What, and How of Implementing Evidence-Based Practice. We will discuss the rationale for early intervention, strategic assessment, the impact of FEP services, Coordinated Speciality Care interventions, and much more. Registration is FREE and space is limited. 

Time: 6-7 p.m. ET / 3-4 p.m. PT / 1-2 p.m. HT / 9-10 a.m. ChT Are you a school instructional leader who wants to learn about school mental health, or a mental health provider who wants to learn about the contexts of schools and student learning outcomes? Often, the conversations between educators and mental health providers are siloed and separated. This webinar provides a platform to bridge the conversation so that both perspectives can learn from one another to better support the students they serve. Join Leora Wolf-Prusan, lead of the school mental health initiative for the Pacific Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center for a practical, free 60-minute webinar. Together we will explore: Common mental health issues among students and their potential effects on learning outcomes The relationship between socio-emotional development, student learning and academic success An introduction to mental health in the classroom and school: barriers to help seeking and provision How to enhance our role as supportive adults for students with mental health and emotional challenges and strengths   This is the first session in the Mental Health Literacy & Student Learning Outcomes webinar series.   Note: While this is an introductory webinar, all are invited to join, whether you are a seasoned educator in mental health literacy or a seasoned mental health provider who works with schools.   About the Presenter Leora Wolf-Prusan, EdD, is the School Mental Health lead for SAMHSA’s Mental Health Technology Center Pacific Southwest Region 9 (Hawaii, California, Arizona, Nevada and the Pacific Islands). She is also the Director of Partnerships & Teaching at the Center for Applied Research Solutions, and provides consulting and training around issues related to school climate and positive youth development, educator mental health & wellness, and trauma- informed approaches to education among much more. Ms. Wolf-Prusan received a BA in international relations and a BA in Spanish with a minor in Social & Ethnic Relations from the University of California, Davis; a teaching credential from Mills College; and an EdD in educational leadership from the University of California, Los Angeles. With a background in education and now working in mental health, she loves bridging the divide and connecting the divided to support educators’ and students’ wellness.  

The population of people living with serious mental illness (SMI) is aging. People with SMI are living longer, despite risks for significant physical health conditions and functional disabilities.  People with SMI may also experience accelerated aging demonstrating issues with mobility, cognitive processing, and health conditions at an earlier age.  Mental health providers should be aware of the intersectionality of the issues, strengths, challenges and best practice interventions to support this emerging population. This 2 part series will introduce the audience to: Issues Faced by Older Adults with SMI: Basic overview of population, including growth of the population, issues faced by older adults living with mental illness, and bi-directionality of health and psychiatric symptoms. Interventions: Evidence-based and best practice recommendations and considerations.

The training is targeted to mental health providers working with young people at high risk for psychosis or cases of first episode psychosis. The Structured Interview of Psychosis-risk Syndromes (SIPS) is a structured interview for diagnosing a clinical high risk (CHR) syndrome for psychosis and cases of first episode psychosis (McGlashan et al., 2010). It contains a severity rating scale (the Scale Of Psychosis-risk Symptoms, or SOPS), a well-anchored Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) (Hall, 1995), the DSM-IV schizotypal personality disorder checklist, a brief assessment of the family history of psychosis, and the Criteria Of Psychosis-risk Syndromes (COPS) and Presence Of Psychosis Scale (POPS) and DSM-5 Attenuated Psychosis Syndrome criterion sets.

2019 5th Annual Missouri Crisis Intervention Team (MO CIT) Conference We invite you to join us for our fifth annual Missouri CIT Conference. In partnership with the Missouri Coalition for Community Behavioral Healthcare, the Missouri CIT Council is excited to be able to provide this training opportunity. Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) is a collaboration between law enforcement, behavioral health providers, and community members to improve the outcomes for those with behavioral health disorders (mental health and substance use) who could become or are justice-involved by diverting people in need of services who do not meet the criteria for an arrest on a criminal charge. CIT is also a 40-hour training for law enforcement officers in the areas of mental illness, crisis response, active listening, tactical communication/de-escalation, mental health law, etc.

Mental Health Technology Transfer Center National Learning Collaborative In-Person Learning Session March 14 – 15, 2019 Sheraton Columbia Town Center Hotel, Columbia, Maryland Facilitated by the MHTTC Network Coordinating Office and the National Center for School Mental Health Learning Session Objectives: 1. Build capacity of MHTTC Center leaders and state teams to increase collaboration and strategic planning among state and district education and behavioral health leaders to advance Comprehensive School Mental Health Systems (CSMHSs) 2. Equip MHTTC Center leaders and state teams to train states and districts in the foundational principles and strategies of CSMHSs based on a national curriculum aligned with national CSMHS performance standards 3. Equip MHTTC Center leaders and state teams with tools and strategies to engage states and districts in ongoing CSMHS quality improvement 4. Promote cross-regional and cross-state networking and shared learning about best practices, successes and challenges of CSMHS implementation, including policy strategies to advance CSMHS (e.g., via inclusion in state and local school safety planning and/or ESSA plans)

The MHTTC Network Coordinating Office, in partnership with the National Center for School Mental Health (NCSMH) at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, is co-facilitating the National School Mental Health Learning Collaborative, which consists of a 2-day intensive in-person learning session and 5 virtual learning sessions from April-August 2019. The purpose of the Collaborative is to build state and regional capacity to advance comprehensive school mental health policies and practices, tailored to local strengths and needs, based on shared learning and technical assistance. Effective, comprehensive efforts to ensure student safety and mental health necessitate strategic collaboration between education and mental health systems. Therefore, participants will include staff across the twelve MHTTC Centers as well as state mental health and education leaders.

COURSE DESCRIPTION: The National CLAS Standards are intended to advance health equity, improve quality, and help eliminate health care disparities. This webinar will discuss how health care organizations need to ensure that awareness, adoption, and implementation of the National CLAS Standards are incorporated to have a more inclusive definition of culture in order to better serve women. OBJECTIVES: ● Highlights of the enhanced CLAS Standards that contribute to positive health outcomes for Women in the US ● Increased awareness on the health & wellness of Women of all ages  ● The impacts of health equity and the range of specialty health areas for Women’s behavioral health ● Perspectives on the importance of Women’s health ● Insights into how providers can best address differing Women’s health needs from men’s  WHO SHOULD ATTEND? Behavioral Health care professionals and advocates interested in improving cultural competence and humility in the delivery of behavioral health. PRESENTERS: Jacqueline Coleman, MEd, MSM, BA, CPC , certified professional coach with extensive experience as a senior program manager. Jacqueline has expertise in workforce development, organizational development and contract management. She is a cultivator and trainer of professionals in multiple sectors. Jacqueline provides strategic consultation on LEADERVATION (gender-tailored programs, equity and diversity initiatives, and systems change processes). Phronie Jackson, PhD, is the founder of Ward 5 health coalition in Washington, DC and Wellness equal Active Lifestyle plus Knowledge (WALK). Her women’s wellness experience features programming as Community Health Outreach Manager for MedStar Health, the Women Media Center SheSource speaker bureau, and the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW). Dr. Jackson received her Doctorate in Public Health degree in November 2016 and serves as an adjunct faculty member at the University of the District of Columbia. Her research interests include chronic disease prevention and stress management through a cultural and health equity lens. Details & Logistics: When: Wednesday, March 13, 2019 Time: 11:00 a.m. - 12 noon ET Where: Virtual - Adobe Connect  [need Flash Player] Contact Hours: 1 NAADAC Cost: Free

Presenter John Hudgens, M.M.E, is a Senior Program Manager for Advocates for Human Potential’s Center for Technical Assistance and Training. He  uses his expertise to enhance the work of behavioral authorities and local organizations including the integration of addictions, prevention, mental health, and behavioral health services. He previously worked at the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services for 19 years, where he directed state licensure operations, developed administrative rules for behavioral health organizations, and organized transformative initiatives.     Course Goals Participants will be able to (1) improve the quality of behavioral health service delivery and (2) advance professional development of Community Services Administration staff. Learning Objectives Revisit the mission of the DC Department of Behavioral Health and the Community Services Administration Identify the drivers and values that should guide staff in executing duties Recognize specific actions staff can undertake to fulfill mission and create the desired impacts

This is part one of a three part webinar series. Dr. Andrew J. McLean, MD MPH will discuss the concept of psychosis and symptom features, share how to identify the phases of psychosis, and provide an overview of best practices of care for first episode psychosis. Time: 1:00-2:00 pm Central