Past Events

2023 marked a significant expansion of behavioral health resources for individuals, families, and providers in Massachusetts. Beginning this year, Massachusetts implemented key components of its Behavioral Health Roadmap at the same time the Massachusetts Psychosis Access & Triage Hub (M-PATH) began providing services. Combined, Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHCs), DMH’s Behavioral Health Help Line (BHHL), and M-PATH have vastly expanded access to behavioral health services across the Commonwealth. Join us for an overview detailing the who-what-when-where-why-and-how (to access) these critical new resources. Presenters: Dr. Margaret Guyer, PhD is the Director of the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health's Early Psychosis Initiative. She is responsible for the identification, evaluation, and dissemination of evidence based practices within the Department of Mental Health and among community providers. Dr. Guyer is a clinician and researcher who has worked with people with severe mental illness for more than 20 years.    Michael Stepansky, MPP is the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health’s Senior Manager for Policy and Program Implementation. With a background in housing and supported employment, Michael has provided training and technical assistance related to supported employment and education, fidelity monitoring, and the integration of employment and education services within clinical teams. In 2022, Michael supported teams establishing both the Community Behavioral Health Centers (CBHCs) and the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Help Line (BHHL) as integral parts of the Roadmap for Behavioral Health.   Emily Gagen, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist at the Brookline Community Mental Health Center. She is the director of the Massachusetts Psychosis Access and Triage Hub (M-PATH) and is also a member of the team at the Center for Early Detection, Assessment, and Response to Risk (CEDAR). Dr. Gagen has worked with individuals with psychosis and schizophrenia-spectrum disorders for 15 years and specializes in the treatment of young adults with early psychosis. This webinar will be co-hosted by the Massachusetts Psychosis Network for Early Treatment (MAPNET, www.mapnet.online)   If you would like accommodations to participate in any of our events, please contact us at [email protected].

This 90-minute webinar will discuss supervision from a trauma-informed and resiliency-focused lens. ABOUT THIS EVENT Leading and supervising people draws on many skills, including the ability to make wise, critical decisions which can empower individuals, shed light on outdated policies, improve workplace culture and facilitate societal change. We may have to think on our feet and choose what seems best when deadlines are looming, but is it also possible to make quick and crucial choices which come from a solid sense of awareness and confidence? How do we take care of our mental health while both on and off the job? Wisdom To Know The Difference views our decision-making processes through a trauma-informed lens, inviting us to view our own personal history and psycho-neuro patterns, revealing new paths to problem solving to build an even more dependable foundation of clarity and heart as they relate to mental health resiliency.    Learning Objectives:  Apply a trauma-informed lens for recognizing origins of personal decision-making patterns  Cultivate and adopt critical self-evaluation skills and develop mental health resilience on and off the job  Define and apply broader perspectives to leadership for more effective and inclusive outcomes      FACILITATOR Rebekah Demirel, L.Ac., MPCC Rebekah Demirel is the founder of Trauma Integration Programs, providing training and support to social services personnel, medical and education professionals, emergency services teams and corporate organizations for more than twenty years. Her background includes fourteen years as a BC Ambulance paramedic, twenty-two years as a paramedic trainer and over two decades as a registered clinical counsellor, specializing in post-traumatic stress and loss. She is a licensed East Asian medicine practitioner and acupuncturist, generating another depth of understanding to her counselling work. Rebekah’s unique skill set and experience is informed by her own traumatic childhood and teen years spent on the street and in the foster care system, giving her a special familiarity and empathy for trauma and loss. Rebekah continues to be an active volunteer and advocate for people who are unhoused, in her community and beyond.          

Description Traditional models address substance use and mental health disorders through an acute care approach. Such an approach is inconsistent with the literature that recognizes SUD as a chronic disease and are in poor alignment with the cultural values of Latino populations. Recovery approaches and sustained recovery management propose a partnership with individuals, families and communities that resonate with the values of racialized and marginalized communities such as Latino communities. This model recognizes the multiple variables that contribute to behavioral health including historical trauma and propose a proactive, hope-based approach that considers traditional beliefs, cultural metaphors, multiple pathways to recovery, cultural recovery support systems and a collective view of recovery. This webinar will address the guiding principles of recovery from substance use and mental health disorders. The webinar will center on multiple pathways to recovery. The presenter will discuss how a sustained recovery management approach is viable and consistent with Latino communities and will provide recommendations for professionals working with Latinos with behavioral health challenges.   Objectives Describe principles of recovery. Identify how principles of recover are in alignment with the cultural values of Latino populations. Discuss possible recovery management approaches when working with Latino populations   Who should attend?  This webinar is designed for clinicians who work with Latinx populations with mental health needs and are interested in learning about the vulnerabilities and uniqueness of these populations.   About the presenter Haner Hernández, Ph.D., CPS, CADCII, LADCI Dr. Hernández, Ph.D., CPS, CADCII, LADCI, is Puerto Rican, bilingual and has worked for over 34 years in the health and human service field developing, implementing, and evaluating culturally and linguistically intelligent youth and adult health prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery support programs. He is a master trainer and facilitator and provides individualized technical assistance and support to organizations that provide Substance Use Disorder and gambling prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery supports. Also, Dr. Hernández has over 30 years of experience in delivering addiction counseling and clinical supervision to professionals in the field. Haner is a person in long-term recovery (35+ years) from addiction and is committed to eliminating health disparities by participating in processes the build equity. He has served as a consultant to a number of local and state health departments with a focus on disparities, building health equity, addiction treatment, and recovery supports. He also consults with and teaches a number of courses at the New England Addiction Technology Transfer Center at Brown University and the National Latino and Hispanic Prevention, Treatment Addiction Technology Transfer Centers funded by CSAT. Currently he serves on the Peer-Led Advisory Board of the National Addiction Peer Recovery Center of Excellence. Dr. Hernandez was appointed to SAMHSA Bringing Recovery Supports to Scale Technical Assistance Center Strategy (BRSS TACS) steering committee in 2014 and the Criminal Justice Policy Committee in 2018. He has served a consultant to several federally-funded initiatives in the areas of behavioral workforce development, HIV/AIDS, Substance Use Disorders prevention and treatment, military service members, their families and TBI and PTSD, and pediatric asthma. Dr. Hernández serves as faculty at the New England School of Addiction Studies since 1998, has taught a number of undergraduate and graduate courses, and has presented at several national and state conferences. Dr. Hernández serves as President of the Board of Directors of the Massachusetts Board for Voluntary Certification of Drug and Alcohol Counselors, was appointed to the Springfield Public Health Council in 2006, and served on the Massachusetts Governor’s Latin American Advisory Commission in Massachusetts from 2000-2004. Haner earned his GED in prison, a Bachelor of Science in Human Services from Springfield College and a Master of Education with concentrations in Counseling Psychology and Addiction Studies from Cambridge College in Massachusetts. His doctoral degree was earned at the School of Public Health and Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. His major was Community Health Education and his minor was Social Justice Education. In addition, Mr. Hernandez holds an advance Certification in Drug and Alcohol Counseling at the reciprocal level, is licensed in Massachusetts, and is a Certified Prevention Specialist.  

Description   This is a continental colloquium addresses feminicide and the role of Catholicism in supporting and reflecting theologically on these efforts. The colloquium addresses this gap and creates the conditions for a movement of collaboration and networking throughout the continent. Besides having contacted leaders working against feminicide in nearly every country in Latin America, the Caribbean, and North America, we were able to pair these leaders with Catholic theologians, mostly Latinas, to collaborate on ways to envision a more proactive role of the Catholic Church in the fight against feminicide. Organizers of this event have also contacted leaders from the United Nations, researching and promoting international advocacy on matters related to feminicide. The leadership of the Conference of Latin American Religious (CLAR, in Spanish), which represents all Catholic religious women and men in the continent, and the Secretary for the Pontifical Commission for Latin America at the Vatican, Dr. Emilce Cuda, have also expressed their support for this international colloquium and indicated their interest in attending personally. The National Hispanic and Latino MHTTC will present a panel on how the mental health field can contribute to ending structural inequities that sustain gender-based violence and feminicide in Latin America and their countries. This panel will begin conversations that include practical recommendations and creative solutions that encourage holistic initiatives to intervene and prevent the structural issues that lead to feminicide.    Presenters:    Darice Orobitg, PhD, Mónica Ulibarri, PhD, and Thelma García.    The International Colloquium on Feminicide in the Americas and Catholic Responses is by invitation only and organized by Project Mujeristas.

Description:  Researchers, including graduate students and clinicians in the field, who work with refugees and asylum seekers, are exposed to narratives of torture, trauma, loss, and distress. This training highlights immigration and trauma and the importance of trauma informed care with recent immigrant population. Effective clinical supervision strategies and the importance of self-care will also be highlighted. This training is aimed to bear witness to the emotional impact that working with forced migrants may have on clinicians by describing the research and experiences of working with unaccompanied minors and asylum seekers. Clinicians working with this population need to be aware of the emotional impact of this type of work on trainees and supervisors alike and the inherent risk of vicarious traumatization. The presenters will propose that engaging in reflective practice and meaning-making processes may assist clinicians and those in training connect to and acknowledge the meaningful aspects of their work. These practices may counterbalance the difficulties of working with trauma exposed forced migrants in the United States.   Objectives Participants will describe recent trauma and health research with immigrant populations in the US Mexico border.            Participants will discuss and explain effective strategies in clinical supervision when working with unaccompanied minors.

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

Session 4 of 5 in the "Creating Safe Spaces for Peer Support Providers" Series (View series main page for full details)   This learning series asks: How can we create spaces where all peer professionals feel safe? How do we support Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) peers and implement anti-racist practices within peer support?     In Session 4, join us in collaboration with facilitator Evelyn Clark, and peer support specialists, Lindsey Burton-Anderson, Jason Clark and Stacy Thompson who will all speak to how anti-racist practices can be implemented for peer support agencies and services. This affinity group opens opportunities to discuss ongoing support, career paths, and how BIPOC peers can navigate the field. It will also offer a space to learn from other peer specialists.     Learning Goals Create specific avenues for peers who identify as BIPOC Implement ant-racist strategies within peer support delivery Identify career paths for peer specialists   Audience Peer support agencies and peer specialists who identify as Black, Indigenous, and people of color who work in mental health and cross-systems. We also welcome allies and other roles to help support the BIPOC peer workforce.    About The Presenters Jason Clark Jason Clark's first and most important focus is being a father. He is also the Director of Northwest Credible Messenger (NWCM), a capacity-building organization developed to empower the next generation of Black and Brown leadership, grown out of his journey overcoming personal and professional adversity. Previously, as a Project Manager, he had success in both city- and county-level positions. However, community and Credible Messenger are his North Stars. From being a resident of the Washington State Department of Corrections to being a project manager for the largest trial court system in the state, Jason utilizes his personal and professional experience to develop relationships that produce results and empower others throughout the statewide team at NWCM to maximize personal and community impact. Jason is a Prosecution Beyond Big Cities Leader for the Institute of Innovation in Prosecution at John Jay College, a 2019 JLUSA Leading with Conviction Fellow, and a 2019 Civil Survival Justice in Policy Fellow. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration, as well as being a certified Project Manager and a member of the Thurston County Racial Equity and Inclusion Council. His organization, NWCM, is the Washington State Ambassador for CM3, the National Credible Messenger Mentoring Movement, and his greatest success is in the POWER in UNITY. Lindsey Burton-Anderson, MPH, CHES® Lindsey Burton-Anderson is a public health professional and advocate for mental health in minoritized communities. She recently defended her Master’s thesis and served as a vessel for Black CPS to voice their lived experiences with racism and discrimination in the behavioral health system as well as their recommendations for anti-racist interventions. Lindsey’s primary areas of interest lie in health equity, mental health in minoritized communities, resilience, trauma, and wellness. She also endeavors to lead a life characterized by cultural humility. She is the founder of The ONETogether Project, a social justice initiative dedicated to providing essential care packages to students disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and systemic issues.    Lindsey holds a MPH in Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences from the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University and a BA in Sociology from Emory University. She is also certified as a Health Education Specialist. Stacey Thompson Stacy Thompson is a certified Peer Support Specialist, and owner/CEO of Equalibrium LLC, with over a decade of cumulative lived experience in peer-run program management, training, facilitation, self-advocacy, and recovery education. Focusing on nonconformity, neurodivergence & trauma, she creates opportunities and utilizes platforms to promote connection, equitable visibility, and amplification of the voices for those historically targeted for oppression. Equalibrium LLC, a mental health inclusive consulting & advocacy business created to uplift, educate, advocate, and build communities of support for non-conforming peers.        

United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc. and New England MHTTC would like to invite you and your staff to attend "Reclaiming Native Psychological Brilliance: Wise Practices," a Tribal Behavioral Health ECHO webinar series. Native Psychological Brilliance refers to the intelligence, strengths, balance, innate resources, and resilience of Native people.    The topic of June's session is: "Healing Native Family Trauma Connected to Drugs and Alcohol." This no-cost telehealth series will be held on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 11:00 am Pacific/12:00 pm Mountain/1:00 pm Central/2:00 pm Eastern. Each session will be one hour in length and will provide an opportunity for participants to:  Gain skills on strength-based approaches in partnership with Native People to enhance Native behavioral health Discuss ways that Native brilliance is demonstrated and supports behavioral health Learn about Native brilliance examples to share with behavioral health and other health care staff, as well as with local Tribal Nation citizens   The concept of Native psychological brilliance will be celebrated through Native music video and Native spoken word performances as part of each session. Who should attend? Tribal health directors, clinic staff, counselors, social workers, physicians, nurses, Tribal Epidemiology Center staff, and anyone supporting Tribal communities through the health or behavioral health sector are welcome to join. Continuing education credits will be provided.   If you need accommodations to join this event, please contact us.

Overview SAMHSA Region 3 Central East Mental Health Technology Transfer Center, in partnership with Advocates for Human Potential, has launched a new learning collaborative on behalf of the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS). This five-session training series will support Community Services Boards' (CSBs') case management and care coordination managers in enhancing excellent case management and care coordination practices throughout the state. CSBs are the entry points for publicly supported mental health, substance use disorder, and developmental services for people with intellectual disabilities and/or developmental disabilities in Virginia.   Learning Collaborative Description This learning collaborative will provide an opportunity for managers to come together for mutual learning, discussion, and problem solving. Participants are invited to share their knowledge and expertise with one another as they consider best practices, explore emerging promising practices, and discuss lessons learned. Upon completion, all CSBs will receive a one-page summary that highlights exemplary practices, strategies, and approaches that emerged during the learning collaborative sessions.   Registration Registration is closed to case management and care coordination supervisors, managers, and direct care staff at CSBs.    Structure and Topics The learning collaborative structure includes five sessions, each 60 minutes long. Participants will meet on the fourth Tuesday of the month for 5 months between April 25 and August 22, 2023. All sessions will convene virtually from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET.  Sessions will be highly interactive, giving participants many opportunities to share promising practices, enhance knowledge, explore new ideas, and strategize ways to implement and support new skill development of their teams. Breakout rooms will enable the division of CSBs into rural and urban locations or other relevant configurations. Each session will focus on a unique topic.    Sessions Date Themes Psychological Safety in the Workplace April 25 Enhancing self-awareness, cultivating psychological safety Navigating Boundaries May 23 Supporting mental health at work and work–life harmony Caseload Management Strategies for Care Coordinators and Case Managers June 27 Best practices and practical applications across the life span exercising personal agency and autonomy in the workplace Strengthening Employee Recruitment and Hiring Practices July 25 Developing a recruitment strategy How to assess and hire for specific knowledge, skills, and abilities Key Components of Employee Retention August 22 Permission for self-care  and autonomy Staffing structures to help staff work at the top of their scope Establishing clear and transparent career pathways  

Making clinical and other settings more welcoming to those with a history of trauma is the focus of this 2-hour webinar. Offered in collaboration with Dr. Lonnie Nelson, Partnerships for Native Health, WSU. ABOUT THIS EVENT Dr. Nelson will provide a discussion of the effects of trauma on the perception of common clinical and legal settings and practices, as well as how to make these environments and processes feel safer and more welcoming to individuals with a history of trauma.   FACILITATOR Lonnie Nelson, PhD, Clinical Psychologist, Associate Professor, Partnerships for Native Health, Eastern band Cherokee (AniKituwah)  Dr. Lonnie Nelson (descendant of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians) earned his PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Arizona and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Rehabilitation Psychology at University of Washington's Harborview Medical Center. In 2012, he returned to the field of Native health disparities through the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Career Development Award (K12) at the University of Washington School of Public Health. Dr. Nelson joined the Washington State University College of Nursing in 2015. His work aims to address health disparities experienced by American Indian and Alaska Native communities through multiple avenues. His current research interests focus on the elimination of health disparities in urban dwelling and other Native populations through the application of culturally adapted evidence-based interventions and other patient centered approaches to changing health behaviors, such as indigenized motivational interviewing and harm reduction treatments. Outside of work, he enjoys making and using traditional Native archery gear and spending time with his 7-year-old daughter, Amelia.

  ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION The purpose of this summit is to bring together education experts and practitioners with experience working within and beyond systems, with networks and professional resources that enable action at nearly all levels of the ecological systems surrounding schools. The goal of this summit is to create (a) a comprehensive list of common barriers school systems face that both contribute to poor well-being and prevent amelioration, (b) actionable steps that individuals beyond the summit group could engage in for their own school districts, (c) draw upon the unique knowledge, skills, and resources of the summit attendees to engage in for their local systems to test strategies and tactics, and (d) form a coalition of individual actors for ongoing support in making those changes.                                                                                                    TARGET AUDIENCE This accredited continuing education activity is designed for social workers, psychologists, and counselors.     EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES At the end of this activity, learners from clinical and learning environments will be better able to:  Apply the process of design thinking and its application in creative problem solving.   Describe the liberatory design mindset and modes for diversity, equity, and inclusion.    Create a design thinking framework that focuses on the “end user” with innovative solutions.    If you are interested in attending this free, in-person event, we encourage you to complete this form. Our team will review your application and respond promptly. Please note that this event will be held in the Omaha, Nebraska, area.      In support of improving patient care, University of Nebraska Medical Center is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.       As a Jointly Accredited Organization, University of Nebraska Medical Center is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 13.25 general continuing education credits. The content level of this activity is advanced.     13.25 Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.          

This session is Part 4 of a 4-Part Pride Month series: Walking with Tribal Youth on Their Sacred Journey, and will be a panel discussion focusing on experiences of supporting native LGBTQ+ and Two-Spirit people. Panelists will share lessons from various perspectives of lived experience; what has helped, what harmed, what providers need to know. The panel will also include a talking circle and a Q&A session on supporting Native LGBTQ+ and Two-Spirit youth. The session will begin and end with a breathing exercise and acknowledgment of attendees tending to their own spirit. Attendees are encouraged to attend all four sessions to embark upon this journey of learning together.

  DESCRIPTION: The Stages of Change model has been a staple of training on person-centered practices since it was first published in the early 90s. Despite being heavily linked with Motivational Interviewing, the model is often used only as a descriptive tool rather than a guide to action and effective intervention. This class describes how to identify where a person is at in their change process AND matches simple interventions that fit that stage. In this way workers can help guide people toward the changes they want to make with a minimum amount of confrontation.     LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Describe and review the Stages of Change Model Identify what the stages look and sound like Link each stage to specific interventions     CONTINUING EDUCATION: Registrants who fully attend this training will be eligible to receive 2 continuing education (CE) hours certified by the Minnesota Board of Social Work and the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy. CE certificates are provided by People Incorporated Training Institute.     PRESENTER: Raymond Young, CPS, BA has 15 years of experience training diverse groups of adult, youth, and adolescent learners prior to joining the Training Institute at People Incorporated Mental Health Services. He has trained mental health workers, police officers, transportation professionals, business partners, and clients. Ray received his certification as a Certified Peer Specialist from the Minnesota Department of Human Services in 2017 and has since worked with individuals with various mental health conditions and behavioral health concerns. He has also studied Drug and Alcohol Counseling. Ray has a passion for working with youth in Youth Leadership Programs and as a mentor in the community.         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.

Southeast MHTTC The Peer Perspective on Respite 4-Part Series: Join us for this 4-part series as we take a look at mental health respite care from the peer perspective, including discussions on its history and future direction, when and how it is being used (both in the Southeast and nationally), and the ways it can benefit one's recovery journey. Monday, June 26, 2023 (12:00 PM ET) | We Didn't Invent the Wheel: Peer Support as an Evolutionary Necessity: In Part 2 of our series presenters discuss how the peer support/respite model is not new but builds on models as recent as the early 20th century self-help groups. Different respite models and their unique benefits and challenges will be explored.   Click here to learn more and join us for other sessions in this series:  Monday, July 24, 2023 (12:00 PM ET) | Peer Perspective - Respite around the Country: In Part 3 of this series leaders of respite centers across the country share their lived experience operating their centers. Speakers will discuss how respite standards have emerged and how different elements can impact the ability of respite to open or remain open, including politics, NIMBYism, economic fluctuations, state and national leadership changes, and even the weather. (Click Here to Register!)   Monday, August 7, 2023 (12:00 PM ET) | What is Next? In our final session thought leaders in behavioral health and respite discuss and answer questions about the future of peer-led peer-run alternatives to the traditional clinical hierarchical model as well as discuss how "peer-washing" traditional services to give them a recovery sheen is impacting peer support and respite models. Our presenters will also forecast what they believe will (or should) come next for the mental health recovery community. (Click Here to Register!)  

NOTE: This event is specifically for Washington State attendees who are part of the behavioral health workforce. This session is part of the Older Adults track of the Mental Health Institute. ABOUT THIS EVENT Estimates suggest that 1 in 10 older adults living at home experience elder abuse. It is necessary for mental health providers to be skilled in the identification and assessment of elder abuse, adept at supporting elders experiencing abuse, and knowledgeable about support systems to protect older adults. This presentation, through the use of case studies and other interactive elements, provides attendees with the opportunity to learn and/or strengthen those skills.   Contact hours will be available for participants who attend the entire session. The University of Washington is an approved provider of continuing education for DOH licensed social workers, licensed mental health counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, psychologists, chemical dependency professionals, nurses and physicians under the provisions of: WAC 246-809-610, WAC 246-809-620,WAC 246-811-200, WAC 246-840-210, WAC 246-919-460 and WAC 246-924-240.   Session is 9am-4:30pm PT See more in the Older Adults (OA) track HERE  LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTE HERE FACILITATORS Kris Fredrickson, LICSW  Kris Fredrickson is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in practice at the Puget Sound VA Medical Center in the Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center and Geriatric Primary Care Services. She holds an MSW and Certificate in Geriatric Mental Health from University of WA. She is a Clinical Associate Professor at the UW School of Social Work. She has worked for 19 years at the VA providing assessment, education and caregiver support around issues pertaining to Neurocognitive Disorders, complicated geriatric health/mental health conditions and psychosocial factors. Clinical work history includes inpatient and outpatient psychiatry services, community mental health and jail liaison. She is active as an educator, supervising social work interns from several universities and providing classes on geriatric and social work practice topics including Elder Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation, Dementia, Delirium and Depression, PTSD and Dementia, Caring for the Caregiver, and Resistance to Care to professionals in the VA system, in community agencies. and at the UW School of Social Work.     VISIT THE MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTE MAIN PAGE    

Participation at the TASP Summer Institute 2023: Moving School Mental Health Forward Together    June 22-23, 2023 South Padre Island, Texas 

This 90-minute webinar will discuss decision-making through a trauma-informed lens. ABOUT THIS EVENT Life can be complicated and there may be times we feel overwhelmed by the many choices and decisions we are faced with. Sometimes it’s hard to know what direction to go and that can just add to our level of stress. Rebekah Demirel brings us Wisdom To Know The Difference viewing our decision-making through a trauma-informed lens, inviting us to explore our own personal history, psycho-neuro patterns and habitual thought processes. Through discovering roots of our thoughts and actions, applying nervous system healing techniques, we bring fresh awareness and mental health resilience to our everyday life, making it possible to build new decision-making paths towards a more stable and dependable foundation of clarity and heart, as well as the ability to carry this resilience into our practice as mental health professionals.     Learning Objectives:  Apply a trauma-informed lens to recognize personal decision-making patterns  Cultivate self-evaluation to notice personal decision making styles and develop greater mental health resilience   Define and apply broader perspectives how decisions are made  Resources: Slides 6, 1, 8 breathing instructions handout In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts: Close Encounters with Addiction by Gabor Maté, MD The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness and Healing in a Toxic Culture by Gabor Maté, MD Film by Gabor Maté, Wisdom of Trauma The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel Van Der Kolk, MD My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski PhD, Amelia Nagoski, DMA  Anchored: How to Befriend Your Nervous System Using Polyvagal Theory by Deb Dana Speak Peace in a World of Conflict: What You Say Next Will Change Your World by Marshall B. Rosenberg Alternate Nostril Breathing Pranayama Nothing's for Nothing: Transformation through Trauma by S. Rebekah Demirel We Make The Path By Walking Webinar and Podcast Series with Rebekah Demirel The Ethics of Caring: Honoring the Web of Life in Our Professional Healing Relationships by Kylea Taylor, Jack Kornfield FACILITATOR Rebekah Demirel, R.Ac., L.Ac. MPCC Rebekah Demirel is the founder of Trauma Integration Programs, providing training and support to social services personnel, medical and education professionals, emergency services teams and corporate organizations for more than twenty years. Her background includes fourteen years as a BC Ambulance paramedic, twenty-two years as a paramedic trainer and over two decades as a registered clinical counsellor, specializing in post-traumatic stress and loss. She is a licensed East Asian medicine practitioner and acupuncturist, generating another depth of understanding to her counselling work. Rebekah’s unique skill set and experience is informed by her own traumatic childhood and teen years spent on the street and in the foster care system, giving her a special familiarity and empathy for trauma and loss. Rebekah continues to be an active volunteer and advocate for people who are unhoused, in her community and beyond.    

The South Southwest MHTTC is pleased to host this virtual training Creating Affirming Environments for LGBTQ People Receiving Services for Texas Certified Community Behavior Health Clinic (CCBHC) leaders. This is a closed event. If you have questions, please contact [email protected].     This virtual training provides an overview of terms, concepts, and identities that people working in the behavioral health field should know to provide affirming services and cultivate an affirming environment for LGBTQ people.     A 2018 report from the Texas Institute for Excellence in Mental Health, titled Peers in Research: Interventions for Developing LGBTQ-Affirmative Behavioral Health Services in Texas, showed that most providers in Texas do not hold overtly prejudicial attitudes toward LGBTQ clients. However, the report found that most providers either lack the knowledge and skills to provide appropriate care to LGBTQ clients or are not aware of the importance of LGBTQ- affirming care.     Specifically offered for CCBHC leadership, this training aims to bridge the gap many providers feel by offering basic information, resources, and guidance for people working in behavioral health agencies on how to support LGBTQ people receiving services.     Facilitators     Darcy Kues, JD, is a Project Manager with the South Southwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center and the Addiction Research Institute, where she writes curricula focused on peer support and recovery services. She has over 7 years of experience in curriculum development, grant writing, and program coordination for peer support services and recovery-oriented behavioral health. Darcy has developed trainings on reentry peer support, youth and young adult peer support, trauma responsiveness, peer support supervision, LGBTQ affirming services, and more. She is committed to building a world where recovery and lived experience are centered at every level of decision-making.                       Mx. Shane Whalley, MSSW, received hir Masters degree in Social Work from the The University of Texas Steve Hicks School of Social work in 2003. Shane is the founder of Daring Dialogues Consulting. Ze is a deeply relational and playful genderqueer facilitative educator, who has been facilitating workshops and conversations on issues faced by the LGBTQIA communities, cultural humility and responsiveness and social justice frameworks for over 20 years. Hir knowledge comes from hir lived experience as a now elder within the genderqueer and queer communities. Shane has also been the Community Coordinator for the Office of Equity at Austin Independent School District, the Education Coordinator for the Gender and Sexuality Center at The University of Texas at Austin and has worked at several mental health nonprofits in Austin. Shane enjoys engaging in conversations around the complexities of “all the things” whether as a mentor, consultant, or educator.      

  DESCRIPTION: Working with traumatized people can erode workers’ compassion and empathy as the shared experience of trauma becomes overwhelming. Resiliency refers to the ability to withstand the stresses and strains of life and work and have a strong capacity for adaptation. Resilient people tend to display certain personality traits, but in addition have robust daily practices that keep them mentally and physically strong. This class explores the problem of chronic unremitting stress on our overactive and distracted brains and offers a set of different skill sets for robust mental health that can be learned and practiced by anyone.     LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Recognize warning signs of vicarious trauma Examine key areas of physical health and active relaxation skills Increase positive emotions and counter negative thinking     CONTINUING EDUCATION: Registrants who fully attend this training will be eligible to receive 2 continuing education (CE) hours certified by the Minnesota Board of Social Work and the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy. CE certificates are provided by People Incorporated Training Institute.     PRESENTER: Raymond Young, CPS, BA has 15 years of experience training diverse groups of adult, youth, and adolescent learners prior to joining the Training Institute at People Incorporated Mental Health Services. He has trained mental health workers, police officers, transportation professionals, business partners, and clients. Ray received his certification as a Certified Peer Specialist from the Minnesota Department of Human Services in 2017 and has since worked with individuals with various mental health conditions and behavioral health concerns. He has also studied Drug and Alcohol Counseling. Ray has a passion for working with youth in Youth Leadership Programs and as a mentor in the community.         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.

Participation at the TASP Summer Institute 2023: Moving School Mental Health Forward Together    June 22-23, 2023 South Padre Island, Texas 

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

Participation at the TASP Summer Institute 2023: Moving School Mental Health Forward Together    June 22-23, 2023 South Padre Island, Texas 

New Date To Be Determined   DESCRIPTION Adults are deeply affected by experiencing microaggressions. Microaggressions are verbal, behavioral or environmental slights or insults directed towards others. Whether said intentionally or unintentionally, microaggressions communicate an underlying hostility or negative attitude based upon a dimension of the person's diversity. This workshop deals with ways to combat microaggressions by creating an agency culture of respect, reverence and dignity for all dimensions of diversity. LEARNING OBJECTIVES Define and understand microaggression in the workplace  Discuss the negative impact of microaggression on those targeted Practice how to respond when microaggressions are experienced, overheard or used   PRESENTER Interculturalist and diversity scholar, Dr. Kami J. Anderson is a thought leader, international keynote speaker and sought-after diversity consultant. Her passion is demonstrated with her emphasis on application and confidence. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Spelman College, a Master’s degree in International Affairs/Interdisciplinary Studies in International Communication and Anthropology from American University and a PhD in Communication and Culture from Howard University.        

Transgender people experience higher levels of depression, anxiety, and suicidality than cisgender people, and the highest rates of mental health challenges among people who identify as LGBTQIA+. Presenters will speak about their work in New England, share their strategies for and experiences with supporting mental health for transgender populations and answer questions from participants.   Presenters: Layne Alexander Gianakos (he/him), Program Coordinator, Office of Health Equity Research at Yale School of Medicine Kirill Ivan Staklo (he/him), Program Director, PeerPride Dr. Heather Kim, MD (she/they), Department of Psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital   If you would like accommodations to participate in any of our events, please contact us at [email protected].