Past Events

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

DESCRIPTION Diabetes is a common chronic disease which affects 37.3 million adults in the U.S., and approximately 12% of all adults age 20 and older. An endocrine disorder with complications such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney disease, diabetes occurs at disproportionately high levels among African Americans and other communities of color. Psychiatric comorbidity, including depression and anxiety, along with rising rates of obesity, contribute to the devastating impact of diabetes across the nation. This webinar will focus on the connections between diabetes, depression, and related conditions and the importance of concurrent treatment to achieve optimal disease outcomes.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES Describe the relationship between obesity, depression, and diabetes Explain the pathophysiology of depression and diabetes Discuss the impact of psychosocial factors that contribute to diabetes and depression Delineate how effective treatment with depression may contribute to better diabetes outcomes   PRESENTER William B. Lawson, M.D., Ph.D., D.L.F.A.P.A. is Founder and Director of the Institute for Reducing Disparities, LLC, Director of Psychiatric Research for the Emerson Clinical Research Institute, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the George Washington University and the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He also currently serves as the President of the Senior Psychiatrists, Inc. of the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Lawson is emeritus professor of psychiatry at the Dell Medical School, University of Texas, Austin, and emeritus professor and formerly chair of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Howard University School of Medicine. He received a PhD in Psychology from the University of New Hampshire and MD from the Pritzker School of Medicine University of Chicago, did his residency at Stanford University and a fellowship at the National Institute of Mental Health. He has held numerous senior positions and received national recognition including Past President of the DC chapter of Mental Health America, Past President of the Washington Psychiatric Society, Past Chair of the Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences of the Section of the National Medical Association, and Past President of the Black Psychiatrists of America. He has received several honors, including the American Psychiatric Foundation Award for Advancing Minority Mental Health and the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Exemplary Psychiatrist Award. He has over 200 publications and is a former editor-in-chief of the Journal of the National Medical Association.    HOST Annelle Primm, M.D., MPH is the Senior Medical Director of the Steve Fund, an organization focused on the mental health of young people of color. She is also a member of the Black Psychiatrists of America Council of Elders.               AUDIENCE Psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, primary care practitioners, nurse specialists, individuals with lived experience and the general public  

This is Session 2 of our Cultural Formulation Interview Series. The page for the series can be found by clicking here.  Event Description Session 2: Personalized Cultural Assessment through the Cultural Formulation Interview (CFI) (November 17, 2022)  11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. MT / 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. CT This presentation introduces clinicians from all professional backgrounds to the concept of person-centered care and how the Cultural Formulation Interview can help them completed a personalized cultural assessment. It defines person-centered care. It goes through the underlying theories of the CFI to show how a person-centered assessment avoids stereotyping patients or assuming that group traits are valid for the person in front of us. It closes by showing how information elicited through the CFI can be used to personalize diagnostic assessment and treatment planning.    Trainer Neil Krishan Aggarwal  Dr. Neil Krishan Aggarwal is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Columbia University and Research Psychiatrist at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. He has been a consultant to the DSM-5 Cross-Cultural Issues Subgroup for over a decade and managed the international field trial for the CFI that took place in 6 countries and enrolled 75 clinicians with 321 patients. His work on the CFI has been funded through the American Psychiatric Association, National Institute of Mental Health, and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

Join us for a Cultural Conversation on Cultural Disparities and Cultural Distrust with Dr. Luis Torres, Founding Dean of the School of Social Work at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and Advisory Board Member of the National Hispanic and Latino MHTTC.

The South Southwest MHTTC Team is facilitating a virtual Safety Planning Intervention training for First Episode Psychosis and Coordinated Specialty Care team members. Safety Planning is a brief intervention that uses positive coping skills and strategies to decrease the risk of suicidal behavior. This training focuses on learning the steps of the Safety Planning process and how to effectively use this intervention to assist others.   Safety Planning Intervention Training Learning Objectives: 1. Describe the purpose of the Safety Plan and the impact it has as a brief intervention for improving positive coping skills and reducing the risk of self-harm and suicide. 2. Name and describe the 6 key elements of the Safety Plan. 3. Identify when a Safety Plan should be used and describe the techniques needed to collaboratively complete the Safety Plan Template when working with an individual.   Materials    

  Implementing Assertive Community Treatment in Kansas: Many of the clients served need assistance with navigating the entitlements they are eligible for.  This can range from gaining benefits from Social Security to understanding resources in the community. In this training you will learn the basics of benefits planning.     

  This 1-hour webinar will help professionals in primary care understand how to identify and respond to concerns of suspected child abuse or neglect keeping a trauma focused approach. There will also be a thorough review of the process of making a report and services provided at a child advocacy center.   Objectives Recognize the purpose of a Child Advocacy Center Provide basics of state reporting laws Determine how to report child abuse and neglect and what information is important to obtain and document Discuss what happens when a report is made Discuss documentation of trauma disclosure and factors to consider with documentation   Presented by: Jessica Tippery, MSN, APRN-NP, CPNP-PC, SANE-P, SANE-A Jessica Tippery is an Advanced Practice Nurse and the Medical Program Manager at Project Harmony. She has been a nurse for over 12 years primarily serving the pediatric population in both the inpatient and outpatient setting. For the past 5 years Jessica has been practicing as an advanced practice nurse, assessing children for suspected child abuse and neglect. She is a board certified pediatric and adult/adolescent Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) through the International Association of Forensic Nurses. Jessica is also a graduate of UNMC with a Master of Science in Nursing and board certified as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. She has a passion for serving youth who are at risk for trafficking and in educating the community on child abuse related topics.       ACCREDITED CONTINUING EDUCATION   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. The University of Nebraska Medical Center designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 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 activity has been approved for 1.0 credit hour of continuing education credit.    

Many believe that technology can help address the behavioral health workforce crisis. Join the discussion! This is the latest session in our ongoing Workshop Wednesday series. Event Description 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. MT / 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. CT During COVID-19, many providers found themselves forced to use technology to be able to meet their client’s needs while addressing the pandemic’s unique restrictions.    Many organizations, including the American Medical Association (AMA), now believe that technology can help address the behavioral health workforce crisis.    Technology has opened a new frontier in mental health support and data collection. Mobile devices like cell phones, smartphones, and tablets are giving the public, providers, doctors, and researchers new ways to access help, monitor progress, and increase understanding of mental well-being.    Join us for November’s Workshop Wednesday as Laurie Dale, a nationally known technology expert, working in the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities, explains how to utilize off-the-shelf technology to affordably support direct care staff and people with disabilities. This presentation will focus on how small to mid-size agencies can take advantage of off-the-shelf technology to assist management in developing efficient strategies that support staff with routine duties and their remote support interactions.  Trainer Laurie Dale, Consultant, Personal Technology Solutions Ms. Dale is a nationally recognized speaker and consultant with over 30 years of experience in how-to-use technology to support and empower persons with disabilities.  Her company, Personal Technology Solutions, provides support for initiatives and projects to improve access to technologies for persons with disabilities including hands-on training. 

In this discussion, a refugee community leader and pediatric health service researcher will share challenges and opportunities to support mental health needs of refugee and immigrant families. They will highlight promising opportunities for partnership and support for immigrant and refugee children and families through direct connection and communication with community partners and families. Presenters are Fereshteh Ganjavi from the University of New Haven and Julia Rosenberg, MD, MHS, FAAP from Yale School of Medicine.

DESCRIPTION Youth Mental Health First Aid is an evidence-based training that teaches participants how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among children and adolescents ages 6-18. This virtual course is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people (such as parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, health and human services workers, etc.). Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including AD/HD), and eating disorders.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES Introduce common mental health challenges for youth Review typical adolescent development Teach a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations   Closed Registration

This training is a part of a series hosted by the Peer Recovery Center of Excellence.     "The purpose of this training series is to provide recurring opportunities for peer recovery support specialists from across the country to build foundational skills that are necessary for effective peer support service provision. Each of the 6 topics will be offered twice per year* in order to accommodate PRSS who are new to the field and those who would like to brush up on their basics. Additionally, these trainings may serve as an option for TA requesters looking to build their skills as PRSS. In complement to the Communities of Practice, these training sessions will be structured in such a way as to support concrete skill development including group discussion, presentation, facilitated activities, and more. Through this training series we aim to better equip the PRSS workforce with the skills necessary for the effective, professional, and intentional provision of peer support services. Intended Audience: This training series is for Certified Peer Recovery Support Specialists (PRSS). Participants may register for one or all six trainings in this series!"     Event description quote taken from the PRCoE website: https://peerrecoverynow.org/training/skill.development.prss.aspx 

The South Southwest MHTTC team has been invited to participates in the Leadership Development training process for the Texas Health and Human Services Leadership Academy. Mordecai Dixon will facilitate a face -to- face training on trauma informed and recovery oriented leadership. This is a closed session for TX HHSC leadership.  

This is Part 4 of our Neuro-Sequential Model in Education series.  Event Description 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. MT / 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. CT This 4-part series will explore the impact stress has on learning and behavior. We will learn about the human stress response system and different ways it manages stress. We will also process through the four modes of human regulation and ways to promote them in the learning environment.     Learning Objectives Participants will be able to identify two ways humans regulate.  Participants will be able to create strategies for students that promote regulation.   Trainer Jessica Pfeiffer, PsyD., LCSW                     Dr. Pfeiffer is co-host of Education Suspended, a podcast focused on engaging in conversation with guests who are passionate about evolving our educational system. She is also the co-author of “Implications of Animal-Assisted Psychotherapy for the Treatment of Developmental Trauma through the Lens of Interpersonal Neurobiology”. Dr. Pfeiffer is an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado, Denver, in the Graduate School of Education and Human Development.  She completed her undergraduate degree in Social Work at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. She received her Master of Social Work degree and Animal Assisted Social Work Certificate from the University of Denver. Dr. Pfeiffer received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology in School Psychology at the University of Colorado, Denver. 

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

NOTE: This event is specifically for Washington State attendees who are part of the behavioral health workforce.   This session is part of the Co-occurring Disorders track of the Mental Health Institute. ABOUT THIS EVENT This training is offered in 2 modules: Relaxation Strategies: This module will be an introduction to relaxation strategies with a focus on breath retraining.  Mindfulness Primer: This module will be an introduction to mindfulness and its clinical application in COD treatment. 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 10a-3p PT See more in the Co-occurring Disorders Track HERE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTE HERE FACILITATOR Jeffery Roskelley, LICSW Jeffery Roskelley is a licensed independent clinical social worker training and consulting for the SPIRIT (which stands for Supporting Psychosis Innovation through Research, Implementation and Training) Lab at the University of Washington. Jeff graduated from the University of Utah with a Master of Social Work degree in 2008, and has worked in several different settings including hospice, as a co-occurring assessment specialist at the University of Utah and as a co-occurring specialist for the Lake Whatcom PACT team in Bellingham WA, where he currently resides. Jeff’s area of specialty is in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis and for Substance Use Disorder. Since 2013 he has been training Assertive Community Treatment Teams in WA state in co-occurring disorders treatment and cognitive behavioral techniques for severe mental illness. Jeff was trained and received consultation in CBTp with the original Washington state cohort in 2015, trained by Jennifer Gottlieb, PhD, from the Harvard Medical School and provided direct clinical CBTp counseling to clients at Sunrise Mental Health from 2015 to 2018, receiving supervision from Sarah Kopelovich, PhD, from the University of Washington. Currently, Jeff provides individual private counseling in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, addressing a wide range of clinical issues, ranging from anxiety and depression to obsessive compulsive disorder and psychosis. In addition, Jeff is a clinical supervisor for social workers. Finally, last but not least, Jeff is an ardent dog lover and a dabbler in chi gong.     VISIT THE MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTE MAIN PAGE    

NOTE: This event is specifically for Washington State attendees who are part of the behavioral health workforce.   This session is part of the Social Justice & Inclusion track of the Mental Health Institute. ABOUT THIS EVENT This session is offered in two parts and attendance at both parts is expected: Cultural Formulation: Relevance of the Cultural Axis in Our Therapeutic Work Part 1: November 14, 9:00am-1:00pm PT Cultural Formulation: Relevance of the Cultural Axis in Our Therapeutic Work Part 1: November 16, 9:00am-1:00pm PT    The sessions will be an overview of the relevance of the DSM-5 cultural formulation, otherness and cultural axis will be framed within a model of person-centered care. Theoretical implications of systemic, social, ecological, legal, and historical embedding will be explored both through readings and clinical case studies. The purpose of the sessions is to promote the integration of eclectic therapeutic elements with cultural and social realities of the client which shape social, relational, intrapsychic, developmental, and neurobiological experiences. The seminar will encourage discussion of cases with multiple perspectives and intervention pathways relevant to the care of a diverse patient population and to the realities of institutional issues and collaborative models of community engagement. Intragenerational and psychohistoriographic influences in complex trauma treatment, acculturation, displacement, cultural genocide, and other relevant patient issues will be highlighted.   Learning objectives: The purpose of the seminar is to build on lived experience, multiple theoretical frameworks, social sciences, and mental health theory to attune us to cultural realities impacting healing, advocacy, assessment, and community engagement. The case studies used will be chosen to generate reflection and discussion on our ways of knowing in therapeutic contexts that engage with culture. Since cultural formulation approaches questions and attunement with diversity, and majority collective realities are often neglected in supervision, team discourse, or training, I hope the seminars will open a safe space for an exchange of ideas on this vast transitional area with stimulation of curiosity, awareness, critical thinking and optional pathways of intervention.   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. See more in the Social Justice Track HERE LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTE HERE FACILITATOR Jaswant Guzder, MD, FRCP Jaswant Guzder, MD, FRCP, is a McGill University Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, active in both Division of Child Psychiatry and Division of Social and Transcultural Psychiatry, currently visiting professor (UBC), working in Victoria BC consultant to Center for Refugee and Immigrant Mental Health and Indigenous Child and Youth Health. She was former Head of Jewish General Hospital Child Psychiatry, Director of Childhood Disorders Hospital, first Director of Fellowship Program in Family Therapy Residency Training, founding Co-Director of the Jewish General Cultural Consultation Service. She has had active role in teaching and training at McGill and as an Associate of McGill School of Social Work. Her research work is mainly focused on children at risk and cultural psychiatry. She is active in the global health initiatives and training, the Dream a World cultural therapy project for high risk children since 2005 with University of West Indies. Her teaching and training work include ongoing work in India, Nepal, Turkey, India, Italy and Jamaica, collaborating with local and McGill partners. Her research and clinical initiatives in global child mental health include numerous articles and book chapters as well as the co-edited volume, Cultural Consultation: Encounter the Other in Mental Health Care. Her book in collaboration with the Museo Laboratorio della Mente was related to her art residency in Rome 2017. As an artist, clinician and advocate in mental health work she was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Medal.   VISIT THE MENTAL HEALTH INSTITUTE MAIN PAGE

  DESCRIPTION: Person-centered practices are ways of working with people that create partnerships. It brings together things that are important to the person, and the expertise of the worker resulting in a plan for wellness that is meaningful to the person receiving services. Providing this kind of support involves awareness of power imbalances and the role of stigma and stereotypes. This class offers specific strategies and language that foster a collaborative approach to treatment planning and different elements in a person’s wellbeing.     LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Evaluate current attitudes to mental health Observe the effects of power imbalance in case studies Recognize the need for a whole person approach to health and wellness Cite specific examples of person-centered practices     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 A/MH/PTTC 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.

For individuals living with intellectual and developmental disabilities, technology can provide greater independence and increased choice.  Event Description 1:00 - 1:30 p.m. MT / 2:00 - 2:30 p.m. CT Session 3 - Accessibility Options Using an iPhone Smartphone November 10, 2022 Technology is a tool that we all use to navigate our schedules and homes and allows us access to information- this is not innovative – it is a way of life that many people take for granted. For others, such as people living with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities it can be a vehicle that can provide greater independence and increased choice. This new series of 6 bi-weekly micro- trainings will focus on how existing technology can be used to help providers working with this community balance their workload more effectively while creating solutions for people living with IDD. This is a hands-on training that will demonstrate how to teach individuals living with IDD how to use mainstream technology to support individualized needs. Participants are encouraged to bring real-life examples of current needs (including their current technology). We will focus on applications and tools to address Independence around the House, Workforce Support Tools, and Increased Communication Tools. Trainer Laurie Dale, Consultant, Personal Technology Solutions Ms. Dale is a nationally recognized speaker and consultant with over 30 years of experience on how-to-use technology to support and empower persons with disabilities.  Her company, Personal Technology Solutions, provides support for initiatives and projects to improve access to technologies for persons with disabilities including hands-on training. 

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

About the Event:  The prevalence and impact of trauma is undeniable. Statistics show that as many as 90% of the people who enter the public behavioral health system have experienced trauma. The adverse childhood experiences study (ACE) demonstrates the correlation between early childhood adversity and negative health outcomes in adulthood, including heart disease, cancer, substance misuse and mental health challenges. Our series Trauma and the Peer Perspective will examine the myriad of way trauma is defined, and how trauma is often addressed within behavioral health systems. We will explore how systems can create trauma and/or retraumatize those seeking help and how trauma informed peer support and services can be a game changer.   Trauma and 988/Crisis Services Response (Part 2) Description: Everyone is familiar with 911, 411, and even 211, but what about the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline? Four years in the making, 988 is now a national reality. Trauma is very often the catalyst for crisis and providing trauma informed support is critical during times of crisis. Learning objectives: 1.  Learn what’s working well with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 2. Gain insight on what could be different with the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline 3. Understand the ways that the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline responds to trauma   Join us for the remaining session in this series:  Thursday, December 8, 2022 (12:00 PM ET) | Mental Health and the Holidays (Register Here)   About the Facilitators: The Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network believes in the ability of everyone living with mental health concerns to enjoy lives of purpose, meaning, productivity, and wellness. Since it was founded in 1991, this grassroots nonprofit organization has been led and run by mental health peers—people in mental health recovery. At its core, the basis of peer support—one person using their lived experience to support another—is not new; in fact, it is the basis of human growth and development. Mental health peers with special training are now able to use their lived recovery experience in clinical settings to provide something beyond a diagnosis or medication.   Roslind D. Hayes, BS, CPS-MH, CARES, WHWC is the Statewide Coordinator of the GMHCN's Peer Support, Wellness, and Respite Centers. She is a trainer/facilitator for the Certified Peer Specialist Project, Peer Zone, and Intentional Peer Support.  Chris Johnson, MFA, CPS, CPS-AD is GMHCN's Director of Communications. He is responsible for sharing information about recovery and wellness opportunities to behavioral health peers and providers across Georgia. 

Healing Our Protectors: Building Resilience Among Tribal Law Enforcement Officers Through Cultural Interventions Event Description 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. MT / 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. CT Healing Our Protectors: Building Resilience Among Tribal Law Enforcement Officers Through Cultural Interventions is a resource intended to assist behavioral health providers in gaining a greater understanding of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among law enforcement officer, especially those working in and with tribal communities. It provides suggestions for a culturally responsive approach to treatment using the medicine wheel and offers concrete exercises. It is also a tool for law enforcement supervisors and administrators who wish to gain a greater understanding of the unique needs of Indigenous law enforcement officers who are dealing with a host of job-related challenges and stressors.   The Healing Our Protectors: Building Resilience Among Tribal Law Enforcement Officers Through Cultural Interventions toolkit can be accessed by clicking here.  Trainer LaVonne Fox, PhD, OTR/L LaVonne Fox, PhD, OTR/L- She currently is employed at the Turtle Mountain Community College in Belcourt, ND and recently accepted the position of Vice President of Academic Affairs. LaVonne was born and raised on the Turtle Mountain Chippewa reservation. She has considerable experience researching Indigenous Youth programs for positive mental health and wellness connected to identity. She is currently developing a Master in Education Program that focuses on decolonization/deconstructing the educational system and embedding indigenous values and beliefs. was an associate professor at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND, in the Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Medicine and Health Sciences for 26 years until December 31, 2019.  

This is Session 1 of our Cultural Formulation Interview Series. The page for the series can be found by clicking here.  Event Description 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. MT / 12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. CT Session 1: The Value of Person-Centered Cultural Assessment in Clinical Practice (November 10, 2022)  This presentation will describe the role of culture in the experience of and presentation of mental health problems by individuals seeking care and in assessments and treatments offered by providers. The value of a person-centered cultural assessment will be presented, focusing on cultural concepts of distress, social determinants of mental health, and treatment planning and engagement. The Cultural Formulation Interview will be introduced, a standardized method for person-centered assessment that appeared in DSM-5.  Learning Objectives 1. Understand the role of culture in every aspect of mental health, including among individuals seeking care as well as providers.   2. Discuss the value of a person-centered cultural assessment focused on the individual.  3. Learn about the Cultural Formulation Interview as a standardized approach for conducting a person-centered cultural assessment.   Trainer Roberto Lewis-Fernadez, MD  Roberto Lewis-Fernández MD is a Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Columbia University; at New York State Psychiatric Institute, he is Director of the NYS Center of Excellence for Cultural Competence, Director of the Hispanic Treatment Program, and Research Area Leader for Anxiety, Mood, Eating, and Related Disorders. His research develops culturally congruent interventions and instruments to enhance patient engagement, reduce misdiagnosis, and help overcome disparities in the care of underserved cultural groups. He led the development of the DSM-5 Cultural Formulation Interview, a standardized cultural assessment protocol, and was the Principal Investigator (PI) of its international field trial. He has been PI or co-Investigator of 27 National Institutes of Health-funded studies and other research, and published over 225 articles, chapters, and books on culture-related topics in mental health. He is immediate past president of the World Association of Cultural Psychiatry, president-elect of the American Psychopathological Association, chair of the Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry Cultural Committee, and chair of the DSM Review Committee for Internalizing Disorders.  He was chair of the DSM-5-TR Culture-Related Issues Review Committee as well as co-chair of the DSM-5-TR Work Group on Ethnoracial Equity and Inclusion and the ICD-11 Working Group on Culture-Related Issues.

The South Southwest MHTTC is pleased to host the Case Conceptualization for First Episode Psychosis (FEP) series. The purpose of this series is to introduce FEP therapists, skills trainers, and team leaders to three different case conceptualization approaches. The 9-session series begins with Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Psychosis (CBT-P) on October 13th with Dr. Samantha Reznik. In the first three sessions of the series, attendees will learn the basics of building a CBT-P case conceptualization for clients they currently work with. The series will include both didactic and experiential components. Attendees will also have the opportunity to join additional case conceptualization approaches, such as integrating trauma and culture into conceptualization in future months.   Series 1: CBT-P Dates: Session 1: Oct 13, 2022: CBT-P Session 2: Nov 10, 2022: CBT-P Session 3: Dec 8, 2022: CBT-P   View or download handouts:      

Participation at the 2022 Texas Psychological Association Conference.   Keynote: ¿Quiénes somos y de dónde venimos? A Historical Context to Inform Mental Health Services with Latinx Populations   Latinx communities have grown in the past decade, surpassing 60 million in 2019. However, Mexican, Guatemalan, Salvadoran, and Honduran ancestry immigrants have historically been oppressed due to colonialization and modern-day oppression. Latinxs experience multiple stressors affecting their mental health and experience barriers to culturally responsive treatment. Knowing the history of Mexicans, Guatemalans, Salvadorans, and Hondurans before immigration, during immigration, and in the United States is crucial to effectively support their mental health needs. Supporting mental health providers and educators in their understanding of how history, politics, and trauma shape the mental health experiences of Latinx immigrants is essential to give providers the tools to capitalize on the existing strengths and resources of Latinxs. This discussion will address the experiences of Mexican, Guatemalan, Salvadoran, and Honduran communities. The authors will explore the intersecting role of oppression, historical trauma, oppressive policies, and current stressors in the context of mental health considerations.   Speakers: Oscar Rojas Perez, PhD David Zelaya, PhD Nancy Herrera, PhD     How to increase cultural responsiveness in mental health treatment for Latinos: Promotora Programs   As research data points out: “Hispanics are disproportionately impacted by substance use and co-occurring disorders, while barriers such as transportation, lack of health care insurance, stigma, lack of culturally responsive providers, limited culturally responsive treatment programs and language” impede access and contribute to disparities in services. Promotoras—Spanish-speaking volunteer health workers—are making a difference in many Hispanic and Latino communities, particularly in low-income areas in the southwest states. Promotoras (women) are trained to help their neighbors navigate local social services and access resources for education and employment. As trusted advisors, they are welcomed into homes and community centers to talk with their neighbors about reproductive health, nutrition, and parenting to properly manage chronic health conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. Promotoras are also key in promoting mental health wellness and education in Latino communities. Promotora-delivered mental health interventions can increase care availability, given substantial workforce challenges to meet service needs. Access to culturally and linguistically appropriate behavioral health care is a high-priority need —that promotoras can help address. As members of the communities they serve, Promotoras are highly equipped to build trust and address barriers to seeking care among traditionally underserved communities. Also, Promotoras can reduce the stigma associated with receiving mental health care, which has increased treatment engagement and improved outcomes. This panel will address the benefits of incorporating Promotoras in mental health treatment for Latino communities. The panel includes four Promotoras who will share their experiences educating and promoting mental health well-being in Latino communities.   Speakers: Merida Escobar Otila García Alberto García     Keynote: Latinx Immigrant Health Alliance (LIHA)   The Latinx Immigrant Health Alliance (LIHA) is a group of Latinx scholars with varied expertise in epidemiological, basic, and intervention research with immigrant populations. LIHA scholars collaborate to advance research, policy, and effective interventions to improve immigrant mental health and inform effective policy.  LIHA members will focus on the alliance and share their clinical, advocacy,  and research work nationally. For more information about the Latinx Immigrant Health Alliance (LIHA), visit: https://www.latinximmigranthealthalliance.org/   Speakers: Germán Cadenas, PhD Melanie Domenech Rodríguez, PhD Luz Garcini, PhD, MPH Alfonso Mercado, PhD Oscar Rojas Perez Amanda Venta, PhD