Past Events

About the Event:  Evidence-based practices have become the goal for supporting recovery for people with severe mental illness. But, we are not all working in environments that have the capacity to achieve full fidelity to these models.  This 6-part series will review the core aspects of several evidence-based psychiatric rehabilitation practices, focusing on practical strategies and skills that participants can do now to make a difference. Part 2 of this 6-part series (Thursday, February 10th | 12:00 PM ET) focuses on tools for working with clients: Lessons from Collaborative Decision Making. To learn more or register for other sessions in this series, please visit our Keeping It Practical: Core Skills for Evidence-Based Practices page or click here. 

The First Episode Psychosis (FEP) monthly mentor call hosted by the South Southwest MHTTC provides technical assistance and an open discussion platform for mental health workers offering services for FEP and clinical high risk populations. These virtual meetings are held the 2nd Thursday of every month via zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/817083117.

Description:  Eating disorders are complex mental health diagnoses, and as such the effective treatment of eating disorders calls for a holistic approach that addresses all facets of those who are struggling. Although the physical, mental, emotional, and social aspects are often well-addressed by a multidisciplinary treatment team, spirituality is frequently neglected. This webinar will explore the integration of spirituality in the treatment of eating disorders, including the ways in which spirituality can help the healing process, the pitfalls to avoid when integrating it into treatment, and clinical applications for eating disorder care.  Download Flyer   Presenter: Elise Thibodeaux is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist and Approved Supervisor. She holds a Master of Arts in Counseling from Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA, and currently runs Abundant Life Therapy, a private practice in West Los Angeles. She also serves as a supervising therapist with Rock Recovery. Elise has worked in the eating disorder field since 2013, gaining experience in levels of care ranging from outpatient to residential. A recovered clinician, Elise is driven by a passion for freedom and an unrelenting hope for those who suffer. Host:  Christie Dondero-Bettwy serves as the Executive Director for Rock Recovery, a nonprofit that helps people overcome disordered eating by combining clinical and community care. Having gone through recovery herself, she understands the depth of emotional, physical and spiritual support needed to recover and is passionate about spreading the message that freedom from disordered eating is possible. She is an active speaker and shares her story with organizations and media outlets across the country. Christie lives in Washington, DC with her husband Ryan, who serves as a pastor at their church in Northern Virginia.    Learning Objectives: Explain 3-5 ways in which spirituality can support better outcomes in the treatment of eating disorders Describe 2-3 potential pitfalls to avoid in the integration of spirituality in the treatment of eating disorders Identify 3-4 mindfulness strategies that can be used in the treatment of eating disorders   Who Should Attend? Clinicians and community members   Certificates of attendance will be available to viewers of 50% (45 minutes) or more of each live webinar (via email within 30 business days post-event). CEUs are not offered for this session. Webinar slide presentations and recordings will be posted to the website.

This 75-minute webinar supports behavioral healthcare providers in addressing grief, loss, and bereavement.  ABOUT THIS EVENT Participants in this webinar will learn about the ways in which the current experiences of a multi-impact disaster cascade are influencing the ability of behavioral health professionals to function in their work, while trying to balance all of the demands of home and family as well. Special attention will be given to the challenges with informational and emotional processing, as well as the necessity of working through issues of grief, loss, and bereavement.   Learning Objectives Participants will: Develop knowledge about how to support themselves and others through experiences of grief and loss  Identify interventions, strategies and / or tools they can use immediately to reduce or manage behavioral health symptoms Apply disaster recovery information to real-world teams functioning in support of personal vitality and resilience  FACILITATOR Kira Mauseth, PhD Dr. Kira Mauseth is a practicing clinical psychologist who splits her professional time between seeing patients at Snohomish Psychology Associates, teaching as a Senior Instructor at Seattle University and serving as a co-lead for the Behavioral Health Strike Team for the WA State Department of Health. She also serves on the state’s Disaster Medical Advisory Committee (DMAC). Her work and research interests focus on resilience and recovery from trauma as well as well as disaster behavioral health. She has worked abroad extensively in disaster response and with first responders and health care workers throughout United States. Dr. Mauseth also conducts trainings and provides presentations to organizations and educational groups about disaster preparedness and resilience building within local communities.          

The Great Lakes MHTTC, in partnership with People Incorporated Training Institute, offers this training for behavioral health professionals in HHS Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, and WI. This training is offered in response to a need identified by Region 5 stakeholders.     DESCRIPTION The tools of a Peer Specialist are meant to inspire clients (and coworkers!) and demonstrate that recovery is not only possible, but probable. Working with clients from the position of a peer and using the specialized tool of personal disclosure creates rapport and helps destigmatize mental health concerns by focusing on the client as a unique and valuable person. This form of human connection allows clients to feel safe and reach their potential, but it also fosters potential for boundary crossings and risk of ethical dilemma. With some proactive practices and self-awareness, the Professional Peer can minimize the risks of dual relationships and prevent the emotional burnout that often accompanies personal disclosure as a therapeutic tool.     LEARNING OBJECTIVES Identify concepts that assist Peers in providing trauma-informed and person-centered care services Review practices of proactively setting boundaries and attending to boundary crossings once they occur Practice the skills of effective self-disclosure for the client’s benefit Define a structured decision-making process for managing boundary crossings and ethical violations. Assess the signs and effects of compassion fatigue on a Peer Specialist and how to prioritize self-care     CONTINUING EDUCATION Participants are eligible to receive 2 CEUs from the Minnesota Board of Social Work.      SPEAKER INFO 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.

For Project AWARE Grantees Only The National Hispanic and Latino MHTTC- School-Based Mental Health Project aims to provide technical assistance to AWARE grantees to implement culturally and linguistically responsive school mental health (SMH) services directed to Hispanic and Latino students and families.   DESCRIPTION: Introduction meeting to discuss the role of the National Hispanic and Latino MHTTC to Project AWARE grantees. The National Hispanic and Latino MHTTC-Project AWARE grantees objectives are to:    

Session Description: Helping professionals, such as counselors, teachers, and health professionals, are critically important to the workforce, yet we are also at great risk for helping others more than we help ourselves! In this 6 part series, we invite YOU to sit down, take a breath, replenish yourself and restore by considering strategies to help you flourish. Together, we’ll explore the importance of making our own well-being a priority, think about our work/life balance, remember our purpose, take actions to flourish, and use our strengths within a framework of healthy positivity. This 6-week collection (webinar and podcast series) will be led by experts in supporting personal recovery, wellness, and positive psychology with practical approaches that build up to a comprehensive flourishing plan. Join us for this series designed to support your flourishing. Your one-time registration will automatically enroll you in all 6 sessions of this series. Presenter:  Michelle Zechner, PhD, MSW, LSW, CPRP, Assistant Professor at Rutgers, Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Programs, has focused her career on the promotion of health and wellness for people with mental health conditions, their families, and the staff who support them for over 25 years. She has worked in a variety of settings including: academia, outpatient mental health programs, family advocacy organization, psychiatric hospitals, nursing homes, and training services. She conducts research, teaches and mentors students, and consults with state psychiatric hospitals on the implementation of evidence-based mental health practices. She is also involved in family advocacy in New Jersey.

Each session will go from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. MT.  Event Description Responding to mental health crises and the risk of suicide in a school setting presents unique challenges and considerations for mental health practitioners, educators, and parents. Suicidal thoughts do not discriminate and can affect anyone. Suicide rates have been continuously rising since 2007 and are now ranked as the 10th leading cause of death in 2017 for all age ranges and ranked second among youth ages 10-24 (Ivey-Stephenson et al., 2020). During this free, three-part series, we will address suicide prevention awareness; school-appropriate response and screening referral practices for youth experiencing suicidal ideation and/or intent; postvention as well as supports and safety planning after the child returns to school.     Session 1 - January 25, 2022 Suicidal Awareness in the School Setting   Learning Objectives   Identify common risk and protective factors for youth at risk of suicide.  Identify warning signs for youth at risk of suicide.  Increase awareness of the myths and stigma behind suicide    Session 2 - February 1, 2022 School-Appropriate Response and Screening Practices   Learning Objectives   Learn how to have conversations about suicide and interact with a youth in crisis  Learn practical screening tips  Recognize levels of suicide ideation and risk  Learn best responses to identified risk level     Session 3 - February 8, 2022 School Supports, Safety Planning    Learning Objectives    Learn basic components of safety planning using an interdisciplinary approach  Learn best practices for postvention    Trainer Erin Briley, M.S., NCSP                     Erin Briley is the School Mental Health Coordinator for the Mountain Plains Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network (MHTTC) and a Technical Assistant Associate for WICHE’s Behavioral Health Program.  As the school mental health lead, her work focuses on providing intensive technical assistance, resources, and training school staff to support school-based mental health. As a Technical Assistant Associate, her work is primarily focused on assisting in creating and implementing Psychology Internship Consortiums in rural western states. Ms. Briley has over 20 years of experience working in the schools, serving primarily as a school psychologist for school districts in California, Hawaii, and Colorado, while providing direct and indirect supports for children ages 3 through 22 of all developmental levels. Ms. Briley has also served temporarily as a special education and a School Based Behavioral Health program administrator and trained and supervised paraprofessionals providing individualized supports to children with special needs. Ms. Briley has extensive experience with psycho-educational evaluations, classroom, and individual behavioral management, conducting Functional Behavioral Assessments, creating Behavioral Support Plans, special education legal mandates, and rights related to IDEA and Section 504, and learning needs accommodations to support. Ms. Briley earned her Bachelor’s in Human Development and Family Studies at Colorado State University, her Master’s in Counseling/School Psychology and a Certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis at California State University Los Angeles and is working on her PhD (ABD) in Clinical Psychology. She is also a Nationally Certified School Psychologist.   

This is the opening session for Healing School Communities: Shifting the Dominant Paradigm to Center Student Wellness, a Community of Practice intended for students, families, educators and school mental health professionals who are navigating the ongoing impact of racial violence in all forms on student mental health. This Community of Practice session will offer opportunities for participants to:   Name and examine the organizational structures that lead to Racial Violence within School Communities. Explore the various mental health implications of racial violence on school ecosystems. Identify and elevate community strengths, wisdom and voice as effective strategies for healing and place them at the center in supporting mental health. Become familiar with resources and tools to address the detrimental effects of racial violence in schools, that further build protective factors, power and agency.   Note: A recording of the learning session will be made available in the MHTTC Products and Resource Catalog. Certificates of completion are available to viewers of 50% (45 minutes) or more of the live webinar. CEUs are not available for this session.   NOTE: This session is part of a Community of Practice that includes 7 weekly learning sessions. For more information about the other sessions in this Community of Practice, please click here.

How supervisors and leadership can apply disaster recovery information to real-world teams functioning in support of staff vitality and resilience will be addressed in this 75-minute webinar. ABOUT THIS EVENT Participants in this webinar will learn about the ways in which the current experiences of a multi-impact disaster cascade are influencing the ability of behavioral health professionals to function in their work, while trying to balance all of the demands of home and family as well. Special attention will be given to the challenges with informational and emotional processing, as well as the necessity of working through issues of grief, loss and bereavement. Information is provided for supervisors and leaders on best practices for management through crises and how best to support functional teams when exhaustion is prevalent.  Learning Objectives  Develop knowledge about how to support themselves and others through experiences of grief and loss  Identify interventions, strategies and / or tools they can use immediately to reduce or manage behavioral health symptoms Apply disaster recovery information to real-world teams functioning in support of staff vitality and resilience  Recognize evidence-based leadership tactics that are successful for helping manage in crisis    FACILITATOR Kira Mauseth, PhD Dr. Kira Mauseth is a practicing clinical psychologist who splits her professional time between seeing patients at Snohomish Psychology Associates, teaching as a Senior Instructor at Seattle University and serving as a co-lead for the Behavioral Health Strike Team for the WA State Department of Health. She also serves on the state’s Disaster Medical Advisory Committee (DMAC). Her work and research interests focus on resilience and recovery from trauma as well as well as disaster behavioral health. She has worked abroad extensively in disaster response and with first responders and health care workers throughout United States. Dr. Mauseth also conducts trainings and provides presentations to organizations and educational groups about disaster preparedness and resilience building within local communities.          

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.     This is a two-part series taking place from 11:00AM–12:30PM CT on February 8 & 22, 2022.     DESCRIPTION Foundations in Quality Improvement (FQI) presents tools and information that provide team leaders and supervisors with core QI skills. This two-part training builds the foundation for implementing the NIATx model effectively and serves as preparation for a NIATx Change Leader Academy.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES, Session 1: Conduct a coaching self-assessment. Understand the core components of effective team coaching Learn how to use several coaching tools.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES, Session 2: Develop capacity to use questions in coaching. Understand the impact of values on team functioning. Learn how to respond to team members’ personal styles   CERTIFICATES Certificates of attendance will be emailed to all participants who attend the sessions in full.     TRAINER   Mat Roosa, LCSW-R Mat Roosa was a founding member of NIATx and has been a NIATx coach for a wide range of projects. He works as a consultant in quality improvement, organizational development and planning, and evidence-based practice implementation. His experience includes direct clinical practice in mental health and substance use services, teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and human service agency administration.

***THIS EVENT IS NOW FULL. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE PLACED ON A WAITING LIST, PLEASE REGISTER USING THE LINK ABOVE AND YOU WILL RECEIVE AN EMAIL CONFIRMATION OF YOUR WAITLIST STATUS.*** Strengthening Family Coping Resources (SFCR) During Challenging Times Region 8 Only Event:  This series is available only to providers of  Region  8 states (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming).   Current conditions have created new and unique challenges for parents, caregivers, and families who may have already been coping with trauma and stress. Mental health providers have a responsibility to support the mental health needs of these individuals by learning and applying new skills to assist in stress management and addressing trauma using evidence-based interventions.  This seven-part Community of Practice (CoP) series will allow participants to explore and understand family coping resources, learn new skills and practice therapeutic techniques to support families dealing with stress and trauma during uniquely challenging times.      Registration Information:  Registration in this series will be limited to  30 people  to ensure opportunities for  participant sharing, engagement, and  skill-building. If you are unable to commit to participating in all  sessions in this  series,  please defer your registration to allow others to participate.     Session Topics:     An Overview of Family Coping with Stress and Trauma   Deliberateness   Structure and Safety   Connectedness   Resource Seeking   Co-Regulation and Crisis Management   Positive Affect, Memory and Meaning     Session Dates:  All session dates will run from 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. MT Feb. 8  Feb. 22  Mar. 8  Mar. 22  Apr. 5  Apr. 19  May 3  Trainers Laurel Kiser, PhD, MB   University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Medicine and Center for Strengthening Family Coping Resources   Laurel Kiser is a psychologist that has been working in the field for over 40 years. She leads the Family Informed Trauma Treatment (FITT) Center, a Category II Center in the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. Along with a dedicated team of clinicians and families, she developed Strengthening Family Coping Resources (SFCR), an intervention designed specifically for families coping with chronic and severe stress and trauma. She is the founding director of the Center for Strengthening Family Coping Resources, Inc., a nonprofit organization, supporting SFCR.  Vikki Rompala, LCSW   Consultant for the Center for SFCR and Vice-President of the Family Hub at Chicago Commons Association Vikki is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of social work practice and management experience. She has been an Affiliate of NCTSN since 2011 and was the former chair of the NCTSN Partnering with Youth and Families committee from 2007-2011. She has extensive program development and evaluation experience and is a Peer Reviewer for the Council on Accreditation. She is a trainer in the SFCR model and has assisted in training and implementation of SFCR in Chicago within domestic violence, adoption preservation, grandparents raising children programs and in an outpatient mental health center.   

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

Co-creating Equitable, Inclusive Systems & Practices A webinar series for honoring and amplifying all youth  Part 2 | Best Practices For Youth Engagement February 7th, 2022 | 3:30 - 5:00pm PST Youth participation in advising and decision-making in systems change initiatives bring unique and vital insight into our work. This session will explore what is needed to promote youth and young adult engagement in program development and implementation and key factors that can contribute to disengagement. There will be a focus on learning effective strategies for engaging and maximizing youth voice and choice in designing programs and systems that work for them, how to increase young people's active participation in collaborative team settings, and how to assess whether this is happening successfully. In partnership with young adults, we'll explore what authentic youth-adult partnerships look like and learn about tangible experiences of youth about what it means to be meaningfully engaged.  >> Learn More Here!   Event Learning Objectives: Review strategies for maximizing family leadership Identify challenges and discuss solutions to engaging family and youth leadership Describe real world examples of operationalizing youth-guided  Understand how to assess youth engagement efforts   Certificate of Attendance and Washington state clock hours available for attendees of the live session Want more information and school mental health resources? Visit the Northwest MHTTC's School Mental Health page and sign up for our newsletter for regular updates about events, trainings, and resources available to the Northwest region.

This 90-minute meeting for ACT Teams​​​​ is hosted and facilitated by the Northwest MHTTC and the Institute for Best Practices at the University of North Carolina. This meeting will feature a panel of team members who work with Forensic ACT (FACT) teams in the states of Minnesota, Oregon, and Virginia. This facilitated discussion will focus on the role of FACT teams and practical strategies for working with justice system-involved individuals served on your team. We will welcome other examples and discussion across participants on other ACT teams as well. Rescheduled from original data of January 3, 2022. ABOUT THIS EVENT The Northwest MHTTC, in collaboration with the Institute for Best Practices at the University of North Carolina, co-facilitates a bi-monthly consultation call with ACT teams and ACT stakeholders. Each meeting consists of a mini-didactic training on a topic of relevance and interest to ACT teams (at times circling back to topics related to navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and related issues as they come up), as well as opportunities to pose consultation questions and learn from other ACT teams and their shared experiences within ACT. For more information or questions, contact: Maria Monroe-DeVita, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine and Director of the Washington State Center of Excellence in First Episode Psychosis or Lorna Moser, PhD, Director of the UNC ACT Technical Assistance Center in the UNC Department of Psychiatry’s Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health and Coordinator of the North Carolina ACT Coalition. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS SERIES FACILITATORS Lorna Moser, PhD Dr. Moser is the Director of the UNC ACT Technical Assistance Center in the UNC Department of Psychiatry’s Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health; and Coordinator of the North Carolina ACT Coalition.     Maria Monroe-DeVita, PhD Dr. Monroe-DeVita is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine and the Director, Washington State Center of Excellence in First Episode Psychosis.

This series of six meetings will promote further peer-to-peer learning and collaboration among Region 6 Employment and Education providers in community mental health settings who want to better engage and support the career development of young adults with serious mental health needs. Each learning collaborative will cover a topic that is critical for engagement and career development; an activity; and a discussion facilitated by trainers with lots of real-world vocational and community mental health experience.

Join us for this two-part webinar on Friday, Feb. 4, and Friday, Feb. 11! 2-part webinar series: Telemental-health Group Service Delivery   Friday, February 4 & 11, 2022 10-11 AKT  .  11-Noon PT  .  Noon-1 MT  .  1-2 CT  .   2-3 ET At the beginning of the Public Health Emergency (PHE), mental health and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery support providers had to shift service delivery from a mostly in-person structure to virtual. This swift uptake in the use of telebehavioral-health may be transformative not only for the healthcare system but for the mental health field as well. Support derived from clinical and peer group services is essential, especially during a PHE when access to services may be limited. Mental health and SUD treatment and recovery providers have made great strides in virtualizing service delivery, especially individual-based services. However, group counseling services, a mainstay in many mental health, SUD treatment, and recovery support programs, has been more difficult to implement. This two-part webinar series will address those challenges. During the series, we will: review recent research regarding patient satisfaction, group cohesion, and effectiveness of online group services identify challenges typically associated with online group facilitation and how to address them provide specific recommendations for online group facilitation and how it differs from in-person groups (e.g., tips and techniques, group agreements, etc.) discuss safety protocols, and issues related to ethics and privacy/security and confidentiality in the context of online group case scenarios This webinar series will highlight online group counseling and peer recovery services and will demonstrate its viability as an alternative to traditional in-person groups, which requires new facilitative, alliance-building, and administrative skills from both counselors and peers.  Continuing education certificates available. Presenter  Sandnes Boulanger, LCSW, MCAP, CET; Vice President of Clinical Services-Operation PAR Questions? Email Kim Prokosch at [email protected]    

Native communities experience higher rates of suicide compared to all other racial and ethnic groups in the United States. Given the high prevalence rates, it is imperative to have the necessary tools to reduce suicide in Native American communities by incorporating prevention programs and interventions that are culturally appropriate. Moreover, we will also address different strategies to support tribal communities after a suicide occurs. Learn more about this webinar and the Healing Roots series here.

These no-cost, virtual meetings offer you the opportunity to collaborate with other First Episode Psychosis (FEP) and Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) team Peer Supports and Family Partners in a supportive, mentoring environment. This is a space for resource sharing, support around ways to be most effective when working with FEP/CSC clients, options for self-care strategies, and more!

The New England MHTTC's School Mental Health Initiative is excited to announce our Healthcare workers and Educators Addressing and Reducing Trauma (HEART) Webinar Series and Community of Practice!   Educators, healthcare workers, mental and behavioral health providers, and staff of community-based organizations are invited to monthly webinars and peer support hours about: Building and Maintaining a Comprehensive School Mental Health System Effective Collaborations Funding and Logistics Stakeholder Voice, Engagement, and Advocacy Equity Considerations   Earn up to 5 hours of CEUs for this 5-month series!   1st Thursday: Evidence-based Practices to Enhance Efficacy In these 60-minute sessions, experts in education, mental health, and healthcare from New England will share the evidence-based practices they have used to forge and maintain successful collaborations around comprehensive school mental health systems.   3rd Thursday: Peer Support Hours to Learn from One Another and Receive Technical Assistance For these 60-minute sessions, members of the community of practice are invited to share their own experiences around the month's topic and ask questions about specific challenges.     See the full HEART Webinar Series and Community of Practice schedule here.    

(MHTTC Network Early Psychosis Working Group HealthEKnowledge Course Subgroup)   Are you new to working with individuals with early psychosis? Are you interested in learning more about what early psychosis coordinated specialty care is all about? Please join our monthly webinar series beginning 2/3/22 at 2 PM ET.   Coordinated specialty care for early psychosis is an evidence-based treatment model aimed at fostering resilience and recovery for individuals who have experience a first episode of psychosis or are at clinical high risk for developing psychosis.  Each webinar will be co-presented by a professional with expertise in that component of care, as well as an individual with lived experience who can speak to how this aspect of care was meaningful in their journey towards recovery. This series is geared towards any individuals that are new to working on an Early Psychosis Specialty Team – including students, clinicians, prescribers, supported employment specialists, family clinicians, and peer specialists.    The content from these webinars will be recorded and used for the development of an online course aimed at helping to provide a basic orientation to new staff and trainees that are beginning to work in a coordinated specialty program for individuals experiencing early psychosis. The series will happen once per month starting in February, on the first Thursday of each month at 2 PM ET (11 AM PT).    Our first session will be 2/3/2022 at 2 PM ET (11 AM PT) focused on Peer Support Services in Coordinated Specialty Care for Early Psychosis.  Our speaker will be Patrick Kaufmann, who is a Supported Education and Employment Peer Specialist with the First Episode Psychosis Navigate Team and the Supervisor for the Wellness Team, at InterAct of Michigan in Kalamazoo.     Patrick Kaufmann has served at InterAct for 9 years and also worked at a Clubhouse, as a Family Support Partner, and as director of a peer-run non-profit. He has utilized his personal experience as someone in recovery who has been diagnosed with a psychosis-related illness to support his peers and create positive change. Patrick is inspired by the power of research and its potential to transform systems and enforce the rights of people who have been diagnosed. He believes that highlighting the attributes of people with lived experience will ultimately end stigma. By joining the MSU Mental Health Research Connect project he hopes to forward the progress of systems and eventually connect to additional research projects. Patrick is currently writing his memoirs and hopes to publish his story by 2022.          

The Great Lakes MHTTC, in partnership with People Incorporated Training Institute, offers this training for behavioral health professionals in HHS Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, and WI. This training is offered in response to a need identified by Region 5 stakeholders.   Peer Support Specialist, as a profession, is relatively new to most people in the behavioral health field, but the concept is as old as time. Peer Support Specialists serve as role models, proving by their example that recovery is possible. As anyone traverses their life journey, having a role model who understands you and accepts you like a friend, but also teaches and supports you like a professional is a key ingredient to success. This is no different in the case of recovery from mental health or substance use disorders. The tools used by a professional Peer Support Specialist are rooted in research and then brought to life with hope from practical life experience. Research shows that people stay in treatment programs longer, reach further stages of recovery, and sustain positive change better when working with a Peer Support Specialist.     LEARNING OBJECTIVES Explore the history of the Peer Support Specialist and the current role of the peer profession Review the primary values that guide Peer Support Specialists in their work Define the scope of a Peer Support Specialist as a professional role in a care team Identify the special skills and tools of a successful Peer Support Specialist     CONTINUING EDUCATION Participants are eligible to receive 2 CEUs from the Minnesota Board of Social Work.     SPEAKER INFO 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.  

Description: Join Joseph Jones as he shares a personal view of his addiction and mental wellness journey.   Presenter: Joseph Jones is retired from careers in commercial banking, wine and spirits, cable television, Verizon telecommunications and professional fundraising for nonprofit organizations. For over 47 years, he has focused on developing and sustaining mutually beneficial relationships to achieve personal and professional goals. He is a graduate of Fordham University.   Learning Objectives: Identify life changes for a professional that lead to substance use Recognize humility and acceptance  Identify strategies that keep you in touch with your humility and mental health   Certificates of attendance will be available to viewers of 50% (30 minutes) or more of this presentation (via email within 30 business days post-event).   The Central East MHTTC supports this Baltimore Faith Based Commission for Behavioral Health event.