Past Events

  The New Epidemic: Treating Emergent Mental Health Needs in the Age of COVID-19     Studies show health care professionals and their clients alike are experiencing new or worsening mental health conditions since the outbreak of COVID-19. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. adults reporting symptoms of anxiety or depression increased from 11% in 2019 to 42% in December 2020. To get through these challenging times, both populations will benefit from special tools and considerations in order to endure the remainder of the pandemic and thrive in a post-pandemic world. This free two-part series will provide guidance for responding to novel mental health needs in the age of the COVID-19 pandemic.       Upcoming Webinars   Supporting Health Care Professionals Through and After COVID-19 12-1 p.m. CT Friday, Nov. 19 In this webinar, Mid-America MHTTC trainers will discuss strategies for addressing the mental health needs of health care professionals, including types of supports employers and organizations can implement to help those who are tasked with helping others.     Helping our Communities Thrive in the Face of COVID-19 12-1 p.m. CT Friday, Jan. 21 In this webinar, Mid-America MHTTC trainers will offer solutions and insights for supporting clients’ needs in a post-pandemic world. Trainers will discuss both strategies for both adults and youths.     Register Here for Both Sessions   NOTE: Zoom links will be emailed 1 week prior to each session      

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.    

Please join the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse on January 20 at 3:00 PM EST for an informational webinar on the latest COVID-19 guidance and resources for kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) schools.          The session will feature guest speakers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network. Presenters will provide an overview of COVID-19 guidance for K-12 schools and share resources to address the mental health impact on students, parents, teachers, and school personnel.          The discussion will feature additional school safety-related resources available through SchoolSafety.gov, as well as a Q&A session.        When: January 20, 2022, 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM EST Where: Adobe Connect (access link to be provided one day in advance of the event) For: K-12 School Superintendents and Principals; School and District Administrators; Teachers and School Staff; School Counselors and School Psychologists; Emergency Management; Parents and Guardians; and Students        This webinar is part of the 2022 School Safety Webinar Series, a program hosted by the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse to address emerging risks and threats facing the K-12 school community. Held on a monthly basis, the webinar series covers a range of school safety topics, and provides information on the resources, tools, and best practices available to equip school leaders with a set of strategies in creating safer and more resilient school systems. The Federal School Safety Clearinghouse is a federal government interagency collaboration comprised of the Departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, and Justice to provide a comprehensive and centralized location for federal school safety resources. The Clearinghouse reviews, collects, and distributes guidance, tools, best practices, and actionable recommendations to improve safety and security within school communities. Learn more at SchoolSafety.gov or sign up for updates.  Questions? Please contact the School Safety team at [email protected]       

What does it mean to be "brave?" How do we incorporate those characteristics in a culturally responsive way? This workshop will guide you through some grounding techniques that tap into the strength and resilience of American Indian / Alaska Native communities. You'll work through exercises that you can adapt for any age to activate mindfulness into your programming. Be prepared to write and reflect, so bring a pen/pencil and something to write on.

Context Clues: Using Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) to Enhance Treatment, a monthly training series co-developed by the Mid-America MHTTC and Aetna Better Health of Kansas, will provide health care providers and other interested parties the tools they need to identify social determinants of health and strategies for addressing them. Attendees will learn how economic stability, education access and quality, health care access and quality, neighborhood and environmental factors, and social and community context affect patients’ health and quality-of-life outcomes.

Intended Audience This session is designed for local education agencies/school districts engaged in school mental health initiatives who want to gain an understanding of effective sustainability tools, resources, and practices. It is ideal for those with a role in planning for the longevity of school mental health services through implementation of systems and policies. This is an opportunity to consider how to apply sustainability tools and practices within your school or district, including in collaboration with teams/partners. The information will be relevant to state education agency teams. Learning Objectives Participants who join this session will be able to: Identify key concepts and considerations for ensuring that core elements school mental health initiatives are secure for the long term. Apply tools and resources to guide sustainability planning and implementation practices. Engage key partners and stakeholders in the sustainability process. Session overview How do we make sure the progress we’ve made in supporting student wellness continues? Is the impact of our school mental health initiative going to be available to our students in the future? What can we do to secure school mental health supports for the long term? This topical learning forum is dedicated to building capacity of school and district teams invested in building long-lasting practices and policies that promote school and student mental health. In this virtual learning session, you will learn about effective sustainability practices, including strategies and tools designed to support an intentional approach to developing change that lasts.

Description: Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has been found to have a disproportionately higher prevalence in Black and other communities of color. This condition can be triggered by experiencing directly or witnessing a wide variety of traumatic events including, but not limited to, domestic violence, homicide, mass incarceration, and police shootings. This presentation will discuss the epidemiology of this condition as well as its social and political determinants. Signs and symptoms of PTSD will be described as well as pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment approaches.  Download Flyer   Presenter: Benjamin Roy, MD is the immediate past president of the Black Psychiatrists of America. He received his medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine and served his internship in internal medicine at Harlem Hospital and a psychiatry residency at St. Vincent’s Hospital, both in New York, NY. He then completed a clinical fellowship in neuropharmacology at the National Institute of Mental Health and in neuroimmunology at the National Institute of Neurological, Communicative Disorders and Stroke, NIH, both in Bethesda, MD. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Roy discovered human antibodies for endorphins and the opiate receptor in patients with psychiatric disorders and holds two US patents on methods of detecting certain antibodies in human body fluids. He has participated in numerous phase 2-4 clinical trials in neuropharmacology and neuroimmunology. He exposed the purpose of the Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment to develop syphilis diagnostic tests that were patented and commercialized. 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.   Learning Objectives: Discuss the epidemiology of post-traumatic stress disorder in the African American community Describe the social and political determinants that underpin the traumatic experiences generating this condition among communities of color    List the signs and symptoms of and therapeutic modalities for post-traumatic stress disorder   Who Should Attend? Health care professionals, community activists, policymakers, lay public   Certificates of attendance will be available to viewers of 50% (30 minutes) or more of the live webinar (via email within 30 business days post-event). The webinar slide presentation and recording will be posted to the website.  

This 4-hour presentation will focus on the ever-changing landscape of behavioral health and the leadership needed to evolve with the trends. The pandemic has catapulted the behavioral health field into the future, and our workforce is changing along with it. There are opportunities and challenges to review. This talk will focus on those trends with data, examples, and real-world experiences. Opportunities and challenges for the millennial team members will be discussed, as well those same opportunities and challenges for supervisors leading a millennial workforce.   LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Better understand the millennial team member, including successful supervision strategies, supportive work environment considerations, and training needs for those supervising millennial team members. Understand statistics and trends in the behavioral health profession, as well as influencing factors of hiring and retention rates. Build awareness of necessary skills for leaders in the field, including the benefits of utilizing assessments, education, and coaching. Foster thought leadership, advocacy, and successful leadership approaches as a millennial leader in the field of behavioral health.     SPEAKER:       Joy Brunson-Nsubuga is a native of South Carolina. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Francis Marion University in 2006 and Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy with a certificate in addictions counseling from Appalachian State University in 2009. She completed one year of Executive Leadership Coaching utilizing Oxford Leadership Principles in 2019. She currently holds full licensure as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist, and Certified Clinical Supervisor as well as the AAMFT Approved Supervisor designation. Joy is an expert in Systems Thinking and Therapies, Behavioral Health Crisis Systems, and Substance Use and Medication Assisted Treatment. She has experience in leading multi-state operations and is currently the Vice-President of SouthEast operations for RI International overseeing North Carolina and Louisiana programs. She also owns a private practice, Relatively Speaking Therapeutic Center, and offers family and couples therapy, supervision for marriage and family therapists, licensed professional counselors, and substance use professionals seeking full licensure, consultation for agencies, and offers presentations on couples therapy, family therapy, crisis interventions, and addictions treatment. Joy is also the Professional Practice Board Chair for the North Carolina Marriage and Family Therapy Association. Joy recently started a new lifestyle blog venture aimed to support career mothers with harmonizing work and home. RelativelySimplistic.com was launched in January 2020. Joy resides in Apex with her husband and two boys ages 7 and 3 years.   WAFCA will provide 4 NBCC continuing education hours to those who attend the entire training event. Partial credit will be provided to those who choose to attend only part of the event.  

Building Capacity of School Personnel to Promote Positive Mental Health in Native American Children and Youth - Winter 2022 - HHS Region 8 This free series consists of five separate two-hour sessions from January 2022 to May 2022. Attendance is critical, so please carefully consider your availability to attend all five sessions.   The goal of this multi-state initiative is to build capacity of school teams to promote positive mental health in children/youth throughout the school day using a multi-tiered approach. Specifically, the Mountain Plains Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) will build capacity of school personnel to learn about and implement model programs, such as Every Moment Counts and Circle of Courage, and embedded strategies emphasizing mental health promotion and prevention.   If you agree to participate, you will be expected to: Identify 3-6 interdisciplinary team members to be a part of a Community of Practice (CoP) at your school. The CoP should be an interdisciplinary team including any of the following: teacher, paraprofessional, occupational therapist, administrator/counselor, nurse, speech language pathologists, social workers or school psychologists. It is strongly recommended that the team include a classroom teacher and be interdisciplinary in nature as training emphasizes application in the classroom and interdisciplinary collaboration. The CoP will participate in all five, two-hour virtual training sessions (see schedule overview below). Attendance is critical. Each CoP will develop a strategic plan identifying gaps or opportunities to improve mental health promotion throughout the school day and identify strategies to implement change.   Mountain Plains MHTTC will: Provide the training described above and any technical assistance during development of the strategic plan and implementation. Provide continuing education credits to the CoP members (20 hours). If your state requires transcripted credit, the Mountain Plains MHTTC will have the training approved, but the transcripted fee is the responsibility of the teacher. Provide required readings and resources to the CoP. Follow up on the implementation plan.   Benefits to you include: Enhanced capacity of all school personnel through enhanced understanding of how to apply knowledge about children’s mental health in the school. Free resources for each CoP. Free educational sessions and online discussions regarding mental health promotion. Feeling connected to other schools implementing the projects. Continuing education credits (20 contact hours for CoP team members).   Register Please think about the benefits of participating in this project and your availability to attend the five virtual sessions. Contact LaVonne Fox at [email protected] or Sarah Nielsen at [email protected] or at 701 777-2208 to indicate your interest in participating no later than December 15, 2021.   Please note that enrollment in this training is open only to school teams in HHS Region 8 states (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming). Only applications by school teams will be accepted.    Sessions Part One: Introduction to Intergenerational Trauma, Historical Loss, and Communities of Practice Process January 19, 2022 4:00pm - 6:00pm CST | 3:00pm - 5:00pm MST Part Two: Understanding Multi-Tiered Approaches to School Mental Health and Embedded Service Delivery February 9, 2022 4:00pm - 6:00pm CST | 3:00pm - 5:00pm MST Part Three: Culturally Relevant Embedded Programs that Support Social and Emotional Well-being March 9, 2022 4:00pm - 6:00pm CST | 3:00pm - 5:00pm MST Part Four: Mental Health Literacy April 13, 2022 4:00pm - 6:00pm CST | 3:00pm - 5:00pm MST Part Five: Indigenous Programs to Support Students and Final Reflections May 4, 2022 4:00pm - 6:00pm CST | 3:00pm - 5:00pm MST   Trainers LaVonne Fox, PhD, OTR/L  Dr. Fox 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. She has begun a new position at the Turtle Mountain Community College in Belcourt, ND, in January 2020. 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. Sarah Nielsen, PhD, OTR/L Dr. Nielsen is 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. Sarah has over 20 years of experience working with children, youth, and young adults with mental health issues in communities and schools. Her clinical practice included developing and implementing trauma-informed approaches in mental health care. She assisted students transitioning from mental health programs back to public schools where she trained and assisted schools in this effort.

SERIES DESCRIPTION Central East MHTTC in collaboration with the National Center for School Mental Health is pleased to offer a school mental health webinar series with a focus on advancing high quality, sustainable school mental health from a multi-tiered system of support, trauma sensitive, and culturally responsive and equitable lens. To familiarize yourself with the foundations of school mental health, please review the school mental health guidance document.   OBJECTIVES Gain increased awareness of high quality, sustainable multi-tiered system of school mental health supports and services Support trauma-informed systems in schools Discover the impacts of social determinants of health on student academic and social-emotional-behavioral success Learn to provide more culturally responsive and equitable services and supports Hear perspectives on school mental health from school, district and state levels Obtain insight into how youth, families, schools and communities can best work together to address student mental health needs   WHO SHOULD ATTEND? Educators, Administrators, Health and Behavioral Health Care Professionals, Policymakers and Advocates, Child-Serving Agency Staff  

  DESCRIPTION: Grief, loss and bereavement is a common human experience, involving major (often traumatic) life changes. While each loss is unique, there are common coping strategies that aid in negotiating these changes successfully. The COVID-19 pandemic impacts our lives in all spheres, as does grief.        This ever-evolving environment poses formidable challenges to our ability to negotiate healthy mourning, which can result in living with unresolved grief long term. This can underlie clinical presentations of depression, insomnia, anxiety, addiction, relationship conflict, and more.        From a mental health/hospice chaplain practitioner's perspective, this webinar reviews effective coping with grief, loss and bereavement; identifies the challenges to effective coping our COVID-19 environment poses; anticipates mental health struggles a person with unresolved grief may present; provides ideas for healing; and equips clinicians to aid their clients in developing an effective plan of action for coping with grief, loss and bereavement in the time of COVID-19. LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Completing this webinar will enable the participant to: • Define strategies of effective coping with grief, loss and bereavement. • Use clear concepts and language to communicate regarding grief, loss and bereavement. • Describe clinical mental health presentations that may suggest underlying grief, loss and bereavement concerns. • State common challenges to healing grief wounds in the time of COVID-19. • Brainstorm alternative healing strategies for clients in the changing COVID-19 environment. SPEAKER: Rev. Ken Weaver, LCSW, LMFT, LCAC Chaplain for Parkview La Grange and Noble Hospice Team        

  January 19, 2022 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. MT Event Description The brain affects how a person thinks, feels, and acts. A TBI can affect physical functions, thinking abilities, behaviors, and more. TBI's are common among vulnerable populations including, veterans, athletes, homeless communities, and people with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.    Join Judy Dettmer, Director for Strategic Partnerships at the National Association of State Head Injury Administrators (NASHIA), as she once again explores the intersection of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Mental Health. This training will provide participants with a brief introduction to TBI and updates on data surrounding the relationship and intersectionality with mental health.      In this training, participants can expect to gain clarity about TBI's including, what a TBI is, how TBI's occur, their classification and severity, ways to help identify TBI's and recognize how misdiagnosis contribute to inappropriately targeted treatment and rehabilitation, and steps to help patients with a TBI.   Trainer Judy Dettmer, Director for Strategic Partnerships, NASHIA                       Judy Dettmer has been working in the field of brain injury for 30 years. Ms. Dettmer serves as NASHIA’s Director for Strategic Partnerships and a Technical Assistance Lead for the Traumatic Brain Injury Technical Assistance and Resource Center. Ms. Dettmer has worked extensively with adults, children and family members of individuals with brain injury. She has provided direct and systems consultation to improve the lives of individuals with brain injury. Judy has also assisted with research efforts related to brain injury and has conducted countless presentations, classes and seminars on brain injury both in the state of Colorado and nationally. Ms. Dettmer has provided technical assistance to numerous states on topics including but not limited to; screening on brain injury; developing infrastructure within state systems; interagency partnership development; and creation and management of advisory boards and councils. Judy has become a national leader in the field of criminal justice and brain injury, developing screening, identification and accommodations protocols in Colorado that have been routinely modeled by states. Ms. Dettmer is currently a co-facilitator for the National Collaborative on Children’s Brain Injury. 

The School Mental Health Supplement of Northwest MHTTC was requested by SAMHSA to provide technical assistance (TA) during our Year 4 (August 15, 2021 - August 14, 2022) to the Project AWARE grantees from the 2018-2021 cohorts. This event is for state-level Project Aware Grantee staff in Region 10 only

3:15 pm - 5:15 pm PT Session 2 of 4 in the "New Year, New Approaches to Anxiety" Learning Series (view series page) Note that while you do not need to attend all four, it is highly encouraged to at least attend the first session and build learning thereafter.   Goals Reflect on how you manage stress and what being well means to you Explore the roots of your stress and anxiety through a personal, interpersonal, and socio-political lens. Learn how to work with your personal triggers so you can show up with more empathy and accountability Uncover your internalized beliefs about self-care and caring for others   About the Learning Series Anxiety impacts all of us and is rooted in many layers of our being: it is physical, psychological, relational, and existential. In this series of workshops for school and the general mental health workforce, Hala Khouri, author, facilitator, and practitioner, will offer a physiological and socio-political framework for anxiety and trauma to support us as we enter a new year. In this series, Hala will share tools and practices to transform our stress and anxiety and build capacity for self and collective care and resilience. “New Year, New Approaches to Anxiety” Learning Series will address and explore:   Building a culture at work (and home) that values wellbeing Having tools to manage and release stress and anxiety Feeling less overwhelmed and more grounded and inspired Cultivating relationships that are healthy and connected Engaging with the world in a way that reflects your values Building capacity for self and collective care and resilience Finding joy amidst the chaos   Who is this series for? This series is offered to school and mental health providers in the Pacific Southwest (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and U.S. Pacific Islands of American Samoa, Guam, Marshall Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Palau); this series is open to other providers outside of our region.  State leadership (e.g., departments of education, child services, behavioral health) District, county, and local behavioral health and education leadership Professional behavioral and school mental health associations (e.g., associations for psychologists/school psychologists, counselors/school counselors, nurses/school nurses, community and school-based health centers Community-based organizations that provide mental health services > More about the learning series   Who is the faculty for this series?  Hala Khouri, M.A., trains direct service providers and educators on how to be trauma-informed with their students and clients. Believing that oppressive systems harm all of us, even those who benefit, Hala has a private practice for individuals and couples. She also works with A Thousand Joys training direct service providers and educators to be trauma-informed and culturally responsive. The focus of both her clinical and group work has been trauma- personal, interpersonal, and systemic.  She brings her decade of clinical experience combined with her experience as a facilitator of group processes for over 15 years. As a Lebanese immigrant in a multi-racial marriage who also gets white skin privilege, Hala is able to be a bridge in the work of equity and inclusion with diverse groups. Hala is known for her compassionate yet straightforward style of facilitation which invites people to grapple with the often charged topics of diversity, inclusivity, justice, and oppression. She knows that none of us individually created these harmful systems, but it’s up to all of us to shift them and create a new paradigm that embraces and celebrates everyone.  Hala earned her B.A. in Psychology from Columbia University and an M.A. in Counseling Psychology and an M.A. in Community Psychology with an emphasis in Liberation Studies and Social Justice from Pacifica Graduate Institute. Hala is trained in Somatic Experiencing, a body-based psychotherapy that helps resolve trauma and its symptoms. She lives in Venice, California with her husband and two sons and teaches yoga classes weekly.  Listen to Hala on this podcast episode: EP 129: Healing Individually and Collectively - Nervous System Awareness in Social Justice Activism with Hala Khouri    

January 18, 2022 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. MT Event Description Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is the practice of developing self-awareness, self-control, and interpersonal skills vital for school, work, and life. As students learn to identify and manage their own emotions and behaviors, they demonstrate improved perspective-taking and empathy, more effective problem-solving skills, fewer behavioral concerns in the classroom, and healthier interpersonal relationships with peers, teachers, and family.  This panel will discuss the benefits experienced from implementing a consistent SEL program and how panelists have advocated for its use. This targeted audience for this session is school mental health professionals and educators from our region (CO, MT, ND, SD, UT, WY). Registration is open to anyone who would like to attend.      To help shape the conversation, participants are encouraged to pre-submit questions for the panelists. Pre-submit questions by emailing Erin at [email protected] . Trainers Dr. Aaron Fischer, PhD                           Dr. Fischer is the Dee Endowed Professor of school psychology, adjunct associate professor of psychiatry, and director of the University of Utah Huntsman Mental Health Institute's School Mental Health Collaborative. He is a Licensed Psychologist and Licensed Board-Certified Behavior Analyst. He has worked with individuals with mental and behavioral health concerns, and their families for over 15 years.  His research focuses on the intersection of innovative technology and school mental health, specifically telehealth applications to support diverse students, caregivers, and educators.    Dr. Brittany Greiert, PhD                           Dr. Greiert is a Licensed Psychologist and Nationally Certified School Psychologist from Denver, Colorado. She is the President-Elect of the Colorado Society of School Psychologists (CSSP) and the 2019 Colorado School Psychologist of the Year. Brittany received her B.A. in Advertising from Michigan State University, her M.A. in Psychology from Pepperdine University, and her Ph.D. In Child, Family, and School Psychology from the University of Denver.     McKinley Withers, Ed.D., M.Ed.                           I have had the privilege of working as teacher, counselor, and administrator. I received a bachelor’s degree in Social Science Teaching from Brigham Young University, a master’s degree in Psychology with an emphasis in School Counseling from Utah State University, and a Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Utah. I currently work as Jordan District’s Health and Wellness Consultant. If you don’t find me in public schools then you’ll find me with my amazing wife and beautiful children, running (preferably on trails), or trying some other outdoor hobby. I hope to meet you out in our schools or out in the wild!

This registration page is for one of two listening sessions hosted by Northwest MHTTC, BIRCH, and the Washington AIDS Education and Training Center. Please choose only one listening session, January 18 at 10 AM Pacific or January 27 at 1 PM Pacific. Both sessions will feature the same content and format. ABOUT THIS EVENT The Northwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center is excited to partner with the Washington AIDS Education and Training Center (WA AETC) and Behavioral Research Center for HIV (BIRCH) at the University of Washington to host listening sessions on HIV and mental health. The outcome of the listening sessions will be to design a community of practice series on meeting the mental health needs of people living with HIV in the states of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington (HHS Region 10). The aim of these open listening sessions is for providers and staff at HIV care organizations to: Share their experiences about the unmet mental health needs of the population they serve Describe what types of mental health services they are providing in their HIV practice setting Discuss the training and capacity building support they would be interested in receiving.   TARGET AUDIENCE: These listening sessions are for providers, staff, and administrators of health care organizations (e.g., hospitals, health centers, private practice) that provide medical care to people with HIV. FACILITATORS Lydia Chwastiak, MD, MPH Lydia A. Chwastiak, MD, MPH, is an internal medicine physician and psychiatrist. Over the past 15 years, her clinical and research interests have focused on the intersection of chronic medical illness and serious mental illness. Her clinical work involves integrated care models for patients with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders in both primary care and community mental health settings. She has conducted health services research that has investigated the prevalence, impact and costs of cardiovascular disease among veterans with serious mental illness. More recently, she has adapted and implemented evidence-based integrated care models for low resource settings in the US and in Southeast Asia. Dr. Chwastiak’s current projects include developing and testing a community mental health center-based team approach to treating poorly controlled type 2 diabetes among outpatients with schizophrenia.   Pamela Collins, MD, MPH   Pamela Collins, MD, MPH, is Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Professor of Global Health at the University of Washington, where she is Executive Director of I-TECH and director of the UW Global Mental Health Program, a joint effort of the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences and the Department of Global Health. She is a psychiatrist and mixed methods researcher with 25 years of experience in global public health and global mental health research, education, training and capacity-building, and science policy leadership. Prior to her current role she directed the Office for Research on Disparities & Global Mental Health and the Office of Rural Mental Health Research at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (USA). She has served the field in diverse leadership roles, most recently as a commissioner for the Lancet Commission on Global Mental Health and Sustainable Development, a leader of the Grand Challenges in Global Mental Health initiative, co-lead of the NIMH-PEPFAR initiative on mental health and HIV, a member of the World Economic Forum’s Agenda Council on Mental Health, and the director of the RISING SUN initiative on suicide prevention in Arctic Indigenous communities. Her research has focused on social stigma related to mental illness and its relationship to HIV risk among women of color with severe mental illness; the intersections of mental health with HIV prevention, care, and treatment; and the mental health needs of diverse groups in the US, Latin America and Sub-Saharan Africa. She is currently the Principal Investigator of EQUIP Nairobi: a pilot implementation of Trauma-Focused CBT in Nairobi, Kenya, part of a more comprehensive effort to meet the mental health needs of children and adolescents in Nairobi. Want more information? Visit the Northwest MHTTC's Resource Library and Websites by Topic and sign up for our monthly newsletter for regular updates about events, trainings, and resources available to the Northwest region.

During this session, school staff will learn and experience educator wellness techniques and strategies to support their own wellbeing and learn about best practices to support school mental health.

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.   PLEASE APPLY BY JANUARY 17.   DESCRIPTION: Recognizing that teens prefer to share their problems with peers, teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) teaches teens in grades 10-12 how to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms mental illnesses and substance use disorders among their friends. The training gives teens the skills to have supportive conversations with their friends and get a responsible trusted adult to take over as necessary. Implementing tMHFA requires several commitments from sites before providing the curriculum to teens connected to their schools and organizations. This learning collaborative aims to increase capacity for schools and youth-serving organizations to teach young people how to identify, understand, and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health challenges in their friends and peers. Participating in the tMHFA Preparation and Learning Collaborative offers sites technical support, strategic planning, and facilitation of conversations with stakeholders. All high schools may submit an application.  20 people from 10 high schools (2 people per school) will be admitted.     LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Prepare to attend a tMHFA Instructor training being hosted in June 2022 Reduce barriers and increase readiness to roll out tMHFA in your high school Increase capacity for schools to teach young people how to identify, understand, and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health challenges in their friends and peers     DATES: All sessions will be held from 10:00-11:00am Central. February 21, 2022 March 14, 2022 April 4, 2022 April 25, 2022 May 16, 2022 June 6, 2022     SPEAKER INFO:   Jill Kluesner (Pronunciation: K-l-ee-s-n-er) MA, CRC (she/her/hers) is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor, instructional designer, National Trainer, and public health programming consultant. She has 15+ years of experience working as a provider, advocate, educator, and published author. Jill has significant experience developing, testing and implementing new public health education initiatives. Her most recent work experience in this area includes designing teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) in-person, hybrid, and virtual curricula alongside Mental Health First Aid USA. Additionally, Jill co-created processes and materials for the virtual and in-person train-the-trainer for teen Mental Health First Aid. In the state of Iowa, she is revered as a leader in community mental health education, as evidenced by creating the path for increasing statewide mental health literacy efforts, providing 200+ Mental Health First Aid courses. Partnering with the University of Iowa, Jill has been an integral part of the redesign of the statewide Peer Support Specialist and Family Peer Support Specialist training curricula. In addition to curriculum development and redesign, Jill provides training program evaluations to monitor and ensure quality programming and fidelity.     Soumya (pronunciation: SOH-myuh) Palreddy, PhD, is an anti-bias anti-racism educator in progress, National Trainer, and licensed psychologist. Bringing warmth, creativity, and energy, she provides training in cultivating and centering equity within schools and organizations. Additionally, Soumya is a National Trainer for Mental Health First Aid (teen, youth, adult), a medical consultant for Social Security Administration, and a curriculum developer for nationally recognized mental health public education programs and train- the-trainers. As a National Trainer, Soumya has trained thousands of MHFA Instructors and First Aiders over the last 6 years and currently provides consultation and mentoring to MHFA Instructors in a variety of settings. Previously, Soumya served as an Associate Director at University Health Services at University of Wisconsin–Madison, sitting on the leadership team for the mental health division.

  What strategies work best to ensure that college students from underrepresented groups persist in their studies while feeling they belong? How are colleges in the New England region supporting students – particularly students who identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color (BIPOC), first-generation, or low income? How are colleges bringing men and other underrepresented demographic groups back to campus this year? Please join us on Thursday, January 13, 2022, 1 - 2:30 pm ET. We will engage in open and curious conversations to further explore key challenges and identify promising practices. By taking part in this event, participants will: - Connect with a learning community and take a closer look at how colleges are creating a culture of caring and engagement; - Identify creative and cost-effective strategies to strengthen students’ sense of belonging; - Deepen connections with colleagues doing similar work; and - Help the New England MHTTC develop training and technical assistance activities that will address priority needs.    

DESCRIPTION: This presentation is intended to assist community mental health professionals and their community partners in understanding Ohio’s emergency hospitalization process and obtaining a working knowledge of its application.   The roles and responsibilities of the various professionals involved in the emergency hospitalization process will be addressed as well as the requirements for pink slips.  A panel discussion will offer the perspectives and inputs of the professionals involved in the process.     LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Understand the requirements for Ohio’s emergency hospitalization process. Recognize and distinguish the roles of the various professionals involved in the pink slip process. Properly complete and utilize an application for emergency admission (“pink slip”) Appreciate the varying perspectives and approaches to implementation used by the different professionals involved in the process.     PRESENTER PANEL:    Honorable Laura J. Gallagher   Cuyahoga County Probate Court Christina Shaynak-Diaz, Esq., Associate CEO   Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities Douglas Smith, MD, Medical Director   Summit County ADM Board Michele Boon, LPCCS, CDCA, Director of Clinical Services   Stark County Mental Health and Addiction Recovery Michele Perry, LISW-S, Director of Crisis and Assessment Services   Netcare Access Julie Ruetz, LPCC, Clinical Director   Harbor Behavioral Health Chelsea Baker, LISW-S, Director of Clinical Services   Columbus Springs East Katherine Brownlowe, MD, Medical Director   OSU Wexner Medical Center Mark Conroy, MD, Associate Professor   OSU Wexner Medical Center David J. Forman, LISW-S, Forensic Services Director Twin Valley Behavioral Healthcare     CONTINTUING EDUCATION Three continuing education credits will be available from Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services   The Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities offers this training in partnership with the Great Lakes MHTTC for behavioral health professionals in HHS Region 5: IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, and WI.

This experienced peer support panel of Arkansas peer leaders will share information on identifying and tapping into peer statewide infrastructure. Participants will hear their journey and lessons learned while developing a Peer Advisory Committee in the state of Arkansas.

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.

Join us for this monthly series where curriculum developers from the New England Mental Health Technology Transfer Center will provide intensive technical assistance around implementation of its online training course, Cultivating Compassionate School Communities that Respond to Trauma Effectively. This free 12-hour course offer recommendations on cultivating compassionate school communities that buffer against the negative effects of trauma, build student resilience, and enhance the well-being of everyone in the school building. Our course supports states, districts, and schools looking to build or refine trauma-informed comprehensive school mental health support systems. As a part of our Community of Practice gatherings, participants will hear from others using this course with their staff, gain tools to debrief and discuss course concepts, and learn how coaching can enhance efficacy around new practices. Our Community of Practice participants will also have the opportunity to inform the implementation guide being offered to support our online course.   Presenters: /*-->*/ /*-->*/ /*-->*/ /*-->*/ /*-->*/ /*--> Martha Staeheli, PhD; Dana Asby, MA, MEd; TBD PTTC presenter

/*--> Many of us are constantly engaging with difficult, if not outrightly violent circumstances in our work and yet have so little space to care for ourselves. In this workshop, participants will have an opportunity to turn inwards and center their well-being. Participants will read, write, and maybe even share, their poetics of healing and community care.   Presenter: Nanee Sajeev /*--> Nanee Sajeev is a Malayalee-American writer committed to learning and growing towards liberation. Nanee is a student of many artists and leaders, whether they have been in their physical classrooms or not: Safia Elhillo, Kaveh Akbar, Hanif Abdurraqib, Fatimah Asghar, Mariame Kaba, and more. In this workshop, and in any other spaces Nanee facilitates, they hope to center patience, care, and growth.