Thursday, July 21, 2011
8:30 – 10:00 a.m.
Plenary: Substance Abuse
Addiction Essentials: The Go-To Guide for Clinicians and Patients
Handout
Dr. Carlton Erickson, Ph.D., University of Texas
Not only is there scientific evidence that some drug users have a disease, but also most scientists affirm that addiction is a chronic brain disease that can be treated successfully, just like other chronic diseases such as asthma, hypertension, and diabetes. This keynote will review the new terminology to be used in identifying individuals with substance-use disorder, explain the latest “neurobiology 101” of the brain’s reward system, and compare today’s drug-use disorder treatments with future anticipated treatments.
Plenary: Recovery
Whatever Happened to Recovery? Treating Symptoms or a Syndrome
Handout
Dr. David Mee-Lee, M.D., The Change Companies
Prevention initiatives frequently do not receive the priority funding and attention they deserve. Treatment programs, policies, and payment often appear to be set up to treat symptoms, rather than a syndrome that has many characteristics of a chronic, potentially relapsing illness. This keynote will challenge participants to examine their attitudes about wellness and recovery. It will also draw contrasts with prevention and treatment efforts in mental health, especially at a time when the focus on co-occurring disorders is increasing.
Plenary: Mental Health
Evidence-Based Model of Supportive Employment:
How to Incorporate This Model in Your Mental Health Center
Judith Cook, Ph.D.,
Center on Mental Health Services Research and Policy Department of Psychiatry
This session will review the evidence-based model of supported employment and determine how to incorporate this model in your mental health center.
Plenary: Workforce
Communication Skills for a Diverse Environment
Handout 1 / Handout 2
Paul Vann, Wealth Building Academy, LLC
This session focuses on “Language and You,” a program for participants who work in a culturally diverse organization, employees who work with multicultural coworkers or customers/clients, and managers of multicultural work groups where language is an issue.
10:30 – 12:00 p.m.
TRACK: Substance Abuse – Prevention
Neurobiology of Addiction and Recovery
Handout
Jeffrey Friedman, Cottonwood Tucson, Inc.
Aimed at clinicians and educators who work with chemically dependent clients or in communities where drug and alcohol addiction are a problem, this workshop would appeal to anyone wanting to improve their understanding of how the various drugs of abuse work in the brain, and the different neurochemical and neurbiological challenges of early recovery. Participants will be offered a basic and easy-to-understand primer on brain chemistry and brain biology — especially as these relate to the brain’s response to each of the major substances of abuse (opiates, cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA, alcohol, and marijuana). Participants will also gain a greater understanding of the mechanism of action of all the major substances of abuse, and how the use of each of these substances affects the brain’s normal function, especially the brain’s ability to make and maintain a euthymic mood. Those attending the workshop will also learn about counseling approaches and therapeutic interventions that newly recovering alcoholics and addicts — who may still be cognitively and emotionally impaired from their use of mood-altering substances — respond to best in various phases of the treatment process, including both acute and post-acute withdrawal. Participants will also gain knowledge concerning the causes and conditions that best promote recovery from chemical dependence — including the value of abstinence from all mood-altering substances and the mood-enhancing benefits of positive psychosocial support. Attendees will also gain a greater appreciation for the role of good nutrition and moderate exercise in optimizing the action of neurotransmitters associated with a feeling of wellbeing that may suffer disregulation through the use of the major mood-altering substances.
TRACK: Substance Abuse – Treatment
Mass Incarceration, a Trigger for Relapse
Kwame Brahme
This session will present the past and current trends of the U.S. prison population, which has increased from 300,000 in 1972 to 2.3 million people today. One in 31 adults in the United States is in jail, in prison, on probation, or on parole. The U.S. government spends over $68 billion a year on incarceration. Drug policy and the incarceration of low-level drug offenders are the primary causes of mass incarceration in the United States. Incarceration of low-level drug offenders has criminogenic effects that increase the likeliness of recidivism. We will review indicators that drug treatment and counseling programs are far more effective in reducing drug addiction and abuse than incarceration.
TRACK: Co-Occurring
Why Integrating Mental Health and Substance Abuse Is Hard and What to Do About It
Handout
David Mee-Lee, M.D., The Change Companies
The addiction and mental health treatment fields have arisen from very different roots. This accounts for the ongoing fragmentation that has been aggravated by different training, systems, and funding. Clients and clinicians are separated by ideology and treatment orientations that do not serve well those affected by co-occurring disorders. Too often children, families, adults, and the elderly fall between the service and system cracks. This workshop will present an integrated treatment model that incorporates evidence-based practices that have been found effective for people suffering from mental health and substanceuse problems. Even though many are committed to integrated co-occurring disorders treatment, it is difficult to actually change clinician attitudes and skills to provide truly integrated services. This workshop will also focus on ways to change assessment, services, and systems to make integrated treatment really work in daily practice. One of the goals of the training is to help participants identify how well they are serving those with co-occurring disorders and to assist in planning how to move to the next stage to change services for the better.
TRACK: Criminal Justice
Integrating Recovery Management with Offender Re-Entry Programming
Handout
Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC, On The Mark Consulting
The workshop will address the mutually beneficial blending of two cutting-edge programs, Recovery Management and Michigan Prisoner ReEntry, to address the needs associated with preparing prisoners with addiction disorders for a successful and sustainable return to the community. Participants will be able to identify and cross-walk both common and unique program goals and methods, and learn which strategies and approaches have proven most successful in serving this population.
TRACK: Mental Health – Prevention
Recovery Tools for Post-Employment
Judith Cook, Ph.D, Center on Mental Health Services Research and Professor and Director,
Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine
This presentation will discuss a set of tools that can be used by employed individuals to enhance their economic security and wellbeing after returning to work. These include financial literacy training, asset accumulation, supported education, peer support and self-help, and shared decision-making about managing benefits and entitlements. Thus, employment is not viewed as a recovery endpoint, but as a stage in the individual’s career development.
TRACK: Mental Health – Treatment
Engagement: Making the Right Connection for Successful Treatment Outcomes
Barbara Fountain, LPC, Department of State Health Services
Individuals who seek treatment — whether voluntarily or involuntarily — are influenced by the encounters they have along their journey. Embracing the new paradigm of recovery of those diagnosed with social-emotional disorders or mental illness, clinicians are faced with the challenge of engaging and keeping individuals who seek those services. First impressions, whether valid or not, influence whether individuals remain in services to achieve the expected recovery outcomes. This workshop teaches clinicians how to make the right connection to achieve successful outcomes.
TRACK: Community
Rural Border Intervention SSBG Project:
Principles for Effective Border Violence Prevention and Curriculum Development
Handout
Jose Gustavo Gonzalez, Rio Grande Valley Council, Inc.
This session provides an overview of applied principles, lessons learned, and impact in the development of an integrated model for border violence, substance abuse, and diaster planning with deliverables of a Promotora/Community Health Worker curriculum, a Professional curriculum, a Parent-Youth-Community conference, a conference for professionals, and direct services to counties that were affected by the Hurricane Ike and Hurricane Dolly disasters.
TRACK: Workforce
Effective Communication for Individuals with Limited English Proficiency
Handout
Jorge U. Ungo, Pacific Interpreters, Inc.
Over 46 million people in the United States do not speak English as their primary language, and more than half of these individuals speak and understand little or no English. The state of Texas has one of the largest populations of patients with Limited English Proficiency (LEP). Today, LEP patients across the United States confront barriers to health-care access, which leads to medical errors, unneeded tests, and, in some cases, death. Both the federal government and the Joint Commission are aware of the issues faced by LEP patients and have issued guidelines and reports about how to best address the needs of this underserved population. This presentation will give an overview of the challenges faced and will provide valuable tools for organizations, administrators, and care providers.
1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
TRACK: Substance Abuse – Prevention
D.E.C.I.S.I.O.N.S.: How to Control Your Life, One Choice at a Time
Chris Cannon, Fighting 4 Youth
This interactive workshop is based on the highly sought after D.E.C.I.S.I.O.N.S. training model. It is designed to equip and empower individuals with the key insight and tools needed to positively influence every choice that leads to their success. This workshop will reveal how participants can get and stay focused in the midst of distractions, how to use your internal conversation to build up and not tear down, and the #1 factor in obtaining ANY success in life.
TRACK: Substance Abuse – Treatment
Pharmacotherapy of Addiction: What Works & Why?
Kerby Stewart, M.D., Department of State Health Services
The presentation will review medications commonly used in acute and post-acute alcohol, opiate, sedative, and illicit drug withdrawl management. Evidence for the effectiveness and the presumed mechanism(s) of action of the various approaches will be reviewed. Whenever possible, correspondences between the pharmacology and the neurobiology of addiction will be emphasized.
TRACK: Co-Occurring
Stage-Based Cognitive Behavioral Interventions
for Persons with Co-occurring Disorders (Part 1)
Handout
Melanie Kinley, BA, CADC, Thresholds
This session will explore the ways in which clinicians can utilize elements of cognitive behavioral treatments to help individuals in all stages of readiness to manage their substance abuse. Participants will be introduced to the basics of CBT and stages of treatment, along with ample opportunity to practice some of these skills in small group activities.
TRACK: Criminal Justice
Jail Diversion and Forensic Hospital Diversion: Promising Practices in Texas (Part 1)
Jennifer Swinton, Department of State Health Services
Learn about promising practices in Texas that enhance jail diversion and reduce forensic hospital use.
TRACK: Mental Health – Prevention
Games Children Play: Teen Suicide Awareness (Part 1)
Marc Fomby, Fomby Training and Consulting Prevention Services
This workshop is designed to alert parents, health-care professionals, teachers, physicians, religious leaders, and other gatekeepers to the latest trends in youth behavior as they relate to suicide, by focusing on issues from the youth perspective. Emphasis is placed on identifying risk factors and key indicators of suicidal thoughts, behaviors, and tendencies. Participants also learn their roles in the prevention and intervention process. Examples of situations and scenarios that affect a range of populations are presented in this workshop. This workshop seeks to integrate suicide prevention into existing health, mental health, substance abuse, education, and human service activities in a unique manner to result in more effective responses. FTC’s goal is to promote public awareness and education, reduce the stigma of suicide, and serve as a resource for agencies and individuals who work with kids and families who may be dealing with suicide issues.
TRACK: Mental Health – Treatment
Understanding Self-Injury
Handout
Patrick DeChello, Ph.D., LCSW, MSW, RPH, D & S Associates
Often called the new age Anorexia, self-injury is a silent epidemic Because of its rapid effect on Serotonin, self injury is more than a maladaptive coping mechanism. Self-injury is a drug and it is a addictive as any drug of abuse! It does to the brain in a second, what in takes weeks or a month to do with medication. Contrary to popular belief it is an attempt to prevent suicide by refocusing through pain. It is a way to deal with overwhelming feelings in an attempt to stay alive. Most clinicians have little or no understanding of the underlying dynamics, etiology, purpose of treatment of this behavior. In fact, clinicians often misinterpret these behaviors and rush to hospitalize. To the astute clinician hospitalization is contraindicated. This workshop will provide cutting edge information as to the nature, purpose, etiology and treatments for these behaviors. Clinicians will also learn the best approaches in dealing with the families of those that self-injure. This workshop is based on the research and information presented in my newest book,“Understanding Self-Injury.”
TRACK: Community
The Texas Model for Addressing Disproportionality and Disparities:
A Cross Systems Approach
Joyce James, HHSC Center for Elimination of Disproportionality and Disparities
This workshop demonstrates the Texas model for eliminating disproportionality and disparities through data driven strategies, leadership development, antiracist practice, community engagement and cross systems collaboration. The Texas Model has been used to develop leadership by igniting a passion in child welfare leaders, demonstrating that leaders can take the courageous steps necessary to do this critical work with the right constituency of families, communities and cross systems partners and through building a net that works. We will discuss the history and foundation of the disproportionality and disparities work efforts in Texas, the legislation, and the shift to family focused practice resulting in improved outcomes for all children youth and families and a decrease in disproportionality for African American and Native American children, resulting in an elevation of the Texas work to the highest level of Health and Human Services through the Center for Elimination of Disproportionality and Disparities.
TRACK: Clinical Supervision
Ethics Considerations in Clinical Supervision (Part 1)
Handout
Richard Gelb, Self Employed Consultant
Eric Schmidt, Ph.D., Texas State University-San Marcos
In this session, attendees will explore the primary philosophical concepts and constructs that form the foundation of ethical work. Attendees will be provided with an ethical decision-making model and will use actual scenarios presented by attendees on how to implement the model toward making an ethical decision. Attendees will benefit from hearing actual ethical challenges presented by their peers, while also observing others actively engage in the ethical decision-making process.
3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
TRACK: Substance Abuse – Prevention
Substance-Exposed Newborns: Removal, Family Preservation, or Case Closure?
Milton Ayala, Department of Family and Protective Services
The audience will be introduced to some of the basic processes Texas CPS uses in conducting an investigation of an allegation of a substance-exposed newborn. The audience will be given rudimentary information about dispositional findings and the implementation of protective measures. The audience will be informed about some of the resources CPS uses in the community to allow bonding of the mother and infant and thus preserve the family unit. The audience will also be given information about the federal laws that mandate reporting substance-exposed newborns and how a child welfare agency should provide service planning for both the mother and infant. So as to better appreciate the magnitude of the problem, the audience will be given DFPSreleasable data involving substance-exposed newborns in Texas. The audience will come to appreciate that drugs have an impact on child development and future episodes of child abuse and/ or neglect. The key learning point is that substance use by a pregnant mother (including alcohol use) can pose serious harm or substantial risk of immediate harm to the newborn, as well as to other children in the home.
TRACK: Substance Abuse – Treatment
Substance-Abuse Treatment and HIV Clients
Handout 1 / Handout 2
Sonya Adams, Texas Assoc of Addiction Professionals
The rates of infection for HIV are not decreasing, and the rates of substance-abuse clients with HIV is on the rise; therefore, it is imperative that treatment services include a component that addresses the HIV+ client. The session will include statistical information, treatment planning options, and challenges that face the substance-abuse provider.
TRACK: Co-Occurring
Stage-Based Cognitive Behavioral Interventions for
Persons with Co-occurring Disorders (Part 2)
Melanie Kinley, BA, CADC, Thresholds
See description for Part 1.
TRACK: Criminal Justice
Jail Diversion and Forensic Hospital Diversion: Promising Practices in Texas (Part 2)
Jennifer Swinton, Department of State Health Services
See description for Part 1.
TRACK: Mental Health – Prevention
Games Children Play: Teen Suicide Awareness (Part 2)
Marc Fomby, FTC Prevention Services
See description for Part 1.
TRACK: Mental Health – Treatment
Assessment and Treatment of Borderline Personality
Handout
Patrick DeChello, Ph.D., LCSW, MSW, RPH, D & S Associates
Personality disorders have been a source of anguish for the mental health community for many years Of all the personalities, it is the Borderline Personality that presents the greatest challenges. Accounting for 64% of all axis 2 diagnoses made, this one disorder has accounted for the majority of treatment failures and has gone through numerous diagnostic changes over the years. Originally, designed to be a disorder on the cusp of psychosis, the borderline has become a diagnosis given to anyone who is very difficult to treat. In fact, there is no one Borderline Personality Disorder. It is to a great degree a collection of disorders that co-exist and often feed off of each other in ways that make life very difficult for people diagnosed with it. Today with the advent of new technologies like EMDR and DBT this disorder is seen to be far more treatable than thought to be before in the history of psychiatry. Come learn of the multiple etiologies, the presentations and the treatments that work by the author of one of the definitive books on the subject , Patrick DeChello, Ph.D.
TRACK: Community
Big Bad Bully Wolf Can’t Blow Your House Down – How to Intervene in Bullying Behaviors
Handout
Jill Darling, Richardson ISD
This highly spirited and experiential workshop will help participants learn the difference between bullying and misbehavior, and to define bystander and victim behaviors. Participants will discover where and when bullying is taking place and what tools to use with students to obtain this information. Every participant will be equipped with practical intervention strategies to reduce bullying.
TRACK: Clinical Supervision
Ethics Considerations in Clinical Supervision (Part 2)
Richard Gelb, Self employed consultant
Eric Schmidt, Ph.D., Texas State University-San Marcos
See description for Part 1.