CASRA Fall 2014 Conference Program Featuring Plenary Speaker Larry Fricks

CASRA Fall 2014 Conference Program
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Pasadena Hilton
Featuring Plenary Speaker
Larry Fricks
Appalachian Consulting Group
Workshop Session I 10:45‐12:15 1. Opportunities for Peers in the Integrated Healthcare Workforce: The Future of Health Navigation Laura Pancake, Lou Mallory and Rose Lopez, Pacific Clinics Health Navigation is a culturally responsive intervention designed to promote the services, skills and confidence which consumers with serious mental illness need to self manage their healthcare. This workshop focuses on peers trained as health navigators. We will discuss how peers have been involved at every stage of the health navigation model from conceptualization to implementation and training. We will look at how we are creating a career ladder for peers as we continue to develop integrated models of service delivery. In addition we will discuss our Family Health Navigation project which focuses on working with parents/caregivers. 2. Reducing Stigma through Parity Laura Reich and Lisa Hurley, Disability Rights California Mental health parity means equal insurance coverage for physical health, mental health and substance use disorder services. The Affordable Care Act has expanded the reach of the mental health parity laws. Learn how to get the coverage you and your clients deserve. 3. Psychosis Sucks! – Working with Youth in Emotional Distress Wayne Munchel, Stars Behavioral Health Group This presentation will provide an overview of current understandings and approaches to youth experiencing psychosis. Participants will learn several practical strategies to effectively engage, normalize and enhance coping skills. Resources and tool‐kits will also be made available. 4. The Zoning Diatribe – Siting Hard to Locate Programs Steve Fields, Progress Foundation and Kim Savage, Law Office of Kim Savage The passage of the Investment in Mental Health Wellness Act (SB 82) in 2014 has ushered in an amazing opportunity to expand crisis residential and crisis stabilization programs throughout California. Locating these programs in residential neighborhoods is critical to their success but also fraught with difficulty. Come learn about the programmatic necessities and legal strategies to make these programs a reality. 5. Work Pays Cynthia Cadet and Iris Rivera, Crossroads Diversified Services Staff will discuss and give examples on how the Social Security work incentive programs can be used to help persons with disabilities go to work. Participants will learn how earned income may or may not affect Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance, cash and health care benefits. We will also explore how utilizing ‘a ticket’ in the Ticket to Work program increases options for vocational rehabilitation and employment services. Lunch (Provided) 12:15‐1:15 Workshop Session II 1:15 ‐ 2:45 6. Growing the Peer Support Workforce: The Critical Role of Continuing Education and CPRP Certification Lisa St. George, Recovery Innovations Peer Support Providers complete initial training that qualifies them to provide peer support services. However, as is true for many professions, continuing education and training are necessary to support their work. Studying for and obtaining certification as a Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP) is also critical to the professional development of these team members. 7. Spirituality and Recovery from Mental Illness Hannah Tenpas, Transitions – Mental Health Association This workshop is designed to engage mental health professional and/or peers on the subject of spirituality and recovery from mental illness, including exploring first‐hand accounts of the importance of spirituality for many mental health consumers. Engaging in this conversation while maintaining professional boundaries will also be discussed. 8. Facilitating Groups: Tools to Activate Engagement Debra Brasher and Lucinda Dei Rossi, Inspired at Work This workshop presents basic tools for how to effectively facilitate various types of groups. Designed for those who are new to group facilitation, it also would be of interest to veteran facilitators who might benefit from some fresh ideas, support and inspiration. 9. Utilizing WRAP ® in Jail: A New Hope for Incarcerated Transitional Age Youth Jennifer Gomez and Anthony Marron, Pacific Clinics This workshop introduces an innovative, successful, recovery‐based, peer‐run approach to working with TAY inmates. Staff with lived experience assist TAY offenders to transition into the community through peer support, WRAP classes, goal development and linkage to mental health services. 10. Work Hard and Laugh Trying Cesar Sosa and Ron Johnson, Mental Health America‐LA This workshop will present ideas and strategies for hiring, retaining and supervising a diverse team with a variety of strengths – keeping it fun and fresh while maintaining the agency’s mission and goals. Workshop Session III 3:00‐4:30 11. A Violence Prevention Strategy that Focuses on the Role of Social Isolation Mark Ragins, Mental Health America‐LA After each violent tragedy we have the same argument between increasing involuntary treatment of people with mental illnesses and gun control. What if we focused on the “social isolation” part of the profile instead? This workshop presents a five stage strategy for the entire community to get involved building relationships. 12. Sharing Your Story – Connection, Messaging and Empowerment David Castro, Center for Dignity, Recovery and Empowerment and Malia Javier Fontecchio Project Return Peer Support Network/Center for Dignity, Recovery and Empowerment Participants will learn to share their story of lived experience with the public. We will discuss the pros and cons of sharing stories, strategies to structure their stories of hope, recovery and empowerment and create a basic outline of their story 13. A PhotoVoice Project – A Gift of Self‐Expression Christine Buchanan, Sabrina Gutierrez, Tina DeRienzo and panel, Mental Health America‐LA This panel will explore and demonstrate the impact of prejudice and discrimination on people who live with mental illness by sharing the process and outcomes of our second PhotoVoice project.