Schedule for Tuesday May, 1, 2018
Tuesday, May 1, 2018
7:30-8:45 a.m. Continental Breakfast
9:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Institutes (three hours)
T 1
Level: Basic
Audience: C
Introduction to Attachment-Based Family Therapy for Depressed
and Suicidal Adolescents
Jody Russon, PhD, Research Associate, Center for Family Intervention Science at Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
Maliha Ibrahim, Graduate Student, Couples and Family Therapy Program, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
The Attachment-Based Family Therapy (ABFT) Institute reviews the theory,
research and clinical strategies of ABFT. ABFT is the only manualized,
empirically supported family therapy for adolescents struggling with depression
and suicide. Tested with diverse families, ABFT is a trust-based, emotion-focused,
process-oriented, brief therapy organized by five treatment tasks.
Participants will learn to use this model to help families repair interpersonal
ruptures that have damaged trust and rebuild emotionally protective, secure
parent-child relationships.
T 2
Level: Basic
Audience: F, C, XS, Co
Finding a Better Way: Therapeutic Crisis Interventions for
Caregivers
Brent Swope, Coordinator of Milieu and Behavioral Management
Training Program, WellSpan Philhaven, Mt. Gretna, PA
Shannon Stalnaker, Director of FBMHS, Dauphin County, WellSpan Philhaven, Mt. Gretna, PA
This presentation is designed to empower caregivers who experience
difficulty in dealing with their children’s repeated challenging behaviors. The
course will outline the progression of a behavioral crisis and identify
interventions and skills that help children de-escalate and regulate their
emotions. Caregivers develop their ability to recognize personal reactions to
challenging behaviors while assessing underlying reasons for their child's
behavior. This course was adapted from a training program known as Therapeutic Crisis Intervention.
T 3
Level: Basic
Audience: C, XS
Working with Youth and Families: Sexuality and Gender
Identity/Expression Best Practices
Shauna Lucadamo, MA, Gender and Sexuality Advisor, Allegheny
County Department of Human Services, Pittsburgh, PA
This training aims at providing those who work in child welfare some
baseline information to be able to better work with and serve all youth related
to sexuality and gender identity/expression. Modules cover health
disparities, sexuality, and gender 101, including dimensions of sexuality and
gender, as well as current terminology and best practices for working with
youth with system involvement.
T 4
Level: Intermediate
Audience: F, C, EC
Leveraging Empathy in Early Childhood Settings: a Mindful
Approach
Marnie Aylesworth, EdD, Executive Director, The Pennsylvania Key, Harrisburg, PA
Madeline Eckert, Center Director, Lancaster Early Education Center, Lancaster, PA
Mindfulness is a mental state achieved by focusing one's attention on the
present moment, while calmly acknowledging and accepting one's feelings
and thoughts without judgment. This session will discuss how this concept
relates to early childhood settings. We will discuss the research surrounding
mindfulness and its benefits and connect this to practical implementation
strategies. There will be hands-on practice of techniques and we will hear
about the successes and challenges of implementing mindful strategies in an
early childhood center.
T 5
Level: Basic
Audience: C, Co
York County SS/HS: Integrated Support for Children and Youth in
Schools and Community
Anne Katona Linn, MEd, BCBA, State Project Co-Director, PA Safe
Schools & Healthy Students Partnership, Paxinos, PA
Colleen Igo, System and Community Initiatives Manager, York County Human Services, York, PA
Kathy Minnich, PhD, LCSW, School Social Worker, Communities
That Care; President, Northeastern School District, Communities That Care, Manchester PA
Kim Neptune, MS, SSHS Program Coordinator, Northeastern School District, Manchester PA
This session will demonstrate how York County created models of cross-systems
collaboration through the merging of the System of Care Standards
and the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports framework at the
school and county through a partnership with the State SSHS cooperative
agreement. Presenters from schools, county, and state will illustrate how to
comprehensively build and embed a continuum of programs and services
while simultaneously integrating authentic youth and family voice into
decision making.
T 6
Level: Basic
Audience: F
An Introduction to Trauma for Parents and Caregivers
Susannah Spanton Horsey, Trainer Supervisor, Lakeside Global Institute, North Wales, PA
Michelle Machado, Mentor Trainer, Lakeside Global Institute, North Wales, PA
Parents and Caregivers can play an important role in helping children
recover from traumatic events. This workshop is designed to provide
introductory information about the impact of trauma and the power of
relationships to help children heal. The more parents and caregivers
understand how trauma affects children, the more they will understand the
reasons for kids’ behaviors and emotions, and the more they will be able to
help them cope.
T 7
Level: Intermediate
Audience: C, XS, Co
Functional Behavioral Assessment
Stacy Nonnemacher, PhD, Clinical Director, Bureau of Autism
Services, Harrisburg, PA Amy Alford, MEd, BCBA, Senior Clinical Consultant, Bureau of Autism Services, Harrisburg, PA
Conducting a comprehensive Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA)
requires an understanding of: a) the outcome of each step and b) relevant
tools to complete the steps. This session will highlight the practical
application of this holistic case conceptualization process through case
examples and emphasis on tools and tips. Potential process pitfalls will also
be reviewed in an effort to control for limitations that could hinder the
integrity of the process.
9:00-10:30 a.m. Workshops (90 minutes)
T 8
Level: Intermediate
Audience: C
Creating and Maintaining an Agency Culture that Supports
Families and Youth as Equal Workforce Members
Bryon K. Luke MSS, LSW, Senior Managing Director, Child and Family Focus, Inc., Broomall, PA
Artheria Taggart, Facilitator-High Fidelity Wrapround, Child and Family Focus, Inc., Broomall, PA
Additional presenter to be determined
It is vital for agencies to understand how to support family and youth peers
as their presence in human services grow. Practicing System of Care values
at the system and agency level is vital to creating a cohesive, supportive team
for families. This workshop will explore the potential impact on agency policy
and procedure, teamwork paradigms, and agency culture that may be present
as an agency creates the Parent/Professional partnership found in the High
Fidelity Wraparound Model.
T 9
Level: Basic
Audience: Y, F, C
Preventing Youth Suicide by Promoting Healthy Lifestyles and
Resilience
Presenters: Perri Rosen, PhD, NCSP, Project Director, Garrett Lee Smith Youth
Suicide Prevention Grant, Bureau of Children’s Behavioral Health Services, Harrisburg, PA
Marisa Vicere, President and Founder, Jana Marie Foundation, Pine Grove Mills, PA
Enhancing protective factors, including creating a supportive network around
young people and providing them with tools to build resilience is essential too
preventing youth suicide and supporting youth during transitions and stressful
life events. This presentation will examine patterns of stress, provide
information about youth mental health and suicide prevention, and demonstrate
hands-on techniques to help young people build resilience and plan for a
meaningful life.
T 10
Level: Basic
Audience: Y, C
Youth Advocate to Advocate for Youth
Corey Ludden, Technical Assistance and Engagement Coordinator,
Youth M.O.V.E. PA (Motivating Others through Voices of Experience) Harrisburg PA
Zack Karenchak, Policy and Program Development Coordinator,
Youth M.O.V.E. PA (Motivating Others through Voices of Experience) Harrisburg, PA
In this session, we discuss the seven stages of a youth's journey from just
starting to become a youth advocate to becoming an adult who is now
advocating for youth.
T 11
Level: Basic
Audience: All
X, Y, Z: Understanding the Culture of Our Generation Alphabet
Lisa M. Lowrie, LSW, Director of Advocacy and Consumer Relations,
The Bradley Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Understanding culture is important to human services. Whether we are
family members seeking treatment for youth, or employees working with
youth, we should be sensitive to how we perceive the generations, and how
that may negatively impact communication. Join this workgroup to gain a
better understanding of the culture of generations X and Y and demystify
misconceptions. In addition, we’ll look at generation Z, the youth we are
currently serving and the future of our workforce.
T 12
Level: Intermediate
Audience: C, XS, Co, EC
Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health: What Is It and Why Is It Important?
Brandy V. Fox, LCSW, Vice President, Pennsylvania Infant Mental
Health Association, Harrisburg, PA
Michele Myers-Cepicka, Parent Representative, Project LAUNCH;
Founding Member of PA-AIMH (Agency – not listed, Location – not listed)
Current research has shown that how children develop early in life can
impact their entire life. This session will begin with a review and discussion
of core concepts of early brain development and the definition of infant/early
childhood mental health. Participants will be able to apply the knowledge of
social and emotional development to their daily work with young children to
improve the quality of relationships and promote wellness. Social-emotional
resources and professional endorsement will be highlighted.
T 13
Level: Basic
Audience: F, C, XS, Co, EC
OCDEL’s Programs and Supports for Young Children and Their Families
Sue Polojac, Director, Race to the Top, Office of Child Development and Early Learning, Harrisburg, PA
Andrea Algatt, Program Specialist Supervisor, Office of Children
Development and Early Learning, Bureau of Early Intervention Services and Family Supports, Harrisburg, PA
This presentation will review the Office of Child Development and Early
Learning (OCDEL) including the four bureaus: the Bureau of Early
Intervention Services and Family Supports, the Bureau of Certification
Services, the Bureau of Subsidized Child Care Services, and the Bureau of
Early Learning Services. Each of the four bureaus has unique responsibilities
that all involve providing families with children ages 0-5 with services that
prepare their children for school and life success.
T 14
Level: Intermediate
Audience: Y, F, C, Co
Trauma-Informed Community? It's All About the Journey-
Crawford County's Lesson's Learned
Joe Barnhart, Crawford Co. System of Care Coordinator, Crawford Co Human Services, Meadville, PA
This presentation will explain Crawford County's experience in the
continuing journey of creating a trauma-informed and resilient community
through a collaborative process facilitated by its System of Care (SOC)
partnership. The presentation team, comprised of system, family, and youth
partners will provide a brief overview of the Adverse Childhood Experiences
(ACEs) Study and how ACEs sparked Crawford's movement to become a
trauma informed and resilient community.
T 15
Level: Intermediate
Audience: XS, Co
Data Sharing/School Mental Health: How County Government Effectively Intervenes
Ruth Ann Koss, MEd, Program Manager, Allegheny County
Department of Human Services, Office of Behavioral Health, Pittsburgh, PA
Samantha Murphy, MA, NCC, Manager, Resource and Referral
Services, Education Liaison, Allegheny County Department of Human Services, Executive Office, Pittsburgh, PA
Suzanne Hull, BA, Mental Health Program Specialist, School-based
Liaison, Allegheny County Department of Human Services, Office of Behavioral Health, Pittsburgh, PA
Since 2009, Allegheny County Department of Human Services and 19 of its
43 school districts have successfully negotiated a Memorandum of
Understanding allowing for the sharing of student data and human services
involvement across education and other child-serving systems. Development
of the MOU was undertaken to inform strategies aimed at improving
educational and mental health and wellness outcomes of children. Key
challenges (legal barriers, technical capacity, costs) were overcome to
successfully form the partnerships.
T 16
Level: Basic
Audience: C, XS
My Life Matters: Youth as Agents of Change
Tara Karbiner, LCSW, Children's Clinical System Transformation Manager, Magellan Behavioral Health, Newtown, PA
Marissa Gates, CPS, Youth Supports Coordinator, Magellan Behavioral Health, Newtown, PA
Additional presenters to be determined
Magellan Health Services, Bucks, Montgomery, Delaware, Lehigh and
Northampton Counties partnered in 2010 to begin MY LIFE (Magellan
Youth Leaders Inspiring Future Empowerment) groups in Pennsylvania.
MY LIFE provides a forum for young people to get involved and improve the
services and supports available to them. Youth are provided leadership
opportunities, increased social connections, and learn new skills through the
many offering of MY LIFE. Learn about the impact MY LIFE has had on the
young people involved as well as their communities.
T 17
Level:
Audience: F, Co
The Final Piece: Family Peer Support Services
Presenters: Millie Sweeney, Wendy Luckenbill, Crystal Karenchak
Pennsylvania is collaborating with the national efforts to professionalize and
sustain Family Peer Support Services. Like all “peer support,” there is
something transformative about getting help from someone who has walked
in your shoes. For over 25 years, this practice has evolved by sheer will of
those convinced of its effectiveness in supporting families in their role as the
primary driver of services and care for their children. Come learn how you
can help.
10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Workshops (90 minutes)
T 18
Level: Basic
Audience: All
Youth MOVE Philadelphia: A Chapter's Resilience and Legacy.
Shaiheed Days, Youth MOVE Philadelphia Coordinator,
Philadelphia DBHIDS, Philadelphia, PA
Youth Representative, Youth MOVE member, Philadelphia DBHIDS, Philadelphia, PA
Youth Representative, Youth MOVE member, Philadelphia DBHIDS, Philadelphia, PA
This presentation is designed to engage youth/young adult advocates.
Attendees will learn about the beginning of the Philadelphia Youth MOVE
chapter, facing the tragedy of losing the chapter coordinator, supporting
members through emotional loss and despair, reinvigorating the chapter
years later and continuing a legacy of youth/young adult leadership
development. Youth MOVE chapters are unique. Join us in hearing the
dignifying voices and experiences that may keep your youth/young adults
involved in leadership work for years to come.
T 19
Level: Basic
Audience: Y
An Introduction to Trauma for Youth
Marc Calica, Trainer, Lakeside Global Institute, North Wales, PA
SaraLiz Gausz, Trainer, Lakeside Global Institute, North Wales, PA
Many youths have endured traumatic experiences and often don’t want to talk
about the issues they faced—or they don’t know how to. This workshop fosters a
supportive and nurturing environment where youth learn about the impact of
trauma while helping them heal and learn to cope. Our approach builds
confidence and improves relationships with friends and family as youth
understand foundational principles and learn skills to help themselves and those around them.
T 20
Level: Basic
Audience: Y, F, C, Co
Moving Beyond “Transitioned Aged Youth”: Staying Involved
After Youthhood”
Alex C. Knapp, Former Tri-Chair, SLMT of the PA SOC Partnership, Pittsburgh, PA
Maxine Williams, Former Tri-Chair, SLMT of the PA SOC Partnership, Pittsburgh, PA
Let’s admit it. At some point, youthhood ends and we’re no longer the youth
partners sitting at the table. But, what then? How do we keep our seats while
stepping aside for the next generation of youth leaders to take over? This
presentation will examine the successes and struggles of two former SLMT
Youth Tri-Chairs who have continued working for reformation of the child
serving systems, but now do it as provider and community partners.
T 21
Level: Intermediate
Audience: F, C, Co, EC
Supporting Early Childhood Mental Health through Integrated
Primary Care Services
Makeda Vanderpuije, Project LAUNCH Assistant, Allegheny County
Health Department, Pittsburgh, PA
Julie Trbovich, Director of Advocacy, ACHIEVA, Pittsburgh, PA
Kim Eckel, Young Child Wellness Coordinator, Allegheny County Department of Human Services, Pittsburgh, PA
PA Project LAUNCH has successfully led an effort to enhance integration of
behavioral health services in primary care settings within Allegheny County
(children birth to eight). This workshop will describe the strategies used to
engage local stakeholders, develop a tool to assess services provided,
implement this assessment within 10 local pediatric care providers, share
results with stakeholders and provide ongoing follow up and support. This
workshop will also discuss using e-screening to promote universal screening
in early childhood.
T 22
Level: Basic
Audience: F, C, XS, Co, EC
Continuing Education pending approval
The Building Blocks of Family Leadership Development in Early Childhood
Sarah Holland, Special Assistant on Family Engagement, Office of
Child Development and Early Learning, Harrisburg, PA
The early years of a child’s life are integral to the development of family
leaders. Families benefit from supports to encourage and build their system
navigation, communication and advocacy skills. Specific models and
strategies to support family leadership development currently implemented
within Pennsylvania’s Early Intervention program, including Competence
and Confidence Partners in Policymaking (C2P2 EI) and Parents as
Partners in Professional Development (P3D) will be highlighted. Profiles of
successful family leaders will be shared along with opportunities for
participants ask questions and exchange expertise.
T 23
Level: Basic
Audience: C, XS, Co
Understanding the Strengthening Families Protective Factors Framework
Rijelle Kraft, Family Support Technical Assistance Coordinator, Camp Hill, PA
The Strengthening Families™ Protective Factors, identified by the Center
for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP), our strengths and resources that
families can draw on when life gets difficult. When these five factors are
present and robust, they keep families strong and children safe. In this
interactive workshop, we will define each factor, identify everyday actions
that promote them in families and explore resources for family support
professionals to incorporate this approach into their work.
T 24
Level: Basic
Audience: C, Co
Supervising Young Adult Certified Peer Specialists
Clarice Bailey, PhD, Chief Learning Officer, Mental Health Partnerships, Philadelphia, PA
CPS YYA Peer Supporter, to be determined
Chad Owens, Youth Support Peer Specialist, UPMC, Monroeville, PA
Using the participatory leadership strategy of World Café, individuals who
supervise youth and young adult peer supporters and peer support programs
will contribute to the design of the State’s first curriculum for Youth and
Young Adult Certified Peer Specialist Supervisors.
T 25
Level: Intermediate
Audience: F, C, Co
Blair County BHRS Transformation Initiative
David Dan, MSW, LCSW, Senior Director, Children's Services,
Community Care Behavioral Health, Pittsburgh, PA
Amy Marten-Shanafelt, MEd, Executive Director, Blair Health Choices, Holidaysburg , PA
Teri Stanley, LPC, BCBA, Clinical Manager, Community Care Behavioral Health, Holidaysburg, PA
This workshop will provide a brief history of the provider consortium. It will include a discussion of the clinical framework, based on core competencies
and integrates behavioral, trauma-informed, strength-based, and systemic paradigms. It will explore how best to move forward with ongoing attempts
to optimize BHRS as a critical component of our continuum of services. Presenters will include providers, health choices leadership, community care
representatives, and a parent advocate.
T 26
Level: Basic
Audience: C, XS
Engaging Disenfranchised Single Fathers
Jeff Steiner, MEd, Executive Director, Dads' Resource Center, State College, PA
Workshop participants will gain a better understanding of how single fathers
experience human services systems. Participants will be able to more
effectively engage with single fathers, help them to better understand what is
coming and develop plans of action to successfully navigate the system.
T 27
Level: Basic
Audience: Co, F, XS
Out of the Shadow into the Light: From Service Receiver to
Advocate and Parent Leader
Alda Walker, Training and Events Coordinator, Allegheny Family
Network, Pittsburgh, PA, Tammy Harper, Supervisor, Allegheny Family Network, Pittsburgh, PA
Powerful parents ensure the best outcome for their children This highly
interactive workshop explores how we meet parents where they are and help
them see where they can be. Creating an environment where people select
and participate in elements that will enhance their growth enables the leader
within to emerge and results in powerful, dynamic parents. We will identify
a variety of methods for growth and enhancement that have been successful
in guiding parents through a leadership development process.
12:30-2:30 p.m. Luncheon and Keynote Addresses
The Kennedy Forum: Pathways to Improving the Delivery of Mental Health Services in Education
Amy Kennedy, Education Director, Kennedy Forum, NJ
Innovations in School-Based Mental Health in Pennsylvania
Judith Dogin, MD, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist; former Chief
Medical Officer and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Community Care Behavioral Health Organization
The five pillars of the Kennedy Forum include school-community
partnerships; developing a framework for prevention and intervention; early
identification through universal screening; providing education to educators
about addressing mental health issues; and sustainability. These pillars will
be discussed, drawing on the experiences of Ms. Kennedy. Dr. Dogin, who
has worked for many years in Pennsylvania developing school-based mental
health programs, will contribute to the discussion as well as moderate the
session. She will seek comment from youth and family members in the
audience to make this a truly interactive keynote.
2:45-4:15 p.m. Workshops (90 minutes)
T 28
Level: Basic
Audience: C, F, XS
Parental Alienation: Its Devastating Impact on Children and
Actions We Can Take
Elena Bondareva, BS, MA, Director, Simply Parent, Milford, PA
Michelle Darné, Founder, CEO, Simply Parent, Milford, PA
Parental Alienation (PA) is a misunderstood and underreported form of
domestic abuse that inflicts suffering on children used as pawns of adult
retaliation. PA is today where bullying and sexual assault were not too long
ago: most do not know about it or see too much gray area. This workshop
will impart both actionable insight and practical skills on the accidental
“first responders” to spot PA and seamlessly intervene where it is warranted
and possibly life-saving.
T 29
Level: Basic
Audience: All
From Illness to Wellness: Changing "I" to "We"
Chou Gabikiny, MA, Mental Health and Disability Consultant, Grace & Hope Consulting, LLC, Harrisburg, PA
Healing happens in the community. However, stigma and systems often isolate
those receiving services, which increase the challenges being addressed. In
this interactive workshop, we will review the power of community and learn
how to create support systems to help youth and families achieve wellness
that is both person-centered and sustainable.
T 30
Level: Basic
Audience: Y, C, Co
Engaging and Empowering Teens through Peer Support Services
Presenters: Tara Arnold, CPS, Coordinator for Teen Programs, The Main Link, Towanda, PA
Dustin Crispell, CPS, Teen Drop-in Host, The Main Link, Towanda, PA
This peer support team will present three components of our teen services;
Drop-in, Peer Support and Self-esteem/Empowerment Groups. Drop-in
provides a safe, non-judgmental environment for teens to socialize while
taking a lead role in the daily activities at the center. We identify
engagement strategies for teen peer support services. We discuss a Self-
Esteem/Empowerment group that focuses on self-expression while providing
a respite from the clinical nature of an inpatient setting. There will be
participatory activities designed to build self-esteem and promote empowerment.
T 31
Level: Basic
Audience: C, XS, C
Facility Dogs: Nurturing Positive Change
Kathy Van Horn, MEd, Licensed Psychologist and Executive Vice
President, Lakeside, North Wales, PA Joy Thompson, Brian Dagger
Animals in a school or clinical settings can bring about positive change by
providing healing interventions for all levels of the brain. This workshop will
demonstrate the impact of five facility dogs working at Lakeside. Stories and
testimonies will be shared that will outline the changes seen in the school
atmosphere, individual students, student to staff relationships, peer
relationships and the classroom and counseling environment. Tips will be
given for how to set up a program.
T 32
Level: Intermediate
Audience: Y, F, C, Co
Update on Suicide in Youth from Incidence to Evidence-Based
Prevention with Patient and Family-Centered Care
Sherrie Sharp, MD, Vice President, Medical Director, Value
Behavioral Health, Cranberry Township, PA
This presentation will provide an overview of the current trends related to
the suicide rate among youth, factors influencing those trends, evidence-based
treatments available, and availability of those treatments in SWPA network,
and patient and family-centered approaches to treatment.
T 33
Level: Basic
Audience: C, XS
The Lion’s Side: The Use of Storytelling for Emotional Transformation
David Fakunle, PhD, Co-Founder and Facilitator,
DiscoverME/RecoverME, Laurel, MD Deborah Pierce-Fakunle, Co-Founder and Facilitator (DiscoverME/RecoverME, Baltimore, MD
DiscoverME/RecoverME is an organization that uses storytelling and
acknowledgment of positive intrinsic qualities to encourage an emotional
foundation for recovery from trauma and its manifestations. This workshop
facilitates understanding of the importance of storytelling in culture, the
function of the griot in the context of trauma, analyzing the primary
components of a story, application of values in the effort to create and fortify
emotional foundations for recovery and healing, and modalities for
expressing one’s story.
T 34
Level: Basic
Audience: XS, Co, C, F, EC
Delaware County Early Childhood Mental Health Advisory Board
Shannon Fitzpatrick Thomas, MA, LPC, NCC, Coordinator of
Children’s Mental Health, County of Delaware, Upper Darby, PA
Jeanne Ewing, Children's Mental Health Specialist, County of Delaware, Upper Darby, PA
This workshop will focus on a Delaware County's Early Childhood Mental
Health Advisory Board. The Board is a Multidisciplinary Team which
includes parents and service systems. The Board established: a case review
process for ages 0-6; monitoring of treatment access for ages 0-6 behavioral
health; use of Special Instruction via Early Intervention to use a Behavioral
Specialist to conduct observation and assessment to determine most
appropriate system; and Collaboration in the development of Evidenced Based Models.
T 35
Level: Basic
Audience: F, C, Co
The Missing Links
George Fleming, BS, CPSP/FIN, Program Supervisor, Allegheny
Family Network, Pittsburgh, PA
Fathers play a critical role in the development of their children, which is
supported by research. Far too frequently, however, fathers are a missing
piece in a child’s life. In order for Child Welfare and other professionals to
seek a greater involvement of fathers in their child’s life they must know the
resources available to support the father and then be able to facilitate the
father’s engagement in their children's lives.
T 36
Level: Basic
Audience: SX, Co, C, F
PA Permanency Families and SWAN Post-Permanency Services: A Winning Team
Lea Moyer, MS, SWAN Post-Permanency Technical Assistant, Diakon/Family Design Resources, Harrisburg, PA
Denise Sheffield, SWAN Post-Permanency Technical Assistant, Diakon/Family Design Resources, Harrisburg, PA
As families navigate the lifelong path of permanency, it’s nice to know that
there is someone to champion you and the unique needs of your children.
This workshop will help families understand the importance of SWAN Post-
Permanency services in maintaining permanency for their child(ren).
Families will learn to access services and what to expect once an affiliate has
been selected. Families will also learn what services might be provided after
the assessment process has been completed.
T 39
Level: Basic
Audience: F, EC
Preventing and Reducing Expulsion and Suspension in Early Childhood Settings
Emily Neff, Public Policy Associate, Pittsburgh Association for the
Education of Young Children, Public Policy Team, Pittsburgh, PA
Pam Zimmerman, Early Childhood Career Advisor, Pittsburgh
Association for the Education of Young Children, Public Policy Team, Pittsburgh, PA
PAEYC will provide the background and current context for suspensions
and expulsions in early childhood settings by defining the problem,
identifying possible causes, and discussing solutions. We will facilitate a
conversation to define the terms of exclusionary discipline and the
experiences of participants. The workshop will focus on preventative and
responsive strategies that create an environment that supports educators,
families, and children in ways that are intentional, developmentally
appropriate, culturally competent, gender responsive, and trauma-informed.
T 40
Level: Basic
Audience: F, C
Pennsylvania’s Student Assistance Program (SAP)
Renee L Urick, LSA, Region VIII Coordinator, PA Network for
Student Assistance Services, Brownsville, PA
Roberta Chuzie, Assistant Statewide MH SAP Coordinator, PA
Network for Student Assistance Program, Butler, PA
PA Network for Student Assistance Services (PNSAS) is an interagency
collaborative promoting SAP through joint leadership from the Departments
of Human Services, Education, and Drug and Alcohol Programs.SAP is a
systematic team process mobilizing school resources to identify risk and
protective factors, refer, and support school-aged youth and remove barriers
to learning. This workshop will highlight the PNSAS state and local services
including: data collection, funding, and resources to schools, community
agencies, youth, and families.
T 41
Level: Basic
Audience: C, XS, F
Healing Narratives: Preserving Every Youth’s Story
Nico'Lee Biddle, LSW, Outpatient Therapist, Three Rivers Adoption Council, Pittsburgh, PA
This presentation will focus on preserving an adoptive or foster youth’s story
using a multitude of services, including SWAN and clinical therapeutic
interventions. Highlighted areas include theories of attachment and trauma,
the importance of communication among providers and families, and how to
better engage youth, biological, foster, and adoptive family members in the
storytelling process. This approach can reduce disruption rates and retraumatization
long-term by helping youth begin to process and heal from their stories
.
T 42
Level: Basic
Audience: F, C, XS, Co
Youth RnR (Recruitment and Retention) Strategies
Corey Ludden, Technical Assistance and Engagement Coordinator,
Youth M.O.V.E. PA (Motivating Others through Voices of Experience), Harrisburg, PA
Zack Karenchak, Policy and Program Development Coordinator,
Youth M.O.V.E. PA (Motivating Others through Voices of Experience), Harrisburg, PA
This presentation will look at how to recruit, engage and retain youth and
young adults in your meetings, events, or other types of group engagement
or involvement.
T 43
Level: Basic
Audience: All
Partnering for Success: Building Relationships for Residential Treatment Enhancement
Angela Ennis, LPC, PMP, Project Manager, Magellan Behavioral
Health of Pennsylvania, Newtown, PA
Alyssa Snyder, MBA, Children’s Director and System of Care
Coordinator, Mental Health/Developmental Disabilities/Early
Intervention Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, Norristown, PA
The Children’s Regional Residential Treatment Enhancement Project was
initiated to develop partnerships with RTF agencies that would help to
improve the residential treatment experience for youth. Stakeholder input
from youth, family, agency staff and systems partners in combination with
utilization and qualitative data allowed for a comprehensive review of
strengths and areas of opportunity around youth and family engagement
that would help to guide this vision and support future work with residential treatment providers.
T 44
Level: Basic
Audience: Y, F, C, Co
Fayette County Child-Serving Systems Transformation = Family and Systems Working Together
Timothy Truckenmiller, MS, Coach and Supervisor, Adelphoi Village, Uniontown, PA
Roxanne Johnson, Family Advocate, Adelphoi Village, Uniontown, PA
This presentation will present a timeline of key developments in the
transformation of Fayette County’s child-serving system to a more youth-guided
and family-driven system of care. We will show how each addition of
youth-guided and family-driven processes have impacted the entire system of
care. We will have video and/or live presenters sharing their
stories/experiences. We will give the audience insight into how these changes
have improved services and relationships for youth and families in Fayette County.
T 45
Level:
Audience: C, XS, Co, F, EC
Efficacy of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy with Preschoolers Who Have an Autism Spectrum Disorder
Ashley Scudder PhD
Benjamin L Handen, PhD.
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is a research-supported parent
coaching intervention that has been found to be highly effective among
typically developing preschoolers presenting with a range of concerns. PCIT
holds considerable promise as it directly addresses the behaviors parents of
children with ASD report to be most problematic—defiance, stubbornness,
and temper tantrums. PCIT is consistent with other (behavioral) approaches
used in the treatment ASD; however, PCIT is unique in that it incorporates
a socially-based phase which may have some added benefits for these children.
T 46
Level: Basic
Audience: XS
Behavioral Health Home Plus: Guiding Adolescents Toward Health and Wellness
Melissa Michael, RN, Manager, Physical Health/Behavioral Health
Team, Community Care Behavioral Health, Moosic, PA
Joel Brecht, CRC, LPC, Mobile Care Manager, Community Care Behavioral Health, Williamsport, PA
This presentation highlights the key elements and outcomes of Adolescent
Behavioral Health Home Plus (A-BHHP), a comprehensive model
implemented in the community and school-based behavioral health programs
across Pennsylvania. A-BHHP is aimed at enhancing the capacity of youths
affected by severe emotional disorders in becoming better-informed and
more effective managers of their overall health. Tools that promote wellness
and support development of a person-centered wellness plan will be demonstrated.
T 47
Level: Basic
Audience: C, CO
Providers, Payers, and HealthChoices Collaboration on Outcomes and Decision-Support in BHRS
Dan Warner, PhD., Executive Director, Community Data Roundtable, Mars, PA.
Scott Suhring, Executive Director, Capital Area Behavioral Health Collaborative, Harrisburg, PA
Jim Laughman, MSW, LSW, Executive Director, PerformCare, Harrisburg, PA
Dale Brickley, PhD, MBA, Senior Director Innovation and New Service Development, Philhaven/Wellspan, Annville, PA
Since 2013, non-profit organization Community Data Roundtable has been
collaborating with providers, advocates, counties and managed care entities
to implement a decision-support and outcomes system in Pennsylvania’s
child mental health system. This presentation will include representations
from participating providers, managed care and HealthChoices to discuss
implementation, and outcomes of the project, particularly in service
matching, and appropriate EBO prescribing. The impact on both ASD and
nonASD populations will be reviewed.
4:45-5:45 p.m.
Coffee and Conversation with Gary Blau
Gary Blau, PhD, Chief, Child, Adolescent and Family Branch of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
An opportunity for youth and families to discuss the growing trends in youth and family leadership and for youth and families to have a conversation with Dr. Blau about SAMHSA activities.
6:00-7:00 p.m.
Youth Activity and Food
7:00 p.m.
Family Networking and Activity
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