2024 Workshops
Workshop Descriptions & Highlights
See below for detailed workshop descriptions.
Participants will receive a certificate for each workshop attended.
Session A
(10:15-11:30am)
A-1
Maintaining a Respectful Workplace
Souleymane Fall, JEVS
Participants will learn how to promote a positive and respectful workplace culture by understanding key elements of respect, communication, and accountability. The following topics will be addressed: (1) what is a respectful workplace, (2) communication and respect, (3) diversity and inclusion, (4) handling conflict with respect, and (5) accountability and responsibility.
A-2
Traumatic Exposure and Addiction: why do they co-occur?
Craig Strickland, Ph.D., Horizon House, Inc.
A simple explanation of why trauma and addiction co-occur is this: self-medication.
However, the process and neurobiology behind these clinical conditions overlap quite a bit and may point to a more core explanation for co-occurrence. This workshop looks at what systems and structures in the nervous system, the brain in particular, are involved in both symptoms of traumatic exposure.
A-3
Building a Compassionate Workforce: Embedding Trauma Informed Care through Community and Lived Experience
Laura Jordan, MSW, Racquel Fetzer-McNichols, Kadisha Alberga, DBHIDS
We invite the audience to join us as we share our story of facilitating focus groups with community members, learning their needs, developing and understanding how empathy, diversity, compassion and lived experience help with engaging service providers and promoting system change.
A-4
Lifesharing Unlocked
Katy Trumbore, Stephanie Brown, KenCrest
This training is designed to equip Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) with the knowledge and skills they need to understand Lifesharing and communicate its
benefits to the individuals they support and their families. By the end of this training, DSPs will be able to describe what Lifesharing is, explain how it differs from other residential services, and confidently discuss Lifesharing as a person-centered care option.
A-5
Integrated Trauma Informed Care: Supporting Individuals and Staff with Increasing Mental Health Concerns
Dr. Jessica Lax, Psy.D., Andrea Consigny, CESP, Jennifer Williams, MS, SPIN, Inc.
This workshop is a brief overview of a model that provides intensive “wrap-around” like support for individuals living in a residential program. The presenter will provide the foundational understanding of trauma and attachment, and how those impact individual’s behavioral presentation. The presenter will discuss recovery-oriented care that includes rehabilitation, community participation, and employment readiness/coaching. Overall, the presentation will show how the integration of therapeutic techniques, behavioral strategies and rehabilitation can keep high utilizers of inpatient services, w/dual diagnosis, in the community.
A-6
How Self-care Can Prevent Secondary Trauma
Emma Vila-Gillam, MA, LPC, Children’s Crisis Treatment Center
Secondary trauma and compassion fatigue are both real and present in today’s society, but so are the support efforts to counter and even prevent their negative effects. Many mental health professionals experience these struggles without being able to identify and pinpoint what they are. In this presentation, the presenter will unravel what their stressors are and provide self-care points for managing them.
Session B
(11:45-1:00pm)
B-1
Building a Better Team: Resolving Conflict through Emotional Intelligence.
Daryl McKeever, Horizon House
Every team has conflict, and all team members have differences. “Building a Better Team” is an interactive presentation that will help us uncover strategies to resolve conflict and discourse among staff members. As we look to increase our professionalism, we will discuss the need and use of Emotional Intelligence to help us achieve our goal.
B-2
Wellness Action Recovery Planning for Individuals with Developmental Distinctions and Direct Support Professionals
Jamie Fiel, MS, John Leach, MS, Megan Reifsnyder, Joan Heller, Lauren Jones, Kelly Mercadante, Step By Step, Inc.
Two direct Support Professionals and two individuals currently receiving services will share how they use WRAP as a resource to enhance and maintain their wellness. Also, learn how a WRAP, in conjunction with a behavioral support plan, can significantly improve an individual’s overall wellness and decrease challenging behaviors.
Resources and materials will be provided to participants on how they can use WRAP to support themselves and support persons with developmental distinctions and behavioral supports.
B-3
Planning for a meaningful Day: Community Integration in Action
Melissa Bailey-Raison, Joan Prinzivalli, MA, Marybeth Palmero, MS, OTR/L, KenCrest Services
The presenters begin by identifying the benefits of using a person-centered approach to planning activities. Participants will then learn how to plan, implement, and evaluate meaningful activities for supported individuals. Participants will leave with the tools and resources that will enable them to plan meaningful activities.
B-4
Personal Safety Recognizing Potential Threats and De-escalation Techniques
Chief Keith F. Hummel (Ret), Conner, Strong & Buckelew/JA Montgomery
Employee Safety is a must when dealing with the public and our clients. Remote visitations and on-site appointments create unique circumstances. Developing a skillset on these topics will enhance your ability when providing services to your individuals. Preparation and training in preventative safety practices can minimize potentially unsafe environments.
B-5
Model Leadership and Proactive Client Care
Melissa Medwid-Skinner, MA, Barber National Institute
Direct support professionals adopt their work cues from leadership at the site levels. Learn how a model leadership style elevates the quality of client care and reduces reportable incidents. Fostering open communication and proactive care at the site level can improve the lives of the individuals.
B-6
Substance Use Recovery: Getting Treatment-a Partial Hospitalization Program in Kensington as an Example
Marcia Tucker, PHMC Pathways to Recovery
This presentation will delve into the real-world examples and experiences of substance use recovery in the face of the ongoing drug epidemic. The focus will be on Pathways to Recovery, a specific Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) located in Kensington, Philadelphia. The presentation will provide attendees with practical information on how and why to seek treatment for substance use disorders. It will also explore the types of substance use disorders commonly treated at the Kensington PHP.
Session C
(2:45-4:00pm)
C-1
Experience the Zen Zone
Gina Manson, MA, CMT, RT, Karen Crawford, M.Ed.
You work so hard taking care of others. Why not take care of yourself too? Come and find your Zen Zone. Learn a variety of quick and effective ways to de-stress your
life. Practice techniques such as Tai Chi, meditation and mindful breathing. Experience other sensory sensations such as aromatherapy, body sticks, weighted blankets and more! Come and spend a little time in “THE ZEN ZONE”.
C-2
The Art Therapy for Direct Service Professionals
Susan Krisch, MA, ATR-BC, LPC, CPRP, Wedge Recovery Centers
Working within direct service can expose clinicians to the risk of secondary or vicarious trauma, leading many to burnout. This workshop will explore ways that art therapy techniques can support with processing challenges, shifting perspectives, and reconnecting to sense of purpose and meaning. Hands-on experientials will be used—please bring a sense of curiosity and play!
C-3
Expect the Unexpected: Collaborative & flexible thinking through Improv
Mary Carpenter
Improv is not only fun, but also a great way to refresh your communication skills and look at them from a different perspective. In this workshop we will work out our collaboration, listening and communication skills with fun interactive games and learn practical skills that you can take back to your work.
C-4
Building a Human Services Career Ladder at CCP
Kerry Arnold, LSW, MSW, Dr. Terrilyn Hickman-Allen, Ed.D, MSW, LCSW, BC-TMH, Tasha-Renee Freely, Community College of Philadelphia
Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) has a thriving behavioral health and human services curriculum that provides the foundational knowledge, skills and practical experience ideal for people in DSP roles. A career ladder as a human services practitioner, a professional counselor or as a social worker will be explored and participants will learn about additional opportunities at CCP, including CPS and CRS training for people in recovery as well as scholarships.
C-5
The “988” Philadelphia Crisis Line
Marjola Como, RN, BSN, LPC, DBHIDS
Philadelphia Crisis Line (PCL) is a comprehensive mental health telephonic service that provides several significant mental health services to individuals and communities experiencing mental health crises. We answer around 6,000 calls a month and help individuals in crisis get the help they need.
C-6
Living the Dream! Creating a Culture of Health and Wellness
Laura Silsby, M.Ed., Collenn Horcher, RN, BSN, SPIN, Inc.
Health and Wellness is SPIN’s top priority for our entire community. In this session, participants will learn how SPIN created its DREAM Team and their mission, how to envelop health and wellness into your organizations’ culture, gain organizational commitment, maintain engagement, collect data and share the impact. Stories of success, learning and growth will also be shared. Participants will also be able to discuss barriers to health goals in themselves and individuals they support as well as ways to overcome those barriers.