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Angela Torres, PhD, ABPP

Angela Torres, PhD, ABPP is the Chief Forensic Officer for the Department of Forensic Services at the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. In this role, she manages forensic services at the state hospitals, the DBHDS portion of the sexually violent predator program, juvenile justice and behavioral health initiatives, the juvenile competence restoration program, the forensic evaluation oversight system, jail diversion programming, and other state-wide initiatives at the intersection of behavioral health and justice. Dr. Torres is board certified in forensic psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology. Prior to her current position, Dr. Torres was the Chief Forensic Coordinator at Central State Hospital, the Region IV Jail Team Supervisor, and the DBHDS Forensic Evaluation Oversight Manager. She has experience completing various forensic evaluations in Texas, Virginia, and the Federal system. She is involved in legislation and policy development regarding mental health and criminal justice. Dr. Torres lectures on behalf of DBHDS and the University of Virginia’s Institute of Law, Psychiatry and Public Policy, and routinely collaborates with the ILPPP on research projects addressing Virginia’s forensic services and the practice of forensic evaluations. She is also the Vice Chair of the Forensic Executive Council for NASMHPD and serves on various behavioral health and justice workgroups on the state and national levels.

Presentation(s): 

Community Based Competency Restoration

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Nia Estes, MEd

Nia Estes, M.Ed.: Nia Estes is the Healthy Youth Coordinator for the Adolescent and School Health Program (ASHP) at the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (MODHSS). Nia is transitioning from higher education to focus on the well-being of younger audiences. Nia collaborates with Missouri School Districts, local public health agencies, and partner organizations statewide, fostering well-being among youth and adolescents

Presentation(s): 

“Said No Teen Ever”—Beginning the Hard Conversations with Youth

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Dr. Amberly Pritchard, MA, DBH, LPC, CCTP, NCC

Dr. Amberly Pritchard is a Doctor of Behavioral Health, board-certified licensed professional counselor, and certified trauma professional. Dr. Pritchard earned her doctorate from Freed-Hardeman University, a master’s degree in counseling from University of Alabama, and a bachelor’s degree from Southeast Missouri State University. She has been practicing in the mental health field for approximately 15 years. She has worked in community mental health, grant positions for the state, and integrated care. For the last six years, Dr. Pritchard has been a medical provider for SEMO Health Network. She serves the primary care clinics in Pemiscot, Dunklin, and New Madrid Counties in the Missouri Bootheel. She provides individual and family psychotherapy, medication recommendations, crisis intervention, and behavioral health consultation. Dr. Pritchard utilizes Solution-Focused Therapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, and Somatic Therapy approaches.
Dr. Pritchard was the first college graduate in her family. She is the only member to earn a doctoral degree. She was raised by a single mother who did not receive her GED until 44 years old. Her mother instilled in Dr. Pritchard the importance of education and success. The day of her pinning ceremony she received a call from her uncle. He said, “You are a legend. Do not forget it.” She celebrated her 10-year wedding anniversary this year. She and her husband have four beautiful children. They love to spend their time on the lake during the summer and in the woods during the colder months. It is a chaotic, busy life. Dr. Pritchard feels blessed beyond measure.

Presentation(s): 

Adult Intimate Partner Violence: How Practitioners in Medical Settings Feel About Breaching Confidentiality

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Roy Farmer, CPS

Roy Farmer is a Certified Peer Support Specialist with Landmark Recovery, where he has spent the past four years supporting individuals navigating substance use and recovery. Drawing on both professional and lived experience, Roy specializes in building trust, supporting reentry, and connecting individuals to community-based recovery resources.
An integral part of Roy’s personal recovery journey was graduating from the ICTS Program, where he now helps manage the recovery house and supports current residents. He also serves as a peer support provider for a treatment court caseload, working closely with individuals involved in the justice system.
Roy is passionate about meeting people where they are and empowering individuals to build sustainable, long-term recovery.

Presentation(s): 

When Recovery Support Services Meet the Justice System

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Jerica Bowman, MSW, LMSW

Jerica Bowman, Licensed Master Social Worker, serves as the Director of Landmark Recovery, a nonprofit she helped found in 2021. Landmark provides recovery support services for substance-involved individuals in the Jefferson City area. Jerica is also the founder of the Capital City Recovery Coalition, which unites local agencies serving individuals impacted by substance use. As a social worker, Jerica is passionate about advocacy and research to implement evidence-based best practices. She is also dedicated to amplifying the voices of Peer Support Specialists, whose lived experience brings invaluable insight to the recovery field.

Presentation(s): 

When Recovery Support Services Meet the Justice System

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Elaine Kochanowicz, BA

Elaine Kochanowicz is a wife, a mother of six, and someone who firmly believes laughter is sometimes the most underrated survival skill. She homeschooled her children for 15 years, started a homeschool co-op that grew to 150 families, finished four triathlons, ate a lot of chocolate and survived loads of laundry!
Today she co-owns BridgeCom Systems with her husband — a company ranked three years in a row on the INC 5000 list of fastest-growing companies in America. But behind the growth charts and achievements is a woman who understands pressure, burnout, and the art of holding it all together with duct tape and determination.
She is a motivational speaker, podcaster, and the author of Mom of Six Dies Laughing — a reminder that sometimes the bravest thing we can do is keep showing up… and keep laughing.

Presentation(s): 

Duct Tape & Determination: The Power of Small Wins

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Angeline Stanislaus, MD

Angeline Stanislaus, MD, is a board-certified forensic psychiatrist who has been practicing psychiatry for more than 25 years. Since 2014, she holds the position of the Chief Medical Officer for the Missouri Department of Mental Health. In this role, she has been a part of several mental health services and addiction services initiatives in Missouri. She played an important role in improving access to care with those suffering from Opioid Use Disorder and Alcohol Use Disorder. Dr. Stanislaus has given talks on several national conferences on topics related to serious mental illnesses and addiction.

Presentation(s): 

Keynote: Sleep and Mental Health

Preventing Relapse with SMI

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Madeline Cusimano, MD

Madeline Cusimano, MD is Chief Resident of the Psychiatry Residency at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC). She earned her medical degree from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine and is completing her final year of psychiatry training at UMKC. Her clinical interests include inpatient psychiatry, consult-liaison services, substance use treatment, and perinatal psychiatry. Following graduation, she plans to practice as an inpatient psychiatrist in Kansas City.
Dr. Cusimano has a particular interest in postpartum psychiatric illness, especially postpartum psychosis, and has presented on this topic in departmental Grand Rounds. She has also delivered regional presentations on substance use disorders. Her presentation for the Spring Training Institute focuses on early recognition, systems-based intervention, and care coordination for individuals experiencing severe perinatal mental health conditions.

Presentation(s): 

When Reality Breaks After Birth: Postpartum Psychosis

 

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Bethany Van Lant, MSW

Bethany Van Lant is the Chief of Forensic Operations for the Western Region with the Missouri Department of Mental Health, Division of Behavioral Health. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over a decade of experience in forensic mental health services. Bethany began her career at Fulton State Hospital, where she served as a unit social worker. Over the course of her career, she has held multiple roles within forensic departments across state psychiatric hospitals, developing extensive expertise in the intersection of behavioral health and the criminal justice system. In her current role, Bethany oversees the Forensic Mobile Team, which provides treatment, medication management, and education to individuals found incompetent to stand trial. She also contributes to the development and implementation of forensic procedures across state psychiatric facilities. Her work is centered on expanding access to competency restoration and strengthening systems of care for justice-involved individuals with serious mental illness.

Presentation(s): 

DMH Forensic Mobile Team

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Nicole Reitz, MSW

Nicole Reitz, LCSW Chief of Forensic Operations DBH Forensic Mobile Team Nikki works at the intersection of the criminal justice system and community mental health, specializing in treating adults with severe mental illness. The Forensic Mobile team provides competency restoration, case management and medication management services to clients that have been found to be incompetent to stand trial. Nikki has been working with clients with persistent and severe mental illness for the three decades. The last two were for the Department of Behavioral Health. Working acute care, competency restorations and specializing in discharge planning for clients coming out of state hospitals. Outside of work Nikki is a wife and mom of two awesome teenagers.

Presentation(s): 

DMH Forensic Mobile Team