Gray, Angela, MSW, EDs

Angela is a school social worker in Alton, Illinois. She has been with the district for sixteen years. Angela has extensive knowledge of working with at-risk teens, especially at-risk girls. She has been asked to speak on numerous topics such as self-esteem, anger management, resolving intense conflicts between youth, restorative justice, and other topics. Angela is the founder of Empower Me, a girls’ group for at-risk teens. She meets weekly with the teens to discuss relevant issues that they are facing in today’s society. She was also a co-founder of the A-Town Steppers, an award-winning Step Team of seven years.

Presentation(s): 

Best Practices for Working with At-risk Girls with Challenging Attitudes

 

Best Practices for Working with At-risk Girls with Challenging Attitudes

Speaker(s):

Angela Gray, MSW, EDs

Presentation: Do you work with an at-risk girl who has a negative or challenging attitude? Challenging attitudes displayed are often camouflaged as a defense mechanism to hide the pain and protect the student from being hurt. These girls are often misunderstood as “troublemakers”. They are dealing with “adult-like” issues, such as drug use in their families, single parent homes, raising their siblings, and some girls are the “breadwinner” of the family. Not to mention the teen issues they are facing, such as a low self-esteem, relationship drama, mean girl bullying, and living up to the expectations placed upon them from social media, music videos, and explicit songs. This workshop session will help participants to better understand and respond to girls with challenging attitudes. Relational aggression among girls will also be explored. During this session, Angela will teach innovative techniques that can help girls empower themselves. She will also share powerful and useful tools to develop a trauma free atmosphere to create girl empowerment. Relationships is the key to building relationships with girls with challenging attitudes. This will be an interactive, fun, and down to earth session you don’t want to miss.

Objectives:

  1. Define Attitude
  2. Explore how attitudes are shaped and formed
  3. Explore how self-esteem impacts teen girls
  4. Explore the correlation of stress and teen girls
  5. Describe the socio-economic differences among youth and how it impacts their self-esteem
  6. Discuss strategies to work with at -risk youth with challenging attitudes
  7. Examine strategies that professionals can use to help girls with challenging attitudes

 

 

Vincenz, Felix, PhD

Dr. Felix Vincenz is the Associate Director of the Missouri Institute of Mental Health at the University of Missouri. He also serves as the Chief Operating Officer of St. Louis Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center, a state operated, long-term inpatient forensic hospital. Dr. Vincenz has worked in the Department of Mental Health for over 36 years, serving in various capacities, including Chief Executive of the State’s only Maximum-Security Hospital, the Department’s Director of Facility Operations, and as the Chief Operating Officer of the Division of Behavioral Health. In the latter two roles, he oversaw all the state operated psychiatric hospitals and habilitation centers, and was responsible for working with the department’s contracted providers for community mental health services. He is a clinical psychologist by training.

Presentation(s): 

Recruitment & Retention in State-Operated Behavioral Health Organizations

Recruitment & Retention in State-Operated Behavioral Health Organizations

Speaker(s):

Felix Vincenz, PhD

Presentation: The presentation will address recruitment challenges specific to state-operated and state-contracted behavioral health organizations, noting the difficulties inherent to: (a) non-competitive pay ranges; (b) impediments to use of bonuses and other private sector strategies for rewarding and retaining high performing and/or difficult to retain employees; and (c) employee scarcity in key behavioral health disciplines, particularly physicians, psychologists, and nurses.

Objectives:

  1. Describe recruitment and retention challenges in the behavioral health marketplace
  2. Discuss the financial, clinical, and HR impact of high turnover rates
  3. Identify various mitigation strategies for retention

Raynor-McClanahan, Carolyn, MSW, LCSW

Carolyn Raynor-McClanahan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Missouri who has provided clinical assessments and counseling services for the past ten years to adults and adolescents seeking help for depression, anxiety, trauma, severe mental illness, substance use disorders, sexual and criminal offending, sexual addiction and sexual dysfunction. Carolyn received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Social Work from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Carolyn also is certified as a Clinical Trauma Professional. She currently works for the State of Missouri with forensic clients and provides individual therapy through the Better Help online platform.

Presentation(s):

Habit Reversal Training, What Is It and How Is It Done?

 

 

Effective Interventions for Body Focused Repetitive Disorders

Speaker(s):

Carolyn Raynor-McClanahan, MSW, LCSW

Presentation: This presentation will define Body Focused Repetitive Disorders, and briefly describe each type (Dermatillomania, Trichotillomania, Onychophagia), citing the DSM-IV diagnoses criteria. The presenter will provide some statistical information as to the prevalence of the disorders and speak about her daughter’s ongoing battle with Trichotillomania. Treatments that were effective for her in managing the disorder, to include examples of Habit Reversal Training, will be presented. The presentation will also discuss the evidenced-based research findings that indicate a combination of SSRIs and CBT with a focus on habit reversal training. Lastly, she will discuss the lack of large scale studies and the effort The TLC Foundation for Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors makes to educate and assist those who have the disorder and their families.

Objectives:

  1. Define and describe Body-Focused Repetitive Disorder (BFRD)
  2. Identify and describe the two prevalent types of Body-Focused Repetitive Disorders
  3. Describe effective treatment modalities for Body-Focused Repetitive Disorders with specific focus on Habit Reversal Training
  4. Identify community resources that specialize in treatment and support of Body –Focused Repetitive Disorders

PTSD: Transforming into Post Traumatic Growth: A New Vision for Treatment in Our Veterans

Speaker(s):

Julie Batson, LCSW

Anthony Norris

Presentation: This presentation focuses on PTSD and how it affects not only the individual but the neurochemistry of the brain and developing a model and vision of Post Traumatic Growth. Discussion of best practices in trauma focused therapy, what works, what doesn’t, what the research shows us. The presentation gives the definition of PTSD and how it can evolve into a definition of an “injury” that leads to immense growth, resiliency, purpose and meaning for the client, which will primarily define Post Traumatic Growth. Many examples will be highlighted from the presenters professional and personal experience, as well as more detailed explanations of specific evidence-based treatments and how they work. The presentation will include how trauma can be transformative, lead to immense personal growth. How the essential tools for growth and on “changing the narrative” of the experience assist the client in their healing journey.

Objectives:

  1. Define PTSD in context of Combat Veterans experience
  2. Identify trauma as a source of growth and transformation
  3. Describe the unique relationship of the trauma relationship and Veteran with PTSD
  4. Define Evidence Based therapies in the treatment of PTSD and why these work
  5. Describe how trauma effects the brain, and why knowing this is crucial for best practices in treatment of trauma.
  6. Expand knowledge and skills of trauma informed practice.

 

 

Norris, Anthony

Mr. Norris is a combat Veteran who served in the Army in both Afghanistan and Iraq–OEF and OIF. He has dedicated his life to the service of Veterans with PTSD who struggle to adjust to civilian life. He is the Vice President of Labs for Liberty and helps Veterans obtain trained service dogs. He holds a BS and MSW from Missouri State University has worked at the Springfield Vet Center for his specialization practicum. He has also worked as a Peer Specialist at the Veteran’s Health System of the Ozarks. His interests include service dogs in helping Veterans with PTSD, hunting excursions and wilderness retreats for disabled Veterans. He is an avid hunter and enjoys the wilderness.

Presentation(s): 

PTSD: Transforming into Post Traumatic Growth: A New Vision for Treatment in Our Veterans

 

Batson, Julie, LCSW

Ms. Batson has been a trauma focused therapist at the Veteran’s Health Care System of the Ozarks and Springfield Vet Center, also part of the VA, for over nine years. Ms. Batson earned her MSW in 2001 from Missouri State University and has been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker for over 15 years. She has worked in the private sector as well as in medical settings prior to coming to the VA. Ms. Batson is certified in several evidence-based therapies: Prolonged Exposure, PAIRS and Moral Reconation Therapy. Ms. Batson’s interests are of evolving and developing a new vision of PTS, of Post Traumatic Injury and Post Traumatic Growth, in context of effective, compassionate, and long-lasting treatment of trauma in Veterans and civilians. Other interests are effective use of self in the therapeutic process and how outcomes of therapy are reflective of the therapist-client relationship. Ms. Batson has two grown children and lives in Springfield, MO with her three dogs and three cats. An avid reader and amateur of Yoga, she works to better herself, her practice, and her community.

Presentation(s): 

PTSD: Transforming into Post Traumatic Growth: A New Vision for Treatment in Our Veterans

 

Adams, Scott, CFP, CTFA, ChFC, ChSNC

As a financial planner and a dedicated parent of six children, three of whom have special needs, Scott brings a personal and relatable perspective to families with children with special needs. Speaking to different groups and organizations, Scott shares his personal experience as well as his practical advice on a wide variety of topics. Scott’s personal experience of planning for his own children led him to acquire the specialized knowledge required to plan for their unique legal and financial future. This discovery inspired him to co-found The Special Needs Planning Center and it is what drives him to share the information and knowledge he’s learned with the special needs community. His career was built on a strong financial foundation starting in the financial services industry in 1991. He’s also earned the designation of Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC®), Certified Trust Financial Advisor (CTFA), Chartered Special Needs Planner (ChSNP) and Certified Financial Planner (CFP®). His financial background paired with his personal experience gives Scott a solid foundation in which to educate families and professionals on their options so they can ensure the continuity of quality care for their loved ones.

Presentation(s): 

Transitional Planning