CMHACY 2009 Conference Agenda
Wednesday, May 13
11:00 a.m. Meeting of the California Mental Health Directors Association’s Children’s System of Care Committee
At this year’s CMHACY Conference, for the first time, as in the Rose Jenkins Conference, there will be a meeting of the statewide CMHDA Children’s System of Care Committee. Several agenda items will be covered, including MHSA-PEI, MHSA-Innovations, and the May 19 California election and ballot measures. This will be an important meeting for members of that committee.
1:45 p.m. San Jose Taiko
The conference will launch with the powerful and propulsive sounds of San Jose Taiko, whose excellence has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Multicultural Advancement Program from the California Arts Council.
2:00 p.m. A Conference That Meets The Challenge
Marty Giffin, President, CMHACY – Board of Directors
It may seem that the money and time required to attend a conference would be better spent simply making ends meet. The opposite is true in this case, and Marty will open the Conference with an overview of what makes this conference rise to the occasion, with information and a forum for building coalitions for advocacy.
2:15 p.m. Cross System and Community Strategies to Combat Discrimination, Disparity, and Disproportionality, the “3 Ds” that Work Against Services, Children and Families
Moderator: Alfredo Aguirre, Mental Health Director of San Diego County and chair of the Social Justice
Advisory Committee of the California Mental Health Director’s Association (CMHDA)
Shalinee Hunter, California Department of Rehab & Corrections: Juvenile Justice
Debbie Wender, California Dept of Social Services, Child Welfare Policy and Program Development Bureau
Rachel Guerrero, California Department of Mental Health, Office of Multicultural Programs
Marty Giffin, President of the CMHACY Board of Directors; Member, CMHDA’s Reducing Stigma and
Discrimination Committee and Social Justice Advisory Committee
There are currently several statewide initiatives pertaining to overcoming discrimination, disparity in care, and disproportionality for children, youth, and their families in child-serving systems. Panelists will provide updates on each initiative, identify areas of commonalities, and discuss recommendations that might promote (or establish) improved collaboration, e.g., sharing data and best practices.
3:15 p.m. True Love or at Least a Long Term Commitment: One County’s Journey to Authentic Engagement of Transition Age Youth In Services Delivery, Development and Improvement
Rochelle Trochtenberg, Humboldt County Youth Community Organizer
Susan Manzi, Member of the Youth In Mind Steering Committee and the Humboldt County Advisory Board
Two Youth consumers
Phil Crandall, Director, Humboldt County Health and Human Services
In 2008, Humboldt County began a collaboration joining Transition Age Youth consumers of mental health, public health, homeless housing, drug and alcohol and child welfare services with Department of Health and Human Services staff. This panel will show how and why Humboldt County utilized existing youth leadership organizations and creatively funded this collaboration to empower youth to co-create more successful services - an outcome we can all believe in.
7:30 p.m. Keynote Speaker – Pat Cooper
Pat Cooper is CEO of the Early Childhood and Family Learning Foundation in New Orleans, LA, which is establishing community centers in the most economically depressed and crime-ridden neighborhoods of New Orleans to provide quality early child care programs and coordinated school health programs - a one-stop health, social service, and education opportunity for the community.
He previously served as Superintendent of Schools in McComb, MS where he initiated a longitudinal study of the relationship of coordinated school health programs to school reform. Valuable baseline data and successive year data has been collected showing significant gains in academic, social, and emotional arenas. Dr. Cooper has served as a classroom teacher of the emotionally disturbed, principal, university faculty member, Assistant State Superintendent in the Louisiana State Department of Education, and Executive Director for the CDC-funded National School Health Education Coalition (NaSHEC) in Washington, DC.
9:00 p.m. Wine and Cheese Reception
Meet the speakers and each other. CMHACY presents its traditional Wine and Cheese Reception.
Thursday, May 14
9:00 a.m. Kickoff of the Focus on Permanence: You Gotta Believe!
Pat O’Brien
Pat O’Brien is the Founder & Executive Director of You Gotta Believe! The Older Child Adoption & Permanency Movement, Inc. You Gotta Believe is one of the few placement agencies in the country that limits its practice to finding permanent parents who will legally or morally adopt teens, pre-teens, or young adults in foster care without regard to whether the youth is freed for adoption or not.
Pat also produces, and often hosts, You Gotta Believe’s weekly cable access television show and radio forum. The two broadcasts are called “The Adopting Teens & ‘Tweens Show”, a show about all facets of adopting teens and pre-teens from the foster care system.
This is the “Kickoff” because it is followed, in the same room, with three workshops on Permanence, for the most thorough exploration possible of this crucial issue.
Thursday, May 14 - Three Sessions of Simultaneous Workshops
The following three workshops on Permanence will be presented, one after the other, to give an extensive range of information on a crucial topic. You do not need to go to all three workshops, the first is not a pre-requisite for the second or third.
10:30 a.m. – noon
1:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
1) Critical Fiscal Issues faced by Children’s Mental Health
This year, in regard to importance and complexity, fiscal issues have risen to new heights as the economy has moved toward new depths. A large panel of experts is putting this workshop together but there can be no clear definition of the content until just before the conference, as this workshop will present the most current information and the most useful strategy directions possible. This would be a general session, rather than a workshop, but as a workshop it has an hour and a half to treat the topic and a more focused venue with more chance for exchange and tailored enquiry.
2) Permanence Focus, First Workshop
Pamela Toohey, Birth Parent Association, is developing this workshop. The details will be put on www.CMHACY.org as they become available.
3) Permanence Focus, Second Workshop
Finding Permanence for Foster Youth—The Emancipated Youth Connections ProjectCheryl Jacobson, Consultant with Four County Departments of Human Services; Project Lead,
Emancipated Youth Connections Project
Bob Friend, Director of the California Permanency for Youth Project (CPYP)
Twenty young adults who left the child welfare system with few or no permanent connections were assisted by this project to find and create the relationships that foster resilience in their adult years. This workshop will present the project, results, child welfare practice implications and tools to replicate this work.
4) Permanence Focus, Third Workshop
Using Evidence to Improve Permanence OutcomesLynne Marsenich, Senior Associate, California Institute of Mental Health
Ms. Marsenich will review child welfare and children’s mental health research, and suggest how available evidence can be used to inform programs, practices and strategies designed to promote permanence for children and youth supported by public service systems. Research in the areas of child welfare and children’s mental health is sparse; however, a practical an d systematic approach can inform advocates, service providers, and managers to bring the best evidence to bear on this important issue.
5) WATAH – We Are Teens Always Helping
A voluntary youth-driven intervention program with Community PartnershipsMichael Lombardo, Assistant Director, Children’s System of Care, Placer County
We Are Teens Always Helping (WATAH) is Placer County’s Youth Diversion Program. This program’s mission is to divert youth from entering the Probation and Child Welfare systems by engaging the youths in social skill building, anger control, team building, mentoring, and community service activities. Community Partnerships provide the bulk of program funding.
6) MHSA Children’s Full Service Partnership (FSP)
7) Children’s Mental Health Foster Care Initiative
Anne Lesser, Humboldt county Department of Health and Human Services
In 2008, Humboldt County Department of Health and Human Services launched a major children’s Mental Health Expansion focused on providing a holistic and outcome-based approach for all youth in care. Participants will learn how the initiative was launched and the outcomes achieved.
8) Paving the Way: Family Members in the Workforce - Transforming Child and Youth Services
Chris Coppola, Deputy Director, San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services
This workshop features a panel from San Mateo County BHRS, including family members, discussing the integration of family members into the mental health workforce. Topics include workforce preparation, recruitment of bilingual Family Partners, training, supervision, support and challenges. Resources include access to a training curriculum and a DVD documentary chronicling this inspiring accomplishment.
9) Creating a Transitional Age Youth Program
Mark Ragins, Medical Director, Mental Health America Village
Tara Reed, Director of the Mental Health America Transitional Age Youth Academy
This presentation will describe a Transitional Age Youth Program. We will discuss (1) “facing facts,” describing what really meeting clients where they are at means, (2) our program structure, (3) wellness and self-sufficiency, and (4) staff issues, including maintaining emotional connections, teaching responsibility and maintaining accountability, morale, and cohesion.
10) Mindful Parenting Groups: Increasing Reflective Functioning in Parents Of Infants Adopted From Foster Care Settings
Wendy Denham, Co-Director, Center for Mindful Parenting
Diane Reynolds, Founder and Co-Director, Center for Mindful Parenting
Karen Rathburn, Program Director, TIES for Families
Mindful Parenting parent-infant/toddler Groups were developed to enhance relationships between parents and infants, through increasing parental reflective functioning. Results of a group with parents of toddlers adopted from foster care at the TIES for Families program will be presented, demonstrating the efficacy of this intervention to impact relationship security.
11) Family Survival 101
Because of the MHSA essential elements of a client and family driven system, Sacramento County Family Partners have developed a curriculum for adult education programs that addresses parental understanding of basic issues revolving around childhood behavior problems, especially those with early onset of mental illness.
12) Prevention and Early Psychosis Recovery Partnership
Demian Rose, Medical Director, UCSF Early Psychosis Clinic
Melissa Moore, Director, Felton Institute, Family Service Agency of San Francisco
Bob Bennett, CEO, Family Service Agency of San Francisco
Family Service Agency of San Francisco, in partnership with UCSF, is transforming services for early detection and prevention of psychosis in young adults. Cutting edge advances in detection and assessment, developed by UCSF professors and psychiatrists, have motivated systemic application in the 119 year old San Francisco based Agency. As part of this partnership, FSA has launched The Prevention and Early Psychosis Recovery Program (PREP) to provide wraparound services to young adults and their families. The program offers evidence-based services in care management, cognitive behavioral therapy for early psychosis, multi-family group therapy, medication management and vocational placement services to create the conditions for total remediation of psychosis at and before the first break. FSA has developed a web-based clinical case record and management information system, and received an NIMH grant for developing research on community mental health care. This partnership has been awarded the GAP Founder’s award in 2008, an international contest that puts the FSA and UCSF partnership on the cutting edge of fostering resilience in early detection of psychosis.
13) An Anchor for Transition-Age Youth (TAY) System of Care
Chairperson: A member of CMHDA’s TAY CommitteeLinda Velasquez, Transformative Systems of Care for TAY
Donna Matthews, CIMH
Arnulfo Medina, CAYEN/MHAC
CMHDA’s Transition Age Youth Subcommittee will give an overview of its TAY Resource Guide, examples of how the guide has helped communities, and describe the way in which, for the past fifteen years, several California counties and programs have attempted to serve Transition Age Youth (TAY) 16-25 years of age as best they could, despite a lack funds. The passage of the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) has finally provided the opportunity for counties to dedicate needed resources to revitalize past efforts in developing the TAY population into independent, self-sufficient members of society. This workshop demonstrates how TAY One Stop or Drop-In Centers have emerged to provide positive outcomes for TAY. The panelists, consisting of TAY, TAY staff and system managers, will share how their centers embrace the philosophy of the MHSA in providing cost-efficient programs that promote resiliency and wellness in non-traditional mental health settings. There will be emphasis on addressing challenges and implementing effective methods for engaging diverse TAY.
TAY center staff and adult allies share their experiences in planning and implementation of TAY centers programs that are housed within these centers. How to build collaborative TAY systems of care, addressing challenges, and methods for engaging diverse TAY will be emphasized.
14) Pat Cooper
Pat Cooper, our keynote speaker, CEO of the Early Childhood and Family Learning Foundation in New Orleans, LA, has agreed to do a workshop to continue the themes opened up in his keynote address and increase the opportunity for interchange and focused discussion in a smaller venue.
15) After Implementation …Sustaining an Evidence-Based Practice: Lessons Learned From the Implementation of Multisystemic Therapy (MST)
River Oak Center for Children and Sacramento County Probation
Presenter(s) will share pre-treatment, discharge and post-discharge data supporting MST success in reducing delinquent behavior within the Sacramento County juvenile justice population. The presentation will emphasize sustainability and collaborative strategies that have worked to achieve outcomes and increase service capacity between the juvenile justice system and mental health.
16) Foster Resilience through Family Resource Centers and Home Visiting Programs in Sacramento County
Mary C. Hargrave, River Oak Center for Children
Nancy Marshall, Sacramento County Child Protective Services
Sheila Self, River Oak Center for Children
Birth & Beyond Program combines home visitation with FRC services to support resilience in families with children Birth to Five. The program has expanded to include differential response and psychiatric treatment of maternal depression. This presentation will review the development of this exemplary prevention and early intervention program, along with a discussion of ongoing program evaluation data and a recent external research study.
17) Family Partner Group
Michaele Beebe, Parent Involvement Coordinator
Lois Cunningham, Family Partner
Brooke Gross, Twin Rivers Unified School District
Topics will include school evaluations, definitions of emotional disorders, and approaches for behavior modification. The intent of the curriculum is educational information for parents, but also with the purpose of facilitating discussion groups and even the development of cooperatives for families. The “Co-Ops” would be voluntary exchange of play group opportunities for socialization and respite. We feel only through continuing dialogue with professionals and family members can system transformation really be achieved.
18) Developing a Relationship-Based Culture
Steve Elson, Clinical Director, Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families
James Freeman, Assistant Director, Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families
Myra Saltoun, Director of Clinical Services and Programs, Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families
Laureen Worden, Psychologist, Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families
19) Unlocking the Doors: Reconnecting youth with their community and family
Sarah Chance, Research Director, Seneca Center for Children and Families
Daren Dickson, Division Director of Adolescent Residential and Community Based Services,
Seneca Center for Children and Families
A youth (client) from the program and their family members
When California teenagers require out-of-home care, they can become isolated, lonely and unprepared for life after discharge. We will describe the transition of a Community Treatment Facility to an unlocked, short-term, community-focused intervention (per California’s residentially based services (RBS) guidelines). The presentation includes a program description, intitial outcomes and lessons learned.
20) Getting School(ed): Making it in College from a Youth Consumer’s Perspective
Youth In Mind and Y.O.U.T.H. Training Project/San Francisco State University
Nicole Demedenko, Youth In Mind President, Grad Student at USC
Matt Lord, Youth In Mind steering committee, student at Santa Monica College
2 other students TBA
For the most well adjusted young person, college can be an exciting, fun filled, stressful and otherwise challenging time. How does a young mental health consumer negotiate personal needs with deadlines, tests, partying and new relationships and expectations? Current students will share their stories and recommendations.
21) Wraparound Workshop
Sandy Villano, Director, Parent Partners at Star View Children and Family Services
Karyn Dresser, Director, Research and Program Practices, Stars Behavioral Health Group,
Ontson Placide, Wraparound and Non Profit Services Administrator, Star View Children and Family Services
While striving to fulfill the wraparound model, Los Angeles, providers are challenged by geography, diversity, funding issues, and the complexity of family needs. Results from outcome reports, quality improvement projects and staff trainings will be presented that address facilitation, community resource use, mental health services, juvenile delinquency, and Parent Partners.
22) Strengthening the Family-Professional Partnership in Services for Children
Laura Shiozaki Lee, Psychiatric Social Worker, L.A. County, Department of Mental Health
This workshop is designed to help family members and mental health professionals develop a stronger, healthier partnership. The workshop will provide strategies on improved engagement with family members at all stages of treatment. Examples will be given of how to achieve more enduring solutions to persistent problems by forming shared responsibilities.
23) Evidence-Based Practice for Diverse Families: Transcending the Dichotomy Between Fidelity and Cultural Fit
Joanna Doran, Graduate Student Researcher, University of California School of Social Welfare
Maria Hernandez, Graduate Student Researcher, University of California School of Social Welfare
Pam Hawkins, Associate II, California Institute for Mental Health
There are numerous evidence-based interventions designed for at-risk youth their families. What happens when this intervention is implemented with a diverse population of families? Should the model be changed to better meet their unique needs? Some feel that any adjustment made to already tested treatments threatens their effectiveness. A discussion of the tension between these perspectives will be facilitated in light of a recent study that highlights how FFT can transcend this dichotomy.
24) Community Based Youth Alcohol and other Drug Treatment Services: Minor Consent Drug Medi-Cal Program
Minor Consent is a State-only Medi-Cal program that excludes parental income and resources from consideration as a condition of Medi-Cal eligibility for certain limited services to youth under the age of 21 who are living with their parent(s) or guardian(s). This workshop will train participants on the process for implementing these services for youth in their counties and emphasize the importance of this component as part of a continuum of care across systems in a collaborative context. Focus upon best practices within this benefit, and basic requirements for developing appropriate service providers.
25) Alcohol and other Drug Screening for Pregnant Women
According to a recent report titled “Perinatal Substance Use Screening in California, Screening and Assessment with the 4P’s Plus© Screen for Substance Use in Pregnancy, pregnant women’s use of alcohol, tobacco, and illegal substances is a recognized factor in infant morbidity and mortality. The prevention of these problems relies upon an informed system of care that educates the general population, evaluates every pregnant woman for risk of substance use, and offers early intervention for identified infants. Numerous studies have shown that unfavorable birth outcomes result from alcohol exposure during pregnancy.” This workshop will provide participants with important research in this field and discuss ways to inform and work with community collaboratives, including medical doctors, insurance companies, to implement strategies that may help to prevent outcomes such as FASD.
26) Single Custodial Fathers – Removing Social and Cultural Barriers
Diane Shively, United Advocates for Children and Families
At any given time 15% of single parents nationwide are fathers. This workshop will address how single custodial fathers find it difficult to manage work, organize care for their children while providing the essential emotional support. The workshop will provide insight on single fathers’ feelings of inadequacy and strategies on how to support single fathers in the community at large and mental health systems.
27) How to Navigating the Juvenile Justice & Mental Health Systems Effectively
Debbie Van Dunk, Advocacy Program Coordinator, United Advocates for Children and Families
Vickie Mendoza, Chief Officer, UACF Institute, United Advocates for Children and Families
This curriculum is designed to address the needs and questions family members have when they have a child with a mental health condition involved in the juvenile justice system. The course will cover the arrest process, the court system, the cost, and the most effective way family members can interact with juvenile justice staff.
28) Ready to Succeed: Improving Education for Children and Youth in Foster Care
Randi Gottlieb, Project Manager, Ready to Succeed Initiative
Nancy Shea, Senior Attorney, Mental Health Advocacy Services
In 2008, the Stuart Foundation launched a 3-year, comprehensive and multi-component initiative, aimed at taking the next steps to improving educational outcomes for California children and youth in foster care. This Initiative is based on the work of the California Education Collaborative for Children in Foster Care, which over a 2-year period brought together stakeholders from child welfare, public education, mental health and other fields to identify and recommend concrete actions to improve educational outcomes for foster youth. Among the recommendations was the need to integrate mental health services into education. This interactive workshop will provide information on the Initiative itself as well as current county work. Participants will also engage in a facilitated discussion to develop additional strategies for improving educational success for foster youth.
29) Family and Youth Advocates: Making a partnership that works
Dave Schroeder, Family and Youth Advocate Coordinator Mental Health Association.
Kenn Logan, Youth Advocate, Certified Youth Development Institute Trainer, Member of Youth
Motivating Others through Voices of Experience (M.O.V.E.), Co-coordinator for the Mental
Health Association in California’s Transition Age Youth Empowerment Project
Janice Massie, Family Advocate with the Mental Health America in Sacramento. Parent of two
successful young men that have received services with Sacramento County Children’s Mental Health.
This presentation will answer some of the basic questions concerning how to best utilize advocates within your agency. Come join us for an interesting discussion on hiring, mentoring and training advocates. When adults and youth partner together amazing events unfold!
Other Workshops
There will also be workshops on Mental Health Services in Juvenile Justice Facilities, Concurrent FFT Full Service Partnership, and TBS
Thursday, May 14
9:00 p.m. The Dance
Sponsored by Stars Behavioral Health Group
Friday, May 15
9:00 a.m. Unclaimed Children Revisited – Dr. Janice L Cooper
Janice L. Cooper is a health services researcher who specializes in children’s mental health. Her research has focused on quality of care for children and youth with attention-deficit / hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), cultural and linguistic competence, and mental health financing. Since 2005, she has led the work of Unclaimed Children Revisited, a series of policy and impact analyses of mental health services and supports for children, youth and their families. Her work in this area has resulted in data that is telling.
10:00 a.m. Dr. Steve Mayberg
Dr. Steve Mayberg, Director of the California Department of Mental Health, will describe the state of services for children and youth given the current budget, and will respond to points raised by Dr. Cooper and the audience.
10:30 a.m. Policy Panel
Pat Ryan, Executive Director, California Mental Health Directors Association
Carroll Schroeder, Executive Director, California Alliance of Child and Family Services
Oscar Wright, CEO, United Advocates for Children and Families
Matt Lord, Member, CMHACY Board of Directors
Rusty Selix, Executive Director, California Council of Community Mental Health Agencies
A state budget crisis led to the recall of Gray Davis. His successor cut the Vehicle Licensing Fees and opposed the Mental Health Services Act, (Prop 63), which passed, nevertheless. Now there is a worldwide credit and financial crisis, the state is in worse shape, and the MHSA dollars are at risk. Unless we know, communicate, and act, it is easy to predict what will happen to the most vulnerable children, youth, and families. This Panel will address the “know” portion, bringing us up to speed on policy and legislative initiatives.