18Th Erik Cogswell Memorial Conference
Agenda with Workshop Overview
October 13, 2017
18th Erik Cogswell Memorial Conference
It Takes a Village: Working Collaboratively to Support Mental Health Needs
9:00 – 9:15Opening – Karin & Ed Cogswell
9:15 – 9:30Erik Cogswell Memorial Award Presentation – Jay Couture, MHA, Executive Director
9:30 – 10:45Keynote
Building Resilience From the Outside In - J. Eric Vance, MD
This keynote presentation will explore the origins of the scientific and research understanding of resilience
in the lives of children who grow up with adversity. The theme of this year’s conference will emerge from
thetalk, by various illustrations of the environments that can allow resilience to grow. The brain
mechanisms ofresilience will be described, and how it is that environments, relationships, and experiences
can change the brain in order to rise above adversity.
10:45 – 11:00Break
11:00 – 12:00Session I
A. Practical Strategies for Assessing and Building Resilience in Real Kids, In the Real Community
J. Eric Vance, MD
This workshop will draw on actual cases of children and youths who have been born to adversity or mental illness, and how to assess their needs to build resilience. We will walk through the Youth Resiliency Checklist (YRC), interpret it, and use the results to design interventions. We will take examples of youths in the Seacoast region, and collaborate to suggest strategies that might allow resilience to take root and grow in their lives.
B. “I’m Not Sick, I Don’t Need Help”: An Overview of the LEAP Skills – Harry Cunningham, MSW
Because of poor insight into the illness and poor adherence to treatment many persons with mental illnesses exist at the margins of society and are unable, or oftentimes unwilling, to utilize available drug therapies and services. A set of communication and problem solving skills that can be used by mental health providers, care-givers and other stakeholders can be readily learned by participating in the LEAP training program.
The LEAP (Listen- Empathize- Agree- Partner) training teaches participants a set of evidence-based practices to strengthen mutual respect and trust with the aim of developing effective partnerships among a range of persons in a variety of settings. This training involves didactic, experiential and role-play workshops.
C.What’s Next, Who’s Going to Catch Me? – Brian Huckins, BS
Effective and well planned transitions are instrumental to all students, but even more for those who have emotion and behavioral health challenges. This presentation will talk about steps that every student, family, and school should do to help make every student’s transition into adult life as great as possible. Effective transition steps include conversations and planning for education and employment. It also includes conversations and planning for behavioral and physical health needs. This presentation will touch upon some great resources like RENEW, Vocational Rehabilitation, FAST Forward, Community Mental Health Centers, Higher Education, NAMI, Social Security and Medicaid.
12:00 – 12:45 Lunch
12:45 – 1:45Session II
A. Working Smarter: Multi-Tiered Systems of Support for Behavior (MTSS-B) in Schools
Joanne Malloy,PhD; Kathy Francoeur, Med; & Stacey Lazzar, MA
Schools struggle to include and support children and youth with emotional and behavioral challenges. Multi-Tiered Systems of Support for Behavior (MTSS-B), or Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is a framework that allows for more efficient and effective implementation of research-based practices in schools. This presentation will provide an overview of MTSS-B, and an example of how implementation of the MTSS-B framework allowed for better and more effective collaboration between several schools in Concord and Riverbend Community Mental Health services.
B. How Attachment Impacts Youth and Families– Mike McCay, LMFT
Many circumstances can lead to attachment difficulties for children. Depression in a new mother, young parents who are not ready to be parents, substance abuse issues with parents, or changes in primary caretakers such as in foster care or adoption situations. Children who have been neglected and/or abused often have issues that are also difficult to treat.
This workshop will give an overview of how attachment works as well as what happens when attachment problems arise. It will also provide an overview of some techniques that have been shown to be effective with children who have attachment difficulties.
C. Compassionate Self-Care: Creating Your Daily Practice – Lisa Boldin, MBA, TCTSY-F
It is well known that an effective way to reduce stress, to ground feelings of anxiety and to bring balance to your life is to create a sense of rhythm and routine. What might your daily practice look like? Mindful options such as yoga, meditation, breathing techniques and physical self-care could become part of your morning or evening ritual. Come and explore ways to nurture and support yourself.
1:45 – 2:00Break
2:00 – 3:00
Session III
A. What the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study Teaches Us About Promoting Children's Mental Health - Susan Craig, PhD
The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study provides new insights into how adults can actively promote the mental health and resiliency of the children and youth in their care. This presentation will use data from the ACE study to illustrate how participants can promote children and youth's self-regulation and emotional control. Strategies will be discussed that use everyday activities and routines to build the capacity of children and youth to develop healthy relationships with themselves and others.
B. Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD) – Andrew Kaplan, DO
Childhood chronic irritability and behavioral dysregulation has been captured by a new diagnostic
entity with DSM-V. This talk will review the history of this diagnosis and the literature on the population
of children afflicted including comorbidities as well as treatment and the natural history of the condition.
C. Nutrition for Depression and Anxiety– Matt Peaco, BS, CPT, Pn1,
This presentation will cover various dietaryandnutritional strategies for improving mental wellness and mood. Depression and anxiety can result from poor diet and lack of proper nutrients in the body which can cause an imbalance of hormones. Medications work to correct this imbalance but without proper diet and nutrition, lasting change is less likely. Our bodies are capable of healing themselves if given the proper nutrients. This presentation will delve into how important nutrition is in the healing process.
3:00 – 3:15Break
3:15 – 4:00 Closing –
Putting It All Together: Integrated Care in New Hampshire – William Gunn, PhD
The effective community health care systems of the future are those that collaborate internally with each other and externally with the patients, families and communities they serve. Physicians, nurses, behavioral health specialists, hospitals, and community agencies need to focus on the goal of providing comprehensive care and increasing the well being of all. This presentation will summarize what has been discussed during the day with an eye towards how information will be used by the local integrated care delivery network to operationalize systemic transformation.