CHHS Spotlight: A Roadrunner Roadmap for Resilience

By Cyrus Smith

The Colorado Behavioral Healthcare Council hosted their annual Behavioral Health Conference, drawing hundreds of participants from behavioral health specialists to members of the criminal justice system and for the first time in MSU Denver’s history, students of the Master of Science in Clinical Behavioral Health Program were also in attendance. 

Graduate students Leela Romero and Hannah Haddadi joined Clinical Director Dr. Jane Flournoy to not only soak in the knowledge that the conference had to offer, but also share their own experience as the trio presented in front of a community of behavioral health providers during the proceedings. 

Building on the conference theme of “Rooted in Resilience: Transforming Together,” Romero, Haddadi and Flournoy knew they had an opportunity. The trio’s presentation, “Building Resilience for Clients from Marginalized Communities: A Roadmap for Clinicians” aimed at giving attendees research and skills to help overcome obstacles that may hinder one’s progress, providing research and tools for clinicians to help clients build resilience, along with methods to help clinicians fortify their own resilience to prevent burnout.

“Marginalized communities often need specific kinds of support with an emphasized multicultural lens,” said Haddadi. “And with the continued unknown of what could change day to day for these populations, we felt that both the client and clinician could benefit from learning how to build resilience for themselves and others.” 

Both Romero and Hannah Haddadi joined the BHAM program as part of the 2023 Cohort, and are on track to graduate in fall 2026. They also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to gain experience at the conference and plan on using the connections they made to further their journey as a behavioral health specialist.

Said Haddadi, “I feel truly honored that I got to represent MSU Denver and have a small part in bringing our information to conference attendees.”