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6th Annual Mental & Behavioral Health Conference
Friday, February 7, 2025 | Time TBA
Please read about our 2024 conference and stay tuned for more information about our upcoming conference in 2025!
5th Annual Mental & Behavioral Health Conference – Calling-In: Cultivating Cultural Healing, Embodied Storytelling, and Narrative Humanization
Friday, February 16, 2024 | 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM (MST)
Location:
Find unique links for the keynote and workshops in the At a Glance Schedule and download the full M&BH conference program.
Hosted by the Metropolitan State University of Denver Department of Social Work
The 5th Annual Mental and Behavioral Health Conference is thoughtfully designed to offer participants a comprehensive and enriching experience. First and foremost, attendees will delve into the art of storytelling as a therapeutic tool, gaining valuable insights and practicing techniques that harness the power of narrative for healing purposes. Additionally, the conference aims to deepen participants’ understanding of embodiment healing techniques, providing a holistic perspective on mental well-being. Participants can also explore the integration of cultural humility into their supervision practices, fostering an inclusive and empathetic approach to mental and behavioral health. This conference aims to equip attendees with a diverse skill set and knowledge base, contributing to their professional growth and enhancing their ability to provide effective and culturally sensitive support in their respective roles.
General Learning Objectives:
- Practicing story telling techniques to promote healing
- Understanding Embodiment healing techniques
- Learning how to infuse cultural humility into one’s supervision practice
The Zoom room will open for check-in at 9:30 AM and programming will start promptly at 10:00 AM.
Attendance Cost and Options:
MSU Denver Social Work Students: please check your email for your unique registration link!
Auraria Campus Community (Students, Faculty, and Staff of MSU Denver, CU Denver, and CCD): $15
General Admission: $30
Preliminary Program Sneak Peek
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Loretta Ross (learn more)
Breakout Session 1: Culturally Adaptive Mental Health Practices: Centering the Counter Narrative
- Sense-Making: Using Narrative Storytelling Across the Lifespan with Althea Simpson, LCSW, RPT-S
- Culturally-Responsive & Integrative Healing Practices: Centering the Brain-Body Connection with Dr. Adrianna Taylor, LCSW
- Building Bridges: The utilization of a narrative humanization approach in the fight to reduce and unlearn stigmatizing belief with Dr. Kristin Spooner, LICSW, CST
Lunchtime Talks: Opportunity to hear from conference sponsors
Breakout Session 2: Supervision and the Healing Process
- Using Storytelling as a Supervisory Technique with Dr. Omekio Riggins, LCSW, LCAS-A, CCTP-II, LPN
- Authenticity in Practice with Dr. Andrea Daniels, LCSW-S
- Infusing Cultural Humility into your supervision session; promoting Brave Spaces with Manasseh C. Begay, MSW
Sponsorship Opportunities
Would your organization like to be a recognized sponsor for this event? Please contact Teiriana Ibarra, Event Planning Specialist, at [email protected] with questions and to commit to your sponsorship today!
Sponsorship Options:
- Community Partner Sponsorships: $200
- Acknowledgement at the conference, on conference website, in conference program
- Two complimentary conference registrations
- Business Sponsorship: For $500 (for-profit company) or $400 (non-profit organization)
- Acknowledgement at the conference, on conference website, in conference program
- Four complimentary conference registrations
- Lunchtime Spotlight: a 5 minute presentation about your organization’s mission, impact, and goals during the lunch break
Past Events
Friday, February 17, 2023 | 10:00 AM to 2:15 PM (MST)
Auraria Campus | Denver, CO
The 4th Annual Mental & Behavioral Health Conference consisted of three (3) hours and provided knowledge regarding the emerging mental and behavioral health trends in the State of Colorado since the Pandemic. Participants acquired knowledge about workforce resilience and how to best support LGBTQ+ and BIPOC populations.
Participants were:
- Able to discuss the state of the mental and behavioral health crisis in Colorado
- Able to describe services to support mental and behavioral health needs in Colorado
- Learned about emerging Mental and Behavioral Health services to support LGBTQ+ and BIPOC populations
- Understood the importance of addressing Work Force Resilience
This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $1.9M with no funds financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.
Conference Schedule
10:00 AM – Welcome Address
10:10 AM – Keynote Address: State of Mental and Behavioral Health Crisis in Colorado
10:30 AM – Keynote Panel Discussion: Crisis in Care(moderated by Dr. Tanya Greathouse)
- Speakers:
- DJ Ida, Asian Pacific Center
- Chris Richardson, Mental Health Center of Denver
- Leanne Rupp, National Association of Social Workers – CO Chapter
11:35 AM – Morning Breakout Sessions: The Macro Perspective of the Mental Health Crisis
- State Trends in Mental Health Services Needs Through a National Lens Since the Pandemic with Kim Patton, PsyD
- Emerging Trends in Mental and Behavioral Health Due to the Pandemic with Kate Parker, LCSW VP Clinical Care, COO, and Sara Reid, M.A., MHP Grants and Program Evaluation Manager
- Professional Development: The Ins & Outs of Licensure, Continuing Education in CO, & ASWB Exam Developments with Leanne Rupp, MSW, LCSW Executive Director
12:30 PM – Lunch and Student Tabling
1:10 PM – Afternoon Breakout Discussion: Emerging Issues in Mental and Behavioral Health
- Being Hopeful and Resilient in the Workplace with Susan Archuleta, Grants Community Liaison Specialist
- Emerging Issues in the LGBTQ+ Community: ‘Til Death Do Us Part with Li Brookens, LCSW, CGP, WPATH GEI SOC7 Certified Member, and Virginia Sanford, LPC
- Supporting BIPOC Communities Through Mental and Behavioral Health Crises with Sarah Naomi Jones, Center for Trauma and Resilience
2:05 PM – Closing Address
Sponsored by the MSU Denver College of Health and Human Sciences, MSU Denver Department of Social Work, and MSU Denver Health Institute
Friday, January 29, 2021 | 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM (MST)
Virtual Webinar | Denver, CO
The 3rd Annual Social Work Mental & Behavioral Health Conference was an opportunity for students, faculty, and community members to connect virtually with community and national experts on their response to the mental and behavioral challenges communities are experiencing due COVID-19, the exposed racialized tensions, and this country’s political divide.
Two (2) hours of CE credits pending approval by NASW-CO
Presenters
Welcoming Address: Dr. Dawn Matera-Bassett, MSW, LCSW, HRSA Principle Investigator & Associate Professor at Metropolitan State University of Denver
Keynote Speaker & Moderator: Dr. Julie Clockston, LCSW, National Association of Social Workers Colorado (NASWCO) Chapter President
Presenters:
- Dr. Liz Mendez-Shannon, MSW, Vice President of Program Development at Sewall Child Development Center
- Dr. Pam Begay, LCSW, Psychotherapist, Farmington, New Mexico
- Dr. Larry Curry, LCSW, CAC III, Founder and CEO, Clinical Director of The Curry Center LLC
- Enid Nieves, MSW Candidate, Director of Hotline Services at the Center for Trauma and Resilience
- Sonam Khanal, LCSW, Asian Pacific Development Center
Closing Keynote: Dr. Judith Kay Nelson, MSW, LCSW, Dean Emerita at the Sanville Institute for Clinical Social Work
Closing Remarks: Dr. Joni Handran, LCSW, CAC III