Alaska's RPTC/FASD Waiver Training Conference Spring 2010

RPTC/FASD Waiver Training Conference
Identifying and Treating FASD Issues Intertwined with Behavioral Health problems

Brought to you by DHSS/Division of Behavioral Health, State of Alaska.

Topics

• How Behavioral Health issues are complicated by FASD
• Writing an RPTC/FASD Waiver Plan of Care
• Improving the life of a youth with an FASD through mentoring services
• Supported employment services can change a youth’s future

Who should Attend?
Community Mental Health Center staff, SDS Home and Community Based Care Agency staff including:  Mental Health Clinicians, case managers, mentors, foster parents, group home staff, day habilitation, respite and supported employment staff.

Agenda
Mon. March 15, 8a-5p - Tues. March 16, 8a-5p
Open to Mental Health Clinicians, case managers, mentors, foster parents, group home staff, day habilitation, respite and supported employment staff.

Wed. March 17, 8a-4p
Specialized training for Mental Health Clinicians, Senior level Case Managers and Agency Administrative Staff

View Detailed Agenda Here

Event Details
Full breakfast, lunch and snacks provided, all three days.

Hotel suites with restaurant on site and transportation to meeting site. Parking will be validated if you park in these parking lots.

Travelers from outside of Anchorage:
Transportation  and Lodging will be provided for you.
Please contact Sarah Frick at 907-264-6258 if you need to make travel arrangements from outside of Anchorage. Please do not incur any travel expenses until receiving prior approval from The UAA Center for Human Development.

Important: Please attend FASD 101 prior to the conference

All participants should plan to complete FASD101, and if possible, FASD201 prior to the conference. Please fax or email your FASD 101 certificate to Sarah Frick sarah@alaskachd.org, or fax 907-274-4802, prior to the conference.

To access ELearning and the State of Alaska's Department of Education and Early Development's FASD 101 online course, click here: ELearning. If you need technical assistance with this site, please call 907-465-2304.

To locate an FASD 101 or 201 trainer in your area go to:
http://www.hss.state.ak.us/fas/Resources/trainers/public/default.htm
or Contact Diane Casto 907-465-1188 or Genevieve Casey 907-465-4984.

Keynote Speaker_____________________________________________
DAN DUBOVSKY, MSW, LSW

FASD Specialist Task Leader for Training and Technical Assistance for the SAMHSA FASD Center for Excellence

Dan Dubovsky, MSW, LSW, is the fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) specialist for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) FASD Center for Excellence. He provides training and technical assistance on FASD to individuals, families, programs, agencies, communities, and states. He has a keen interest in the provision of quality services to those with a FASD and their families. He has worked for over 30 years in the fields of mental health and developmental disabilities; and has presented regionally, nationally and internationally. In the area of FASD, his son Bill was his mentor and best teacher.

Dan has worked for more than 30 years in the fields of mental health and developmental disabilities. He began his career as a childcare worker in residential treatment. After receiving his MSW, he worked as a therapist in a residential setting with children, adolescents and young adults and their families. Dan has also worked as a therapist in community-based and hospital settings, addressing both medical and psychiatric needs of those with acute, chronic and terminal illness.

Dan has developed and facilitated ongoing groups for persons with disabilities, as well as groups for residential, nursing and social work staffs. Dan has presented regionally, nationally and internationally on many topics, including Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, ADHD, psychopharmacology, transition, socialization coaching, schizophrenia, mood disorders, loss and grieving, and therapeutic alliances.

Speakers
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Shannon Cross, LCSW
Mental Health Clincian III, State of Alaska, Behavioral Health

Session: Developing Individualized Plans of Care

Shannon Cross has over 16 years of experience working in Residnetial Psychiatric Treatment Centers (RPTC), where she helped to create and develop RPTC treatment programs specific for individuals with an FASD.  She has also worked as a clinician in out-patient settings.  She currently works for the State of Alaska where she works with the RPTC/FASD waiver.  Shannon has been working with individuals with an FASD for over 8 years as an advocate and as a treatment provider who strives to  develop creative treatment plans that focus on the individual's strengths and innovative treatment interventions aimed at helping each individual find their own success.

____________________________________________________________

Trevor Storrs
Executive Director, Alaskan AIDS Assistance Association (Four A's)

Session: Sex Talk – People with Disabilities Do It Too!

Trevor Storrs is the Executive Director of the Alaskan AIDS Asssitance Association (Four A's). Four A's is the lead HIV/AIDS organization in Alaska, providing education about HIV/AIDS, STDs and reproductive health.  He has worked in the field of disabilities for over 15 years and has worked in the area of reproductive health for over 10 years.  He holds a Masters degree in Vocational Rehabilitation.

____________________________________________________________

Tami K. Eller
Children's Service Specialist III, Office of Children's Services

Session: Modifying Environment to Reduce Secondary Symptoms

Tami Eller, MSCP is a State of Alaska Certified FASD trainer and has worked with youth and families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders for the past seven years.  Additionally, Tami has lived the day to day challenges and successes of finding accommodations necessary when affected by prenatal exposure.  She recognizes how important it is for parents to have support in order to support their children.  Most importantly, she believes we can and must build success rather than wait to respond to failure.
____________________________________________________________

Sean O'Brien, MA, CRC
Assistant Chief of Field Services
State of Alaska, Department of Labor & Workforce Development
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR)

I am a  life-long Alaskan reside and, along with my wife Sue, am a proud parent of 5 children ranging from 11 to 24 years old. I've lived in Juneau most of my life but also spent about three years working in Bethel and 3 years in Anchorage previously. My work history includes providing direct client services as well managing various rehabilitation programs for DVR for about 8 years. For about 15 years prior to that, I was involved in providing services under various workforce programs in Alaska such as WIA & JTPA. I completed my Master's Degree in rehabilitation counseling and gained the national Certification in Rehabilitation Counseling Certificate (CRCC) last spring. I was promoted to the Assistant Chief of DVR last fall. I continue to assist our staff and various partners across Alaska to implement tools & services that we know work such supportive and customized employment strategies. This includes providing specialized training in partnership with our Medical Consultant & Psychiatrist, Dr. Aron Wolf, on effective strategies to assist individuals with mental health challenges to help build our capacity to help these individuals successfully be placed and retained into employment. Both supportive and customized employment strategies have proven over the years to be good examples of these kinds of strategies. In fact, Alaska has been recognized nationally for its innovation and best practices regarding implementing these kinds of services for our clients.


Session: Supported Employment
The sessions will provide an overview of supportive and customized employment strategies that have proven to be helpful in assisting individuals with disabilities to successfully find and retain employment. 

Session: Supported Employment

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Ken Hamrick
Program Director at UAA Center for Human Development
Children's Behavioral Health Program

Session: Teaching Social Skills to Youth

Ken has worked in the disability profession in Alaska for over 30 years in both the private and public sectors.  his career encompasses a variety of jobs and responsibilities from direct service provider to program administrator, and all roles between.  His role as a parent, and now foster parent, has influenced his career and values as much or more than any academic preparation could.  His area of professional interest has always been in working directly with individuals with challenging behaviors and their families.