The New York Foundling’s Vincent J. Fontana Center for Child Protection Proudly Presents:
Doing What Works: Effective Mental Health Services in Child Welfare and for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities
Monday, December 13, 2021
8:30 AM to 3:30 PM ET
New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge 333 Adams Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
FREE to APSAC Members and New York Foundling Staff
Register Here
Details:
8:30 am- 9:00am
Registration
9:00am – 9:15am
Welcome: Bill Baccaglini, CEO and President, The New York Foundling
9:15am – 10:15am
Keynote Presentation: The Past, Present, and Future of Mental Health and Child Welfare in America
Presenter: Marilyn B. Benoit, M.D.
10:15am – 10:30am: Break
10:30am – 12:00pm
Morning Workshops
A. The Truth About Racism and Child Maltreatment This workshop will address the dynamic interplay between racism and child maltreatment and the pernicious effects on children and families. Relevant concepts and frameworks for dismantling racism and potential recommendations for intervention will be explored. The learning objectives are recognizing how a history of racism has created disparities in child maltreatment, other forms of trauma, and the child welfare system. Another objective is to recognize the role of bias in child welfare practices and policies. Lastly, participants will be able to describe systems-level interventions needed to reduce disparities and transform care.
Presenter: Ernestine Briggs-King, Ph.D.
B. From Mellaril to Clozaril and a Few Stops in Between
This presentation will review the 1972 Wyatt vs. Stickney case and the generation of the developmentally-disabled assistance and bill of rights, human rights committees and the embedding of psychiatric treatment within behavioral intervention regulations. Then Dr. Kessler will review studies of diagnostic overshadowing, the rise of modern psychopharmacology, the change in April 2013 in 14 NYCRR 633.16 and the use of clozapine for aggression. The later point will be illustrated with case examples and theories of action.
Presenter: Richard J. Kessler, D.O.
C. Challenges and Opportunities in Providing Teletherapy to Traumatized Children: A National Survey of Clinicians
In this workshop the presenters will describe results of a recent national survey of 250 mental health providers offering teletherapy with traumatized children. The results reveal a number of important ways in which clinicians found teletherapy to be advantageous for their child, clients and caregivers. However, there were also perceived challenges and several areas where clinicians had not received sufficient, if any training. The workshop will provide practical recommendations for improving the quality of mental health treatment provided to traumatized children remotely.
Presenters: Melinda Konigsberg, Psy.D & Amy J.L. Baker, Ph.D.
D. Ubuntu: Moving Toward Racial Equity through Universal Humanity and the Therapeutic Alliance The therapeutic alliance is the sacred cornerstone upon which treatment thrives. Unique challenges arise when there are cross-cultural barriers. Through emphasis on our shared interconnectedness as people and in recognition of the unique potential of individuals, it is very possible to overcome those barriers. In this workshop, Drs. Akeem Marsh and Jennifer Cabrera discuss effective strategies that clinicians can utilize to engage with patients and families of diverse backgrounds. Themes to be explored are impostor syndrome, model minority, guilt, and the journey of awakening.
Presenters: Akeem Marsh, M.D. & Jennifer Cabrera, M.D.
E. The Role of the Trauma Narrative in Trauma-Focused Therapy: Is the Trauma Narrative Necessary? This workshop will be co-presented by two trainers, each with expertise in two different evidence-based trauma-focused psychotherapies, Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD (CPT) and Trauma-Focused-CBT (TF-CBT). The presenters will provide an overview of each model and research to support its use, describe the ways trauma processing occurs and the role of the trauma narrative in these treatment models, and reflect on the question of whether the trauma narrative is necessary when conducting trauma-focused therapy. The workshop will also include a moderated discussion between the presenters.
Presenters: Wendy Bassett, LCSW-R and Carrie Epstein, LCSW-R Moderator: Shelly Burke, LMHC
12:00pm – 1:30pm: Lunch (Attendees will receive a $20 stipend for lunch)
1:30pm- 3:00pm
Afternoon Workshops
*Afternoon workshops will be the same as the morning workshops*
3:00pm-3:30pm
Closing Session: The Do’s and Don’ts of Self-Care: Setting the Stage for a Healthy 2022! The demands and stressors on child welfare professionals are always fierce, and more so during the pandemic. Developing and maintaining a regular self-care practice is important in supporting overall wellness, stamina, and managing stress. This session will cover recognizing stress symptoms, how the brain responds to stress, recognizing adaptive versus maladaptive coping strategies, creating a self-care plan and the importance of maintaining it during, and after, the pandemic. Do’s and Don’ts for staying fit, sound sleep and social media/news intake will be explored. Presenter: Mary L. Pulido, Ph.D.
