Workshops - Session A
Tuesday, October 6, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

W1 - Pharmacology: Update on Psychiatric Medications
Kenneth A. Dickinson, MS, RPh, Gaudenzia, Inc.
An overview of the most recently approved psychiatric medications and/or new indications for established medications will be provided for non-medical behavioral health professionals. Topics to be discussed include side effects, advantages of new medications, assisting with compliance, off-label uses, and drug to drug interactions with drugs of abuse and addiction medications. Resources for keeping up-to-date with the ongoing developments regarding psychiatric medications, medication assisted therapy, and drug to drug interactions will be provided.

W2 - Children's Policy Roundtable
Stan Mrozowski, PhD, Bureau of Children’s Services, OMHSAS
Richard Gold, Esq., Office of Children, Youth and Families
Michelle Walsh, Pennsylvania Early Learning Keys to Quality
Thomas Seben, Bureau of Special Education, PDE
Robin Rothermel, Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Programs, DOH
Nina Wall Cote, Bureau of Autism Services, ODP
Ellen DiDomenico, MS Ed, Governor’s Commission for Children and Families
Michael Pennington, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
Join children’s services officials as they present current policy, planning, and funding initiatives and priorities for state government programs that impact mental health, substance abuse prevention and treatment, health care, child welfare, juvenile justice, special education, autism services, and early childhood services. Following individual presentations by speakers, attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions about the material presented and offer comments and recommendations on issues discussed. Providers of children’s services won’t want to miss this comprehensive overview of programming and policy making. This is a double workshop held from 1:00 – 5:15 p.m.

W3 - Resolving Ethical Dilemmas in the Workplace
Steve Nevada, LSW, CBHNP
DJ Dunlap, PhD, CBHNP
Additional Materials
Ethical conflicts are posed when conflicting roles and duties are apparent in a single task. This workshop will outline the principles, virtues, rules, and actions of biomedical ethics and demonstrate how to use this information in resolving ethical dilemmas. The presenters will review the principles of justice, beneficence, nonmalfeasance, and respect for autonomy; the virtues of compassion, discernment, trustworthiness, integrity, and conscientiousness; and moral theories such as Ethics of Caring, Kantianism, and Utilitarianism. Participants will review, dissect, and resolve ethical dilemmas in small groups while at the same time discuss professional and personal limitations, responsibilities of staff, barriers and obstacles to ethical practice, and differences of opinion in ethical solutions. The goal is to give participants a framework of theories, tools, and practice opportunities to improve their capacity to resolve ethical dilemmas and create ethical practices. This is a double session from 1:00 – 5:15 p.m. and will fulfill (or partially fulfill) the ethics requirement for licensed personnel.

W4 - More Equipment for Your Toolbox: Addressing Behavior Challenges in Intellectual Disability
Robin VanEerden, MS, NCC, NHS Human Services
Goodbye Book,Grief/Loss Workbook, Mood Tracking Form, Solving Problems Workbook, References, Understanding IDD Law Enforcement
As the behavior challenges for individuals with developmental/intellectual disabilities continue, the need for more specific tool boxes to assist with planning and treatment are needed. Choosing effective tools that are successful in the field can be difficult depending on the need of the person.  This workshop will focus on various assessments, therapies, and behavioral tools that can be implemented and increase direct care staff, program specialists, and clinicians’ effectiveness.  Case studies and successful experiences will be shared. The session will include ample opportunity to discuss when and how to use the tools effectively. These will include tools related to sexual knowledge, crisis planning, grief and loss, problem solving, and psychiatric symptoms.

W5 - Ethics in Substance Abuse Counseling
Victoria E. Lahey, MS Ed, Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Programs
Additional Materials
This course addresses ethics in the context of substance abuse counseling. Special focus is placed upon the principles underlying codes of ethics and how these codes address issues relating to the counseling relationship, confidentiality, counselor competence, supervision, and dual relationships. In addition, an ethical decision making model will be presented and discussed. Case studies will be used throughout the workshop to provide participants with experience in applying ethical and professional standards. This is a double workshop from 1:00 – 5:15 p.m. and will fulfill the ethics requirements from the Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Programs.

W6 - Creating Sustainable Funding in Challenging Economic Times
Terry Axelrod, Benevon
Additional Materials
Learn a tested system to identify and cultivate donors who love your mission—donors who will give for operations, capital, and endowment—even during challenging financial times. Learn how to engage your community in your organization's mission and to inspire giving, even in a lagging economy. Designed for senior leaders, this workshop provides the fundamentals to embark on the path to sustainability and grow a major gifts program.  You will learn an overview of the Benevon Model, an organic system for building sustainable funding for your organization from multiple-year individual donors; how to implement mission-focused, permission-based fundraising; how to become more visible in your community; and how to identify and cultivate individual donors.

W7 - Every Door is the Right Door
Donna Hartford, Home Nursing Agency
Dana DeStefano, RN, LCSW, CCDP-D, Home Nursing Agency
Keys for successful programming when serving individuals with co-occurring disorders starts with fundamental building blocks to support a strong framework within a system in order to sustain change.  Explore the lessons learned in changing systems by establishing a system that supports the welcoming philosophy “Every door is the right door.” Explore the lessons learned in changing both mental health and drug and alcohol services in Blair County by establishing a system that welcomes every client in their current state of change and working with a system to treatment-match each individual.  Specifically, join a treatment provider in their journey in implementing this model in their system and review the challenges faced, barriers overcome, and lessons learned.

W8 - Engaging Supervisors to Create Change Through Measuring Outcomes
Kathleen Yarzebinski, Family Services of Western Pennsylvania
Michael Hanawalt, MA, Family Services of Western Pennsylvania
Tina Zimmerman, Family Services of Western Pennsylvania
Morgan Kelly, PhD, Family Services of Western Pennsylvania
Measuring data and numbers is not the reason most people join this field.  With people skilled in interrelationships and helping others, supervisors are much more comfortable tackling difficult issues with people in service and staff.  This workshop outlines one agency’s systematic effort to engage supervisors in the development of outcomes measures to enhance the quality of services, the relationship of outcomes to staff performance management contracts, and the leadership and support necessary for the supervisor to further engage staff.

W9 - Beyond Retention: Avoiding the "Economic Handcuff" Syndrome
David L. Piper, MA, DLP & Associates
Retention is vital for any successful organization.  However, retaining the "right" employees is paramount, especially in these economic times where the "economic handcuff" may become prevalent. The term “economic handcuff” is introduced to describe employees who are not happy with the organization, but merely buying   time until the economy improves before moving on. Topics of this workshop include monetary and non-monetary costs, organizational culture, and incentives influencing employee retention.  A conceptual framework analyzing and reducing turnover is offered.

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