DAY 1 – April 20, 2021
Moving Forward and Taking Charge of Our Future
Linda Rosenberg, Columbia University Department of Psychiatry
We are living in uncertain times, scared, confused and unsure of what can hurt us – a virus, economic downturn, or political insurrection – and increasing numbers of people report high levels of distress. But the deadly pandemic that brought health inequities to the forefront and the political divisions that culminated in insurrection have created opportunities. It’s a time of reckoning and rebuilding – a robust public health infrastructure, eliminating structural racism in our institutions, and delivering mental health support to a frightened, confused and fragile America. Join us to discuss how we can seize the moment to re-envision a future we want to be in and the challenges we want to solve.
Taking Charge to Recharge our Workforce
Taina Laing, CEO, Baltic Street AEH; Elizabeth Woike-Ganga, BestSelf Behavioral Health; Yvette Brissett-Andre, CEO, Unique People Services; Brandy Vandermark-Murray, Vice President of Horizon Village at Horizon Health Services
Moderator: Yves Ades, Principal, Ades Integrated Health Strategies
Are we finally in the homestretch of this pandemic? Compared to our adrenaline-fueled response to the pandemic last Spring, many of us find ourselves exhausted. Call it what you will, “pandemic fatigue,” “burnout,” “work/life blur,” “endless wait,” the question remains: what are we doing to keep our workforce motivated and productive? As leaders, how are we responding, to the fatigue, frustration, and distress of staff who we and the people we serve depend for timely, compassionate, and meaningful service delivery. Join our panel of behavioral health leaders as they discuss the strategies and approaches they’ve taken to maintain organizational health by addressing these issues with their workforce.
Healing the Traumatic Impact of 2020
Tzivy Reiter, Director of Children’s Services, OHEL Children’s Home and Family Services; Aleciah Anthony, Director of Programs, The Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA); Brandon Beachamp, Director of Outreach and Satellite Services, MHA Rockland
Moderator: Len Statham, COO, NYAPRS
Transforming into a Trauma Informed organization is best practice, but in the shadow of the 2020 COVID-19 Crisis, racism, health inequities and the political divisiveness that shake our nation, we have all had to broaden our understanding of what it means to be Trauma Informed. Join us for a panel discussion with leaders who are continuously helping their organizations to adapt during these tumultuous times.
Developing High Performance Teams
PowerPoint
Tony Salerno, Innovation and Implementation Officer, McSilver Institute for Poverty, Policy and Research
This session will focus on the characteristics of high-performance teams that are committed to accomplishing and sustaining high priority organizational goals. Team leaders, at all levels of an organization, face challenges in facilitating and nurturing the development of a cohesive team fully engaged in the mission and vision of an organization. Research has revealed common dysfunctions of teams that are frustrating for leaders and demoralizing for team members. This session will describe what leaders can do to ensure that teams don’t get stuck in common dysfunctional team dynamics and how to establish levels of trust and commitment associated with success.
DAY 2 – April 22, 2021
Operationalizing Racial Justice in Organizations
PowerPoint
Lenora Reid-Rose, Coordinated Care Services, Inc.
Many times, when organizations embark on operationalizing racial justice, they almost always ask, “What tool or framework should we use?” However, there is no set formula for how to align an organization’s commitment to racial justice with its policies, practices, culture, and ethos. Doing this work organizationally is also about building internal will. It is about taking risks in word and deed. It is about working with integrity and being accountable to people and communities most impacted by structural racism. More importantly, it is about changing the mindset. Join this important discussion because we know that today’s problems cannot be solved with the same level of thinking that created them.
Responding to People in Distress:
An Exploration of the Roles of Mental Health Workers, Police and Racism
Jeff McQueen, Executive Director, Mental Health Association of Nassau County; Christina Sparrock, Correct Crisis Intervention Today – NYC; Steve Miccio, CEO, PeopleUSA; Mark Giuliano, Director of Community Support Westchester County, Department of Community Mental Health; Jennifer Lackard, Deputy Police Commissioner, Mount Vernon, NY
Moderator: Travis Parker, Program Area Director, Policy Research Associates
Historically, the police have been responsible for addressing challenges that are typically beyond their scope and capacity, including reversing overdoses to de-escalating mental health and addiction related crises. Because police often lack the tools and training to address such concerns, these calls can result in unnecessary uses of force, justice system involvement, and sometimes avoidable injuries and tragic deaths. Further, communities of color have disproportionately experienced heavy police presence, high rates of arrest, and unduly harsh and sometimes fatal enforcement tactics, as exemplified by the death of Daniel Prude in Rochester last March. The panel will explore a number of alternative and effective first responder models that should be adopted across our state and nation.
Organizational COVID Response: Health Equity in Action
Robyn Krueger, CEO, Community Missions of Niagara Frontier, Inc.; Ashley Brody, CEO, Search for Change
Moderator: David Woodlock, CEO, Institute for Community Living
As the nation struggles with the impact of COVID-19, we have opportunities to have a transformative impact to support equity. Join this discussion and explore what providers have accomplished through collaboration, innovation, and adaptation as they work to maximize equity in our communities and reduce the disparate negative effects on those who access our services.
Engagement, Connection and Communication in a Virtual Workplace
Katie Serio, Chief Operating Officer of Programs, Huther Doyle; Shannon Higbee, COO, Recovery Options Made Easy; Tracy Gard, Division Director, Behavioral Health, Jewish Board of Family and Children Services; Dan Khebzou, Senior Director of Business Development, Array Behavioral Care; Nancy Harvey, CEO, Services Program for Older People
Moderator: Ruth Colon-Wagner, Director of Training/Development, NYAPRS
It has been one-year since COVID-19 stopped “business as usual” and organizations were forced to pivot to tele-health for our very survival. This workshop will review the experiences of some organizations and how some have even thrived during this time. It looks like some level of virtual work will continue even after the pandemic abates so our panelists will share lessons learned on how to engage and connect in a virtual world. Perhaps some of their innovations will work for you as well!
DAY 3 – April 28, 2021
Leadershift: Essential Changes to Shift your Leadership Higher
PowerPoint
Lonnetta Albright, John Maxwell Institute
Change is so rapid today that leaders must do more to stay the course and be successful. To survive and keep your organization or your career alive, you must be flexible and ready to adapt. The key is to learn how to leadershift. Each shift will change your trajectory and set you up for new and exciting achievements, ultimately strengthening, and sustaining your ability to impact those you lead. This interactive keynote will introduce you to essential shifts that will positively enhance professional and personal growth.
Integrating Mental Health and Substance use Services: NYS and National Perspectives
Chuck Ingoglia, Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Practice Improvement, National Council; Amy Dorin, President & CEO, Coalition for Behavioral Health; Lauri Cole, Executive Director, NYS Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare; John Coppola, Executive Director, Alcoholism and Substance Use Providers of NYS; Angelia Smith-Wilson, Executive Director, Friends of Recovery NY; Harvey Rosenthal, CEO, NYAPRS
Moderator: Jackie Negri, Negri Management Resources, LLC
According to SAMHSA 2018 survey, approximately 9.2 million adults in the United States have both mental health and substance use challenges therefore needing integrated services and supports to improve recovery outcomes. During the FY 2022 budget process, nearly 2000 mental health and SUD stakeholders convened to discuss how a more integrated approach to services will positively impact individuals in need. This session will highlight national models and stakeholder’s input on current structural barriers and innovative opportunities to better provide integrated services and supports. Panelists will share their expertise, including stakeholder’s recommendations and concerns, on state agency consolidation; access issues to integrated care; workforce recruitment and retention; strategies to promote recovery and address stigma; person-centered care and treatment; justice, equity, diversity and inclusion commitments, and funding issues for comprehensive behavioral health in New York.
Promising Partnerships Between CCBHCs and Peer Agencies
PowerPoint
Brie Reimann, Assistant Vice President Integrated Care, National Council for Behavioral Health; Tylica Pope, Vice President of Speciality SUD Services and Housing, BestSelf Behavioral Health; Kirsten Vincent, CEO, Recovery Options Made Easy; Ronda “Ro” Speight and Raquelle Bender, Mental Health Association of Westchester
Moderator: Harvey Rosenthal
Last year, the National Council and NYAPRS released a Brief entitled “Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, Peer-Delivered Services and Peer-Operated Agencies: Opportunities for Collaboration and Expansion” that summarized the findings of a conference we had cosponsored in late 2019. This presentation will review some key findings and recommendations and will explore innovative arrangements between CCBHCs and a peer run agency in Western New York.
Overcoming Health Inequities at the Individual and Organizational Levels
PowerPoint
Anne Wilder, President; Kesha Carter, Chief Diversity Officer; Jason Kuby, Chief Financial Officer; Tabitha Gerwitz, Senior Consultant, Data, Specialist, Coordinated Care Services, Inc.
Moderator: Lenora Reid-Rose, Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives and Racial Equity, Coordinated Care Services, Inc.
Right now, the entire country is paying attention to racism, but antiracism cannot be something people think about only in this moment: The work to dismantle racism is a long-term commitment to both an organizational and individual journey in which we have to closely examine our personal and systemic values, beliefs, biases and blind spots. With increased awareness and understanding, we can move to building skill and competency in order to drive practice change to improve equitable outcome. We all must make a commitment to ourselves, our communities, and the agencies in which we work. In this facilitated panel discussion, we will highlight how staff from a cross-section of Coordinated Care Services, Inc. are playing a role to dismantle racism both within their organization as well as supporting other organizations in this critical work. They will also share their successes and challenges as they strive to become an antiracist organization.
Rethinking our Space: Creating a Sustainable Hybrid Work Environment
Amy Dorin, CEO, The Coalition for Behavioral Health; Nadjete Natchaba, Vice President of Recovery and Treatment, S:US; Scott Thomas, Division Director of Clinical Rehabilitation Services, MHA of Columbia-Greene Counties; Yaberci Perez-Cubillan, Senior Vice President of Behavioral Health and Primary Care Integration Services, Acacia Network
Moderator: Edye Schwartz, Edye Schwartz Consulting, LLC
The effects of the pandemic on our health care system have been broad and many agencies have had to “pivot” rather quickly to continue to provide needed services to our communities. Some results have had unexpected consequences, some of which have been surprisingly positive. Telehealth has been a game changer with many service participants enjoying the connection without the hassles of child-care coverage and transportation, inclement weather and health issues. Many organizations are rethinking their need for “group space” in light of what the future holds for them. Join this panel as we explore the strengths and challenges that working from home have brought and how we may be changing our physical space needs as we move forward to face those challenges.