2024 SEEDS Schedule
8:00 am-8:50 am Check-in Opening Remarks
8:50 am-9:00 am Break/Move to breakout #1
9:00 am-10:00 am Breakout session #1
10:00 am-10:15 am Break/Move to breakout #2
10:15 am-11:15 am Breakout session #2
11:15 am-11:30 am Break/Start grabbing lunch (Provided)
11:30 am-12:30 pm Lunch & Live music from Zero Reasons Band
12:30 pm-1:00 pm Keynote Speaker Charles “Chick” Arnold
1:00 pm-1:15 pm Break/Move to Breakout #3
1:15 pm-2:15 pm Breakout session #3
2:15 pm-2:30 pm Break/Move back to Main hall
2:30 pm-4:00 pm In our Own Voice-NAMI Valley of the Sun & Closing remarks
Breakout Sessions
Breakout Sessions #1 9:00-10:00
The Continuum of Suicide Prevention
This presentation will focus on suicide prevention, assessment, and postvention efforts for youth from a continuum perspective, in which all aspects are further aspects of prevention. The key aspects of suicide prevention will be highlighted, along with the critical elements of effective suicide risk assessment and supportive postvention responses. Each of these aspects will be highlighted as an ongoing cycle within the realm of suicide prevention; for example, there will be discussion of how risk assessment can be used to develop preventative coping plans and how postvention responses can increase preventative awareness and supports. Aspects of building resiliency in our youth through these efforts, especially with our most vulnerable populations, will be addressed as well.
Dr. Paula McCall is an Arizona licensed psychologist and Nationally Certified School Psychologist who specializes in working with children and adolescents in her private practice, Next Step Psychology. She is also the founder, director, and president of Semicolon Society, an Arizona nonprofit organization providing free community mental health education with an emphasis on suicide prevention and postvention education, events, and supports. Dr. McCall is passionate about mental health education and has collaborated with multiple school districts and local agencies to build suicide risk assessment procedures as well as provide community supports and education on various topics related to mental health as well as adolescent development and needs. She has presented on various topics including suicide prevention, assessment, and postvention for national conferences including the American Psychological Association and the National Association of School Psychologists. Dr. McCall has also recently been awarded the award for Distinguished Contribution to the Professional Practice of Psychology by the Arizona Psychological Association. Her proudest role though is that of being a mom to her two children.
Building Resilience by Addressing the Social Determinants of Health
Resilience is defined in the literature as an outcome of “successful and sustained adaptation to adversity.” There are three aspects to resilience: The first is recovery, or how well people bounce back and recover from a challenge. Second is sustainability or the capacity to continue forward in the face of future adversity. The third is that there is growth, a “New Normal.” Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the nonmedical factors that influence health outcomes. They are the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and age, and the wider set of forces and systems shaping the conditions of daily life. By addressing SDOH we build the skills, supports and relationships that are necessary for successful and sustained adaptation to the life and health conditions we experience. While recovery is the first important step, resilience is the goal.
Michael Franczak currently serves as the Director of Population Health Services for Copa Health, Mesa, Arizona. Dr. Franczak has been involved in Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Intellectual Disability services in Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Arizona for the past 40 years. Dr. Franczak has served as an expert witness in many landmark cases concerning Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities and currently serves as an expert to the US Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division. Dr. Franczak has been the primary investigator on numerous grants from the Substance Abuse Mental Health Service Administration including Housing Approaches for Persons with a Serious Mental Illness, Jail Diversion for Persons with a Serious Mental Illness, Integrated Substance Abuse Mental Health Treatment Models, System of Care Practices for Children and Adolescents and Substance Abuse Services for Adolescents. His current work focuses on using and analyzing data to create actional information to improve individual outcomes. Dr. Franczak was awarded the Mental Health America of Arizona Hall of Fame Award in 2018.
Jacqueline Webster currently serves as the Assistant Director of Population Health with Copa Health, a non-profit organization that provides integrated care services, housing, and employment related services to individuals with complex needs. In her role, Dr. Webster collaborates across departments and utilizes data to improve client outcomes and implement population health initiatives. Over the course of her career, Dr. Webster has continued to bring her passions for human services and diversity initiatives to the community through her work as a counselor and advocate for underserved populations. Dr. Webster utilizes her educational background and experience when teaching university classes to help develop the next generation of culturally competent, community engaged behavioral health professionals. Her enthusiasm to work with people has also translated to her involvement with local mentoring programs that focus on bridging gaps and mentor access within minority communities.
Threads of Women's Health: Weaving Behavioral Health Services Into the Fabric of Women's Care
This presentation will discuss the current maternity health crisis in the United States and identify racial disparities to care. It will also identify ways to distinguish between baby blues and postpartum depression. To identify ways to properly intervene, effective screening tools and interventions will be identified. This presentation will also address the benefits of using the psychiatric collaborative care model to embed mental health professionals in medical offices to provide upfront and onsite care for women during and after pregnancy.
Christina Abby, DSW, LMSW
Dr. Christina Abby attended Alcorn State University where she earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology. After working in community mental health for over five years, she aspired to reach even greater heights and continue her educational journey. Combining her knowledge of human behavior, work experience, and drive to empower others, she obtained a master’s in social work from Jackson State University and finally her Doctorate in Social Work with an emphasis in management and innovation from the University of Southern California.
With over 15 years of social service experience, Dr. Abby has worked with patients of all ages from preschool-aged children to the geriatric population. Uniquely amongst her cohort, she also worked with unaccompanied refugee minors from Africa, Central America, and Asia. Before entering the world of behavioral health integration, she leveraged her social work expertise in the medical field in both hospital and dialysis settings.
Now as Director of Training & Curriculum at evolvedMD, the leader in behavioral health integration in modern primary care, Dr. Abby develops clinical and educational curricula, facilitates program implementations, leads research initiatives, and manages grants. Among her proudest accomplishments during her tenure is launching evolvedMD’s first company-wide diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative. In 2019, she took her advocacy efforts to Capitol Hill to discuss the importance of financial literacy for children in low-income communities with legislators. Dr. Abby is a strong advocate for increasing access to high-quality behavioral health services for marginalized communities. Ultimately, she is most proud of being able to wield her educational background and professional experiences to provide services to patients and families in a diverse range of settings.
Lydia Jones, LCSW
Lydia Jones, LCSW believes in making a meaningful impact on people’s lives every day so it is no surprise she decided to joined the field of social work. She joined the ranks of Arizona State University’s esteemed alumni by earning a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Social Work from the university. While in school, she worked with children with special needs and also completed several internships in home, community, and school settings. She began her post-graduate career path as a school social worker, followed by grant work within a pediatric clinic, and a brief stint in community mental health.
At her current place of employment, Lydia was hired as one of evolvedMD’s first Behavioral Health Managers, providing direct services to patients via the enhanced Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model in primary care practices. In 2021, she was promoted to be evolvedMD’s Training Manager and has trained more than half the company’s behavioral health clinicians. She has also presented
As Training Manager, Lydia is charged with training and onboarding all new Behavioral Health Managers before they join their collaborative care teams at our partners’ primary care practices. In her role, Lydia helps evolvedMD’s newest clinicians become more comfortable with the company’s innovative model, ultimately creating champions for whole-patient care. She also works hard to create an environment conducive to learning on their journeys to becoming better clinicians. Her impact in the behavioral health field knows no bounds and will continue to create meaningful change.
Breakout Session #2 10:15-11:15
Power of Lived Experience Professional Development
Power of Lived Experience Professional Development workshop will focus on how we can improve our workforce development of lived experience professionals (Peer and Family Support Specialists) to obtain higher quality of care, address workforce shortages, and encourage professional development within the workforce. This interactive workshop will include hands on activities and discussions regarding the need for professional development of lived experience professionals. We will highlight the successes of our organization training over 1000 peer and family support specialists in Arizona . We will review the importance of focusing on diverse training topics including foundational knowledge of ethics and boundaries, appropriate disclosure to more specialized topics related to justice involvement and substance use recovery. Lived Experience Professionals are often on the front lines and in the field doing meaningful work of member engagement. However, they are often the least trained within most organizations creating additional knowledge gaps and burnout. We have focused on addressing the training gaps within Arizona to ensure that our lived experience professionals have the support and knowledge to utilize their lived experience for positive impacts with ease. This workshop will challenge conference attendees to explore what are the learning gaps within their communities, and how they can address them utilizing professional development opportunities. We will review the lessons learned of providing professional development opportunities at a state level to multiple organizations. after
Hayley Winterberg is our Executive Director for Arizona Peer and Family Career Academy. In this role she ensures that we are elevating the peer and family support workforce, offering consulting services to support organizational growth to providers, and supporting the peer and family support network. She is passionate about advancing the utilization of peer and family support throughout our health care system to make a positive impact. Hayley has a long-standing passion for collaborating in Arizona. In 2008, Hayley cofounded MY LIFE (Magellan Youth Leaders Inspiring Future Empowerment) which started with 10 members and at the first event attracted over 3,000 participants. Since then, she has traveled all over the United States to speak, organize events, and inspire similar groups supporting behavioral health and substance abuse. Prior to joining the AzPFCA, Hayley was the System Transformation Manager for Magellan/Molina Complete Care of Arizona focused on transforming the systems with lived experience perspectives. Hayley was the Development and Young Adult Center Manager for a local peer run organization. Additionally, Hayley has more than 10 years’ experience as a private consultant for social service organizations in the areas of project management, strategic planning, recruiting, policy development, marketing, training, and public speaking. Hayley is the recipient of numerous awards including the 2010, “M Power” award from Mental Health America for being the top youth advocate for mental health in the 50 states; the 2015, Young Adult Leadership award by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA); the 2016, Servant Leader Champion award from The Faithful City; and the 2019 Elsie Eyer CUP (Commitment to Under-served Populations) Award from the Arizona Public Health Association. In 2021, she received the Disruptive Innovator award from the National Association of Peer Supporters. Hayley earned a Master’s degree in Public Administration and a Master’s in Leadership from Grand Canyon University, and a Bachelor’s in Human Services with a concentration in management from University of Phoenix. She lives in Buckeye, Arizona with her husband, son and foster son.
Rethinking Mental Health: Harnessing Psychedelics for Change
Josh will present on the failures of our current mental health systems and interventions. With that backdrop, he will speak to the promise of psychedelics as mental health solutions, the research this optimism is based on, and the legislation he drafted (SB1570) which has currently passed through the house and senate.
Josh Mozell is one of the few attorneys in the nation with a family-focused mental healthcare practice, helping to guide families through the complex maze of legal issues that affect loved ones with serious mental illness and/or substance abuse issues. He provides counsel on civil commitment, guardianship, special needs estate planning, and consultation on navigating the mental health system. He also represents hospitals, behavioral health providers, and clinicians, regularly providing counsel on capacity, HIPAA, civil commitment, interaction with law enforcement, end-of-life decision making, and advance directives. In addition, he represents mental health and healthcare professionals in disciplinary proceedings.
For four years after earning his undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona, Josh worked in Maricopa County's public mental health system. Before and during law school, Josh worked nights at Maricopa County's crisis line, the Crisis Response Network.
Josh is president of the Association for the Chronically Mentally Ill, the president of the Psychedelic Association of Arizona, was appointed by the President of the Senate as a member of the Joint Legislative Psychiatric Hospital Review, was the chair of Independent Oversight Committee on SMI; was the board chair of Mental Health America of Arizona; was the chair of the Executive Council of the State Bar's Elder Law, Mental Health and Special Needs Planning Section, is a member of the Solari Advisory board, and a member of the advisory board to Community Bridges.
Advancing Mental Health Care: Exploring Pharmacogenomic Biomarker Testing
Pharmacogenomics is a field at the intersection of pharmacology and genetics, which utilizes an individual’s genetic makeup to help understand and better predict their response to specific medications. By analyzing a patient’s DNA and its impact on drug metabolism and efficacy, pharmacogenomics (PGx) provides valuable insights that can inform treatment decisions and improve health outcomes. Medication selection for patients with depression consists widely of a trial-error approach. Tools like the GeneSight pharmacogenomics test may help doctors understand their patients better and help to reduce the trial-and-error medication selection process. This personalized approach to medicine can help get patients on the road to mental wellness. This session will offer an overview of psychiatric pharmacogenomic testing, including interpretation of results, and highlight its utility in Major Depressive Disorder, supported by evidence from multiple large, randomized controlled trials. Join us as we explore how pharmacogenomic testing can pave the way to mental wellness.
Dr. Morgan Freas is an Executive Medical Science Liaison at Myriad Genetics based in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Biology at Mercer University in Macon, GA before going on to the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth, TX to receive her Doctorate of Pharmacy (PharmD). She is a licensed pharmacist experienced in the clinical application of pharmacogenomic testing in mental health and has a strong interest in advancing pharmacist involvement in pharmacogenomic testing through medication management. During her time at Myriad Genetics, Morgan has given countless presentations on scientific topics related to pharmacogenomics, mental health, and health equity.
Rental Housing, Disabilities, & Animals: What Advocates Should Know!
Housing instability plays a critical role in many social determinants of health. Under Federal Fair Housing Laws, Disabilities is the #1 category of Housing Discrimination across the U.S. 60% of calls were based on disability in 2023. This session will cover Rental Housing, Disabilities, & Animals: What Advocates Should Know! People with all types of disabilities face eviction from rentals without knowing their rights. Landlords can evict tenants for a variety of reasons. However, knowing your rights under Federal Fair Housing Laws has helped others stay in their homes. It is important for advocates to understand the process of Reasonable Accommodation Requests. There are powerful tools of knowledge to help keep our communities housed. Something for all Equity Advocates to know!
Cheri Horbacz leads the Education & Outreach program of the Southwest Fair Housing Council (SWFHC) as a Certified Statewide Instructor since 2006. SWFHC is a nonprofit campaign dedicated to protecting our community’s housing rights and family wealth by working to eliminate all forms of illegal discrimination related to housing and abusive financial practices. Cheri is a Fair Housing Certified Instructor with the Az Dept of Real Estate.
Breakout Session #3 1:15-2:15
From Prevention to Recovery: A Comprehensive Approach to Eating Disorder Treatment
Dive into a comprehensive presentation offering insights into the multifaceted landscape of eating disorders. From raising awareness to fostering prevention, timely intervention, and resilient recovery, this session covers every aspect of the journey. Participants will gain invaluable knowledge on recognizing early warning signs, implementing effective prevention strategies, and accessing timely interventions. Moreover, the presentation delves into the nuances of building a strong foundation for recovery, emphasizing the importance of holistic support systems and evidence-based approaches. Whether you're a healthcare professional, educator, or community advocate, this presentation equips you with the tools and understanding needed to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those affected by eating disorders. Join us as we navigate the path towards greater awareness, prevention, intervention, and recovery building.
Rebekah Day is an experienced Licensed Master Social Work (LMSW), primary therapist, and Assistant Clinical Director at Rosewood Centers for Eating Disorders in Tempe. Specializing in treatment eating disorders and anxiety, Rebekah employs CBT, DBT, and ACT. With a focus on empowerment and a humanistic approach, Rebekah facilitates transformative group and individual therapy for both adult and adolescent populations in PHP and IOP settings. As a Certified Clinical Trauma Specialist, she brings specialized knowledge to address trauma-related issues and uses CPT for co-occurring PTSD. Her dedication to holistic healing and ongoing professional development makes her a trusted advocate for those seeking recovery and communities seeking support resources.
Incorporating Youth Leaders in Mental Health Care
We will propose the importance of youth being involved in mental health support decisions made on their behalf. Oftentimes, adults are the only voices heard when making decisions on behalf of youth. We believe that it is beneficial for organizations to add a few members to their team who will be known as youth representatives. These youth representatives would be the voice for youth as a whole. We believe that this addition will allow more youth members to reach out to organizations for help and resources, as well as help them navigate what they may be experiencing. In this aspect, we will also be discussing the additional support that the youth representatives could provide, as these individuals would be trained and well versed in mental health first aid. We will support this idea using current literature, in order to support the benefits of having an additional form of youth representation. after
Estrella Contreras is a first generation undergraduate student double majoring in Psychology and Neuroscience. She is a Lab Coordinator for the ENGAGE Lab, a Research Assistant with the Arizona Twin Project and the Emotion, Culture and Psychophysiology lab, and a Case Supervision Intern for the Maricopa County Department of Public Health through ASU SORT. Her research interests focus on the biopsychosocial underpinnings determining how adversity and long term sickness contribute to the development of functional symptoms. Estrella volunteers with an organization called Functional Neurological Disorder(FND) Hope, which has shown her the stigmatization stemming from misunderstanding FND within healthcare. She is also from a Latino borderland community, where individuals did not have substantial access to medical resources or much opportunity to learn about scientific findings related to public health. Because of this, Estrella plans on attending a Clinical Translational Sciences PhD program to help alleviate stigma surrounding marginalized conditions such Functional Neurological Disorder, through contributing to the improvement of diagnostic processes and interventions.
Echoes of Transformation: Going From Patient to Provider to Advocate
Workshop description- Understanding & Eliminating Self Stigma (this workshop will walk participants through a perspective from someone with lived experience with mental illness to identify what may contribute to strengthening self stigma. Participants will understand how to not only identify the ways in which self stigma can manifest but helpful tools to eliminate the shame, fear and isolation that feeds it.
Paris Scobie is Host of the top 1.5% globally ranked podcast, Live Well Bipolar, Author of Crooked Illness: Lessons From Inside & Outside Hospital Walls and Speaker for NAMI Valley of The Sun. She shares how she went from being a patient struggling from inside the walls of a psychiatric hospital newly diagnosed with bipolar to returning to work at this same hospital years later. This unique perspective has allowed Paris to share her experiences on what truly made a difference for her to help others. Paris received her BA in Psychology from The University of Arizona and her MBA in Healthcare Administration from Western Governors University. Today, Paris uses her platform to highlight the stories of her guests who inspire hope in her day after day. Through storytelling, Paris illustrates how each conversation demonstrates the value our lives hold through the strength of community. Paris works to illustrate how everything she told herself she could never have or be is everything she has become today. Stay connected with Paris and learn more about her work here: https://parisscobie.com/
Advancing the Understanding of Postpartum Depression
An overview of postpartum depression, signs and symptoms, and unmet need. More information coming soon.
