Training and Events Calendar

This 90-minute webinar features presenters sharing their lived experience with mental health conditions to combat stigma and provide further information and resources. ABOUT THIS EVENT The Northwest MHTTC is proud to partner with National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Seattle to present "In Our Own Voice." NAMI In Our Own Voice presentations change attitudes, assumptions and stereotypes about people with mental health conditions. This 90-minute presentation will provide a personal perspective of mental illness, as presenters with lived experience talk openly about what it's like to live with a mental health condition. Their trained presenters humanize the misunderstood, highly stigmatized topic of mental illness by showing that it’s possible—and common—to live well with a mental health condition. This presentation also provides: a chance to ask presenters questions, allowing for a deeper understanding of mental health conditions and dispelling of stereotypes and misconceptions the understanding that every person with a mental health condition can hope for a brighter future information on how to learn more about mental health and get involved with the mental health community.   SPEAKERS Abhishek Kulkarni (he/him) Greg Barber (he/him)    

ABOUT THIS EVENT The Northwest MHTTC is excited to collaborate with the Mountain West AIDS Education & Training Center Program (AETC) on this webinar series related to sexual health.  People often think about sex as something that happens in our bodies, but much of our sex life occurs in our brains. It is critical to understand that for all genders our feelings and thoughts play a significant role in our sexual health. Anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, depression, and psychosis all include symptoms that affect sexual life, such as decreased arousal, desire, or sexual satisfaction. Living with a mental illness can harm a person's self-esteem and make them feel undeserving of sexual attention or a healthy relationship. Medications to treat mental disorders can cause or exacerbate sexual dysfunction. Behavioral health providers play a unique role in their clients’ lives, and treatment relationships provide opportunities to support client sexual health. Session 1 of the series will provide the rationale for integrating sexual health and behavioral health care, and an overview of the research highlighting the importance of this issue. Part 1 of the Sexual Health Series (click to view all sessions in this series). FACILITATORS Lydia Chwastiak, MD, MPH Dr. Chwastiak is a psychiatrist, internist and health services researcher who is a Professor in the UW Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.  Over the past 22 years, her research has focused on improving care and outcomes for people with complex needs in low resource settings, such as low-barrier primary care clinics and community mental health centers in the US, and primary and secondary medical settings in India and Nepal. Dr. Chwastiak is co-directs the UW Behavioral Research in HIV (BIRCH) Center, an NIMH-funded AIDS Research Center, and is the PI and co-director of the Northwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (NW MHTTC). Christina Clayton, MSW, LICSW, SUDP Christina Clayton has been in the behavioral health field since 1993, primarily serving adults who live with severe mental health issues, substance use, experience chronic homelessness, suffer from poor physical health, trauma and any number of co-occurring issues. Christina has education and licenses/credentials in clinical social work, mental health and substance use, and highly values her direct service experience. Prior to joining the MHTTC in 2018, she spent 25 years working in and managing numerous clinical programs. She has provided licensure supervision, training and consultation, and has been a SW Field Instructor since 2000 She is Co-Director for the Northwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center and Interim Assistant Dean & Director of Field Education for the UW School of Social Work. Victor Ramirez, MSPH Mountain West AETC, Washington State Training Coordinator Mountain West AETC Local Partner University of Washington, Washington State Training Coordinator   Laurie Sylla MHSA Laurie Sylla has been involved with AIDS since the early 1980s, as an agency/program director, direct service provider, advocate, researcher, coalition leader, and educator. She is a co-founder of the AIDS Council of Northeastern New York and the Community Research Initiative of New England (CRI). She is currently the Director of the Mountain West AIDS Education & Training Center, based at the University of Washington.  

The Northwest MHTTC is excited to partner with Lamarr Lewis to offer a live learning community on cultural humility and responsiveness as a mental health practitioner. 6 hours of CE contact hours available* (see below.) ABOUT THE LEARNING COMMUNITY This learning community will focus on learning how to demonstrate cultural humility in organizational practices, service provision, and strategies. Participants will learn to acknowledge and improve awareness while being responsive to decisions, actions, and policies shaped by their personal cultural perspectives. Participants will develop an orientation and active engagement towards the process of building more open and understanding environments as a way to create healthier workplace cultures while advancing equity and being inclusionary of the diversity within the Northwest behavioral health workforce.  Objectives Learn ways to validate the experience of others while identifying your own “blind spots” to increase empathy for those we serve. Acknowledge the need for cultural awareness and understanding, through self-reflection to create change and more supportive workplace environments. Develop the ability to reframe interactions with others as one of collaborative equals. Increase awareness of similarities and differences among and between cultural groups and appreciate the benefits of cultural diversity.  ELIGIBILITY Members of the mental health/behavioral health workforce who are based in the states of Alaska, Oregon, Idaho & Washington (HHS Region 10) Commitment to attend the whole series is required Each individual must have access to computer/web camera/audio to participate Seats are limited, we will notify you of your application status by April 26. Questions: For questions about this series, including eligibility and registration please contact the Northwest MHTTC at [email protected]. SESSIONS: Tuesdays, May 7 - 28, 2024 12:00 - 1:30 pm AK / 1:00 - 2:30pm PT / 2:00 - 3:30pm MT Stay tuned for session breakdowns. FACILITATOR Lamarr Lewis, MA, LAPC, CPRP Lamarr Lewis is a dedicated advocate, author, and agent of change. With a focus on community-based mental health, he works with diverse groups including individuals living with psychiatric disabilities, people in recovery from substance abuse, and at-hope youth (He does not use the term at-risk). He is an alumnus of Wittenberg University graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with minors in Africana Studies and Religion. He later received his master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Argosy University. His career spans over twenty years with experience as a therapist, consultant, and human service professional. He has been a featured expert and trainer for such organizations as; Boeing, Fulton County Probate Court, Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network, Mississippi Department of Health, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Region IV Public Health Training Center, the Ruby Neeson Diabetes Awareness Foundation, and more. His lifelong mission is to leave the world better than how he found it. *Continuing Education Contact Hours Details Physicians, physician assistants, primary care ARNPs, psychologists, and other health care providers may be eligible for CME or CEUs for completing the course. Retain your Certificate of Completion and verify its suitability for CME/CEUs with your licensing/credentialing entity. The University of Washington is an approved provider of continuing education for DOH licensed social workers, licensed mental health counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, psychologists, substance use disorder professionals, nurses and physicians under the provisions of: WAC 246-809-610, WAC 246-809-620, WAC 246-811-200, WAC 246-840-210, WAC 246-919-460 and WAC 246-924-240.

ABOUT THIS EVENT Learn to recognize signs of compassion fatigue and secondary trauma – both subtle and overt – and strategies to address them, as well as ongoing practices to care for your sense of self and connection to community in the face of emotionally challenging work. Offered in partnership with NAMI Seattle. FACILITATOR Paul Getzel, Executive Director Paul joined the NAMI Seattle team in 2022. His prior history includes work in community health, food security, HIV/AIDS, and health equity advocacy. Paul is compelled in this work by the strong belief in the power of peer-to-peer models in reducing racial and social disparities, facilitating access to mental health services, reducing stigma, and building enduring support for individuals and families pursuing their best possible mental health. 

ABOUT THIS EVENT It’s estimated that 50 million adults in the United States have chronic daily pain and approximately 19.6 million of those adults are experiencing high impact chronic pain that interferes with daily life or work activities. Nation-wide the cost of chronic pain is estimated to be between $560-635 billion annually and our nation is facing an opioid crisis that, over the past two decades, has resulted in an unprecedented wave of overdose deaths associated with prescription opioids, heroin, and synthetic opioids. Multidisciplinary and biopsychosocial pain management has long been the gold standard for the treatment of care, yet most allied behavioral health professionals are not trained in evidence-based interventions for chronic pain. This 90-minute workshop will utilize the shared knowledge of the University of Washington Center for Pain Relief’s multidisciplinary team to provide education and training on evidence-based interventions to support those in chronic pain. FACILITATORS Kaitlin Touza, PhD Kaitlin Touza is a pain psychologist and acting assistant professor at the University of Washington’s Center for Pain Relief. She provides evidence-based individual and group intervention, including CBT, ACT, EAET, and PRT.  She also provides consultation to a broad population in the Pacific Northwest region and Alaska through UW’s TelePain program. Kaitlin is fellowship trained at Stanford in clinical pain psychology and is committed to multidisciplinary care and education in pain management. She is passionate about educational outreach and program development for patients, family members, and healthcare providers, with the goal of improving access to specialized multidisciplinary pain management in rural and underserved populations. She believes in a patient-centered, evidence-based, and biopsychosocial approach to intervention, program development, and assessment.   Bethany Pester, PhD Bethany Pester is a pain psychologist and acting assistant professor at the University of Washington’s Center for Pain Relief. Her patient-centered approach incorporates evidence-based psychological treatments for chronic pain, such as CBT, ACT, EAET, and PRT, while partnering with each patient to understand their unique needs and tailor treatment accordingly. Bethany has collaborated with research teams at UW/Seattle Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical System, Medical University of South Carolina, and academic medical centers across Michigan to study biopsychosocial approaches to understand, treat, and prevent acute and chronic pain. She is passionate about advancing research to better understand these complex conditions and translate discoveries into effective personalized treatments for children, adolescents, and adults.   Eric Wanzel, MSW, LICSW Eric Wanzel is a masters-level therapist at the University of Washington’s Center for Pain Relief.  Eric has a special interest in the intersections between chronic pain and PTSD and provides evidence-based interventions to this population including CBT, ACT, PRT, CPT, PE, and WET.  He received his foundational training at the State University of New York and specialized training with the Neuro Orthopaedic Institute Australasia (i.e. noigroup) in pain neuroscience education and graded motor imagery.  Eric strives to provide whole person and multidisciplinary healthcare to underserved populations in addition to educational outreach and training for healthcare providers.   Elisabeth Powelson, MD, MSc Elisabeth Powelson is trained in anesthesia and pain medicine and treats patients at the University of Washington’s Center for Pain Relief and Harborview Medical Center. Additionally, she is an acting assistant professor in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine and a T32 Research Fellow at the Pediatric and Sleep Innovations Lab.  She has a special interest in post-traumatic pain, PTSD, and pain in older adults. She believes that pain treatment requires a comprehensive multimodal approach and focuses on a partnership with her patients to improve their overall wellness and improve their quality of life. 

Reasonable accommodations and modifications for tenants with mental or behavioral health conditions is the focus of this 90-minute webinar. ABOUT THIS EVENT Housing isn't "one size fits all," and tenants with mental or behavioral health conditions might need adjustments to their housing so they, too, can have a stable, healthy home. Reasonable accommodations and modifications can help tenants make these necessary adjustments to their rental so their house can become a home. During this presentation, attorneys will review what reasonable accommodations and modifications are, how to talk to landlords about them, and provide tips on handling difficult cases. The Northwest MHTTC is proud to offer this webinar in partnership with the Tenant Law Center. Additional Resources: Washington Low Income Housing Alliance - want to get involved with WLIHA? Please email [email protected] King County Tenant Resource Line, open M-F (except holidays) from 9 AM to 1 PM: (206) 580-0762 Solid Ground classes: Webinars for tenants  FACILITATORS Elizabeth Powell, Staff Attorney Elizabeth Powell has been actively practicing law since she was admitted to the Washington Bar in 2000. She volunteered for the King County Housing Justice Project for years and took the knowledge she gained representing tenants facing evictions into her private practice, where she litigated well over a thousand cases in the last 23 years. She was solo counsel on Thoreson Homes v Prudhon, a Div I published decision which reversed the trial court. She has presented at CLE’s geared towards landlord-tenant litigation and has assisted with litigation and/or settlement of housing cases all over the state. She has handled grievance hearings with PCHA, THA, SHA, and KCHA. She has litigated matters involving the WSLAD, the ADA and service animals, and reasonable accommodation. Kasey Burton, Senior Staff Attorney Kasey Burton is a Senior Staff Attorney at the Tenant Law Center, which provides eviction prevention and tenant advocacy services to King County. Kasey has spent several years practicing landlord-tenant law as both a right-to-counsel attorney for tenants facing eviction and providing eviction prevention assistance, which has allowed her to pursue her passion for housing justice.  Kasey attended the University of Washington for both her Bachelor’s in Political Science, with a minor in Law, Societies, and Justice, and her Juris Doctorate. She is currently working on her Master’s in Public Administration at the University of Colorado Denver and hopes to use this degree to facilitate her engagement in policy change that provides Washington citizens who are tenants or unhoused with the protections they deserve.

A series of monthly calls for ACT psychiatric care providers. Offered in collaboration with the Institute for Best Practices at the University of North Carolina. ABOUT THIS EVENT Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is a multidisciplinary, team-based model that provides intensive community-based and outreach-oriented services to people who experience the most severe and persistent mental illness. The vast majority also have a co-occurring substance use disorder and many experience comorbid medical illnesses. The Northwest MHTTC is hosting a series for ACT psychiatric care providers. We welcome all ACT psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and other prescribers. Sessions will be held once a month on Thursdays at 12:00-1:30 pm Pacific/3:00-4:30 pm Eastern. Learn more about the series and upcoming sessions here. This presentation will define an ACT Psychiatrist, discuss ACT Team and Psychiatrist expectations, and share how to best advocate for the client while working within a multidisciplinary team setting. Learning Objectives At the end of the presentation participants should be able to do the following: Describe ways in which ACT psychiatry differs from other psychiatric practices and is a unique version of community psychiatry Identify skill sets important for ACT Psychiatrists Understand personal characteristics which serve ACT Psychiatrists well and make the work fulfilling FACILITATORS Steve Harker, MD Dr. Steve Harker has been committed to the ACT model for almost 20 years in a variety of roles. Dr. Harker is an ACT psychiatrist based in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is a certified ACT Fidelity Reviewer and frequently conducts case consultations to PACT teams in Washington state. He also advises students in Hennepin-Regions' psychiatry residency program and conducts training in Hennepin-Regions' Training Institute.   Ann Hackman, MD Dr. Ann Hackman is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.  She completed her psychiatry residency training at the University of Maryland in 1994.  She is a board certified psychiatrist with added qualifications in forensics and addictions.  She is the Division Director for Community Psychiatry, Medical Director for the University of Maryland’s Programs of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT), Senior Education Consultant and Senior Psychiatrist for the Recovery After Initial Schizophrenia Episode (RA1SE) program.  She has longstanding interest in serious mental illness, in the treatment of people living with schizophrenia and in underserved populations including people experiencing homelessness.

ABOUT THIS EVENT The Northwest MHTTC is excited to collaborate with the Mountain West AIDS Education & Training Center Program (AETC) on this webinar series related to sexual health.  Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) data collection and documentation are a key component of enhancing meaningful dialogue during clinical encounters and promoting the provision of high-quality care. The collection of SOGI data are a critical step in systematically documenting and addressing health disparities affecting LGBTQIA+ persons. Client-provider discussions about SOGI can facilitate a more accurate assessment of self-reported health and behaviors. Accurate SOGI data collection is a vital part of establishing a good client-provider relationship and conveys competence and humility. The second session of the series will highlight best practices for obtaining and documenting SOGI data and help build provider skills and confidence in these activities. Learning Objectives  Define and differentiate sexual orientation, gender, and sex.  Differentiate gender modality, identity, and expression.  Identify how asking questions about sexual orientation, gender, and sex improves healthcare for the patient and explain this value to others.  Describe how stigma operates in healthcare environments and identify strategies to counter stigma.  Utilize affirming language when asking sexual orientation, gender, and sex questions of all patients.  Part 2 of the Sexual Health Series (click to view all sessions in this series). FACILITATORS Lydia Chwastiak, MD, MPH Dr. Chwastiak is a psychiatrist, internist and health services researcher who is a Professor in the UW Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.  Over the past 22 years, her research has focused on improving care and outcomes for people with complex needs in low resource settings, such as low-barrier primary care clinics and community mental health centers in the US, and primary and secondary medical settings in India and Nepal. Dr. Chwastiak is co-directs the UW Behavioral Research in HIV (BIRCH) Center, an NIMH-funded AIDS Research Center, and is the PI and co-director of the Northwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (NW MHTTC). Dayna Morrison, BA, MHP Dayna K. Morrison, BA, MHP, brings over 20 years of experience working with people living with HIV/AIDS in Oregon and abroad. In her current role as Program Manager for the Oregon AETC and Lead Faculty for SOGI (sexual orientation/gender identity), Ms. Morrison has provided capacity building assistance to health care systems, federally qualified health centers, and clinicians in efforts to build more inclusive healthcare environments. Additionally, she has coordinated the LGBTQ+ Health Coalition of the Columbia-Willamette since 2010 representing LGBTQ+ voices in Health Equity Workgroups through the Oregon Health Authority. Previous professional positions include Director of HIV Services at Quest Center for Integrative Health, and Program Coordinator for the CDC Global AIDS Program.   Rachel Greim, MPH Rachel Greim (she/her) is the Equity Manager with the Oregon AIDS Education and Training Center (AETC), located at the Oregon Primary Care Association. She is originally from southern California and moved to Portland to complete her MPH at the OHSU-PSU School of Public Health, where she focused on reproductive health, community health, and sexual and gender minority health. In her work at the AETC, she coordinates the biennial 2SLGBTQ+ Meaningful Care Conference and delivers trainings on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) to clinics and other healthcare settings. Her work also supports the Oregon Health Authority’s Office of Equity and Inclusion in implementing SOGI data collection by state-funded programs. In addition to her SOGI work, Rachel coordinates trainings on antiracism and trauma-informed care for HIV care and service providers around the state of Oregon.

This 90-minute virtual consultation call with ACT teams and ACT stakeholders consists of a mini-didactic training on a topic of relevance and interest to ACT teams, plus opportunities to pose consultation questions and learn from other ACT teams and their shared experiences within ACT. ABOUT THIS EVENT Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is a multidisciplinary, team-based model that provides intensive community-based and outreach-oriented services to people who experience the most severe and persistent mental illness. The vast majority also have a co-occurring substance use disorder and many experience comorbid medical illnesses as well as homelessness. This is a vulnerable population and their providers – ACT teams – are at elevated risk themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Northwest MHTTC is partnering with the Institute for Best Practices at the University of North Carolina to host and facilitate regular meetings for ACT teams.  Goals of the meetings are to: connect with one another share strategies and resources for adapting team practices and communications    facilitate connection to the most up-to-date resources    For more information or questions, contact: Maria Monroe-DeVita, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine and Director of the Washington State Center of Excellence in First Episode Psychosis or Lorna Moser, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Director of the Institute for Best Practice, Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS SERIES FACILITATORS Lorna Moser, PhD Dr. Lorna Moser is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, and the Director of the Institute for Best Practice, Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health.     Maria Monroe-DeVita, PhD Dr. Monroe-DeVita is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine and the Director, Washington State Center of Excellence in First Episode Psychosis.    

The Northwest MHTTC is proud to collaborate with the University of Washington Integrated Care Training Program (UW ICTP) to present "Cultivating Integrated Care within the Behavioral Health Ecosystem," an in-person conference being held June 6-7, 2024, in Seattle, WA. ABOUT THIS EVENT Integrated care is a crucial component of the behavioral health ecosystem. Supporting our patients and care teams in integrated care requires critical innovations, rethinking approaches and strengthening systems. Join a community of partners to share ideas, learn about clinical and community-level innovations in integrated care, and help improve behavioral healthcare and health equity in the State of Washington and beyond. This conference is open to medical and behavioral health clinicians in integrated care settings, program and clinic administrators, policymakers, peer supports, and other staff supporting integrated care work. For more details and to register, please view the flyer and visit the 2024 Integrated Care Conference website.   Dates Thursday, June 6, 2024,1:00 PM - 6:45 PM PST Friday, June 7, 2024, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM PST Location DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel | 18740 International Blvd, Seattle, WA 98188 The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel is located near the light rail station with direct access to the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. Conference Breakout Threads Building Connections Across the Behavioral Health Ecosystem Integrated Care Skills Workshops Workforce Strategies in Integrated Care Pre-Conference Skills Sessions  

ABOUT THIS EVENT The Northwest MHTTC is excited to collaborate with the Mountain West AIDS Education & Training Center Program (AETC) on this webinar series related to sexual health.  The prevalence of HIV among people who have serious mental illnesses is four times as high as that of the general population. Factors that contribute to increased HIV risk include: psychiatric symptoms (e.g., disorganized thoughts and behaviors, delusions and poor executive functioning); higher rates of co-occurring substance use and other HIV risk behaviors; increased risk of social vulnerabilities, including poverty and housing instability; structural barriers (such as stigma and discrimination) to accessing medical care and prevention services in traditional medical settings. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) refers to medications for HIV-negative people to prevent them from getting HIV-infected. Current guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend informing all sexually active adults and adolescents about PrEP, but in a large 2020 survey of outpatient mental health care programs, only 33% of programs offered HIV testing and only 20% prescribed PrEP. Behavioral health treatment settings offer opportunities for identifying the need for PrEP and linking clients to services. Our third session will provide information about the effectiveness of PrEP for reducing risk of acquiring HIV and describe criteria for eligibility and best practices for initiating and monitoring persons receiving PrEP prescriptions. Learning Objectives: • Provide an overview of PrEP • Review PrEP efficacy and effectiveness • Assess PrEP side effects, risks, HIV-1 drug resistance, and other concerns Part 3 of the Sexual Health Series (click to view all sessions in this series). FACILITATORS Lydia Chwastiak, MD, MPH Dr. Chwastiak is a psychiatrist, internist and health services researcher who is a Professor in the UW Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.  Over the past 22 years, her research has focused on improving care and outcomes for people with complex needs in low resource settings, such as low-barrier primary care clinics and community mental health centers in the US, and primary and secondary medical settings in India and Nepal. Dr. Chwastiak is co-directs the UW Behavioral Research in HIV (BIRCH) Center, an NIMH-funded AIDS Research Center, and is the PI and co-director of the Northwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (NW MHTTC). Joanne D. Stekler, MD, MPH Dr. Stekler began her career working to expand routine HIV antibody testing and access to pooled HIV nucleic acid amplification testing to diagnose acute HIV infection. She has led several studies investigating novel methods to diagnose acute and early HIV infection; comparisons of point-of-care HIV tests; and home, self-testing for HIV infection. Her current work is evaluating the feasibility of implementing point-of-care nucleic acid tests for HIV diagnosis and treatment monitoring in community and clinical sites in Seattle. Her other interests include HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and use of technology for HIV prevention. Dr. Stekler started the first community-based PrEP clinic in Seattle in 2013 and the first telePrEP clinic in 2015. Through collaborations with the Washington State Department of Health and Mountain West AIDS Education and Training Center, she has been working to expand access to PrEP to reduce healthcare disparities among populations disproportionately impacted by HIV.  

The landlord-tenant relationship and behavioral health are the focus of this 90-minute webinar. ABOUT THIS EVENT The landlord-tenant relationship has evolved considerably in the last 50-some years, and yet housing providers sometimes still behave like feudal lords of the land. A tenant who does not understand the actual terms of the modern rental relationship can be swayed by what sound like convincing statements or directives from their landlords, which actually are not in accord with current law at all. The landlord-tenant relationship works when both parties remain professional and businesslike. Generally, a large portion of the tenant’s monthly income is paid to their landlord. When paying for housing, tenants have the right to be treated fairly and lawfully. We will discuss working with landlords and property managers and owners who flout the law and make tenants believe genuine issues don’t matter. The Northwest MHTTC is proud to offer this webinar in partnership with the Tenant Law Center. FACILITATORS Elizabeth Powell, Staff Attorney Elizabeth Powell has been actively practicing law since she was admitted to the Washington Bar in 2000. She volunteered for the King County Housing Justice Project for years and took the knowledge she gained representing tenants facing evictions into her private practice, where she litigated well over a thousand cases in the last 23 years. She was solo counsel on Thoreson Homes v Prudhon, a Div I published decision which reversed the trial court. She has presented at CLE’s geared towards landlord-tenant litigation and has assisted with litigation and/or settlement of housing cases all over the state. She has handled grievance hearings with PCHA, THA, SHA, and KCHA. She has litigated matters involving the WSLAD, the ADA and service animals, and reasonable accommodation.      Kasey Burton, Senior Staff Attorney Kasey Burton is a Senior Staff Attorney at the Tenant Law Center, which provides eviction prevention and tenant advocacy services to King County. Kasey has spent several years practicing landlord-tenant law as both a right-to-counsel attorney for tenants facing eviction and providing eviction prevention assistance, which has allowed her to pursue her passion for housing justice.  Kasey attended the University of Washington for both her Bachelor’s in Political Science, with a minor in Law, Societies, and Justice, and her Juris Doctorate. She is currently working on her Master’s in Public Administration at the University of Colorado Denver and hopes to use this degree to facilitate her engagement in policy change that provides Washington citizens who are tenants or unhoused with the protections they deserve.  

A series of monthly calls for ACT psychiatric care providers. Offered in collaboration with the Institute for Best Practices at the University of North Carolina. ABOUT THIS EVENT Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is a multidisciplinary, team-based model that provides intensive community-based and outreach-oriented services to people who experience the most severe and persistent mental illness. The vast majority also have a co-occurring substance use disorder and many experience comorbid medical illnesses. The Northwest MHTTC is hosting a series for ACT psychiatric care providers. We welcome all ACT psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and other prescribers. Sessions will be held once a month on Thursdays at 12:00-1:30 pm Pacific/3:00-4:30 pm Eastern. Our second session on June 20th will discuss Clozapine and long-acting injectables (LAI). Learn more about the series and upcoming sessions here. Slides FACILITATORS Robert Cotes, MD Dr. Robert O. Cotes is an Associate Professor at Emory University School of Medicine in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. He serves as Physician Expert for SMI Adviser (www.smiadviser.org), which is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and administered by the American Psychiatric Association. SMI Adviser provides evidence-based resources to clinicians, individuals with serious mental illness, and their families. He is Director of the Clinical & Research Program for Psychosis at Grady Health System, which comprises of three clinical programs.  The PSTAR Clinic provides evidence-based, recovery-oriented care for individuals with persistent symptoms of psychosis, specializing in the use of clozapine. Project ARROW is a coordinated specialty care team for people experiencing early psychosis, offering comprehensive, person-centered care using a multidisciplinary approach. Youth and Family TREE provides care to adolescents and young adults with a mental health condition and substance use. Dr. Cotes is an investigator for multiple research studies focused on treatment options for people with psychosis. His research focuses on clozapine and early psychosis.    Donna Rolin, MD Dr. Donna Rolin is a Clinical Associate Professor and the Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner program director at the University of Texas at Austin. She is active in the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, where she recently served on the national Board of Directors for five years, and locally in the Psychiatric Advanced Practice Nurses of Austin organization where she serves as president. Dr. Rolin consistently practices and teaches within an inter-disciplinary model. She has held the role of Clinical Nurse Expert on SMI Adviser’s initiative since 2018, which is an initiative funded by SAMHSA and administered by the American Psychiatric Association. She was appointed as Co-Director of the Institute for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (IDVSA) in 2016, working alongside the Schools of Social Work, Law, and Bureau of Business Research. She recently presented research in England and Scotland with the IDVSA Director on longitudinal mental health outcomes related to campus sexual assault and best practices for establishing a medical home for international survivors of human trafficking, respectively. She practices as a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with a community-based group working with underserved patients with serious mental illnesses and intellectual disabilities in community/ residential facilities. Dr. Rolin’s recent national and regional professional conference presentations focus on topics such as substance use disorders, psychiatric differential diagnoses, psychopharmacology, measurement-based care, and clinician burnout. Dr. Rolin is Co-PI on an Integrated Behavioral Health Scholars initiative funded through a HRSA Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) program and as consultant on a HRSA Graduate Psychology Education (GPE) grant   

The Northwest MHTTC is excited to partner with Lamarr Lewis, MA, LAPC, CPRP, to offer a live learning community about motivation in mental health recovery. 6 hours of CE contact hours available* (see below.) ABOUT THE LEARNING COMMUNITY The "Motivation IN Mental Health Recovery" learning community will focus on enhancing participants' ability to improve an individual’s motivation and engagement in treatment. Participants will learn ways to empower their clients to change by: drawing out their own meaning, importance, and capacity for change. Through the use of Motivational Interviewing, Positive Psychology, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and more, they will learn to utilize recovery as a course of change. Through these methods, participants will learn to motivate their clients to improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full potential. Learning Objectives: Define motivation, how it can facilitate a person’s mental health recovery, and support their self-empowerment process. Discuss treatment considerations for individuals with amotivation due to intellectual/developmental disabilities, substance use, and/or co-morbid Severe and Persistent Mental Illness. Apply evidence-based interventions to increase client motivation in their treatment. Enhance clinical decision-making and practical application of techniques related to improving client outcomes. Eligibility Members of the mental health/behavioral health workforce who are based in the states of Alaska, Oregon, Idaho & Washington Commitment to attend the whole series is required Each individual must have access to computer/web camera/audio to participate Deadline to apply: Friday, June 14, 2024.  Questions: For questions about this series, including eligibility and registration please contact the Northwest MHTTC at [email protected]. SESSIONS: Tuesdays, July 9-30, 2024  11:00am - 12:30 pm AK / 12:00 - 1:30pm PT / 1:00 - 2:30pm MT FACILITATOR Lamarr Lewis, MA, LAPC, CPRP Lamarr Lewis is a dedicated advocate, author, and agent of change. With a focus on community-based mental health, he works with diverse groups including individuals living with psychiatric disabilities, people in recovery from substance abuse, and at-hope youth (He does not use the term at-risk). He is an alumnus of Wittenberg University graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with minors in Africana Studies and Religion. He later received his master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Argosy University. His career spans over twenty years with experience as a therapist, consultant, and human service professional. He has been a featured expert and trainer for such organizations as; Boeing, Fulton County Probate Court, Georgia Mental Health Consumer Network, Mississippi Department of Health, the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, Region IV Public Health Training Center, the Ruby Neeson Diabetes Awareness Foundation, and more. His lifelong mission is to leave the world better than how he found it.   *Continuing Education Contact Hours Details Physicians, physician assistants, primary care ARNPs, psychologists, and other health care providers may be eligible for CME or CEUs for completing the course. Retain your Certificate of Completion and verify its suitability for CME/CEUs with your licensing/credentialing entity. The University of Washington is an approved provider of continuing education for DOH licensed social workers, licensed mental health counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, psychologists, substance use disorder professionals, nurses and physicians under the provisions of: WAC 246-809-610, WAC 246-809-620, WAC 246-811-200, WAC 246-840-210, WAC 246-919-460 and WAC 246-924-240.

The Northwest MHTTC is excited to partner with the University of Washington Center for Pain Relief to offer a live learning community about treating the psychological components of chronic pain. 6 hours of CE contact hours available* (see below.) ABOUT THE LEARNING COMMUNITY Psychological factors play an important role in an individual’s experience and response to pain and can affect treatment adherence, pain chronicity, and disability status.  Patients with chronic pain are at increased risk for psychological distress, maladaptive coping, and physical inactivity related to fear of reinjury.  This learning community aims to train participants on evidence modalities to treat the psychological components of chronic pain through pain neuroscience education (PNE), cognitive behavioral therapy for chronic pain (CBT-CP), acceptance and commitment therapy for chronic pain (ACT-CP), emotional awareness and expression therapy (EAET), and pain reprocessing therapy (PRT).  ELIGIBILITY Members of the mental health/behavioral health workforce who are based in the states of Alaska, Oregon, Idaho & Washington (HHS Region 10) Commitment to attend the whole series is required Each individual must have access to computer/web camera/audio to participate Seats are limited, and applications are due by Friday, June 21st, 2024. We will notify you of your application status by June 28th. Questions: For questions about this series, including eligibility and registration please contact the Northwest MHTTC at [email protected]. SESSIONS: Fridays, July 12, July 26, August 9, August 30, 2024 10:30am - 12:00 pm AK / 11:30am - 1:00pm PT / 12:30 - 2:00pm MT Stay tuned for session breakdowns. FACILITATORS Kaitlin Touza, PhD Kaitlin Touza is a pain psychologist and acting assistant professor at the University of Washington’s Center for Pain Relief. She provides evidence-based individual and group intervention, including CBT, ACT, EAET, and PRT.  She also provides consultation to a broad population in the Pacific Northwest region and Alaska through UW’s TelePain program. Kaitlin is fellowship trained at Stanford in clinical pain psychology and is committed to multidisciplinary care and education in pain management. She is passionate about educational outreach and program development for patients, family members, and healthcare providers, with the goal of improving access to specialized multidisciplinary pain management in rural and underserved populations. She believes in a patient-centered, evidence-based, and biopsychosocial approach to intervention, program development, and assessment.   Bethany Pester, PhD Bethany Pester is a pain psychologist and acting assistant professor at the University of Washington’s Center for Pain Relief. Her patient-centered approach incorporates evidence-based psychological treatments for chronic pain, such as CBT, ACT, EAET, and PRT, while partnering with each patient to understand their unique needs and tailor treatment accordingly. Bethany has collaborated with research teams at UW/Seattle Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical System, Medical University of South Carolina, and academic medical centers across Michigan to study biopsychosocial approaches to understand, treat, and prevent acute and chronic pain. She is passionate about advancing research to better understand these complex conditions and translate discoveries into effective personalized treatments for children, adolescents, and adults.   Eric Wanzel, MSW, LICSW Eric Wanzel is a masters-level therapist at the University of Washington’s Center for Pain Relief.  Eric has a special interest in the intersections between chronic pain and PTSD and provides evidence-based interventions to this population including CBT, ACT, PRT, CPT, PE, and WET.  He received his foundational training at the State University of New York and specialized training with the Neuro Orthopaedic Institute Australasia (i.e. noigroup) in pain neuroscience education and graded motor imagery.  Eric strives to provide whole person and multidisciplinary healthcare to underserved populations in addition to educational outreach and training for healthcare providers.   Elisabeth Powelson, MD, MSc Elisabeth Powelson is trained in anesthesia and pain medicine and treats patients at the University of Washington’s Center for Pain Relief and Harborview Medical Center. Additionally, she is an acting assistant professor in Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine and a T32 Research Fellow at the Pediatric and Sleep Innovations Lab.  She has a special interest in post-traumatic pain, PTSD, and pain in older adults. She believes that pain treatment requires a comprehensive multimodal approach and focuses on a partnership with her patients to improve their overall wellness and improve their quality of life.  *Continuing Education Contact Hours Details Physicians, physician assistants, primary care ARNPs, psychologists, and other health care providers may be eligible for CME or CEUs for completing the course. Retain your Certificate of Completion and verify its suitability for CME/CEUs with your licensing/credentialing entity. The University of Washington is an approved provider of continuing education for DOH licensed social workers, licensed mental health counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, psychologists, substance use disorder professionals, nurses and physicians under the provisions of: WAC 246-809-610, WAC 246-809-620, WAC 246-811-200, WAC 246-840-210, WAC 246-919-460 and WAC 246-924-240.

ABOUT THIS EVENT The Northwest MHTTC is excited to collaborate with the Mountain West AIDS Education & Training Center Program (AETC) on this webinar series related to sexual health.  Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show a 74% increase in syphilis diagnoses from 2017-2021, including 2,800 congenital, or mother-to-child, syphilis cases in 2021 leading to 220 infant deaths. STIs overall have increased by 7% from 2020, with more than 2.5 million cases reported in the United States during 2021. Substance use, particularly methamphetamine use, appears to be highly correlated with rising rates of syphilis and other STIs. Among pregnant women with syphilis, substance use is nearly twice as high among those with a congenital syphilis outcome than those without transmission. Disparities also exist in syphilis rates across racial and ethnic groups. For example, among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) persons, the rate of new syphilis cases of nearly four times the rate of white persons in 2020. Syphilis is also increasing among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. Actions can be taken to reverse these trends and prevent transmission of syphilis and other STIs in these and other populations. Addressing the syphilis syndemic requires collaboration between mental health and substance use disorder treatment providers, sexual health service providers, and supportive services providers (e.g., housing). Our final session will provide an update on syndemic conditions that disproportionately impact people living with serious mental illnesses and/ or substance use disorders and discuss the important role of behavioral health providers in screening and linkage to treatment. Part 4 of the Sexual Health Series (click to view all sessions in this series). FACILITATORS Tim Menza, MD, PhD Tim Menza, MD, PhD (he/they), is an infectious disease specialist with advanced training and expertise in HIV, STI, and viral hepatitis prevention and care. Tim has extensive experience in creating, implementing, and evaluating public health policy and advocating for communities through system-level change. As medical director of Oregon’s HIV/STD/TB program over the past 5 and a half years, Tim facilitated the implementation of a free statewide home HIV/STI testing program, public health accountability metrics for the prevention of congenital syphilis, partnerships with correctional facilities to increase HIV/STI/HCV testing and led Oregon’s response to mpox. Tim is currently an associate professor in the department of medicine at the University of Washington and a medical director of the Sexual Health Clinic with Public Health-Seattle & King County. Lydia Chwastiak, MD, MPH Dr. Chwastiak is a psychiatrist, internist and health services researcher who is a Professor in the UW Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.  Over the past 22 years, her research has focused on improving care and outcomes for people with complex needs in low resource settings, such as low-barrier primary care clinics and community mental health centers in the US, and primary and secondary medical settings in India and Nepal. Dr. Chwastiak is co-directs the UW Behavioral Research in HIV (BIRCH) Center, an NIMH-funded AIDS Research Center, and is the PI and co-director of the Northwest Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (NW MHTTC).  

A series of monthly calls for ACT psychiatric care providers. Offered in collaboration with the Institute for Best Practices at the University of North Carolina. ABOUT THIS EVENT Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is a multidisciplinary, team-based model that provides intensive community-based and outreach-oriented services to people who experience the most severe and persistent mental illness. The vast majority also have a co-occurring substance use disorder and many experience comorbid medical illnesses. The Northwest MHTTC is hosting a series for ACT psychiatric care providers. We welcome all ACT psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and other prescribers. Sessions will be held once a month on Thursdays at 12:00-1:30 pm Pacific/3:00-4:30 pm Eastern. Learn more about the series and upcoming sessions here. This presentation will identify cardiovascular risk factors for individuals with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) and describe potential areas of prevention and intervention, with an emphasis on practical tips for ACT Providers. Learning Objectives Name factors that contribute to increased rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in persons with SMI. Apply principles of motivational interviewing to promote behaviors that impact cardiovascular health. Diagnose obesity, hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia. Increase familiarity and comfort with prescribing medication for cardiovascular risk-associated conditions. FACILITATOR   Martha Ward, MD, Dr. Martha Ward is Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Department of Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Ward’s clinical work is focused on improving medical and psychiatric outcomes of individuals with serious mental illness through integrated care. Dr. Ward is the Medical Director of Park Place Primary Care, a collaborative primary care clinic located in the Behavioral Health Outpatient center at Grady Memorial Hospital. In this clinic, she serves the complex medical and psychiatric needs of patients that previously had no continuity of medical care and provides a unique training opportunity for students and residents. Additionally, Dr. Ward is passionate about medical education. She serves as Small Group Advisor and Society Mentor for medical students at Emory SOM and acts as Associate Program Director for the Combined Internal-Medicine Psychiatry Residency at Emory and Co-Director of the Global and Population Mental Health Track for the categorical Psychiatry Residency.  

This 90-minute virtual consultation call with ACT teams and ACT stakeholders consists of a mini-didactic training on a topic of relevance and interest to ACT teams, plus opportunities to pose consultation questions and learn from other ACT teams and their shared experiences within ACT. ABOUT THIS EVENT Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is a multidisciplinary, team-based model that provides intensive community-based and outreach-oriented services to people who experience the most severe and persistent mental illness. The vast majority also have a co-occurring substance use disorder and many experience comorbid medical illnesses as well as homelessness. This is a vulnerable population and their providers – ACT teams – are at elevated risk themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Northwest MHTTC is partnering with the Institute for Best Practices at the University of North Carolina to host and facilitate regular meetings for ACT teams. Goals of the meetings are to: connect with one another share strategies and resources for adapting team practices and communications facilitate connection to the most up-to-date resources For more information or questions, contact: Maria Monroe-DeVita, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine and Director of the Washington State Center of Excellence in First Episode Psychosis or Lorna Moser, PhD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Director of the Institute for Best Practice, Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS SERIES FACILITATORS Lorna Moser, PhD Dr. Lorna Moser is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, and the Director of the Institute for Best Practice, Center for Excellence in Community Mental Health.     Maria Monroe-DeVita, PhD Dr. Monroe-DeVita is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine and the Director, Washington State Center of Excellence in First Episode Psychosis.    

A series of monthly calls for ACT psychiatric care providers. Offered in collaboration with the Institute for Best Practices at the University of North Carolina. ABOUT THIS EVENT Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) is a multidisciplinary, team-based model that provides intensive community-based and outreach-oriented services to people who experience the most severe and persistent mental illness. The vast majority also have a co-occurring substance use disorder and many experience comorbid medical illnesses. The Northwest MHTTC is hosting a series for ACT psychiatric care providers. We welcome all ACT psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and other prescribers. Sessions will be held once a month on Thursdays at 12:00-1:30 pm Pacific/3:00-4:30 pm Eastern. Learn more about the series and past sessions here. This presentation will discuss Substance Use Disorder (SUD) care in the age of fentanyl and stimulants, with a focus on implementation of harm reduction and treatment. FACILITATORS Jeremy Weleff, DO (he/him/his) Dr. Jeremy Weleff is an addiction psychiatrist and ACT doc at Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC) in New Haven, CT and Instructor of Psychiatry at Yale University. He completed psychiatry residency training at the Cleveland Clinic. He has published broadly on social determinants of health, homelessness, adverse childhood experiences, and SUDs.  Terence Tumenta, MD, MPH (he/him/his) Dr. Terence Tumenta is an addiction psychiatry fellow at Yale School of Medicine. He completed his psychiatry residency at One Brooklyn Health Interfaith Medical Center, in Brooklyn NY. He has worked at different levels in the healthcare system, including public health, in the US and internationally. He is passionate about serving underrepresented minorities and addressing health disparities and inequities. He has a special interest in addiction research and global mental health.