What does power look like in the physical world? How do we recognize it, repurpose it, and reclaim it? The Great Game of Power is an exercise designed by Brazilian writer and politician Augusto Boal to help audiences visualize and process manifestations of power using commonly available items: chairs, a table, and a water bottle. In this workshop, participants will be given an opportunity to “play the game” and process it together, examining power as a general concept and in their work. Note: This session is limited to 50 participants. This session will be offered twice.

Most people know more about how to program their VCR than their own mind! Dr. Mitchell’s presentation, Priming: Using the Hidden Power of Language for Superior Client Outcomes and Self-Improvement, will teach you how to program the first computer you ever owned--your mind. This dynamic keynote or breakout session introduces the audience to world of priming through a discussion of the priming that occurs in our everyday lives. It then addresses the scientific research, demonstrates the phenomena, and explains how priming can be utilized to radically intensify therapeutic communications and improve outcomes. In addition, these principles provide you with the mental tools necessary for molding yourself into the person you want to be and for reaching your personally desired goals. Specifically, the priming research of the last 20 years has determined that humans are controlled by an unconscious guidance system profoundly more than ever conceived. Priming occurs when something stimulates and triggers behavior. Semantic priming has confirmed the hidden power of words to stimulate preparatory thoughts that trigger new behavior with or without conscious awareness. The most significant finding is that unconsciously created goals can be equal or more powerful than conscious goals and, amazingly, that goals do not require an act of will to be acquired. Yet, the nuances of how new behaviors are stimulated through the precise, meticulous use of language are rarely discussed relative to the therapeutic dialogue and self-improvement. This session will be held twice.

Get your annual legal and ethical CE training in a dynamic, entertaining game show format! This program is designed to test your legal and ethical knowledge while having lots of fun! Management of some of the most perplexing legal and ethical quandaries will be explored. Topics include child abuse, confidentiality, duty to warn, elder abuse, HIPAA, noted legal cases, malpractice, and more. The material is applicable to all disciplines, practices, and states. For more information please visit: www.cliftonmitchell.com. This session will be held twice.

Kevin Hines is a brain/mental health advocate, award-winning global speaker, bestselling author and documentary filmmaker who reaches audiences with his story of an unlikely survival and his strong will to live. Two years after he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder (19 years of age), he attempted to take his life by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge. He is one of only thirty-four to survive the fall, and the only one to regain full physical mobility. He is the only Golden Gate Bridge jump survivor who is actively spreading the message of living mentally healthy. The fall would break his body, but not his spirit. Today, Kevin dedicates his life to saving lives by spreading the message of hope and sharing his art of living mentally well. He is one of the most respected and admired voices of lived experience. Kevin’s story is a remarkable testament to the strength of the human spirit and a reminder for us to love the life we have. MSSA Honors Awardees Join us in recognizing a few of the outstanding individuals in our state through our Awards of Excellence program.

This session will introduce the context for why employers are taking an active role in supporting their employees’ recovery. More than 21 million people in the US have substance use disorder (SUD) and 70% of people with the disease are employed. With 90% of employees supporting their employer offering confidential consultations and resources for substance use disorder, employers are part of the answer to the chemical epidemic our country is currently facing, from opioids to alcohol. This presentation will discuss the challenges and opportunities that substance use disorder can create for companies, why companies are playing a more active role in supporting their employees and resources for companies to create and maintain a recovery-friendly workplace.

The population of Nigeria and Liberia living in the Twin Cities Minnesota has been increasing in the last decade. The International Institute of Minnesota estimated that over 250000 Liberians are living in the United States today. At present, over 35,000 Liberians are living in Minnesota. Minnesota Institute of Nigeria Development also estimated that there are over 14000 Nigerians presently residing in Minnesota. Just like every minority residing in the state of Minnesota, people from Nigeria and Liberia have their challenges as immigrants. Drug addiction, adjusting to new ways of life and mental health have been reported in these communities. However, it does not appear there are adequate resources as well as enough expertise to work with this population. Therefore, the focus of this proposed presentation is to offer insights into the best cultural practices with this population given their belief system about mental health, parenting, immigration and other social issues affecting their overall well-being. Some of the problems that will be explored include their understanding of mental health, how to effectively work this population and appropriate resources available in the community for Nigerians and Liberians. References International Institute of Minnesota. (n.d.). Retrieved December 12, 2018, from https://iimn.org/ Minnesota Institute for Nigerian Development | Nigerians in MN. (n.d.). Retrieved December 17, 2018, from https://www.mindmn.org/

Minnesota public entities have been sued over website inaccessibility. There are at least three lawsuits in Minnesota and this is just the beginning. Other states have seen an exponential increase in these lawsuits. This panel will discuss the current legal and technical aspects of digital accessibility as well as its current application and impact. Access to the digital realm has become a basic right. It is the means by which people get information, shop for goods and services, search and apply for employment, and access government services. When barriers to this info exist, people with disabilities are denied participation in these vital areas.

Providing culturally responsive services requires more than simply a desire to be open and welcoming. Understanding how privilege and oppression play out in unintended ways is essential if we are to create environments where all are included. This interactive workshop will explore privilege in a way that sidesteps the guilt and defensiveness that too often accompanies such discussions. You will leave with clarity as to what privilege is, how it shows up and what you can do to foster an environment that serves the entire community.

This session will cover some tips on how to work with individuals and teams with Intellectual Disabilities and/or Mental Illness. How do we as staff, providers or practitioners work with teams and/or guardians that are "over-protective"? How do we support individuals with teams and/or guardians that are unwilling to explore the goals of the individuals we are supporting? This session will cover tips on conflict mediation, and how to remain strengths-based and person-centered throughout our approach to best empower the individuals we work with to reach the goals they have in life, such as pursuing their own apartments/housing, getting a new job, going on a date, and more. This session will also include tips on how to navigate difficult or 'heated' conversations and situations, and maintain working relationships.

What is Supported Decision Making (SDM), and who does it benefit? Can SDM alleviate the need for guardianship? Often, when working with people with cognitive, psychiatric, or intellectual disabilities, we turn to guardianship to address risk and vulnerability. But this may be an overly restrictive tool; this session will discuss supported decision making as a person-centered model for addressing safety concerns while protecting the dignity of risk, and how embracing this philosophy may reduce the number of guardianships.

DHS developed the Lead Agency Reviews (LARs) for Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) to assure compliance with state and federal requirements, identify promising practices that improve the quality of services, and gather feedback about DHS technical assistance. The reviews aim to be constructive in nature, while gathering and sharing information with lead agencies to encourage the use of performance based management. This session will focus on the process of a Lead Agency Review including understanding the protocols of a typical site visit comprising of pre-visit, on-site and follow up activities including waiver case file review. After a brief summary of round three findings, the Lead Agency Review team will share the performance measures and themes including community integration, equity and program sustainability that will be examined throughout round four of lead agency reviews beginning in April, 2019.

This session will present information on the most common substances of abuse in Minnesota. After an overview of State wide prevalence of use, focus will be given to primary, secondary and combination of substance use in both geographic and demographic breakdowns. Finally, special attention will be paid to teasing out differences between intoxication and withdrawal symptoms of common substances and mental health/medical conditions, with specific attention to differential diagnosis.