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.

Are you owning your day, or does it feel like your day is owning you? What progress are you making on your goals and priorities? Do you spend time the way you want, with people who bring you life? Enough questions. It is time for action. Specifically, it is time to set up a daily practice that helps you do the following: *Have peace of mind and focus throughout the day. *Make progress on your most important life goals. *Increase productivity at work. *Live life the way you want, fully! Many of the most productive, successful and peaceful people have a daily practice. Now it is your turn! Learn how in this presentation.

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. Kevin shares his steps for ‘living mentally well’. In order to be self-aware and cognizant of his mental wellness, Kevin has developed a 10 step regimen to stay on track and monitor the signs of falling off track. He discusses clinical studies that prove why these are important to maintain wellness for everyone, not just those with a diagnosed mental illness. Audiences come away with a knowledge of how to build their own toolkit for maintaining their mental wellness, as well as the wellness of their loved ones.

Many people who survive prison, never want to step foot back inside the walls. However, Jason Sole has consistently worked to end mass incarceration by educating the incarcerated about the criminal injustice system. In addition, he’s worked to liberate himself and others from the long arm of the caste system. In this session, participants will learn the following: *How to create space for formerly incarcerated folks to lead *How to create systemic change: Bail Reform; Sentencing Reform; Identifying Zip Codes most impacted by the criminal injustice system; effective reentry plans; and more *How to gain a concrete understanding of collateral consequences (e.g., voter disenfranchisement) *Remembering Kalief Browder: The Harmful Effects of Solitary Confinement “The nature of the criminal justice system has changed. It is no longer primarily concerned with the prevention and punishment of crime, but rather with the management and control of the dispossessed.” Michelle Alexander

Most high profile ethics cases involving helping professionals revolve around the development of dual relationships with clients. What are the potential hazards of these relationships? How can rural practitioners avoid these pitfalls? Dr. Carney will explore these issues and the ethical implications involved. An engaging discussion of professional boundaries and an ethical framework for decision making will be the focus of this session. This presentation will use a number of case studies to illustrate these ethical dilemmas, so come prepared to participate!

This training will focus on commercial sexual exploitation of youth and young adults in Minnesota, educating on current realities of this population, providing recommendations for your response as a provider, and outlining resources for what to do after a youth is identified. Attendees will learn about Safe Harbor, Minnesota’s legislation and framework of services for those 24 and under, and about Minnesota’s recently updated Child Welfare response and guidelines for mandated reporting of suspected/confirmed victimization of youth. This will also cover statistics on what this looks like in Minnesota (both in metro areas and greater Minnesota). There will be an added emphasis on cultural specificity and how this particularly affects marginalized groups and those outside of the common narrative (i.e. people of color and Native youth, LGBTQ youth, boys, homeless youth, etc.). Additionally, this session will provide information on evidence-based clinical assessment, interventions, and harm-reduction techniques for identified victims and those at-risk. This will include information on substance use disorders, mental illness (PTSD, depression, anxiety, suicidal ideations), STD/STIs, and pregnancy. It will also incorporate harm-reduction apps and technology resources for youth and their parents. All material covered in this session is informed by research and current standards of practice. Whether you have worked with sexually exploited youth or have yet to identify this population in your caseload, this session will help you more accurately identify those affected and consider effective next steps.

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.

In this follow up session, attendees will dig deeper into the subject of supported decision making, walking away with tips for persuading families and other professionals to try supported decision making before petitioning for guardianship. Examples of supported decision making agreements will be shared to demonstrate how this tool can be used right now in Minnesota.

I will speak on behalf of the MN Brain Injury Alliance Focusing on the crime that left me with a traumatic brain injury and my recovery process. I will also highlight the persistent after effects and how forgiveness plays a role in my recovery.

Kids do well if they can, not because they want to. Over fifty years of research into neuroscience has demonstrated that challenging behavior is a manifestation of lagging skills in vital areas of thinking skills, and yet virtually all conventional approaches to challenging behavior depend on motivating kids to want to do well. In this engaging session, we'll explore the foundations of Collaborative Problem Solving, an evidence-based approach to challenging behavior that is grounded in relationship and skill-building. We'll examine the root causes of challenging behavior and what we - parents, teachers, social workers, and other child-focused professionals - can do to help kids build the skills for success. Join us to learn what thousands of families and facilities across the continent have already learned: where there's a skill, there's a way.

James Marthaler survived a rare genetic illness for which the only treatment was pain management with opioids. Between 1998-2008 James slowly sunk into his disability, mental illness and prescribed opiates. In 2008 James was offered a partial cure to his genetic illness and fought his way out of his opiate nightmare. Today James is a Supervisor with Rice County Social Services and a private consultant throughout the Midwest sharing his story, insights and guidance on how to effectively combat the opioid crisis. Since 2010 James has consulted throughout the Midwest for numerous hospitals and clinics, human/social service agencies, law enforcement, and for the American College of Physicians Midwestern Conferences (2013 & 2014), Mayo Clinics Grand Rounds (2016), University of MN Medical School (2013-Present). With his story James offers attendees a personal glimpse into the opioid crisis but also as a professional in the field of mental health and county social services an analysis of this epidemic and why the United States has become Ground Zero. James shares his experiences with the medical profession, his perspective from the "client's" seat and how we can all be more effective in pushing back this tide. Participant's ideas and beliefs are challenged, valuable information related to the opioid crisis is shared and answers to questions one could never ask a client are honestly answered by someone who has lived through it.

Come learn from a youth's perspective what it's like coming of age in the foster care system. Youth panelists will talk about their experience in care and what their journey has been like as they transition into adulthood. The facilitators will guide this conversation around the services youth received from Connections to Independence (C2i) and how these services were instrumental during this process. Youth will share the brutal truth about their experience and how they achieved their goals. This is an open dialogue for youth and adults to learn and share in a safe forum so we will all leave with a sense of hope and positive outlook for this population that outcomes sometimes seem so dismal.

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.

We continually learn and develop our professional skills to achieve performance excellence. Research has shown that in order to compassionately provide this care, we must also choose to embrace and nurture our own happiness. This thought provoking session will challenge how you think about your own happiness, provide positive psychological self-care tools and will inspire you to create even more happiness in your life!

I chose to work in mental health for the outcome, not the income. Then I felt angry and betrayed when I saw my friends making a lot more money in marketing, sales, and engineering. Social work wasn’t going to give me a raise any time soon, so I had to figure out how to make more money or keep complaining about it. In this interactive presentation, I’ll take you behind the scenes of my journey toward financial independence with a content-packed session that is designed to give you all the tools you need to build a fulfilling and successful relationship with money based on foundational principles and strategies proven to propel you toward your life’s purpose. Transform your anxiety into confidence as you challenge and dispel your personal money myths, define key financial terms, create a unique vision for your life, and implement a step-by-step strategy for achieving financial freedom. Then you'll have to answer for yourself - what can you do for this world when you don't have to worry about money?

Minnesota has the fifth largest average student loan debt in the country, with more than 14,000 students defaulted on their federal student loans in 2013 (the last year for which we have data). High levels of student loan debt impacts both social and economic growth for the individual and communities through decreased purchasing power when buying a home or car, inability to afford rental properties, and delays in marriage and starting families. Defaulting on student loans triggers large penalties added to balances, wage garnishments, and tax refund captures. Furthermore, borrowers who become delinquent (as well as those who have defaulted) on their payments can find their credit scores drop by 100 points or more, resulting in obstacles to finding housing, employment, receiving loans, and securing insurance. LSS Financial Counseling has helped thousands of Minnesotans understand their options and resolve issues around student loan repayment, rehabilitation, and forgiveness for over five years. Join us to learn about various loan forgiveness programs, qualifying for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and how to choose the right payment plan to strategically pay off your student loans while reaching other financial goals.

If you support people with disabilities at any age, formally or informally, Disability Hub MN is a resource for you. Whether they are facing an immediate concern or planning for their future, we can help find solutions and navigate the system. This session will give an overview of the Hub and talk in detail about the services and programs available to people with disabilities, families and providers. We will discuss common misconceptions around navigating the health care and benefits system, then show promising new tools and strategies to help the people you support.

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.

In this session, participants will learn how to initiate a conversation around maternal mental health with pregnant African American women and understand why culturally responsive models of care should be used to assess and treat Perinatal Mood Disorders (PMADs) in women of color. Additionally, this presentation will discuss the myth of the strong Black woman, racism, classism, and sexism and their adverse influences on the emotional and mental health of pregnant African American women. At the end of this session, participants will be able to articulate the necessity of addressing the mental health needs of pregnant African American women in a manner that both acknowledges and centers on their unique lived experiences.

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.

Todd Johnson will present his story of brain injury from miss-diagnosis to rehab. He will share his journey from the moment of the accident to the emergency room and all the challenges/opportunities since. The story is kept lite with some humor and will point out how life has changed from physical health to mental health and even the financial consequences of dealing with an unseen disability. Todd is an experienced speaker who will engage the audience and deliver with complete honesty. Attendees should leave with an understanding of brain injury, prevention, awareness and consequences. Attendees may also follow some advice on how to prepare financially for such an accident.

Although residential and outpatient addiction programming is very popular and common throughout Minnesota, gender-responsive programming that looks at male socialization, trauma, and relationships (both with oneself and others) is widely ignored or minimized. Stephanie Covington published her seminal work in the addiction field with A Woman's Way through the 12 Steps first published in 1994. Seventeen years later in 2011, she co-wrote Helping Men Recover: A Program for Treating Addiction. Much of the material in this workshop is drawn directly from this innovative program. Through introductory exercises, lecture, PowerPoint, and numerous opportunities for audience input and brainstorming, the topic of male sexuality, addiction and recovery will be thoroughly investigated.

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/

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 discuss how to provide effective treatment for Complex PTSD that often appears as Borderline Personality Disorder and anxiety disorders. The vast majority of clients seeking DBT treatment have Complex PTSD (from childhood abuse and adversity). Participants will learn the 4 stages of DBT with emphasis on Stage 2 of treatment, understand the preparation needed for Trauma work in the context of DBT, and finally understand the inclusion/exclusion requirements for both PE and EMDR in order to make a safe, evidence based referral.

Adults with mental illness or substance use disorders smoke cigarettes more than adults without these disorders. While 15.5% of the general population smokes, it is over 40% among those with mental illness and over 63% among those with substance use disorders. While tobacco use has been accepted and supported within behavioral health realms, we now know that quitting smoking decreases anxiety, decreases depression, and gives those in SUD treatment a 25% greater chance of long-term recovery…wow. That is why major mental health organizations in Minnesota recently went tobacco-free and integrated tobacco treatment into their existing services to help them fulfill their missions. Hear from People Incorporated, Mental Health Resources and Avivo about how they made the decision to become tobacco-free, managed challenges along the way, and the benefits they are measuring. Hear stories from people they serve about the impact it has had on them. These organizations share a common geography and overlapping client population in the Twin Cities. While they could be competitors, they became collaborators, knowing they would be stronger together in tackling tobacco. Topics will include strategies to treat tobacco dependence within behavioral health settings, strategies to develop staff readiness to address tobacco, principles of collaboration, and how tobacco-free grounds and internal practices work together to support the mission of behavioral health organizations. Walk away with tools to help you develop delivery systems in your organization. Learn how to join a cohort to advance tobacco initiatives within your own organization.

There are several types of Medicaid-funded case management services in Minnesota, each with its own provider requirements and funding arrangements. The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), in partnership with counties, Tribes, and external stakeholders, is engaging in a case management redesign initiative in response to opportunities and requirements for improvements to all Medicaid-funded case management. DHS is committed to ensuring that the case management redesign initiative includes the diverse perspective of counties, Tribes, providers, managed care organizations, the people we serve and others who are impacted by or involved in case management services. Program simplification and putting the person receiving case management at the center of the service are two key objectives of the redesign project. The initiative also aligns with the DHS equity policy and uses the governor’s plan for community and civic engagement as a platform to ensure meaningful engagement in the work. Recently, DHS released a proposed case management service design which solidifies a universal definition of case management and creates a foundational set of standards around the delivery of the service so that people know what they can expect and rely on, regardless of the kind of case management service they receive. Stakeholders have had an important role in developing and reviewing this proposed service design. Some next steps include developing legislative language and beginning to implement changes in 2021. Join us to learn about the reasons why the redesign initiative is happening, the objectives of the initiative, updates about progress, and how you can help shape the redesign with your input. This session will include a focus on gathering your input and will include time for discussion and questions. Session participants are encouraged to read the draft service design prior to the session. Visit https://mn.gov/dhs/case-management-redesign to access the draft.

Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in the United State (U.S.). Current national autism prevalence rates reveal that 1 in 59 children are identified with autism. In Minnesota, the autism prevalence rates are 1 in 42 children. The age of autism identification in MN is 4.9 years of age. Brain and behavior research tells reveals that autism can be diagnosed much younger in children. Further, there are disparities across communities in both autism diagnosis and age of identification. This session will present and discuss: (a) Current autism prevalence rates in U.S. and MN, (b) Age of initial identification of autism in children; (c) Brain and behavioral research in autism identification; (d) Strategies for health professionals, social workers, care providers, and parents/families to better support children and families through the autism screening and identification process; (e) Future research in autism prevalence in MN and in the U.S.; and (f) Free resources and materials for practitioners to support families with early identification of autism.

We are asking our staff to be person centered, yet we are not supporting them in the same way. How we connect to our staff and how we lead is the difference between command and control and creativity and inspiration. When we stifle our staff they loose the ability to connect in a human, creative and understanding way. The people we support rely on us to help them “live” out the rest of their lives, instead of processing them like we process a daily check list. We all write a chapter in the lives we support, how are we showing up and are we being responsible to the impact we have?

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.

Medication non-adherence accounts for three times more deaths in the United States than car accidents every year. This session will focus on how to manage medication at different levels of care. We will address the signs to look for to help recognize when medication management has become a difficult task for an individual. From there we will highlight assistive technology solutions geared towards helping people get on track with their medications while maintaining independence and their safety. Medication mismanagement is a common problem, but it doesn’t have to be. After this session we hope attendees will walk away feeling confident in solutions that can help the people they support manage their medications. This session is ideal for case managers, care coordinators, nurses, and other health care professionals. It is also of interest to people helping loved ones, friends, or themselves manage medications.

Do you want to know how to support people with disabilities in obtaining competitive, integrated employment? This session will provide both an overall view of how Minnesota’s disability services system is embracing EmploymentFirst as well as specific resources and strategies that you can use as a county case manager or support professional to help people in their path to employment. This session is a collaboration between the Minnesota Department of Human Services and metro region counties – including Anoka, Dakota, and Scott counties. Learn about efforts at the state level and what you can be doing at your local level to support employment. This session will feature information on 1) the new employment services on the Medicaid HCBS Waivers 2) data on employment outcomes and 3) resources and strategies to support people in employment.

The transgender population continues to experience disproportionately high rates of suicide and mental health challenges, addiction, criminal justice system involvement, and barriers to equal healthcare. This session will address the various disparities facing this increasingly large group of individuals. Interweaving a larger discussion of both the language and practice surrounding diversity and inclusion with his personal experiences living as a transgender man with an invisible disability, Nate Cannon will offer tips and guidance for working with this traditionally underserved group (and deliver a dose of inspiration and humor).

The success of the culturally relevant program has been linked to the involvement of family in the treatment plan and the recognition of clients culture. The premise of a culturally specific program is that substance use, its impact on people, and treatment procedures are not the same across various culture, gender and sexual orientation. However, the program has not been utilized in assisting the clients from Somalia who are struggling with drug addiction in Minnesota. In the Somali community, drug addiction is seen as a moral failure, a taboo and a choice people make. There is a mismatch between Somalis belief system and the western definition of addiction. Somalis beliefs system is an asset that can be explored as a treatment option for this population.

Learn how Anu Family Services' crew of 18 parent coaches is creating permanence for children by preventing them from being removed from home, having their foster parents receive one-on-one customized coaching, and by helping their birth parents reunify with them. Counties and agencies are responding extremely well to parent coaches' involvement on teams, and parents are expressing their sincere gratitude. Come and hear all about it!

Whether you currently serve justice-involved youth or not, you are probably aware that it is often just one bad decision a youth makes that can lead to a lifetime of challenges. Nearly two million young people under the age of 18 are arrested each year nationwide. A majority of them suffer from symptoms of aggression, depression, or anxiety or persistent mental illness. In their communities, they often face additional barriers such as ongoing re-traumatization, poverty, housing instability, parental mental health and/or chemical dependency, school systems with limited funding and resources, and community violence. And often there are limited support services available. Youth-serving professionals too often face the challenge of serving these young people in isolation; encouraged to compete with one another by limited resources and stringent request for proposal procedures. In this session, you will explore ways that you can combat the push to compete and create partnerships as community providers to meet the complex needs of correction-involved youth. Through a mix of interactive media, research, anecdotes, and case studies from the Rebound, Inc.’s residential programs, presenters will provide an overview of the work they are doing with correction involved youth in North Minneapolis; focusing on trends in resident needs, interventions provided to meet resident needs, recruitment and retention of staff, and staff training and support. The presenters will use a mix of research, anecdotes and case studies from Rebound, Inc.'s residential programs, and interactive media to engage those in attendance in exploring the replicability of such a model in their own jurisdiction and will encourage systems partners in ways that they can attract and support high quality culturally specific providers in their area.

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.

Men who batter are a particularly difficult offender to engage with. They tend to believe they are always right, need to win and will openly resist any perceived imposition. They also believe they are victims of other people and systems which keeps them focused on everyone but themselves. This profile makes for difficult dialogue. However, there are ways to reduce the resistance that comes with these offenders. This session will profile who these men are, what they tend to want and how to use what they give you to move them toward self-reflection. Methods of engagement along with tools that both encourage and teach critical thinking will be covered. The curriculum developed and used by the Domestic Abuse Intervention Programs in Duluth, MN has been developed for over 30 years and is the most widely used curriculum for men who batter in the world.