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NAMI Vermont 2024 Conference
Get ready for an inspiring and impactful day on October 30, 2024! Join NAMI Vermont members, dynamic speakers, passionate advocates, supportive peers, dedicated family members, and engaged community members at the Killington Grand Resort in Killington, Vermont, for an unforgettable experience.
Together for Mental Health is once again the powerful theme of our 2024 conference.
This year, we’re excited to have an in-person format, offering the invaluable opportunity to connect face-to-face. Dave Melnick, LICSW, the Director of the Transforming Trauma Collaborative at the NFI Family Center, will kick off the day with a keynote address, sharing his 40 years of experience in various clinical settings, including outpatient, residential treatment, and public and day treatment schools.
Throughout the day, attendees can choose from various workshops and presentations tailored to provide valuable insights and practical tools. You’ll also have the chance to network with our esteemed sponsors and exhibitors committed to advancing mental health awareness and support.
Our agenda is now available—click the link to view the lineup of workshops, presentations, and panels.
Event Details:
- Event: NAMI Vermont 2024 Conference: Together for Mental Health
- Date: October 30, 2024
- Time: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
- Location: Killington Grand Resort Hotel and Conference Center, 228 East Mountain Road, Killington, Vermont.
Contact [email protected] for more details.
Registration is Now Open for NAMI Vermont’s 2024 Conference: Together for Mental Health
Registration is live! NAMI Vermont members are offered a discount on their registration. If you would like to become a member of NAMI Vermont, visit namivt.org/membership. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more people from one organization. Use the button below to complete the online registration form.
- Individual non-member registration fee: $125
- Individual member registration fee: $95
- Group of 10 or more: $95 per person
Cancellation Policy: Please note that we only offer full refunds for cancellations made at least seven days before the conference. Failure to show up will not result in any refund. Substitutions are an option.
Apply for a Scholarship
NAMI Vermont has a small number of scholarships available for those with limited financial means to attend the Annual Conference. To be considered for a scholarship, you must be a peer with a mental health condition and limited income. Please fill out the following application form.
Continuing Education Units (CEU) Information
We are looking to offer Continuing Education Units (CEUs) at no cost at this year’s Annual Conference and are waiting for approval.
If you would like to receive CEUs for this conference, please indicate this when you register for the conference.
Our Conference Sponsors
Our Keynote Speaker
Dave Melnick’s Bio:
Dave Melnick, LICSW, is the Director of the Transforming Trauma Collaborative at the NFI Family Center. For the past 40 years, Dave has worked in various clinical settings, including outpatient and residential treatment, as well as in public and day treatment schools. Along with his focus on Developmental Trauma, Dave has expertise in family therapy, adolescence, attachment, Reflective Practices, and Trauma-Informed Systems. He has provided trauma-informed services to over 250 schools in Vermont and those in NY and Quebec.
In 2015, the ChildTrauma Academy (CTA) acknowledged that Dave had completed NMT Training Certification through the Phase II level, and between 2017 and 2021, he was a Fellow at the CTA. Dave teaches graduate classes for the Vermont Higher Education Collaboration (https://www.vthec.org/) and is a presenter and consultant in Vermont, New York, California, and Canada. Dave received his master’s in social welfare from UC Berkeley in 1988 and is licensed in both the state of Vermont and New York as a clinical social worker.
Our Keynote Presentation: Transforming Trauma Through Collective Healing with David Melnick
Recovering from trauma, on an individual or collective level, requires that we restore relational health, center equity, and allow for appropriate time and place for reflection. Many people and organizations are still feeling fractured, frustrated, and exhausted in the wake of the pandemic and amidst the backdrop of political and social unrest. The level of distress is unprecedented for some, and the disproportionate impact on those pushed to the margins is especially profound.
In this keynote, we will examine how critical elements of Trauma Transformation and Collective Healing help provide a model for recovery, resilience, and improved well-being for both professionals and consumers of mental health services.
Objectives:
- Provide working definitions for and describe differences between being Trauma-Informed and being Trauma-Transforming.
- Learn and apply the two “strands” in the DNA of doing transformation work in our programs and organizations. This includes:
- Identify 5 Key Practices to transform trauma.
- Identify 5 Commitment to transform trauma.
- Challenge some longstanding beliefs about providing mental health services to groups that are often pushed to the margins by dominant beliefs and practices.
Workshops
Morning Workshop: Transforming Trauma: How our Organizations Help to Heal (part 1)
Building on the conversation from the Keynote, this workshop will provide more details about how to structure and implement care at an organizational level. Here, we take an examined look at one of the 5 Key Practices to Transform Trauma, “Understanding Stress and Distress,” and how variability in our mental states impacts both workforce and client well-being. We will share newer information about the science of stress and distress, as well as the interventions and approaches necessary to facilitate mental health at all levels.
Objectives:
- Define the differences between stress and distress and how they impact human functioning.
- Learn the survival emotions and survival actions that accompany states of distress.
- Begin to use some of the frameworks and strategies best designed to help people in states of distress.
Afternoon Workshop: Transforming Trauma: How our Organizations Help to Heal (part 2)
In part 2 of this workshop, we will finalize our discussion of interventions and approaches to stress and distress and begin to examine a second of the 5 Key Practices, “Reflecting.” Fundamental to any “healing organization” is having a workforce capable of being as curious about their own feelings, thoughts, and actions as they are about those we serve. A healing organization prioritizes reflection over-reactivity and values personal experience (wisdom) as much as evidence. Reflecting together allows our workforce the chance to hold the inevitable pain of working in the human services field and is a prerequisite for effectively and compassionately holding the pain of others.
- Define Reflective Practice and the rationales for building a workforce culture of self-curiosity.
- Learn a framework for implementing more reflective time in your program/organization.
- Integrate a few of the “essential” questions that all workforces should be trained to answer to spur self-awareness, self-discovery, and improved practice.
Umatter® Suicide Prevention Awareness Overview
In this workshop, participants learn basic knowledge and skills of suicide prevention, including societal myths and attitudes, use of sensitive language, risk factors and warning signs, protective factors, considerations for populations at risk, and local and national resources for help. This learning exchange includes a discussion of best practices for suicide prevention in your organization or community setting.
Workshop Learning Objectives:
- Decrease stigma in talking about mental health and create safe spaces for these conversations.
- Identify risk factors and warning signs of suicide and protective factors to promote resiliency.
- Understand your role as a suicide prevention helper in your school, community, and workplaces.
- Increase comfort level in talking about death in general and specifically suicide.
Cristina Maddocks, MS
Center for Health and Learning
Anne Bilodeau
HCRS Chief Operating Officer
HCRS Leads Statewide Mobile Crisis Program
Our presentation will educate conference attendees on Vermont’s Mobile Crisis Program, a groundbreaking initiative providing immediate support to people experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis. Available statewide, this program ensures that Vermonters have access to someone to call, someone to talk to, and somewhere to go—whenever and wherever a crisis occurs.
By offering an alternative to lengthy emergency room waits and by meeting people in their own communities, the Mobile Crisis Program delivers timely, compassionate care right where it’s needed most.
As the first program of its kind in Vermont, this initiative is unique in that it is led by a designated agency and operates across all counties. We will share how this collaboration with the Department of Mental Health (DMH) aligns with their vision and how the program came to fruition.
Kate Lamphere, LICSW – HCRS Chief Clinical Services Officer
Our presentation will feature two key perspectives:
- Our Chief Clinical Services Officer will provide an in-depth look at the services offered, highlight what’s working well, and discuss some of the challenges encountered.
- Our Chief Operating Officer will share insights into the complexities of coordinating with nine other designated agencies to deliver these services statewide, emphasizing both successes and areas for growth.
Participants will also get an exclusive preview of exciting new developments within the Mobile Crisis Program, including the integration of Peer Support services and the launch of an innovative dispatch model.
This presentation is especially relevant to providers and community members affected by mental health and substance use issues. Attendees will gain valuable insights into a program that is reshaping crisis response in Vermont and learn practical strategies for supporting those in need.
Presentations
Helen J. Wood, DClinPsy
Coordinated Specialty Care for First Episode Psychosis
Presentation: Helen will provide a comprehensive introduction to Coordinated Specialty Care for Early Psychosis (CSC) for service providers, individuals using these services, and their families. CSC is a multidisciplinary approach to supporting individuals experiencing first-episode psychosis, including their families. Coordinated Specialty Care is recovery-oriented and emphasizes shared decision-making, encompassing peer support, support for education/employment, evidence-based therapy, medication management, case management, and family support. Dr. Wood will outline the historical development of CSC, highlight its successes, and some of the challenges faced in its implementation. Finally, the session will focus on what family support is in this context.
Objectives:
- Describe examples of family support in Coordinated Specialty Care.
- List the key components and principles of Coordinated Specialty Care.
- Identify successes and implementation challenges for Coordinated Specialty Care.
- Explain the relevance of cultural adaptations and trauma-informed care for Coordinated Specialty Care.
From Darkness to Color: Corrina’s Journey of Resilience, Art, and Self-Healing
Corrina’s presentation is a raw form of storytelling, full of vulnerability and openness. Corrina’s style is humorous and engaging, forming a connection with the audience that is more than just heart-wrenching. It’s inspirational. She weaves her own personal anecdotes in with techniques that have helped her go from not being able to do simple grocery shopping without having a panic attack to being able to get up on stage and give a TEDx Talk.
Corrina spent almost seven years mostly bedridden and in excruciating pain with a migraine that wouldn’t go away. She couldn’t function, couldn’t sleep, was hallucinating, shaking, and having panic attacks while just sitting in bed. She spent that time with doctors unable to diagnose her, making the light at the end of the tunnel look further and further away until it vanished. She felt like a burden on those around her and like her life had no purpose. She was isolated in a darkened room, just her and her pain…and sometimes her cat. She felt shattered, and at the age of 18, she was suicidal.
One day, in an attempt to find something – anything – to distract herself, Corrina rummaged through her closet and found a No. 2 pencil and an unused poster board. She hauled it back up into the bed with her and began to sketch. This was the day she began to change her life. It’s been over 15 years since Corrina has been sick, but today, she is the healthiest she has been, both physically and psychologically. She is a professional artist and author of three books, including “How to Crush Self-Doubt,” a TEDx speaker and presenter, has a 4-year-old son and recently became the Executive Director for an arts nonprofit called the Milton Artists Guild.
Corrina Thurston, Author, TEDx Speaker, Entrepreneur
Learning Objectives:
- Understanding Resilience: Corrina’s story exemplifies the importance of resilience and how individuals can overcome immense challenges through persistence and inner strength.
- Coping Strategies for Mental Health: The narrative highlights practical techniques for managing mental health, such as engaging in creative activities, practicing gratitude, using affirmations, and meditating.
- Finding Purpose Through Adversity: The story illustrates how finding a purpose, even in difficult circumstances, can be a critical component of healing and personal growth.
- Inspirational Storytelling: The presentation style described emphasizes the power of storytelling that combines humor, vulnerability, and openness to create a deep connection with the audience and inspire them.
- Art as a Therapeutic Tool: Corrina’s use of art as a means to cope with her chronic illness demonstrates how creative expression can be a powerful tool for mental and emotional healing.
Alexis Brieant, Ph.D. (UVM Dept of Psychological Sciences)
Adversity and the Developing Brain: Implications for Youth Mental Health and Well-Being
More than half of individuals in the United States experience at least one adverse event before age 18. These adverse experiences, such as abuse, neglect, parental separation, and parental mental illness, can shape child and adolescent development in profound ways. Psychology and neuroscience research have demonstrated that adversity can impact brain structure and function as well as mental health outcomes, and adversity during childhood accounts for approximately 30% of all mental illnesses.
Despite the prevalence of adversity and its pervasive effects across development, we still do not fully understand how, why, and under what circumstances adversity shapes youth mental health outcomes. This talk will provide an overview of the latest scientific research that seeks to address these issues. This will include recent findings from a national study of adolescent development, as well as research happening in the Family, Environment, Resilience, and Neurodevelopment (FERN) Lab at the University of Vermont. Together, these studies provide insights into the origins of mental illness and the factors that can promote resilience and well-being for children and adolescents.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the Impact of Adversity on Youth Development: Participants will learn about the various types of adverse experiences (e.g., abuse, neglect, parental separation, parental mental illness) that can affect brain structure and function during childhood and adolescence.
- Explore the Connection Between Adversity and Mental Health Outcomes: Attendees will gain insight into how childhood adversity contributes to the onset of mental illness, accounting for a significant portion of mental health challenges in youth.
- Examine Recent Research Findings: The session will provide an overview of the latest scientific research, including findings from a national study of adolescent development and ongoing research at the FERN Lab, to understand how adversity impacts youth mental health.
- Identify Factors that Promote Resilience and Well-Being: Participants will discuss the factors that can help build resilience and promote mental well-being in children and adolescents who have experienced adversity.
- Apply Insights to Mental Health Practices: Attendees will consider how the research presented can be applied to improve mental health practices, policies, and interventions aimed at supporting youth affected by adversity.
These objectives will guide participants in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the complex relationship between adversity, brain development, and youth mental health and how to support resilience in affected individuals.
Panels
LGBTQ+ Mental Health Experiences Panel Discussion
In this panel discussion, St Albans Pride Corp of Franklin County will provide a brief description of their organization. They will explore the experiences of living as LGBTQ+ individuals and how these experiences intersect with mental health challenges.
The discussion will aim to:
- Increase Awareness: Highlight the unique mental health challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals.
- Promote Understanding: Foster a deeper understanding of the intersection between LGBTQ+ identities and mental health.
- Share Personal Experiences: Provide personal insights and stories to illustrate the impact of being LGBTQ+ on mental health.
- Encourage Dialogue: Create an open space for audience questions and discussions.
By the end of this panel, participants will have a better understanding of the specific mental health issues that LGBTQ+ individuals face and the importance of supportive communities and resources.
Moderator: Scott Bushey, President of Saint Albans Pride Corps of Franklin County
Panelists: Ember Nova Quinn, Eva Valenta, Galen Blodgett, and Xane Miller (in order)
Moderator: Kristina Petter, NAMI Vermont Program Coordinator
Shared Strength: Insights from Family and Peer Mental Health Support Groups
Join us for an engaging and insightful panel discussion, where we delve into the key findings from Vermont’s mental health support groups tailored for family members and peers. This session brings together Support Group Leaders and Family-to-Family Educational Teachers to share their experiences and real-life stories that highlight the transformative power of these support groups.
Objectives:
- Understand the Impact: Gain a comprehensive understanding of the emotional and psychological benefits that support groups offer to both family members and peers.
- Compare Group Dynamics: Analyze the differences and similarities between peer support groups and family support groups and understand how each type addresses unique needs.
- Hear Real-Life Stories: Listen to powerful testimonials and success stories that illustrate the positive changes experienced by participants in support groups.
- Identify Emerging Trends: Discover the emerging trends and future directions in the realm of mental health support groups, including the migration of discussion trends, integration of technology, and innovative approaches.
- Facilitate Engagement: Participate in an interactive Q&A session with our panel of experts to address your questions and gain deeper insights.
Panelists: Judy Siler, Jay Furr, Thelma Louise Stoudt, and Ann Cooper (in order)
Exhibitors Joining Us at the 2024 NAMI Vermont Conference
We are excited to share with you a list of organizations and people that have signed up to be at our Together for Mental Health Conference this year:
Exhibit Your Services at the 2024 Conference
Join NAMI Vermont for our 2024 Conference: Together for Mental Health. As an exhibitor at our conference, you will have the opportunity to inspire and educate our participants. This event brings together hundreds of mental health professionals, family members, and peers for a day of learning and networking, focusing on the latest in mental health research, best practices, and treatment options. It’s also a powerful platform to raise awareness and confront the stigma surrounding mental illness.
Our speakers will share their unique perspectives that cater to a broad audience, including educators, healthcare providers, social workers, government representatives, and community members. By participating, your organization will have the chance to expand the reach of your services across the state of Vermont, making a significant impact on the lives of those who need it most.
We hope you will join us and choose a level of participation that best represents your business or organization, allowing you to be a part of this educational and inspirational event. Please click the button below to see the outline of our sponsor and exhibitor levels.
NAMI Vermont Conference: Together for Mental Health Testimonials:
Tracey Shamberger
AGEWELL Director of Business Development & Communications
“As an exhibiting sponsor at last year’s NAMI Vermont: Together for Mental Health Conference, we had a profoundly positive experience. Engaging with attendees and fellow exhibitors sparked valuable collaborations that continue to enrich our work today. As a result, we have developed new program opportunities and forged collaborations with community partners. We highly recommend this conference for anyone impacted by or supporting mental health in Vermont.”
