Presenter list for 2016 conference
Becky Vaughn (National Council for Behavioral Health, Washington DC)
Cheryl Martin BSN, MA, CASAC, Fred Hintz BA CASAC, James Riter LCSW, Joseph Scripa LMSW CASAC,
Richard Wellman BA (Motivational Interviewing Community, Syracuse)
Motivational Interviewing: A Standard for Excellence in Practice
Cheryl and Fred will facilitate a panel discussion on MI. Panelists will also include additional MI trainers
Jim Riter, Hutchings Outpatient Clinic Manager, Rick Wellman, Health Home Care Coordinator, and Joe
Scripa, Dual Recovery Coordinator. The panel will discuss MI's value as a best practice standard and an
update on the implementation of MI in the community.
David Hamilton Ph.D. LMSW (Executive Secretary, State Board for Social Work, Albany)
What You Need to Know About Social Work Licensure and Continuing Education
This session will afford social workers an opportunity to discuss recertification and continuing education
questions and concerns.
Deborah Mendelsohn, PA-C (Marworth, Waverly PA)
Understanding Brain Chemistry/Neurotransmitters and psychotropic medications
The first part of the lecture will be to review the main "feel good" neurotransmitters; Endorphins,
Serotonin, Dopamine, Norepinephrine and Oxytocin along with the main inhibitory neurotransmitter,
GABA. Acetylcholine will also be reviewed as it plays a major role in short term memory. The second
part of the lecture will be to review current psychotropic medications available for the treatment of
mood disorders and will discuss how neurotransmitters are either increased or blocked by these
medications.
Donna Knapp (Prevention Network, Syracuse)
Environmental Prevention Strategies – Building Coalitions to Address Community Issues Impacting
Drinking and Other Drug Use
The field of prevention has expanded beyond direct contact with youth and adults. Traditionally,
methods of education and awareness have been used to reduce substance abuse. Now a focus on
coalition-building and collaboration has emerged to address broader policy issues. As a result, healthier
environments for families and communities are created and reduce access to alcohol and other drugs,
and create positive alternatives. When local agencies, policy makers, law enforcement, and CBO’s work
together the results mean improvements in the social fabric of our cities and towns. Come learn about
successful models of coalitions working with these goals in mind and how treatment and intervention
programs benefit from such efforts.
Gregory Allen MSW (Director, Program Development and Management, Office of Health Insurance
Programs, New York State Department of Health, Albany)
Medicaid and Behavioral Health in 2016
This session will offer an overview of issues facing New York State Medicaid as they relate to behavioral
healthcare, how the managed care system is responding and New York State’s care management
approach. The session will also offer updates on DSRIP and Value based payment. The session will
conclude with an overview of the challenges ahead for upstate providers.
L. Pilosi MS CTRS (Marworth, Waverly PA)
Therapeutic Recreation Interventions for Persons with Addiction
The session will highlight a variety of experiential Therapeutic Recreation Interventions used in an inpatient treatment setting for persons with addiction and the use of metaphoric transfer to life in 12 step
recovery.
Nathan Rauscher LMSW CASAC (Syracuse Behavioral Healthcare, Syracuse)
Tolerance development and overdose in opiate/opioid addiction
This session will discuss the development of tolerance to opiates and the role that changes in use can
have on overdose risk. Participants will receive this information within the context of changes to one
agencies client demographics over the past decade. This course will also examine overdose prevention
strategies including Narcan.
Patricia Rayna CCAR CPS (Independent Contractor: Peer Recovery Services)
Peer Recovery Services in New York State: The Next Right Thing
This will be an interactive presentation. There will be a combination of PowerPoint and group
participation. The participants will have an opportunity to interact with each other in a small group
exercise created to provide them with a better understanding of how peer services and supports work.
There will be time built in for questions and answers throughout the presentation as well as at the end.
Robert Kent (NYS OASAS General Counsel, Albany)
Our Community, Our Epidemic: Turning Drug Awareness into Action
This session will provide an update on OASAS projects and initiatives as they relate to service providers.
Sandra Rivers BS CASAC & Lisa Neish BS CASAC (Crouse Hospital, Syracuse)
Introduction to Narrative: story telling as a Means of Handling trauma in Substance Abuse Treatment
This presentation will provide an introduction for the use of narrative therapy in substance abuse
treatment facilities. Presenters will share results from research studies indicating a high prevalence of
traumatized individuals in substance abuse facilities. Trauma informed care practices promote a person
centered treatment approach as supported by OMH, OASAS and SAMHSA. Current research suggests
that the use of narrative and storytelling is an effective strategy in the handling of trauma in substance
abuse treatment. Utilizing a trauma informed care platform, treatment professionals can assist patients
in re-storying their trauma. Participants will learn the benefits of the use of narrative in working with
traumatized patients. Participants will participate in an experiential exercise of narrative in treatment of
traumatized populations.
Susan Browne (Syracuse Behavioral Healthcare, Syracuse)
Gambling Disorder- Signs and Symptoms
Gambling addiction treatment in NYS is an unfunded service that is often overlooked within treatment
settings. This session is designed to highlight this area of treatment and will offer an overview of the
signs and symptoms of gambling addiction, progression of the disease and different treatment
approaches, methods of gambling, treatment of gambling. The session will also include patient
testimony about the devastating impact his addiction had on his life and how he has been able to build a
life for himself in recovery.
Dr. Tim Feeney Ph.D. (Belvedere Health Services, Albany)
Developing Identity Focusing on Meaning: Principles and Practices for Supporting Treatment Resistant
Populations
This session will focus on understanding a framework for the development of successful supports for
individuals who are often resistant to treatment, who have co-existing difficulties, and who are involved
with multiple service systems.
Tracy Torelli LCSW CASAC (St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center: Behavioral Health, Syracuse)
A Relational Approach to Dual Disorder Groups in Mental Health Settings
This session will review and explore a group that is currently being run at St Joseph's Hospital. It will
identify and teach this married approach of behavioral activation in order to increase relational
connections for patients. In the past an abstinence or "stopping goal" was used to deal with substance
abuse but this looks towards increasing patient's relationships so that it makes it difficult for them to
use.
Other Speakers:
J. Schuyler CASAC CTTS & C. Bethgero Ph.D CTTS (St. Joseph’s Hospital, Syracuse)
Dr. R. Sullivan (Upstate Hospital & Syracuse Behavioral Healthcare, Syracuse)
S. Wilson Ph.D CTRS (SUNY Cortland, Cortland)