We look forward to seeing OVX & VKAT Chapters (and aligned groups) for the 802 Youth Leadership Summit on Thursday, November 9 at VTSU Randolph, featuring learning & action opportunities around the harm caused by commercial tobacco and how we can expose the industry.

Registration is free; both a light breakfast and lunch are included. RSVP here: https://bit.ly/802youthsummit

Agenda & Workshop Descriptions
Youth/student participants will have the opportunity to attend workshops in the morning and afternoon along one of three tracks:

1. Storytelling & Communications (focused on storytelling and expressive empowered youth voice)

2. Social & Environmental Justice (focused on addressing commercial nicotine use as a social & environmental justice issue)

3. Leadership & Policy Development (focused on authentic voice in youth leadership and policy engagement)

8:15-9am: Arrival & Registration (light breakfast options & free swag!)
9am-10:15am: Welcome & Warm-Up Presentation
10:30-12pm: Workshop Session AM
12:15-1pm: Lunch (in campus dining hall)
1:15-2:45pm: Workshop Session PM
2:45pm: Departure

Take some time outside just for you. Connect to what's within by going outdoors and connecting mindfully to the more-than-human world! Rewilding is a pathway to rediscover your deep connection to nature. It rekindles your bond and reminds you, you belong to an expansive community of beings. Rewilding reignites your primal vitality, your senses, and awareness, and research has shown positive effects on health, state of being, attention, and more. Slow down. Reach out to reach in. Be seen and heard by a community of individuals who share similar lived experiences, challenges, goals, and values.

This workshop is in person. Location details will be emailed to participants shortly before the workshop date. Please dress according to the weather, have bug spray or sunscreen as appropriate, and have a water bottle handy. There will be opportunities to sit down on the ground or find a stump or rock and participants may choose to bring a foam pad or blanket to sit on depending on their individual needs or preferences.Please dress according to the weather, have bug spray or sunscreen as appropriate, and have a water bottle handy. There will be opportunities to sit down on the ground or find a stump or rock and participants may choose to bring a foam pad or blanket to sit on depending on their individual needs or preferences. Hosted by Christine at OGGI BE.

Register here.

VCPI’s Environmental Mental Health Initiative was created due to the growing fears and concerns of climate change and its impacts on humans and the natural world. Our main goals of the initiative is to raise awareness regarding the issue of climate anxiety, as well as encouraging others to believe in and pursue a hopeful future. Utilizing resources and collaborative partnerships, VCPI Members can begin their environmental mental health journey by reconnecting themselves to their natural environment and taking action (in ways big or small) to help make a positive sustainable impact to themselves and the world we live in.

Join us on Thursday, October 5 at the Langevin House at VTSU Randolph for an interactive workshop as part of VCPI's Annual Meeting featuring Dr. Suparna Choudhury and Dr. Joshua Moses.

Many people feel overwhelmed by the climate crisis and other social and environmental challenges. Finding resources and community connection to cope with increasing levels of uncertainty can be difficult. This workshop provides an overview of climate anxiety and other climate emotions while offering tools for working with clients, organizations, and communities experiencing climate-related distress. Participants will engage with each other to increase awareness of the different ways in which people experience climate anxiety. Topics include social and cultural context of climate anxiety, experiences throughout the lifecourse, how the mind/brain processes uncertainty, and developing collective capacity for working with climate anxiety. Participants will increase their ability to work with anxiety and grief around the climate crisis in clinical as well as community and organizational contexts. 

"People are aware that they cannot continue in the same old way but are immobilized because they cannot imagine an alternative. We need a vision that recognizes that we are at one of the great turning points in human history when the survival of our planet and the restoration of our humanity require a great sea change in our ecological, economic, political, and spiritual values."
(Grace Lee Boggs)

Registration is free, required, and open to VCPI members and mental health practitioners, advocates, or graduate students. Breakfast & lunch are included. Seating is limited - please rsvp here.

Agenda
9:30am: Coffee & Welcoming
10am - 2pm: Workshop (with 1-hour break for lunch & networking)

Learning Goals
1. Deepen knowledge of ecoanxiety in adults and adolescents in clinical and educational contexts
2. Increase knowledge of working with climate anxiety in community and organizational contexts
3. Identify existing resources and strengthen coping skills for working with uncertainty
4. Acquire a set of ecoanxiety resources and tools for both practitioners and clients

Note: CEUs for allied mental health professionals and social work are pending.

 Facilitator Biographies
Suparna Choudhury is an interdisciplinary researcher and writer, trained in cognitive neuroscience, transcultural psychiatry and creative writing. In her research, she examines the implications of the new brain sciences for health and society with a special interest in youth mental health and climate emotions. In her current role as Assistant Professor and Co-Director of the Culture, Mind & Brain Program at McGill University in Montreal, she is focused on youth-led research on adolescent mental health, dignity and mental health, cities and psychosis and eco-anxiety. 
www.suparnachoudhury.com

 Joshua Moses is Associate Professor of Anthropology and Environmental studies at Haverford College and Visiting Faculty in the Department of Anthropology at University of Vermont. He has over 20 years of experience working on disaster mental health, climate-related distress, and community response to socio-ecological change. He is author of the book, Anxious Experts: Disaster Response and Spiritual Care from 9/11 to the Climate Crisis (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2022), as well many articles on the social and environmental context of mental health. 
https://www.haverford.edu/users/jmoses

This is something just for you. Try something new to connect deeply to you. Quiet the cognitive mind and tune into the body. Replenish the well within. Be seen and heard by a community of individuals who share similar lived experiences, challenges, goals, and values. This 90-minute workshop will begin with introductions and an explanation of the yoga therapy process and practice, and the power and possibilities of becoming profoundly present. Then, there will be 45 minutes of an embodied experience followed by a reflection/deepening practice (such as journaling). The group will close with a circle and integration. If you'd like, be prepared with your favorite journal!

Participants will:

• learn about the yoga therapy process and why it works

• explore the embodied practice in a safe and supportive environment

• engage in a deepening activity, and

• share and learn from one another in community.

This workshop is offered online and can be done from the safety and comfort of your personal space. The movement offering is tailored to the individuals who show up for the session and can be done seated if needed or desired. It's not necessary to purchase any equipment for this practice. Gathering a few pillows and blankets from around your home would be beneficial and supportive. If you think you may want to stand for portions of the practice, check first to ensure that you're not likely to slip on the carpet or flooring in your space (yoga mats can be used for this purpose if available). You should wear comfortable clothing in which you can move freely. While the embodiment experience is not intended to be vigorous, it's a good practice to be prepared with a bottle or glass of water. Hosted by Christine of OGGI BE and VCPI. Register here. Location details will be emailed to participants.

Take some time outside just for you. Connect to what's within by going outdoors and connecting mindfully to the more-than-human world! Rewilding is a pathway to rediscover your deep connection to nature. It rekindles your bond and reminds you, you belong to an expansive community of beings. Rewilding reignites your primal vitality, your senses, and awareness, and research has shown positive effects on health, state of being, attention, and more. Slow down. Reach out to reach in. Be seen and heard by a community of individuals who share similar lived experiences, challenges, goals, and values.

In order to participate in this online workshop participants will need a cell phone or tablet and headphones. Participants must choose an outdoor location in which they are confident they will have cell phone reception. This rewilding experience be done in your backyard, in a nearby park, or on a favorite trail. A high-traffic location is not suggested. Please dress according to the weather, have bug spray or sunscreen as appropriate, and have a water bottle handy. There will be opportunities to sit down on the ground or find a stump or rock and participants may choose to bring a foam pad or blanket to sit on depending on their individual needs or preferences. Hosted by Christine at OGGI BE.

Register here.

VCPI’s Environmental Mental Health Initiative was created due to the growing fears and concerns of climate change and its impacts on humans and the natural world. Our main goals of the initiative is to raise awareness regarding the issue of climate anxiety, as well as encouraging others to believe in and pursue a hopeful future. Utilizing resources and collaborative partnerships, VCPI Members can begin their environmental mental health journey by reconnecting themselves to their natural environment and taking action (in ways big or small) to help make a positive sustainable impact to themselves and the world we live in.

This is something just for you. Try something new to connect deeply to you. Quiet the cognitive mind and tune into the body. Replenish the well within. Be seen and heard by a community of individuals who share similar lived experiences, challenges, goals, and values. This 90-minute workshop will begin with introductions and an explanation of the yoga therapy process and practice, and the power and possibilities of becoming profoundly present. Then, there will be 45 minutes of an embodied experience followed by a reflection/deepening practice (such as journaling). The group will close with a circle and integration. If you'd like, be prepared with your favorite journal!

Participants will:

• learn about the yoga therapy process and why it works

• explore the embodied practice in a safe and supportive environment

• engage in a deepening activity, and

• share and learn from one another in community.

This workshop is offered online and can be done from the safety and comfort of your personal space. The movement offering is tailored to the individuals who show up for the session and can be done seated if needed or desired. It's not necessary to purchase any equipment for this practice. Gathering a few pillows and blankets from around your home would be beneficial and supportive. If you think you may want to stand for portions of the practice, check first to ensure that you're not likely to slip on the carpet or flooring in your space (yoga mats can be used for this purpose if available). You should wear comfortable clothing in which you can move freely. While the embodiment experience is not intended to be vigorous, it's a good practice to be prepared with a bottle or glass of water. Hosted by Christine of OGGI BE and VCPI. Register here.

As part of our Environmental Mental Health Initiative, VCPI is hosting a private climate café via Zoom on Wednesday, April 19, 6-7:30pm. You’re invited to join us and host Alexandra Arnold - a climate resilience coach (almacoaching.org) - who utilizes techniques rooted in positive psychology to help individuals shift from climate anxiety to inspired action. We’re going to be talking about eco-anxiety and climate distress.

This program is free and open to all - register here.

What is a climate café?

• An informal, open, respectful, supportive, and confidential space (a “container”) to safely share emotions, responses, and reactions related to the current climate and environmental emergency.

• A time for exploration of thoughts, feelings and experiences - rather than what we are DOING about the climate crisis.

• A space for listening to one another and for a quiet, reflective experience - a haven from our usual busyness and fast-pace activities.

• For a taste of what inspired this climate cafe, you may watch this 13-min TEDTalk: How to turn climate anxiety into action

Our goal is to create a relaxed atmosphere without judgment, shame, guilt or pressure, and to build climate resilience by reducing feelings of isolation and providing a sense of engagement, solidarity and support to our fellow community members. Come join us virtually – light a candle, bring some blankets, enjoy a hot beverage (tea, cocoa, coffee, etc.) – and settle in for a cozy & informal conversation worth having. Hope to see you there!

On March 30 at 3pm, join VCPI’s Emalee Garboski (Environmental Mental Health Education & Outreach Coordinator/ECO Americorps Member) and Gabriela Heermans (Policy & Programming Fellow) for an interactive conversation highlighting new efforts in two of our focus areas: eco-anxiety and mental health equity.

After the Q&A, join us for a gentle embodied mindfulness session.

This digital meetup to support your personal & professional well-being is free and open to all VCPI members and helpers!

Register via Zoom.

Join us for an online introduction to Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) workshop. This session on February 22 will focus on working with adolescent populations.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Participants will develop a deeper understanding of Dialectical Behavior Therapy theory and practice. This training will provide exposure to the history of DBT, the philosophical traditions it is grounded in and the structure of delivering the DBT treatment. Training objectives include providing an understanding of DBT principles, components of the therapy, DBT skills training (mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance & emotion regulation), change strategies, acceptance strategies, dialectical strategies, commitment strategies and behaviorism. The training will assist participants in conceptualizing cases through a DBT framework and implementing DBT strategies into practice.

TOPICS
- The development of DBT and its theoretical framework
- Dialectics
- Change Strategies
- Acceptance Strategies
- Modes of Treatment
- The structure of DBT including stages of treatment, the layout of individual sessions, an overview of consultation team meetings and the types of DBT skills taught in groups.
- The use of diary cards and chain analysis
- Treatment targets and hierarchy
- Dialectical Dilemmas
- Recent DBT developments and future directions

REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Register online for this workshop. Please be sure you have the latest version of Zoom.

This training is hosted by the Vermont Cooperative for Practice Improvement & Innovation with support from the Department of Mental Health. CEUs will be avaliable for Allied Mental Health (OPR) as well as Psychology and Social Work.

TRAINERS
Megan Johnson Dunston, MS, LCMHC, is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, adjunct faculty member at the University of Vermont and co-founder of Meridian DBT Psychotherapy, PLC, a private practice that provides research-based outpatient psychotherapy services, including DBT coping skills groups, individual therapy, and consultation and supervision services. From 2006 until 2017, Megan was a clinician in the Crossroads program treatment team, providing partial hospital, intensive outpatient and outpatient services to adults using the Dialectical Behavior Therapy modality. In this capacity, she also served as the clinical site supervisor for master’s level interns. In addition to clinical work, Megan has led workshops for staff at Matrix Health Systems, the Howard Center, and the Northeastern Family Institute, as well as trainings for PESI, focusing on aspects of DBT (dialectics, contingency management, self-harm behavior, etc). Other areas of clinical interest pertain to conflict resolution, body image, self-efficacy beliefs, grief, parenting/pregnancy issues, intimate partner abuse and aging.

Kristina Syverson, MS, LCMHC is a licensed clinical mental health counselor specializing in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to provide outpatient treatment to adults and groups, particularly those experiencing borderline personality disorder, complex trauma, and treatment-resistant depression. Additionally, she currently serves as the consultant for the Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Intensive Supervision & Consultation pilot project, initiated by the Department of Mental Health and facilitated by Vermont Cooperative for Practice Improvement & Innovation (VCPI). She earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Vermont (2017) and subsequently trained as an intern at the Crossroads Intensive Outpatient Program. Following her internship, Kristina was hired as a clinical mental health therapist for Crossroads before launching her private practice as part of the Meridian DBT & Psychotherapy Services group in 2018, where she continues to practice and actively participate in the comprehensive DBT treatment team.

Join us for an online introduction to Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) workshop. This session on January 25 will focus on working with adult populations.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Participants will develop a deeper understanding of Dialectical Behavior Therapy theory and practice. This training will provide exposure to the history of DBT, the philosophical traditions it is grounded in and the structure of delivering the DBT treatment. Training objectives include providing an understanding of DBT principles, components of the therapy, DBT skills training (mindfulness, interpersonal effectiveness, distress tolerance & emotion regulation), change strategies, acceptance strategies, dialectical strategies, commitment strategies and behaviorism. The training will assist participants in conceptualizing cases through a DBT framework and implementing DBT strategies into practice.

TOPICS
- The development of DBT and its theoretical framework
- Dialectics
- Change Strategies
- Acceptance Strategies
- Modes of Treatment
- The structure of DBT including stages of treatment, the layout of individual sessions, an overview of consultation team meetings and the types of DBT skills taught in groups.
- The use of diary cards and chain analysis
- Treatment targets and hierarchy
- Dialectical Dilemmas
- Recent DBT developments and future directions

REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Register online for this workshop. Please be sure you have the latest version of Zoom.

This training is hosted by the Vermont Cooperative for Practice Improvement & Innovation with support from the Department of Mental Health. CEUs will be avaliable for Allied Mental Health (OPR) as well as Psychology and Social Work.

TRAINERS
Megan Johnson Dunston, MS, LCMHC, is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, adjunct faculty member at the University of Vermont and co-founder of Meridian DBT Psychotherapy, PLC, a private practice that provides research-based outpatient psychotherapy services, including DBT coping skills groups, individual therapy, and consultation and supervision services. From 2006 until 2017, Megan was a clinician in the Crossroads program treatment team, providing partial hospital, intensive outpatient and outpatient services to adults using the Dialectical Behavior Therapy modality. In this capacity, she also served as the clinical site supervisor for master’s level interns. In addition to clinical work, Megan has led workshops for staff at Matrix Health Systems, the Howard Center, and the Northeastern Family Institute, as well as trainings for PESI, focusing on aspects of DBT (dialectics, contingency management, self-harm behavior, etc). Other areas of clinical interest pertain to conflict resolution, body image, self-efficacy beliefs, grief, parenting/pregnancy issues, intimate partner abuse and aging.

Kristina Syverson, MS, LCMHC is a licensed clinical mental health counselor specializing in dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to provide outpatient treatment to adults and groups, particularly those experiencing borderline personality disorder, complex trauma, and treatment-resistant depression. Additionally, she currently serves as the consultant for the Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Intensive Supervision & Consultation pilot project, initiated by the Department of Mental Health and facilitated by Vermont Cooperative for Practice Improvement & Innovation (VCPI). She earned her Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Vermont (2017) and subsequently trained as an intern at the Crossroads Intensive Outpatient Program. Following her internship, Kristina was hired as a clinical mental health therapist for Crossroads before launching her private practice as part of the Meridian DBT & Psychotherapy Services group in 2018, where she continues to practice and actively participate in the comprehensive DBT treatment team.

The Six Core Strategies training series is an evidence-based clinical model designed for use by institutions providing mental health treatment to individuals admitted to inpatient or residential settings. This program supports the implementation of a practice improvement initiative focused on prevention and reduction of coercive interventions, especially restraint and seclusion, as well as the promotion of trauma-informed care, recovery, person-driven care, and resiliency. A full course description is available here.

 Dates: October 4; November 4; January 13 (9am-12pm) online via Zoom

Registration is free for Designated Hospital staff and CEUs are available. This program is sponsored by a grant from the Vermont Department of Mental Health.

Registration Link: https://bit.ly/6CS_Advanced_Registration_2022

Trainers: Kevin Huckshorn, PhD MSN, RN, ICRC  & Janice LeBel, PhD, ABPP

In addition to these workshops, the trainers will be available to schedule customized technical assistance and consultation sessions with individual hospital units/teams and will be hosting open office hours as well. VCPI is also developing a series of on-demand virtual onboarding 6CS modules for new staff which will be available in 2023.

This free virtual workshop for behavioral health providers & peers is hosted by VCPI and Vancro Integrated Interpreting Services. This training is designed for hearing/non-signing practitioners to learn more about best practices for working with the DHHDB community utilizing a health equity framework. Topics will include:

- Deaf culture
- Roles/responsibilities of ASL interpreters in a mental health setting
- Partnering with the therapist and supporting therapeutic goals and relationship between therapist and client (engagement and inclusion, session pre- and debriefing)
- Impact of mediated communication in therapeutic settings
- Requesting an interpreter
and more!

VIIS is a service-disabled veteran-owned small business led by interpreters. VCPI is an independent nonprofit cooperative with a mission to impact professional & workforce development across Vermont's system of care.

This program has been approved for CEUs for Allied Mental Health Professionals.

Click here to register via Zoom.

The Six Core Strategies training series is an evidence-based clinical model designed for use by institutions providing mental health treatment to individuals admitted to inpatient or residential settings. This program supports the implementation of a practice improvement initiative focused on prevention and reduction of coercive interventions, especially restraint and seclusion, as well as the promotion of trauma-informed care, recovery, person-driven care, and resiliency. A full course description is available here.

 Dates: October 4; November 4; January 13 (9am-12pm) online via Zoom

Registration is free for Designated Hospital staff and CEUs are available. This program is sponsored by a grant from the Vermont Department of Mental Health.

Registration Link: https://bit.ly/6CS_Advanced_Registration_2022

Trainers: Kevin Huckshorn, PhD MSN, RN, ICRC  & Janice LeBel, PhD, ABPP

In addition to these workshops, the trainers will be available to schedule customized technical assistance and consultation sessions with individual hospital units/teams and will be hosting open office hours as well. VCPI is also developing a series of on-demand virtual onboarding 6CS modules for new staff which will be available in 2023.

Growing anxieties around the climate crisis must be acknowledged and addressed in order to create a positive change for the future of environmental policy – but where do we start? Heather White, author and founder of One Green Thing, says, “It starts with YOU.”

Join the Vermont Cooperative for Practice Improvement & Innovation as we host White for our inaugural Fall Conversation on Wednesday, October 19 at 7pm (online via Zoom). This talk/Q&A is free and open to all.

Taking on an issue as consequential as environmental mental health can feel less overwhelming when you have meaningful support. White provides a framework for impactful action on eco-anxiety through her book, events, resources, and blog. In addition to sharing a safe space safe space for her audience to cope with climate anxiety - her writing and personal assessment tools also offer the means to do something about it. The takeaway? Getting involved in eco-justice is one of the strongest coping mechanisms one can have against eco-anxiety.

Learn how to identify and harness your service super power - an empowering way to start your eco-justice journey. If you would like to learn more about the ideas and perspectives White has to offer, join us on October 19 at 7pm and check out her website at www.onegreenthing.org.

Current Northern Vermont University/Vermont State Colleges students are eligible to receive a free copy of "One Green Thing."

Register here: https://form.jotform.com/vtcpi/one-green-thing

Hosted by VCPI with support from the Vermont Department of Health, Phoenix Books, and Northern Vermont University.

The Six Core Strategies training series is an evidence-based clinical model designed for use by institutions providing mental health treatment to individuals admitted to inpatient or residential settings. This program supports the implementation of a practice improvement initiative focused on prevention and reduction of coercive interventions, especially restraint and seclusion, as well as the promotion of trauma-informed care, recovery, person-driven care, and resiliency. A full course description is available here.

 Dates: October 4; November 4; January 13 (9am-12pm) online via Zoom

Registration is free for Designated Hospital staff and CEUs are available. This program is sponsored by a grant from the Vermont Department of Mental Health.

Registration Link: https://bit.ly/6CS_Advanced_Registration_2022

Trainers: Kevin Huckshorn, PhD MSN, RN, ICRC  & Janice LeBel, PhD, ABPP

In addition to these workshops, the trainers will be available to schedule customized technical assistance and consultation sessions with individual hospital units/teams and will be hosting open office hours as well. VCPI is also developing a series of on-demand virtual onboarding 6CS modules for new staff which will be available in 2023.

Please save the date for VCPI's annual meeting, to be held on Thursday, September 22. We've shifted from our original plan to gather at Northern Vermont University-Johnson to an online format, with three virtual sessions (including breaks in-between). Please see the full agenda below:

Conversations About Nicotine Cessation & Prevention: Strategies for Behavioral Health Providers
10:30-11:30am via Zoom.
This presentation will provide an overview Vermont Tobacco Control Program, both the prevention and cessation work being done by this team. A deeper look at cessation, especially in the behavioral health population in Vermont, will also be provided in this presentation. The goal is to provide some resources and information, and then open the floor for a robust discussion.

Dana Bourne, MPH is the Tobacco Treatment Specialist with the Tobacco Control Program in the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Department at the Vermont Department of Health. She has been in this role since July 2020. She received her MPH from The University of Vermont in 2018, and her undergraduate Biochemistry degree from Saint Michael's College in 2014. She previously worked at The University of Vermont doing both biochemistry research on blood coagulation, as well as clinic research on Type 2 Diabetes. Dana is a life-long Vermonter who loves to be spend time in nature.

Mindfulness: The History, Practice, and Use of Cultivating Mindful Awareness
12:00-1:00pm via Zoom.
What is mindfulness? Where does it come from? And how has it appeared in so many contemporary Western institutions, from schools and prisons to corporate meetings and military training? How is mindfulness studied by contemporary neuroscientists and social psychologists, and what are their findings? Marlboro College professor William Edelglass traces the history of various forms of mindfulness from multiple traditions, starting with early Buddhist texts and ending with the secularization of mindfulness in contemporary American society.

Self-Care for Helpers: A Workshop
1:15-2:00pm
Join VCPI ED Alex Lehning, MA for an engaging exploration of mindful self-care designed specifically for folks involved in helping work in all forms. Learn more about how you can plan to sustain your own well-being, and in turn, support your essential work in mental health and healthcare. The session will include a brief meditation practice. No previous experience is required.

You can register for all three sessions utilizing the same meeting link via Zoom. VCPI’s annual meeting is free & open to all.

Note: Current members will receive an emailed ballot for elections to our Leadership Team.

We're discussing "Leadership & Learning" for VCPI's next Co-Op Cafe on Tuesday, August 30 at 12pm. Join us for a conversation with our ED Alex Lehning as we explore the connections between leadership, curiosity, and mindfulness. Bring your questions and ideas (as well as your lunch) for an engaging and thoughtful digital discussion around new definitions for leadership in mental health/healthcare. A one-hour certificate of attendance will be available for all participants.

This program will be hosted via Zoom and is free & open to all. RSVP here.

Vermont Mad Pride is a march and celebration organized by psychiatric survivors, consumers, mad people and folks the world has labeled "mentally ill." Mad Pride is about challenging discrimination, advocating for rights, affirming mad identities, remembering and participating in mad history, and having fun. Our lives and contributions are valuable and need celebration!

VCPI is pleased to co-sponsor this event.

Schedule
The march run will run from 12:00 to 1:00pm beginning at Church St. & Main St (meet at noon) and ending at Battery Park, with additional programming from 1:00 to 3:00pm.

Accommodations
ASL interpreters will be provided, other accommodations available on request. Please fill out this form to indicate any additional accommodation requests including (and not limited to) transportation, food allergies, language access, etc.

Tickets
For registration information, click here; to get involved please email Ericka Reil: ericka@anotherwayvt.org

VCPI members and educational/community partners are invited to join us for a summer session on "Mindful Practice" as we explore ways to integrate reflection and intention into our personal and professional lives. Planned activities include a gentle yoga session, an introductory workshop on meditation, and time for networking and sharing resources and activities to support your essential work in mental health.

Since our founding in 2013, VCPI has hosted a series of membership meetings each year to explore topics in workforce & professional development. We paused those in-person gatherings to help ensure the safety of our members and in accordance with public health guidelines in response to COVID-19.

We're so pleased to announce that we are resuming this programming in a hybrid format for 2022. There are two options for attendance on Friday, July 15:

1) Join us IN-PERSON at Cohen Park on Lake Champlain in St. Albans from 9am-12pm (limited to 25 participants); light snacks are included

2) Join us online for a VIRTUAL session from 2-4pm via Zoom

This program is free of charge. Register here.

Today’s talk is POSTPONED…we will announce a new date/time soon.

What is mindfulness? Where does it come from? And how has it appeared in so many contemporary Western institutions, from schools and prisons to corporate meetings and military training? How is mindfulness studied by contemporary neuroscientists and social psychologists, and what are their findings? Join VCPI and Marlboro College professor William Edelglass on Tuesday, June 7 for a digital lunch & learn presentation which traces the history of various forms of mindfulness from multiple traditions, starting with early Buddhist texts and ending with the secularization of mindfulness in contemporary American society.

Register via Zoom HERE.

Free & open to all. Sponsored by Vermont Humanities.

About the Conference
Nationally and in Vermont, there are concerns about increasing eating problems and disorders among youth & young adults. The target audience for this training is primary care providers and related healthcare professionals (e.g. nurses, PAs), dietitians, mental health providers, and school health and mental health staff. The focus will be on using a multidisciplinary approach to caring for adolescents/young adults with disordered eating. Sessions will discuss effective practices of a multidisciplinary team; case conceptualization, assessment, and a brief overview of treatment approaches; exploring the power of language in prevention and recovery; and considering when and how to engage family in treatment. We will hear the stories of Vermont patients and families. Attendees will have an opportunity to engage with a panel of providers of multidisciplinary care and to connect with other professionals on this important topic. Presenters include the University of Vermont, UVM Medical Center’s Eating Disorder Consult Clinic & The Adams Center.

Registration & Agenda
Preregistration is required HERE.
Download the full agenda from DMH.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this conference, participants will have:

• Learned how to apply a multi-disciplinary approach to caring for adolescents and young adults with disordered eating

• Distinguished terms and phrasing to use/avoid

• Identified best practices for case conceptualization, assessment, and intervention to apply in their work

• Gained strategies for effective family engagement

• Connected with professionals from their own and other disciplines about disordered eating

Resources
- VCHIP website page on eating disorders: http://www.med.uvm.edu/vchip/projects/eating_disorders
- NEDA Parent Toolkit
- NEDA Educator Toolkit
- NEDA Coach & Trainer Toolkit
- NEDA Workplace Toolkit
- AED Clinical Measures Toolkit
- Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26)
- ED Questionnaire
- Conference Resource List (websites, research, etc.)
- “Eating Disorders in Children and Adolescents: State of the Art Review” by Campbell & Peebles
- Quotes from patients & families

Schedule & Slides/Handouts
8:50-9:00am
Log on (your registration confirmation email contains information about joining the meeting)
9:00-9:15am
- Welcome & logistics: Laurel Omland, MS
- Importance of this topic now: Lewis First, MD
9:15am-12pm (includes break)
- Using a Multidisciplinary Approach to Care: Erica Gibson (Slides)
- Case Conceptualization, Assessment, Brief Overview of Best Practice Treatment Approaches, and Lived Experiences of Patients and Families: Aubrey Carpenter and Sue Adams (Slides SA / Slides AC)
- The Weight of our Words: Reduce Stigma, Reduce Shame: Anne Valentine and Amy Sercel (Slides)
- Engaging Family in Treatment: Aubrey Carpenter, Danielle Jatlow, Sue Adams (Slides AC / Slides DJ / Slides SA)
12:00-12:55pm
Lunch Break (Please log in before 1:00 so we can begin on time)
1:00-1:15pm
Embodied Contemplative Practice (Laura Biron)
1:15-2:20pm
Panel discussion of multidisciplinary care (Moderated by Drs. Gibson & Carpenter)
- Laura Dattilio, RN, BSN, CPN, UVMMC Pediatric Assistant Nurse Manager
- Courtney Fleisher, PhD, ABPP, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Doctorate, UVMMC
- Alicia Veit, MD, Timberlane Pediatrics
- Marcia Herrin, EdD, MPH, RD, LD, FAED, nutrition counseling, private practice; founder of the Dartmouth College Eating Disorders Prevention, Education and Treatment Program
- Karen Kurlee, M.A. Licensed Psychologist, Intensive Care Services Director, Washington County Mental Health
- Andy Rosenfeld, MD, Psychiatrist at UVMMC; Vermont Center for Children, Youth and Families
- Michael Sherwin, behavior support coach, East Montpelier Elementary School (U32)
2:20-2:35pm
Looking Ahead (Laurel Omland, MS)
2:35-2:45pm
Complete Evaluation & Break

2:45-4:00pm
Breakout Discussions: Applying these standards of care from your role (anyone can attend any of these groups, which will be held in separate Zoom meeting spaces)
- Medical providers: facilitated by Erica Gibson & Kathy Mariani (Zoom link: https://vsc.zoom.us/s/85765823662)
- Mental Health providers: facilitated by Aubrey Carpenter, Courtney Fleisher, and Amy Kiviranna (Zoom link: https://vsc.zoom.us/s/85336671063)
- Nursing: facilitated by Laura Dattilio (Zoom link: https://vsc.zoom.us/s/83914842326)
- Dietitians: facilitated by Britt Richardson & Marcia Herrin (Zoom link: https://vsc.zoom.us/s/89845628649) Shifted to Teams Meeting

Additional Information
Sponsored in part by the Children’s Health Integration Linkage and Detection (CHILD) project with funding from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA grant # 6H79SM080234); the Pediatric Mental Health Access Program (PMHCA) with funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA grant # 6 U4AMC44254‐01); the HRSA Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant; and the Children’s Miracle Network. Hosted by the Vermont Cooperative for Practice Improvement & Innovation at Northern Vermont University.

The PMHCA will work with the UVM Vermont Child Health Improvement Program (VCHIP) to plan continued educational opportunities for integrated care providers on child and youth mental health topics that are relevant to the challenges faced across Vermont.

Continuing Education Credits Information
This live online activity was approved by the VT Office of Professional Regulation for 5.75 hrs of continuing education credit for Social Work (Course ID CA-115765), Allied Mental Health (Course ID CA-115765), Alcohol/Drug Counselor (Course ID CA-115766), and Psychological Examiners (Course ID CA-115769).

6 hours of Continuing Professional Education (CPE) units were approved for Registered Dietitians by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (Activity Number 170143).

CMIE Information (see agenda for full details)
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by The Robert Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont and Vermont Department of Health. The University of Vermont is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

The University of Vermont designates this live online activity for a maximum of 5.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. The Robert Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 5.75 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation. This program has been reviewed and is acceptable for up to 5.75 Nursing Contact Hours. This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 5.75 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change.

Session Descriptions
Using a Multidisciplinary Approach to Care
Erica Gibson will briefly address the benefits and importance of a multidisciplinary approach to care in the community-based outpatient care setting.

Case Conceptualization, Assessment, Brief Overview of Best Practice Treatment Approaches, and Lived Experiences of Patients and Families
This discussion will start with a presentation from Sue Adams speaking to the multidisciplinary assessment approach taken at the Adams Center, including discussion of recommended measures, interviews, and approaches to providing feedback and recommendations. Aubrey Carpenter will then speak to ways community-based providers might approximate this assessment approach in settings that lack resources to conduct comprehensive multidisciplinary assessments ‘in-house’, and how to optimize efficiency in settings where non-billable collateral collaboration may be challenging to find time for. This session will also feature shared stories and anecdotes of patients and families who have had experience pursuing treatment for eating disorders in the state of Vermont.

The Weight of our Words: Reduce stigma, Reduce Shame
This discussion-based workshop with Annie Valentine & Amy Sercel will explore the power of language in eating disorder prevention and recovery. We will discuss specific terminology that supports the creation of a collaborative, prevention based and recovery-supportive atmosphere, and explain why other terminology may be more harmful than helpful to the process. Throughout this workshop you will learn practical strategies to implement with any patient, not just those with diagnosed eating disorders, in order to reduce shame and stigma around health, weight, and eating disorder prevention, recovery and healing.

Engaging Family in Treatment
This presentation will discuss the nuanced approach to if and when to involve parents and family members in treatment for eating disorders. Aubrey Carpenter, Danielle Jatlow, and Sue Adams will address themes related to development, individuation, enmeshment, family history of eating disorders in other caregivers, and related family systems. Speakers will also spend time discussing ways that family can help build resilience in the individual and the family system to optimally support the individual presenting for treatment.

Embodied Contemplative Practice
Laura Biron will lead a short embodied contemplative practice to create kind presence for yourself and to share with your patients/clients.

Speaker Biographies

Sue Adams, Licensed Psychologist Master
Suzanne Adams is a licensed psychologist-master and is the founder of The Adams Center for Mind and Body. Her extensive background is focused on work with eating disorders and co-occurring issues such as OCD and PTSD. She is also trained in EMDR and the ego state therapy, DNMS. Her history also includes Behavioral Medicine at Copley Hospital, as a clinician at The Alternative Hospital Program at Family Therapy Associates and for ten years in private practice in Williston Vermont specializing in eating disorders. In 2004 Suzanne founded the group practice at The Adams Center, which is today composed of 14 varied providers including dieticians, therapists and body – workers. The practice is best known for its work with eating disorders providing clients with personalized multidisciplinary teams. At the center there is a strong belief in the collective approach to treatment.

Laura Biron, MBA, RDN, CD, CEDS-S, RYT 800
Laura Biron (she/her)is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Certified Eating Disorder Specialist and Supervisor, Advanced Teacher of Therapeutic Yoga and Mindfulness Based Eating Awareness Training (MB-EAT) instructor. She has served as Reimbursement Representative and Consumer Protection Coordinator on the on the board of the Vermont Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics where she successfully advocated for the expansion of insurance coverage for nutrition services for Vermonters struggling with eating disorders. For more than two decades, Laura has studied and incorporated embodied contemplative practices to compliment and enhance nutrition therapy for patients. She provides professional supervision to dietitians seeking to gain expertise in treating patients with eating disorders, consultation services to individuals and families seeking higher levels of treatment for themselves or loved ones and teaches trauma informed therapeutic yoga classes for groups and individuals.

Aubrey Carpenter, PhD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Doctorate
Aubrey Carpenter (she/her) is a clinical psychologist at the University of Vermont Medical Center. She provides assessment, outpatient individual and group psychotherapy, and consultation to adolescents with eating disorders and their families in her role as staff psychologist in the outpatient multidisciplinary Eating Disorders Consultation Clinic (EDCC). Dr. Carpenter is trained in various approaches to adolescent eating disorders and frequently co-occurring conditions, including cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, radically open dialectical behavior therapy, and family-based treatment. Dr. Carpenter really enjoys working alongside and consulting with multidisciplinary and community-based teams to better help meet the needs of Vermonters in need of specialized care during the current mental health crisis.

Lewis First, MD
Dr. Lewis First received his B.A., M.D., and M.S. in Epidemiology from Harvard University. He did his residency at Boston Children’s Hospital followed by a fellowship in Ambulatory Pediatrics. In 1994 Dr. First, a general academic pediatrician with a strong interest in medical education, left Boston to become Professor and Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and Chief of Pediatrics at the University of Vermont Children’s Hospital, a position he currently continues to hold. From 2003-2008, Dr. First also served as Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education and helped develop and implement the Vermont Integrated Curriculum, which continues in use today. In 2009 Dr. First also became Editor-in-Chief of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) peer-reviewed journal Pediatrics, a position he also continues to hold today. On a local and national level, Dr. First has won numerous teaching awards including the AAMC’s Robert J. Glazier Distinguished Teacher Award (2002), AAP's National Medical Education Award (2007), and the Miller-Sarkin Mentoring Award from the Academic Pediatric Association (2007). In 2014 he was the recipient of the Joseph W. St. Geme Jr. Leadership Award from the Federation of Pediatric Organizations, and in 2017 Dr. First was the recipient of the George V. Kidder Outstanding Faculty Award from the University of Vermont Alumni Association—awarded for excellence in teaching and advising and for the ability to inspire students and have a lasting influence on their lives, the first medical school faculty member to earn this university-wide honor. In 2019 Dr. First was named Chair Emeritus and Honorary Member for Life of the National Board of Medical Examiners, and in 2020 he was selected into the initial cohort of 16 for the National Academy of Distinguished Educators in Pediatrics. Dr. First has authored several dozen peer reviewed publications and co- edited five textbooks. In addition, Dr. First offers medical advice to parents entitled, “First with Kids,” on weekly radio and television news segments, as well as in multiple community newspapers throughout Vermont. His advocacy on behalf of addressing disparities in health care and achieving equity for all children locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally is omnipresent in everything he does, earning him the 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award from the KidSafe Collaborative, a group representing more than 30 organizations dedicated to improving the health of children at risk and their families living in Vermont.

Erica Gibson, MD, UVMMC Eating Disorder Consultation Clinic (EDCC)
Dr. Gibson is an Associate Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Vermont College of Medicine and a faculty member of the Vermont Child Health Improvement Program. She is currently the Division Chief of Adolescent Medicine within the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Vermont Children’s Hospital. Dr. Gibson focuses on clinical work in the area of adolescent sexual and reproductive health care, disordered eating and transgender youth care. Her grant work currently focuses on sex education, eating disorder care and prevention, positive youth development, and pediatric to adult care transition. Dr. Gibson currently serves on the Executive Committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on School Health. She has been an active member of the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, and the Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health Education Project established by Physicians for Reproductive Health. She is also a former member of the board of directors for Advocates for Youth in Washington D.C. and worked as a high school teacher and educational consultant prior to her medical training.

Danielle Jatlow, LICSW, LADC
Danielle Jatlow, MSW, LICSW, LADC, has 17 years of clinical practice experience working with adolescents, young adults and their families—first, in New York City and now, in Burlington, Vermont. Danielle is a principal in Centerpoint's consultation, training, and coaching services and is a founding partner in the Vermont Treatment Enhancement Program. Jatlow has provided clinical and operational leadership to Centerpoint's outpatient and school and community-based services for youth and families impacted by a broad range of social, emotional, mental health, trauma, and substance use issues. Prior to settling in Vermont, Danielle worked with families impacted by highly stigmatized medical health issues and with families returning to their communities following incarceration. While in New York, Danielle attended post-Master's training at the Ackerman Institute for the Family. Danielle is a Lecturer in the Department of Social Work at the University of Vermont (UVM).

Amy Sercel (she/her) MS, RD, CD, Registered Dietitian, Center for Health and Wellbeing, University of Vermont
Amy Sercel (she/her) is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor. Amy works individually with students at the University of Vermont, supporting clients to create health-supportive eating patterns that they can maintain for the long-term. Amy primarily works with students who are recovering from eating disorders or disordered eating, while also addressing general nutrition concerns, nutritional adequacy in plant-based diets, digestive problems, and sports nutrition. Through her work with students, Amy has come to realize that all of the above concerns often overlap. Amy incorporates elements of Intuitive Eating throughout all of her work and aims to help each student create a more positive relationship with food and with their body.

Annie Valentine (she/her) M.Ed., Education and Trainings Manager, Center for Health and Wellbeing, University of Vermont
Annie Valentine, M.Ed. (she/her), leads education and training initiatives in the Center for Health and Wellbeing at UVM. Annie’s work largely focuses on eating disorders education, suicide prevention and mental health literacy training. She has served as an adviser, facilitator and committee member on a number of campus and statewide initiatives such as the Vermont Suicide Prevention Center, formerly the Vermont Youth Suicide Prevention committee, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and Active Minds at UVM. She is a certified Adult Mental Health First Aid trainer and Campus Connect Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper trainer. She also leads campus efforts on bystander interventions strategies, specifically in relation to bias, prejudice and discrimination. Annie was also a participant in Bess O’Brien’s Kingdom County Productions, All of Me: A Documentary Film on Eating Disorders.

FACILITATORS
Aubrey Carpenter, PhD, psychologist, UVMMC
Laura Dattilio, RN, BSN, CPN, UVMMC Assistant Nurse Manager
Courtney Fleisher, PhD, psychologist, UVMMC
Erica Gibson, MD, Medicine Specialist, UVMMC
Amy Kiviranna, LICSW, social worker, EDCC
Kathy Mariani, MD, family medicine, Office of Primary Care/AHEC, UVM
Britt Richardson, RD, dietitian, EDCC, UVMMC

HOST
Laurel Omland, MS, NCC, Vermont Department of Mental Health

Questions & Support
Contact joanne.crawford@vermont.gov with any questions or accommodations requests.

Zoom
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We get into the work of helping others because we care and are compassionate people. But that compassion can tire and fatigue as we deal with the struggles and stresses of others, especially if we don’t get in the habit of taking good care of ourselves. Join VCPI & Matt Wolf for a virtual lunch and learn on Wednesday, May 11 at 12pm for a one-hour introduction to the full three-hour workshop that gives participants an understanding of Compassion Fatigue (or Secondary Traumatic Stress), the trajectory of symptoms that can lead to burnout, how trauma & stress impact brain function, and several sets of considerations, habits, and routines to take better care of ourselves, so we can be fully present in our work and in our personal lives. Come explore principles of healing centered care and how they can be applied both in our work with others and in caring for ourselves so we can avoid the path to burnout and have more satisfaction in the balance of our lives.

This program is free & open for all - register here.

Matt Wolf has worked with youth and young adults in Vermont for over fifteen years – working to inspire & empower their leadership development and advocating for them across the system of care. Matt has performed direct service work with young people in, or formerly in foster care, as well as those involved in the corrections system, and those struggling with their mental health or substance use. He has years of history promoting young adult leadership & peer support work statewide in Vermont, and currently works as the Youth Voice Coordinator for Vermont Afterschool.

Join VCPI for our next digital "lunch & learn" on Thursday, April 28 at 12pm with author Mary Fillmore for a presentation on memory, mental health, and resistance for Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day).

Contrary to the image that most Dutch people resisted the Nazis, only a small percentage actively participated—many of them women delivering messages or smuggling children to safety. What would they say if they could speak to us now? How are their decisions and struggles relevant today? We will also explore the tragic story of the January 1941 evaluation of the "Apeldoornse Bos" - a Jewish psychiatric institution located in Apeldoorn, Holland - as well as the legacy of the medical profession and the Holocaust.

Fillmore will explore how people decided to resist, what they actually did, and what the results were. We’ll discuss how their courage can inspire people with a broad range of views. This program is free and open to all, and sponsored by Vermont Humanities.

Register at: https://vsc.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYrdOuqrDsuGt1LRlC5ndoeWSzUExjMT3gY

Confronting Stigma. Improving Access. Continuing Advocacy. Advancing Policy. Giving Voice. Please join the Howard Center online for a day of inspiration, learning, and rich conversation at Vision, Visionaries and Voices, our fifth annual spring conference on April 7, 2022 from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm.

Our speakers will provide unique perspectives for a broad audience, including educators, healthcare providers, representatives of local and state government, legal and law enforcement professionals, and community members. We expect attendees from throughout Vermont, New York, New England, and Canada.

Register online or call 802-488-6912. CEUs available.

VCPI is offering a digital book club this spring with support from the Vermont Humanities Council. We will read & discuss Canadian author Sarah Henstra’s We Contain Multitudes - the story of two high school boys who discover friendship, and then love, through letters to each other. This beautiful, challenging novel styled in epistolary form that will resonate with readers in many ways. Through these letters, they reveal their complicated lives and families, transcending bullying, opiate addiction, PTSD, and domestic violence. The text presents a myriad of ways to communicate around tough issues in our lives while remaining hopeful and resilient. Limited complimentary copies of the book are available. Register here. Our first session will be held on Wed, March 30 - with additional meetings planned for later this spring.

Join VCPI ED Alex Lehning for a virtual "lunch & learn" program on Thursday, February 24 at 12pm, as we dive into project mapping and how it can support your practice, campaign, or program. We’ll explore the world of editorial calendars, scheduling tools, and more! Bring your ideas and questions. Free & open to all. Register via Zoom here.

Join us for Mental Health Advocacy Day on January 31st from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. by Zoom. Mental health advocates and co-sponsoring organizations will be advocating for an improved mental health system of care focusing on “Now is the Time for Hope & Recovery.” The agenda includes activities that will be of interest for every mental health advocate and supporter including a welcome address from state leaders, a keynote presentation, and community members sharing their mental health stories and experiences. To register and learn more go to: https://namivt.org/advocacy/advocacy-day/