Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast UCLA Public Mental Health Partnership

Written by Kimberly Barrante; Narrated by Jonathan C. Fernandez; Artwork by Adrian Cruz; Produced by DMH + UCLA Public Mental Health Partnership

Sidewalk Stories is inspired by real-life relationships between an unhoused person and their mental health outreach provider on the Los Angeles County Homeless Outreach and Mobile Engagement team, known as HOME. Though identifying details have been changed, the heart of these stories remains intact. Their work is a beautiful reminder that by offering a helping hand, a listening ear, and leading with empathy, we can inspire hope and help others know that they are never alone.

Written by Taylor Crawford; Narrated by Stephanie Y. Cole; Artwork by Adrian Cruz; Produced by DMH + UCLA Public Mental Health Partnership

Sidewalk Stories is inspired by real-life relationships between an unhoused person and their mental health outreach provider on the Los Angeles County Homeless Outreach and Mobile Engagement team, known as HOME. Though identifying details have been changed, the heart of these stories remains intact. Their work is a beautiful reminder that by offering a helping hand, a listening ear, and leading with empathy, we can inspire hope and help others know that they are never alone.

Warning: This episode includes discussion of suicide. If this topic is triggering for you, please consider skipping this episode. If you or someone you know is in crisis, in the US, please call or text 988 for immediate help. If outside the US, please reach out to your local crisis hotline.

Written by Ally Merkel; Narrated by Lydia Berger Gray; Artwork by Adrian Cruz; Produced by DMH + UCLA Public Mental Health Partnership

Sidewalk Stories is inspired by real-life relationships between an unhoused person and their mental health outreach provider on the Los Angeles County Homeless Outreach and Mobile Engagement team, known as HOME. Though identifying details have been changed, the heart of these stories remains intact. Their work is a beautiful reminder that by offering a helping hand, a listening ear, and leading with empathy, we can inspire hope and help others know that they are never alone.

Written by Brady Bryson; Narrated by Roni Orlina; Artwork by Adrian Cruz; Produced by DMH + UCLA Public Mental Health Partnership

Sidewalk Stories is inspired by real-life relationships between an unhoused person and their mental health outreach provider on the Los Angeles County Homeless Outreach and Mobile Engagement team, known as HOME. Though identifying details have been changed, the heart of these stories remains intact. Their work is a beautiful reminder that by offering a helping hand, a listening ear, and leading with empathy, we can inspire hope and help others know that they are never alone.

Written by Kevin Grossman; Narrated by Amy Selma; Artwork by Adrian Cruz; Produced by DMH + UCLA Public Mental Health Partnership

Sidewalk Stories is inspired by real-life relationships between an unhoused person and their mental health outreach provider on the Los Angeles County Homeless Outreach and Mobile Engagement team, known as HOME. Though identifying details have been changed, the heart of these stories remains intact. Their work is a beautiful reminder that by offering a helping hand, a listening ear, and leading with empathy, we can inspire hope and help others know that they are never alone.

Written by Erin Gruodis-Gimbel; Narrated by Roni Orlina; Artwork by Adrian Cruz; Produced by DMH + UCLA Public Mental Health Partnership

Sidewalk Stories is inspired by real-life relationships between an unhoused person and their mental health outreach provider on the Los Angeles County Homeless Outreach and Mobile Engagement team, known as HOME. Though identifying details have been changed, the heart of these stories remains intact. Their work is a beautiful reminder that by offering a helping hand, a listening ear, and leading with empathy, we can inspire hope and help others know that they are never alone.

Written by Tavis Vannucci; Narrated by Christian Gray; "Quando me'n vo" aria performed by Caroline Diehl; Artwork by Adrian Cruz; Produced by DMH + UCLA Public Mental Health Partnership

Sidewalk Stories is inspired by real-life relationships between an unhoused person and their mental health outreach provider on the Los Angeles County Homeless Outreach and Mobile Engagement team, known as HOME. Though identifying details have been changed, the heart of these stories remains intact. Their work is a beautiful reminder that by offering a helping hand, a listening ear, and leading with empathy, we can inspire hope and help others know that they are never alone.

Written by Ryan Frances-Wright; Narrated by Gervais Weekes; Artwork by Adrian Cruz; Produced by DMH + UCLA Public Mental Health Partnership

Sidewalk Stories is inspired by real-life relationships between an unhoused person and their mental health outreach provider on the Los Angeles County Homeless Outreach and Mobile Engagement team, known as HOME. Though identifying details have been changed, the heart of these stories remains intact. Their work is a beautiful reminder that by offering a helping hand, a listening ear, and leading with empathy, we can inspire hope and help others know that they are never alone.

Written by Joseph Mango; Narrated by Dominica Ivey; Artwork by Adrian Cruz; Produced by DMH + UCLA Public Mental Health Partnership

Sidewalk Stories is inspired by real-life relationships between an unhoused person and their mental health outreach provider on the Los Angeles County Homeless Outreach and Mobile Engagement team, known as HOME. Though identifying details have been changed, the heart of these stories remains intact. Their work is a beautiful reminder that by offering a helping hand, a listening ear, and leading with empathy, we can inspire hope and help others know that they are never alone.

Written by Zoe Simone; Narrated by Lydia Berger Gray; Artwork by Adrian Cruz; Produced by DMH + UCLA Public Mental Health Partnership

Sidewalk Stories is inspired by real-life relationships between an unhoused person and their mental health outreach provider on the Los Angeles County Homeless Outreach and Mobile Engagement team, known as HOME. Though identifying details have been changed, the heart of these stories remains intact. Their work is a beautiful reminder that by offering a helping hand, a listening ear, and leading with empathy, we can inspire hope and help others know that they are never alone.

At PMHP, we're honored to share a new narrative podcast of 10 episodes titled Sidewalk Stories, inspired by real-life relationships between an unhoused person and their mental health outreach provider on the Los Angeles County Homeless Outreach and Mobile Engagement team, known as HOME. Though identifying details have been changed, the heart of these stories remains intact. We aim to shine a light on their tireless work and amplify their voices to raise awareness, break down stigma, and highlight a crisis affecting cities across the country. Their work is a beautiful reminder that by offering a helping hand, a listening ear, and leading with empathy, we can inspire hope and help others know that they are never alone.

Visit pmhp.ucla.edu/sidewalkstories

Presented by Ian McLoone, MPS, LPCC, LADC

This practical training explores the critical intersection between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and substance use disorders (SUDs). With approximately 1 in 5 individuals with SUD also experiencing ADHD, understanding this common co-occurrence is essential for effective support. Designed to support behavioral health practitioners across a range of service lines, this introductory training provides practical strategies for identification, engagement, and person-centered support. Participants will gain foundational knowledge about both conditions, explore the neurobiological and psychosocial factors that contribute to their co-occurrence, and learn culturally responsive approaches for supporting clients who may be experiencing both challenges. Attendees will develop skills to recognize potential signs of ADHD in clients with substance use concerns, initiate supportive conversations, and connect clients with appropriate resources within the constraints of their role as unlicensed providers.

Presented by Madina Wardak, MSW, ACSW and Vanessa Porea, LPC, APCC, NCPRSS

Effective team-based care is essential for positive outcomes in intensive mental health programs. This training explores the critical role of team climate in reducing burnout, fostering motivation, and improving client outcomes. Participants will learn evidence-based tools to assess team climate and identify areas for growth, in addition to strategies that enhance key dimensions such as psychological safety, task orientation, accountability, and innovation. The training also introduces five core ingredients of high-functioning teams, and uses experiential exercises to explore common team pitfalls and how to foster a shared purpose, strong connection, and sustainable success in community mental health settings. 

Presented by Danielle Cameron, LCSW, MSW

The critical time intervention (CTI) model is a time-limited, evidence-based practice that mobilizes support for our communities’ most vulnerable individuals during periods of transition. It facilitates community integration and continuity of care by ensuring that a person has formidable ties to their community and support systems during these critical periods. In this training, participants can expect to learn about the CTI model and develop skills to help clients transition out of intensive clinical programs like Full Service Partnership (FSP). Through case scenarios and discussions, participants will be led in engagement opportunities and activities rooted in CTI to proactively evaluate and plan for client success after intensive community mental health programs.

Presented by Madina Wardak, MSW, ACSW

This presentation explores the observance of Ramadan, highlighting spiritual, cultural, and practical considerations that may affect the needs and engagement of individuals receiving mental health services. Attendees will gain insight into the significance of the holy month, including fasting, prayer, and community obligations, and how these factors influence access to services. The presentation will provide strategies for culturally humble and inclusive support, ensuring that providers effectively meet the needs of clients who observe Ramadan. Community resources will also be provided. This training is intended for field-based mental health and outreach workers in Los Angeles County.

Presented by Maggie Mullen, LCSW

This training will outline the basics of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), an evidence-based psychotherapy for emotion dysregulation that helps people become more mindful as they simultaneously work on improving interpersonal relationships, tolerating distress, and regulating intense emotions. This presentation will introduce practical applications of DBT through discussion, vignettes, video clips, and opportunities to practice. By examining the four modules of DBT (distress tolerance, emotional regulation, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness), learn how to apply DBT concepts and principles to benefit clients. There will be an emphasis on practical skill-building interventions derived from DBT, rather than on building a full DBT program. The intended audience is any clinician with an interest in DBT.

Presented by Maggie Mullen, LCSW

This training will outline the basics of dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), an evidence-based psychotherapy for emotion dysregulation that helps people become more mindful as they simultaneously work on improving interpersonal relationships, tolerating distress, and regulating intense emotions. This presentation will introduce practical applications of DBT through discussion, vignettes, video clips, and opportunities to practice. By examining the four modules of DBT (distress tolerance, emotional regulation, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness), learn how to apply DBT concepts and principles to benefit clients. There will be an emphasis on practical skill-building interventions derived from DBT, rather than on building a full DBT program. The intended audience is any clinician with an interest in DBT.

Presented by Danielle Cameron & Vanessa Porea.

In this training, providers will gain an understanding of substance use and co-occurring disorders, along with considerations for treatment and resources to refer clients to the appropriate services when needed. Providers will also learn skills and practical tools from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and motivational interviewing (MI) that can be applied when working with clients who experience these disorders, along with exploring ways providers can engage in their own self-care. This training is intended for field-based mental health and outreach workers in Los Angeles County.

Presented by Danielle Cameron & Vanessa Porea.

In this training, providers will gain an understanding of substance use and co-occurring disorders, along with considerations for treatment and resources to refer clients to the appropriate services when needed. Providers will also learn skills and practical tools from cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), and motivational interviewing (MI) that can be applied when working with clients who experience these disorders, along with exploring ways providers can engage in their own self-care. This training is intended for field-based mental health and outreach workers in Los Angeles County.

Presented by Danielle Cameron, LCSW

The majority of behavioral health professionals can expect to face client resistance behaviors at some point in their careers. As commonly referred to in peer-reviewed literature, the term “resistance behaviors” can best be understood as the expression of apprehension and reluctance to engage in services and ambivalence around change, most often seen in cases with clients mandated to treatment. There are several factors that contribute to client resistance behavior and providers will receive a review on understanding, responding to, and processing distressing interactions with clients, especially around client motivation. Concepts from evidence-based frameworks such as motivational interviewing, solution-focused therapy, and trauma informed approaches will be examined to enhance providers’ skill base in working with clients exhibiting resistance behaviors. Additionally, this training will support behavioral health providers in understanding the importance of and how to collaboratively set person-centered goals with clients, especially as it relates to increasing engagement with clients who display resistance behaviors. Lastly, this training will educate attendees on concepts such as burnout, compassion fatigue, transference, and counter-transference to help them normalize and understand common experiences they may encounter when handling challenging dynamics with clients. This training is intended for field-based mental health and outreach workers in Los Angeles County.

Presented by Jennifer Wisdom, PhD, MPH, ABPP.

Workplace Politics defines politics as processes and behaviors between people to get things done and get needs met. Dr. Wisdom will solicit examples from the attendees about examples of "politics" that they have encountered and then will address four aspects to help address workplace politics: self-awareness, understanding power and influence, negotiating, and giving/receiving feedback. The workshop is focused on practical ways for people to think differently about politics and to navigate political workplaces. This training is intended for field-based mental health and outreach workers in Los Angeles County.

Presented by Jennifer Wisdom, PhD, MPH, ABPP.

Intergenerational Communication Challenges introduces generations (from boomers to Gen Z) and identifies how each generation has its own experiences, worldviews, and perspectives. Dr. Wisdom will solicit ideas from attendees on how intergenerational challenges show up in their workplace and describe how these challenges in the workplace can be associated with generational perspectives, such as different views on what it means to show respect or display loyalty. Dr. Wisdom will provide strategies for communicating across the generations, both for older generations (boomers and Gen X) to communicate with younger generations (millennials and Gen Z), and vice versa. This training is intended for field-based mental health and outreach workers in Los Angeles County.

Presented by Danielle Farmer, MSEd, LCSW. Studies show that 83% of U.S. workers suffer from work-related stress, with 25% naming their job as the number one stressor in their lives (The American Institute of Stress, 2022). These rates are even higher for individuals in social service settings due to factors such as emotional labor and the traumatic realities that clients may face. These factors place outreach workers at higher risk for work-related traumatic stress. Therefore, it is vital that field-based outreach workers are equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to understand how work-related stress develops and self-care practices to combat it. This training will define and explore concepts related to work-related stress such as burnout, vicarious trauma, and the physiological impacts of chronic and/or traumatic stress. Participants will discuss the history of self-care, its roots in radical community movements, and how it relates to field-based outreach workers. Participants will learn a plethora of self-care practices using a holistic approach and will have work time to create an individualized wellness plan for themselves using learned self-care practices. This training is intended for field-based mental health and outreach workers in Los Angeles County.

Presented by Elizabeth Mackey, LMSW and Chelsea Simms, LCSW, MSW. This training will focus on models of integrated care, including integrated, coordinated, and co-located care models, and related skills for practicing care coordination across systems. The importance of coordinated care will be explained through the social determinants of health (SDOH) framework, highlighting integrated care/care coordination as an intervention that mitigates the impacts of SDOH. This training will teach providers how to identify key care partners within systems, as well as advocacy and collaboration best practices. Attendees will be given an overview of chronic health conditions common within populations experiencing serious mental illness (SMI) and being unhoused, and how non-medically trained providers can support access to and continued engagement in primary and specialty medical care. This training is intended for field-based mental health and outreach workers in Los Angeles County.

This two-part training will help generate an understanding of why the housing landscape in Los Angeles looks the way it does while offering up strategies that providers can use to navigate it. Day 1 will examine the histories and policies that have shaped LA’s housing supply and will outline where we are going in the future. It will also help providers identify what housing is currently available, including tips on how to locate appropriate options for clients who are unhoused or have unstable housing. Day 2 will dive deeper into clinical tactics relevant to keeping clients housed and safe by focusing on specific types of housing (e.g., motels, sober living, board and cares, supportive housing, and in independent or family situations) and the relevant considerations and strategies that can be used in each. The training will end with a brief primer on tenant protections and will supply legal resources you or your clients can use, if ever necessary.

This two-part training will help generate an understanding of why the housing landscape in Los Angeles looks the way it does while offering up strategies that providers can use to navigate it. Day 1 will examine the histories and policies that have shaped LA’s housing supply and will outline where we are going in the future. It will also help providers identify what housing is currently available, including tips on how to locate appropriate options for clients who are unhoused or have unstable housing. Day 2 will dive deeper into clinical tactics relevant to keeping clients housed and safe by focusing on specific types of housing (e.g., motels, sober living, board and cares, supportive housing, and in independent or family situations) and the relevant considerations and strategies that can be used in each. The training will end with a brief primer on tenant protections and will supply legal resources you or your clients can use, if ever necessary. Recording updated on January 25, 2023.

Presented by Danielle Cameron, LCSW and Chelsea Simms, LCSW, MSW. Group therapy can be an effective and impactful therapeutic intervention for consumers of community mental health services, providing a space for processing, peer support, and social skills practice. This training will explore both the practicalities of starting and maintaining a group within a community mental health setting, as well as specific evidence-based interventions and modalities that can be used to ensure a group remains helpful and supportive to participants. This training is tailored for community mental health providers working in field-based settings in Los Angeles County.

Presented by Danielle Cameron, LCSW, MSW and Chelsea Simms, LCSW, MSW. Group therapy can be an effective and impactful therapeutic intervention for consumers of community mental health services, providing a space for processing, peer support, and social skills practice. This training will explore both the practicalities of starting and maintaining a group within a community mental health setting, as well as specific evidence-based interventions and modalities that can be used to ensure a group remains helpful and supportive to participants. This training is tailored for community mental health providers working in field-based settings in Los Angeles County.

Presented by Paul Brodwin, PhD. In this session, participants will review the recurring ethical issues faced by case managers who work with people with severe mental illness, learn the definitions of "ethical dilemma" and "moral distress," and how to distinguish between them in practice, and lastly, through interactive case studies, gain experience in recognizing and resolving ethical concerns about boundaries, equity, and the gap between personal ideals and workplace realities.

Presented by Julie Cohen, LMFT and Danielle Farmer MSEd, LCSW. This training will provide Full Service Partnership (FSP) team members with a foundational understanding of assertive engagement principles and strategies when working with parents and caregivers. Participants will learn the core concepts of assertive engagement, including active listening, empathy, and effective communication techniques. The training will focus on building rapport, establishing trust, and collaborating with parents and caregivers to support their child's progress and wellbeing within the FSP program. By the end of the training, participants will have gained essential knowledge and skills to begin implementing assertive engagement strategies in their interactions with parents and caregivers.

Presented by Stacy D. Goldsholl, MA. This training will give field-based mental health service providers an overview of the prevalence of smoking among persons living with serious mental illness (SMI), and review its implications on health. Stacy D. Goldsholl will review the effectiveness of evidence-based practices for smoking cessation for persons with SMI. Goldsholl will also discuss how providers can assess an individual’s smoking status and their willingness to quit. She will do this by providing information on behavioral counseling for individuals who are interested in quitting through a motivational interviewing approach, and offering guidance on how to choose an approach to help someone quit smoking. She will then recommend adaptations for individuals who have cognitive deficits. Additionally, Goldsholl will review smoking cessation pharmacotherapy options, their safety and efficacy for individuals with SMI, and recommendations on treatment duration. She will also discuss treatment recommendations for individuals who are not interested in quitting smoking, and provide treatment options for active smokers.

Presented by Emily C. Dossett, MD, MTS. Pregnancy and postpartum can be joyful, but they can also be full of stress, physical changes, and worsened psychiatric symptoms for people with serious mental illness (SMI). At the same time, reproductive needs in the SMI population have historically been overlooked or ignored. This training will discuss how the perinatal period affects psychiatric symptoms and how providers can address these changes. We will also use a reproductive justice lens to think about pre-pregnancy psychiatric consultation as well as family planning for people with SMI. The target audience for this training is field-based intensive mental health services providers who work with individuals impacted by severe mental health disorders.

Presented by Chelsea Simms, LCSW, MSW. Outreach and Engagement (O&E) is a key phase of treatment across Full Service Partnership (FSP) and Homeless Outreach Mobile Engagement (HOME) teams within Los Angeles County. During this time, it is crucial to begin building a solid therapeutic relationship with clients. We will discuss techniques to reinforce this relationship, including shared decision making and other collaborative strategies. This training will also facilitate a space for reflection on engagement practices from both a clinical and practical lens. Utilizing evidence-based practices from trauma informed care to motivational interviewing, this brief training aims to strengthen providers' skillsets overall. Time will be taken to engage in dialogue and role play for the unique challenges that O&E can present providers and the teams they work within across multiple systems of care.

Presented by Chelsea Simms, LCSW, MSW and Larry Fernandez, LCSW, MSW. Mental illness and co-occurring disorders can influence the length of time in establishing a trusting therapeutic relationship. Assertive engagement involves the use of interpersonal skills and inventiveness to engage clients and interest them in subsequent care. It entails taking multidisciplinary services directly to the people in encampments, streets, sidewalks, alleyways, schools, and other public spaces, followed by the provision of ongoing support. This training will cover assertive engagement strategies that are most helpful with adult clients with mental illnesses that may include co-occurring substance use disorders. Strategies will include evidence-informed modalities (motivational interviewing, harm reduction, strengths-based), informal/creative approaches, as well as opportunities for learners to apply these strategies using case vignettes. The intended audience for this training is field-based community mental health providers and outreach workers.

Presented by Sam Tsemberis, PhD and Ana Stefancic, PhD. This training will describe the concept of program fidelity, how the principles and practices of Full Service Partnership (FSP) programs are operationalized to measure FSP model fidelity, and how to use fidelity assessments as part of quality improvement. We use narratives and vignettes to illustrate how to apply FSP fidelity principles and practices in real-world programs to enhance service delivery for individuals experiencing mental illness as well as homelessness, substance use, and/or physical health challenges.

Presented by Chelsea Simms, LCSW, MSW. This training discusses the concepts of uncertainty, rumination, and self-care. The presenter discusses how uncertainty and rumination contribute to an increase in anxiety and stress.

This training serves as a follow-up to the previous training, Working with Justice-Involved Clients: Part 1, which took place on May 17, 2023. This training will more closely examine how the justice system interacts with individuals with serious mental illness (SMI). Participants will review statistics regarding individuals with SMI in the justice system and the best practices for discussing mental health in the courtroom setting. This training will highlight important practice points for clinicians, such as strategies for coordinating and advocating on behalf of clients in the justice system, as well as ethical considerations. Recorded on June 7, 2023.

This is an overview of the criminal justice system, including alternatives to incarceration for clients with serious mental illness (SMI), and a discussion of the roles and responsibilities of the clinician while working with clients. The training will include information related to the Los Angeles County jail and court systems, practice points related to working with clients with SMI, navigating the case and the courtroom, and discussion of some of the related ethical considerations and the impact on the clinician's work. This training is tailored for community mental health providers working in field-based settings in Los Angeles County. Recorded on May 17, 2023.

Presented by Shayan Rab, MD. This presentation will outline key principles in field-based psychiatric services through a model developed by the HOME Team. Psychiatrists will learn how to adapt traditional psychiatric services for service delivery in the field and gain a better understanding of the DMH innovations available to support field-based psychiatry. The presentation will outline how to utilize a team-based approach in supporting community reintegration and the role of a psychiatrist in critical psychosocial interventions, including housing support. Internal and external DMH clinical resources will also be shared to enhance collaboration and care-coordination efforts. This training is tailored for community mental health providers working in field-based settings in Los Angeles County.

Presented by Elizabeth Mackey, LMSW and Chelsea Simms, LCSW, MSW. This training focuses on expanding the practice, knowledge, and skills of social workers, case managers, peers, psychologists, and psychiatrists who work in Full Service Partnership (FSP) programs in Los Angeles County. The training builds on the prior FSP Training Collaborative series topics (recovery-oriented and trauma informed care) to provide education on harm reduction principles and practice.

• Part 3: Focuses on harm reduction’s practical application. Topics will include safer substance use strategies and resources, overdose prevention, medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and COVID-19 considerations.

Presented by Elizabeth Mackey, LMSW and Chelsea Simms, LCSW, MSW. This training focuses on expanding the practice, knowledge, and skills of social workers, case managers, peers, psychologists, and psychiatrists who work in Full Service Partnership (FSP) programs in Los Angeles County. The training builds on the prior FSP Training Collaborative series topics (recovery-oriented and trauma informed care) to provide education on harm reduction principles and practice.

• Part 2: Begins with a review of the stages of change model and motivational interviewing (MI) as critical for continued engagement and goal setting with clients around substance use. 

Presented by Elizabeth Mackey, LMSW and Chelsea Simms, LCSW, MSW. This training focuses on expanding the practice, knowledge, and skills of social workers, case managers, peers, psychologists, and psychiatrists who work in Full Service Partnership (FSP) programs in Los Angeles County. The training builds on the prior FSP Training Collaborative series topics (recovery-oriented and trauma informed care) to provide education on harm reduction principles and practice.

• Part 1: Defines harm reduction and describes its historical, cultural, and political context in the HIV/AIDS crisis and the evolution of the criminalization of drugs in the United States, with a particular emphasis on the War on Drugs’ role in exacerbating systemic racism and stigma. 

Effective care coordination is essential for supporting positive outcomes in clients with complex medical and mental health needs. This is especially true for child and adolescent clients involved with multiple agencies or systems. This training will examine the best practices for engaging in professional collaboration on behalf of youth clients. Participants will explore theoretical approaches to care coordination and case management activities, review the various systems with which youth clients may be involved (e.g., schools, the juvenile justice system, DCFS, etc.), discuss care coordination techniques to use within these systems, and finally, troubleshoot barriers to successful collaboration. Staff of all roles on mental health or outreach teams that engage in any case management or therapeutic activities with youth clients are encouraged to listen.

Presented by Danielle Farmer, MSEd, LCSW. WARNING: This video contains discussions about suicide and may be triggering for some individuals. Numerous studies have highlighted a concerning surge in the mental health challenges facing youth in recent years. As part of this growing concern, rates of suicide risk and completed suicides in children and adolescents have also increased. As of 2020, suicide was the second leading cause of death for youth ages 10-14 and the third leading cause of death for youth ages 15-24 (CDC, 2020). It is vital that providers working with children and adolescents are equipped with tools for assessing and preventing suicide. In this 2-hour training, participants will learn the current scope of youth suicide in the United States through statistical analysis. Participants will learn tools for identifying warning signs and risk factors for suicidal ideation. Participants will be introduced to multiple age-appropriate tools for assessing suicide risk and ways to leverage protective factors and preventative interventions. Finally, participants will learn de-escalation strategies to minimize traumatic stress while conducting risk assessments. This training is open to all providers and clinicians who work with youth of all age groups.

Presented by Chelsea Simms, LCSW, MSW. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy’s utilization for treatment of psychosis is becoming more integrated into mental health care. This training will focus on symptomatology associated with the experience of psychosis, interventions that emphasize the core practices of CBT, and also third wave CBT techniques for those with severe and persistent mental illness.

This is a bi-monthly info session on Naloxone (Narcan), an opiate overdose reversal medication that can be used by providers and laypersons to intervene on opiate overdose. Each session will cover what Naloxone is, how it works, general opiate information, how to administer, where to access training and supply, as well as addressing misinformation and overdose prevention strategies from a harm reduction approach. These sessions are intended for field-based mental health providers working in Los Angeles County, particularly FSP.

Presented by Maggie Mullen, LCSW. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) has often been utilized to help those who struggle with intense experiences of emotion dysregulation. Yet, when one thinks of psychosis, an experience that can greatly disrupt a person’s ability to engage in emotional regulation, DBT is not commonly thought of as a therapeutic intervention. By examining the four modules of DBT (distress tolerance, emotional regulation, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness), we will learn why DBT-informed concepts and principles can benefit clients with Psychotic Spectrum Disorders and how to apply these concepts and principles in practice. There will be an emphasis on skill-building interventions derived from DBT, rather than a strict adherence to DBT treatment protocol that is customary for DBT programs. This interactive two-part presentation will introduce participants to DBT skills adapted for psychotic experiences through discussion, case examples, and practical tools. Recorded on October 28, 2022.

Presented by Maggie Mullen, LCSW. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) has often been utilized to help those who struggle with intense experiences of emotion dysregulation. Yet, when one thinks of psychosis, an experience that can greatly disrupt a person’s ability to engage in emotional regulation, DBT is not commonly thought of as a therapeutic intervention. By examining the four modules of DBT (distress tolerance, emotional regulation, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness), we will learn why DBT-informed concepts and principles can benefit clients with Psychotic Spectrum Disorders and how to apply these concepts and principles in practice. There will be an emphasis on skill-building interventions derived from DBT, rather than a strict adherence to DBT treatment protocol that is customary for DBT programs. This interactive two-part presentation will introduce participants to DBT skills adapted for psychotic experiences through discussion, case examples, and practical tools. Recorded on October 27, 2022.

“Too Close or Too Far: Setting Best Boundaries with Clients” will be provided over four days in 2-hour segments via distance learning due to the COVID-19 context. This training focuses on expanding the practice, knowledge, and skill of outreach workers, social workers, case managers, peers, and psychologists who work in Homeless Outreach services in Los Angeles County. The format of each day will include 1 hour of didactic training on concepts, theory, and research related to interpersonal boundaries in client-outreach worker relationships followed by 1 hour of vignette-based activities and facilitated discussion.

The didactic portion will begin with an overview of key terms related to interpersonal closeness in therapeutic work including boundaries, boundary clarification, boundary-setting, transference, counter-transference, empathy, and autonomy, with an emphasis on building self-reflection skills around these concepts. The trainers will explore with participants how to recognize when boundary clarification is needed, as well as consider implications of client-provider power dynamics, culture, and professional background/training on their experience and management of boundaries with clients.

Additionally, this training will employ a trauma informed lens, to help providers best understand how past experiences may shape their clients’ approach to boundaries, as well as their own (Levenson. 2017). Participants will be taught to reflect on internal and interpersonal client experiences utilizing concepts such as the neglect-overprotect continuum and moral distress (Mänttäri-van der Kuip, 2019; Marsh & Kelley, 2018). Trainers will also guide participants in identifying personal values and characteristics that impact their experiences of setting boundaries with clients. Finally, provider wellbeing will be discussed, with a review of strategies to prevent burnout including radical acceptance and eliciting or providing quality supervision (Begic et al., 2019; Linehan, 2015).

The vignette-based activities and discussion will focus on four types of common boundary situations that can come up in work with unsheltered individuals: avoidance, over-identification, sexualized transference, and countertransference. Participants will be encouraged to apply concepts from didactic portion of each day’s training to the vignettes, including identifying boundary-setting skills for each scenario. Recorded on October 27, 2022.

“Too Close or Too Far: Setting Best Boundaries with Clients” will be provided over four days in 2-hour segments via distance learning due to the COVID-19 context. This training focuses on expanding the practice, knowledge, and skill of outreach workers, social workers, case managers, peers, and psychologists who work in Homeless Outreach services in Los Angeles County. The format of each day will include 1 hour of didactic training on concepts, theory, and research related to interpersonal boundaries in client-outreach worker relationships followed by 1 hour of vignette-based activities and facilitated discussion.

The didactic portion will begin with an overview of key terms related to interpersonal closeness in therapeutic work including boundaries, boundary clarification, boundary-setting, transference, counter-transference, empathy, and autonomy, with an emphasis on building self-reflection skills around these concepts. The trainers will explore with participants how to recognize when boundary clarification is needed, as well as consider implications of client-provider power dynamics, culture, and professional background/training on their experience and management of boundaries with clients.

Additionally, this training will employ a trauma informed lens, to help providers best understand how past experiences may shape their clients’ approach to boundaries, as well as their own (Levenson. 2017). Participants will be taught to reflect on internal and interpersonal client experiences utilizing concepts such as the neglect-overprotect continuum and moral distress (Mänttäri-van der Kuip, 2019; Marsh & Kelley, 2018). Trainers will also guide participants in identifying personal values and characteristics that impact their experiences of setting boundaries with clients. Finally, provider wellbeing will be discussed, with a review of strategies to prevent burnout including radical acceptance and eliciting or providing quality supervision (Begic et al., 2019; Linehan, 2015).

The vignette-based activities and discussion will focus on four types of common boundary situations that can come up in work with unsheltered individuals: avoidance, over-identification, sexualized transference, and countertransference. Participants will be encouraged to apply concepts from didactic portion of each day’s training to the vignettes, including identifying boundary-setting skills for each scenario. Recorded on October 13, 2022.