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 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.

Critical Time Intervention is an evidence-based practice that supports vulnerable populations through challenging times of transition. This model relies upon community integration, resource mobilization, and prioritizes transition-related activities. Transitions can include community reintegration after incarceration, moving from the streets to housing, and other changes that often impact those served by homeless outreach teams and Full Service Partnership programs. Participants can expect to learn about the CTI model and structure. They will learn and develop skills that support critical transitions in life, service coordination, resource mobilization, team functioning, and self-care.

Psychopharmacology for those that experience severe and persistent mental illness is a complex issue. In this training, we will begin by discussing the barriers to medication adherence. Specifically, the side effects of medications themselves, the historical impact of unethical medical practices and research, and the difficulties in building trust with our clients as a result. Acknowledging the common misbeliefs that are held about medications, which are often exacerbated by symptoms of mental illness will be a focal point of this training. Finally, by developing an understanding of the positive outcomes that derive from medication adherence, we can introduce potential solutions for clients that are struggling with medication non-adherence.

The purpose of this three hour live interactive training is to provide participants with a detailed overview of medications that have been shown to be effective as a component of the treatment of alcohol and opioid use disorders. Topics will include: the context for medication assisted treatment (positive and negative perceptions), the epidemiology of alcohol and opioid use and dependence (user demographics), a review of the various classes of opioids, an overview of each medication, its indication, to whom it is administered, and how it works, and treatment settings for medication-assisted treatment. Medications will include: acamprosate, disulfiram, naltrexone, methadone, and buprenorphine. The training will conclude with a session on talking to clients about their use of medications, and strategies to address health disparities through increased access to medication-assisted treatment. Time will be provided throughout the training for discussion and questions.

This 3-hour live virtual training will provide participants with introductory level instruction on stimulant use disorders. The training is intended for any clinicians and administrators who provide care to people who use central nervous system stimulants. The training will be divided into three sections. Part 1 will focus on Stimulants – What are they and who uses them?; Part 2 will focus on the Impact of Stimulant Use on the Brain and Body; and Part 3 will focus on Effective Treatment Approaches and Recovery Supports. Specific topics will include: (1) the scope of stimulant use in the United States and beyond; (2) stimulants and the brain and their impact on cognition; (3) acute and chronic physical and psychological effects of cocaine and methamphetamine; and (4) effective evidence-based behavioral treatments and recovery approaches for people with a stimulant use disorder.

Motivational interviewing, a treatment approach developed by William Miller, has been well established as an effective way to promote behavior change in individuals across a range of health settings, including improving engagement and retention. This face-to-face training course requires previous training and experience using motivational interviewing techniques in clinical practice. This experiential MI Skill Development training will focus on ways to help clients engage in change talk in order to make commitments for behavioral changes based on collaborative goal identification. It will provide in-depth instruction, practice, and feedback on fostering and utilizing change talk to increase client motivation, and movement toward change across all health, mental health and substance use conditions. Ample time will be devoted to case examples and applications as well as group practice sessions to enable training participants to gain the skills necessary to engage their clients/patients and work to enhance their motivation for change.

This training is designed to assist both clinical and administrative staff in making the transition to the DSM-5. The DSM-5 revises the classifications and diagnostic criteria of substance use and psychiatric disorders with, in some cases, substantial reconceptualization from DSM-IV-TR; for example, the elimination of the multiaxial diagnostic system and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) scores. This training will focus on a detailed overview of these changes, including a crosswalk from DSM-IV-TR diagnostic codes and categories to those of DSM-5.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has become a mainstay of evidence-based SUD treatment. The purpose of this three hour virtual live training is to provide participants with a detailed overview of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and relapse prevention (RP) strategies, the available resources and encourage use of these strategies in daily clinical practice. This training will be presented in three parts, covering (1) the underlying principles of CBT and RP, as behavioral interventions used in the treatment of substance use disorders; (2) the specific elements of CBT in including practice with specific interventions (e.g., trigger-thought-craving-use sequence; drug refusal skills; abstinence violation syndrome, etc.); and (3) methods for implementing CBT strategies, including treatment provider role/style in facilitating CBT sessions; using CBT in group and individual sessions; principles of using CBT (e.g., repetition, practice, rationale, scripts, etc.); creating a daily recovery plan; and how to handle relapse.

This training will provide information on the acute and chronic effects and consequences of psychoactive substances commonly used by clients, patients, and consumers. The training will introduce participants to the epidemiology, neurobiology, and behavioral indicators of substance misuse. This training will conceptualize Substance Use Disorder (SUD) diagnostic and assessment considerations in identifying functional impairments. The training will detail intoxication and withdrawal symptoms for a range of commonly-misused substances and provide information on medical consequences of use.

This training will provide background information on the consequences of substances commonly used by consumers and will introduce participants to the epidemiology and prevalence, and neurobiology of co-occurring disorders. Participants will also learn about screening, assessment and diagnosis of co- occurring disorders, and how to develop behavioral intervention strategies for those with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders and chronic medical conditions that frequently co-occur with SU and MH issues. The training will also cover treatment considerations, planning, and an overview of EBP interventions, including DDMI, DDCBT, Medication Assisted Treatments, and integrated behavioral health interventions.

This training is designed to help mental health and homeless service providers guide discussion with clients and supervisees about receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. It will increase participants’ understanding of potential factors related to vaccine hesitancy and highlight motivational interviewing skills to promote collaborative communication between providers and their clients and supervisees. The training will include an opportunity to apply motivational interviewing tools to vaccine-related conversations through interactive exercises.

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 Scott Fairhurst, PhD. This training addresses strategies to stabilize vicious cycles that lead to imminent suicide risk. An organizing model is presented to illustrate how perceptions of thwarted belongingness and burdensomeness can increase the desire to die. The model also illustrates how an acquired capability to die by suicide can lead to more lethal attempts. Points within the model that present a risk for escalation are discussed, with attention to risks within the LGBTQ+ community. Strategies, that can either prevent hospitalization or can provide stabilization while waiting for an ambulance, are offered for facilitating the client’s de-escalation of their thoughts, emotions, and behavioral agitation. We also address the need, especially relevant for younger clients, of facilitating de-escalation of family members, friends, or community members. Finally, we acknowledge and provide strategies to maintain the poise and self-regulation that are required by mental health staff during these high-risk and emotionally intense episodes. Recorded on February 3, 2021.

Anger, escalation, and conflict put the safety of our clients and others around them at risk and can lead to long-term interpersonal, legal, and health consequences. This 2-hour course will address strategies for preventing escalation, intervening with escalated clients, treating anger issues, and managing conflict. The training will introduce participants to validated measures for recognizing and measuring anger to assess both client risk and improvement throughout treatment. We will consider anger management aspects of three different evidence-based practices that are designed for aggression, depression, and traumatic stress. Finally, this training will attend to the increased risk that client intensity, manifested by anger and escalation, may present toward staff burnout and compassion fatigue.

By the end of this training, attendees will be able to: Use different tools to manage projects and people; Know how to effectively direct employees from development to deliverable; Gracefully transition from clinician to supervisor.

By the end of this training, attendees will be able to: Identify kinds of dynamics in play in difficult work conversations; Identify our areas of sensitivity around difficult conversations; Prepare for and practice a difficult conversation. 

Part 2 is focused on De-Escalation. This training is geared toward community/public mental health staff who provide services to individuals in field-based/outpatient mental health settings. This training reviews components pertinent to safety practices and crisis intervention/prevention practices. Common issues associated with providing mental health services in street-based outreach to homeless, home visits and urban crime-ridden communities are to be covered. Also included are best practices for personal space awareness, situational awareness, and exploring the different stages of a crisis, warning signs, assessment, decision making, communication, and the appropriate interventions to use during each crisis stage. Additional topics include self-care and self-monitoring strategies for management of feelings during a crisis.

This training is geared toward community/public mental health staff who provide services to individuals in field-based/outpatient mental health settings. This training reviews components pertinent to safety practices and crisis intervention/prevention practices. Common issues associated with providing mental health services in street-based outreach to homeless, home visits and urban crime-ridden communities are to be covered. Also included are best practices for personal space awareness, situational awareness, and exploring the different stages of a crisis, warning signs, assessment, decision making, communication, and the appropriate interventions to use during each crisis stage. Additional topics include self-care and self-monitoring strategies for management of feelings during a crisis.

By the end of this training, attendees will be able to: Apply communication strategies to the comprehensive planning and implementation of meetings; Employ facilitation practices to conduct effective, time-bound, and task-focused meetings; Reiterate meeting outcomes, action items, and staff assignments to enforce ongoing communication and collaboration outside the meeting setting.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy’s utilization for treatment of psychosis is an evidence-based treatment that is becoming an integral part of mental health care. This training will focus on symptom specific treatments in correlation to CBT for Psychosis, specifically hallucinations, delusions, and negative symptoms. We will discuss addressing maladaptive thoughts and belief systems by identifying core beliefs and schemas that impact cognitive distortions and in turn worsen negative self-talk. There will also be an emphasis on third-wave CBT techniques, including Compassion Focused Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and mindfulness approaches. Practical application, case consultation, and vignettes will all be interspersed throughout this presentation.

Presented by Danielle Cameron, ACSW, MSW. Understanding the Stress Response is a training geared towards developing a better comprehension of how and why we respond to stress in certain ways. The training starts with a description of the various types of stress that most people experience. Two key components of the brain's stress response system (amygdala and hypothalamus) are introduced. Two important chemicals that are involved in the stress response - adrenaline and cortisol – are also discussed. Participants will learn how to recognize the stress that they are currently dealing with and develop strategies to reduce the impact of those stressors. The overall intent of the training is to help participants develop increased empathy for self and others dealing with stress, and understand how stress has a physiological impact on the body and mind. 

In this training, attendees will learn how to create a mission and vision for themselves and their work. They will also learn about the importance of setting strategic aims that will help them to set goals and prioritize their workload.

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.

This training was designed to take a closer look at the target population HOME serves and to discuss which individuals would be a good fit for the Outpatient Conservatorship Pilot.

Presented by Elizabeth Bromley, MD, PhD. This ninety-minute training will use a videotaped vignette and a series of dialogic sessions to explore a complicated clinical dilemma encountered by one homeless outreach team. Learners will be encouraged to identify the core ethical and legal dilemmas raised by the scenario including the tension between beneficence and autonomy and the mandate to offer treatment to individuals in the least restrictive environment. Additional issues raised by the scenario include the ethical implications of using lies, manipulation, and police power in order to achieve therapeutic aims. Learners will also gain an understanding of processes of medicalization and demedicalization and their impact on care for those with severe mental illness. The moral tensions and moral distress that characteristically arise in a system like LAC that confronts scarcity and inequity will also be addressed.

 Presented by Julea McGhee, MD, MPH. Understanding the symptoms of psychosis are a crucial part of outreach and engagement, especially with those that are experiencing homelessness. In this training, we will focus first on assessing psychosis, in particular as to how it impacts one’s speech, behavior, thought processes, and decision making. We will also highlight the importance of noting one’s appearance, behavior, and environment when engaging in street outreach as another core component of assessment. Engagement strategies are emphasized, with an empathetic and person-centered lens to steadily build rapport. Practical application, case consultation, and video examples will be utilized throughout this presentation.

Presented by Jean Lundquist, LCSW. Crisis Intervention is a clinical skillset that is even more pertinent during the current COVID-19 climate. This training will detail the utilization of the Roberts 7 Stage Model for Crisis Intervention in the context of telehealth. We will also focus on evidence based practice interventions to supplement the model. Finally, we will take time to discuss application of the model within your practice, cultivating a space of shared learning.

Presented by Jake Rostovsky, MA, LMFT. While many mental health clinicians and social service workers would like to think they are able to work with the transgender and non-binary (TGNB) community, there is often a lack of knowledge around what is considered "best practice. Affirmative care goes beyond being "knowledge" about a client’s TGNB status. This training will give an overview of terminology used within the community, mental health disparities affecting the population and key affirmative treatment practices. You will also leave with action items to help ­identify areas in your workplace in which you can implement change that positively enhances affirmative care for your TGNB clients.

Presented by Jake Rostovsky, MA, LMFT. While many mental health clinicians and social service workers would like to think they are able to work with the transgender and non-binary (TGNB) community, there is often a lack of knowledge around what is considered "best practice. Affirmative care goes beyond being "knowledge" about a client’s TGNB status. This training will give an overview of terminology used within the community, mental health disparities affecting the population and key affirmative treatment practices. You will also leave with action items to help ­identify areas in your workplace in which you can implement change that positively enhances affirmative care for your TGNB clients.

Presented by Jake Rostovsky, MA, LMFT. While many mental health clinicians and social service workers would like to think they are able to work with the transgender and non-binary (TGNB) community, there is often a lack of knowledge around what is considered "best practice. Affirmative care goes beyond being "knowledge" about a client’s TGNB status. This training will give an overview of terminology used within the community, mental health disparities affecting the population and key affirmative treatment practices. You will also leave with action items to help ­identify areas in your workplace in which you can implement change that positively enhances affirmative care for your TGNB clients.

Presented by Aydin Olson-Kennedy, LCSW. Are you interested in writing surgical letters of support for your client's but unsure if you're qualified? Or maybe you're uncertain about what needs to be included in letters, or perhaps you feel conflicted about the role of informed consent and your professional liability. If so, this workshop is for you. To better understand the current requirements for letters, we will begin by looking at the past and how letters of recommendation from mental health providers began. We will define what it means to be a "qualified mental health provider" in this context, what needs to be included in letters of recommendation, and what does not. We will discuss how to advocate for our most vulnerable clients who have mental health concerns or are experiencing housing insecurity. And finally, we will discuss the most common surgical procedures clients are seeking recommendation letters for.

Presented by Monique Padilla, LMFT. This series of trainings begin by outlining the AOT statute, criteria, referral process, and components for outreach and engagement for FSP providers. During Part 2, there will be an emphasis on processes for enrolled clients, from AOT specific measures to navigation of levels of care. The final training will detail how to draft declarations, progress reports, and testimony for court proceedings that interact with AOT clientele. This three part training will utilize skill building activities, comprehensive quizzes, and dynamic discussion to ensure that these key learning objectives are met.

Presented by Monique Padilla, LMFT. This series of trainings begin by outlining the AOT statute, criteria, referral process, and components for outreach and engagement for FSP providers. During Part 2, there will be an emphasis on processes for enrolled clients, from AOT specific measures to navigation of levels of care. The final training will detail how to draft declarations, progress reports, and testimony for court proceedings that interact with AOT clientele. This three part training will utilize skill building activities, comprehensive quizzes, and dynamic discussion to ensure that these key learning objectives are met.

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 Monique Padilla, LMFT. This series of trainings begin by outlining the AOT statute, criteria, referral process, and components for outreach and engagement for FSP providers. During Part 2, there will be an emphasis on processes for enrolled clients, from AOT specific measures to navigation of levels of care. The final training will detail how to draft declarations, progress reports, and testimony for court proceedings that interact with AOT clientele. This three part training will utilize skill building activities, comprehensive quizzes, and dynamic discussion to ensure that these key learning objectives are met.

Presented by Jean Lundquist, LCSW. Working with trauma in our clinical practice can often feel overwhelming. Many clinicians are taught to cope with the intense feelings that arise within trauma work through self-care activities at home. CE-CERT, the Components for Enhancing Clinician Engagement and Reducing Trauma, is a model comprised of five elements built on evidence based actions and skills to fully engage in the therapeutic process and dynamically address painful feelings that naturally arise when working with those that have experienced trauma. In this training, we will employ these five elements through skill-building activities and active discussion.

Presented by Linda P. Boyd, MN. Please note that our trainings on Grave Disability are a 4 part series. This is Part 4 in the series.

Presented by Maggie Mullen, LCSW. Learn the basics of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), an evidence-based treatment that teaches clients how to become more mindful while simultaneously working on improving interpersonal relationships, tolerating distress, and regulating intense emotions. We'll explore the evidence-base for DBT, treatment principles and assumptions, and the four skills modules. You'll be introduced to practical applications of DBT through didactic presentation, discussion, video clips, and opportunities to practice using case examples.

Presented by Maggie Mullen, LCSW. Learn the basics of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), an evidence-based treatment that teaches clients how to become more mindful while simultaneously working on improving interpersonal relationships, tolerating distress, and regulating intense emotions. We'll explore the evidence-base for DBT, treatment principles and assumptions, and the four skills modules. You'll be introduced to practical applications of DBT through didactic presentation, discussion, video clips, and opportunities to practice using case examples.

Presented by Julea McGhee, MD, MPH. This training presents how to dynamically communicate and advocate for clients with providers that are part of the 5150 process (law enforcement, emergency medical personnel, and hospital staff) to ensure that transitions within levels of care are supported. There is an emphasis on language within the 5150 documentation to be considered for hospitalization and next steps to ensure that your team is prepared for client discharge. 

 Presented by Elizabeth Bromley, MD, PhD. This training continues to build the clinical knowledge base to effectively assess, document, and collaborate with other systems of care that involve grave disability. An ethical framework for how providers evaluate for grave disability, highlighting alternative placements for treatment to maintain the client’s self-determination whenever possible is examined.

Presented by Ana Stefancic, PhD. This training will explore how multi-disciplinary, community-based teams, such as Full Service Partnerships (FSP), can adopt recovery-oriented practices and support client choice and self-determination among persons with mental illness while maintaining provider responsibility. Examples from research conducted with FSPs and other behavioral health agencies will be used to describe program practice and the multi-level factors that influence program approach and services.

Presented by Maggie Mullen, LCSW. In this training, participants will learn the basics of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Psychosis (CBTp), a collaborative, evidence-based therapy that reduces the distress associated with the symptoms of psychosis and improves overall functioning. This presentation will introduce you to practical applications of CBTp through discussion, video clips, and opportunities to practice.

Presented by Antoine Bailliard, PhD, OTR/L. This training will provide an overview of best practices for assessment and intervention targeting activities of daily living for people served by intensive community mental health services. The training will review the importance of targeting living skills and participation to promote recovery and will introduce an occupational therapy framework for understanding function and participation. Trainees will also be introduced to an occupational therapy perspective for modifying environments and tasks to enhance the performance of daily living skills.

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 Antoine Bailliard, PhD, OTR/L. This training will provide an overview of best practices for assessment and intervention targeting activities of daily living for people served by intensive community mental health services. The training will review the importance of targeting living skills and participation to promote recovery and will introduce an occupational therapy framework for understanding function and participation. Trainees will also be introduced to an occupational therapy perspective for modifying environments and tasks to enhance the performance of daily living skills.

Presented by Christina Ortiz, PsyD. This training provides an overview of suicide prevention tailored for youth and families. Participants learn about the nature of suicide, suicide-related statistics, risk factors, and warning signs of suicide. The overview also covers risk assessment, how to help a youth thinking about suicide, and information on available resources for intervention and postvention are covered.

Presented by Marietta Watson, LMFT. In this era of COVID-19 we are often providing services remotely, which can present challenges as we seek to build and maintain rapport with new and ongoing clients. This training focuses on the practical application of fundamental engagement approaches, strategies, and skills while using telehealth modalities. We will review some advantages of using the phone or video for sessions, and also explore ways that barriers can be an opportunity for building a deeper connection with those we serve. Since FSP practitioners use a collaborative team approach, we will also look at engagement skills as they apply to the different helper roles and services each provide (e.g., therapist, case manager, peer partner, nursing staff, psychiatrist/nurse practitioner).