DMH UCLA Public Mental Health Partnership

Presented by Ian McLoone, MPS, LPCC, LADCThis 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, NCPRSSEffective 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, MSWThe 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, ACSWThis 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, LCSWThe 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 Chelsea Simms, LCSW, MSW, Danielle Cameron, ACSW, MSW and Larry Fernandez, 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, ACSW, 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.