Fifth Annual Cesar Chavez Behavioral Health Conference:
Providing Best Practice Solutions for Addressing Behavioral Health and Health Disparities Among the Ethnic and Minority Communities of Arizona

Friday, March 27, 2009
8:00 am - 4:30 pm

Arizona State University at the West Campus
4701 W. Thunderbird Rd., Glendale AZ 85306-4900

REGISTRATION HAS CLOSED!
3/17/2009: The Conference has already reached the maximum number of participants and we are unable to accept any further registrations. There will be no walk-in registrations on the day of the Conference. Please contact Rosaland at rhannibal@azcouncil.com or 602.252.9363 if you have not yet received a confirmation of your registration made prior to 3/18/09. Remember to bring $4 cash for parking.

This Conference is presented at no charge for your benefit, but you must register as soon as possible since seating will be limited. (UPDATE: Registration closed at 7:30 p.m. 3/17/2009.) The Conference day covers plenary speakers, lunch, workshop (or CEO Round Table), and closing ceremony.

Please scroll down to view details on Workshop Presenters and Workshop Descriptions.

Workshop Presenters and Descriptions:

The workshop presenters and titles are listed below. (For purposes of registration, each workshop is identified by a number.)

Workshop #01
Dr. Jose M. Abreau
Cultural Factors in the Mental Health treatment of Latino Populations:
The process of reframing “machismo” from a positive perspective as a tool in counseling to improve the effectiveness of interventions. Other issues relevant to Latinos, including “personalismo,” focus on the importance of family and community, acculturation, spirituality, and health issues.

Workshop #02
Dr. Wendy Wolfersteig and Dr. Stephanie Ayers
Using the St. Luke’s Health Initiative Arizona Health Survey Data to Examine the Health needs and Disparities of Adults in Arizona.
The presentation will discussion the relationship of the data to cultural differences and health disparities which will be highlighted through an examination of culturally diverse best practices and Arizona Health Survey results that indicate differences in both alcohol use and cigarette smoking by race/ethnicity. Along with an overview of the survey and data available, there will be discussion/activities on how agencies and community providers can use the data for addressing client needs.

Workshop #03
Michael Howland, Angelina Provencio, and Julie Butera
Parent to Parent Program at Families F.I.R.S.T: Identification of Approaches in Addressing Latino/a Mental Health Treatment:
Recovery Coach facilitated presentation on the parent to parent program at TERROS Families F.I.R.S.T. Covering how the recovery coach team interacts with the diverse population of the southwest.

Workshop #04
Alan L. Goldberg, Psy.D., ABPP, J.D.
Disability as a Diversity Issue: Tips for assessment and intervention.
Individuals with disabilities comprise the largest minority group in the US (15-20% of the population, with a higher proportion in the elderly and among ethnic minorities). This workshop will address models of disability (medical, moral, & social), issues in the assessment of individuals with disabilities, and principles to guide Disability Affirmative Therapy. Participants will also learn how Social Security Disability Determination is conducted, and how agency personnel can assist clients who are applying for Social Security Disability.

Workshop #05
Ralph Varela and Ricardo Jasso
Aztec Prevention Model and Razalogia Worldview and Community Mobilization:A Transformative Knowledge Approach.
Workshop is in two parts using a cultural competent approach in prevention in the Mexican-American community and utilizing the Razalogia Community Mobilization Framework and a cultural cast of characters.

Workshop #06
Dr. Brian K. Ewing, Jason Vail Cruz, and Rabbi J. Gross
The Importance of Spirituality in Behavioral Health
This workshop is to open the minds of the behavioral health community to the growing need for spirituality for each client. Looking at the importance that the spirit is to the change of the mind and body in recovery. To decrease the fear of using spirituality when it comes to the direct recovery needs of the client.

Workshop #07
Dr. Juan C. Garcia
The Xipe Totec Program: Cultural Competence that Glows in the Dark
The presentation describes the program and the cultural approach by demonstrating the use of cultural symbols in the description and demonstration of several approaches: the use of dichos (proverbs), the use of cuentos (stories), and the use of music (cancionero). Other techniques such as el camino a la salud, el mercado, and ritual death will be described, time permitted.

Workshop #08
Stephanie Burns and Luis Bonorand
The FreeMind Youth Recovery Program, Tucson AZ: Recruitment, Retention, and Results.
This workshop will describe outcomes and how the program has recruited and sustained its membership. Findings show significant improvements in the following areas: abstinence from alcohol and/or drugs, reduction in negative social/health/behavioral consequences due to alcohol and/or drug use, and social connectedness. Sustainability and implications for future interventions will also be discussed. FreeMind, operated by Pima Prevention Partnership and funded by CSAT, is a peer-led youth recovery community based in Tucson, Arizona, providing a recovery support system for youth primarily age 14-18 years old.

Workshop #09
Carlos Morales and Jorge Argumendo
Anxiety Disorders in Latinos, Why Latinos do not continue with Mental Health Services.
“Trastornos de Ansiedad en Latinos. Por qué la población Latina discontinúa sus tratamientos”.This presentation will serve as a guiding tool to understand how anxiety is perceived by Latinos, the cultural and environmental factors, and most important the primary obstacles that impede many Latinos to seek help. Furthermore, it is our goal to understand the principles for diagnosing Latinos with anxiety disorder. The presenters will be discussing immigration, as well as other cultural and socio-economic factors of this disorder.

Workshop #10
Dr. Avelardo Valdez
Beyond Risk Gang Affiliated Mexican American Adolescents.
This presentation focuses on the vulnerability of beyond-risk young females connected to male based youth gangs in violence, drug use, crime and sexual behavior in a Mexican American community. The presentation draws attention to how gender roles reflect a family ethnic culture and community complex.

Workshop #11
Gustavo McGrew
Cultural Competency through the Arts:
This creative workshop will present the Art Awakenings model which has developed a unique culture of collaboration, empowerment & recovery for the diverse communities we serve. PSA recently received it's very first CARF accreditation and its Art Awakenings program was given an "exemplary" rating.

Workshop #12
Eddie Grijalva, LISAC, CRSS
Recovery and Transformation in Special Populations: Promising- Practices for Native Americans and Mono-Lingual Spanish Speaking Populations.
This workshop details the successful creation, development, and implementation a specific approach that is culturally sensitive and appropriate. Presents data that substantiate its efficacy and supporting promising practices. This is a unique co-ed program that focuses on Native Americans and Spanish speakers to address issues of disparity and barriers to accessing behavioral health care services. We have implemented cultural practices and beliefs as core fundamentals in the recovery process. Using traditional healers, talking circles, smudging, native arts and crafts, and sweat lodge ceremonies to re- introduce cultural practices that lend to increase positive identity, wellness, and long-term recovery. CARF recognized Compass Behavioral Health Care as “Exemplary”’ for the cultural approaches to recovery for Native Americans and Spanish Speakers.

Workshop #13
Noelle Mejia
Culturally Sensitive Practice with Arab Clients.
The presentation will educate the audience about the complexity of the Arab culture. Differences in language, ethnic identity, religion and socio-economic status will be presented. The most common mental illness issues amongst the Arab people will be discussed. Issues of discrimination, ptsd, gender, aging and employment related variables will be put in context. The general Arab worldview of mental health disorders and services for mental health will be presented. I will go over treatment planning including the high possibility of family involvement. I will share how issues of acculturation need to be identified before the treatment plan is made. I plan to end the presentation with other cultural considerations to intervention and what to expect in regards to Arab client communication.

CEO ROUND TABLE
Tim McNichol, M.A.
The CEO Round Table will begin at the same time as the workshops. This Roundtable for executives is facilitated by Tim McNichol, M.A., Partner White Men as Full Diversity Partners, LLC.

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