Rhode Island Youth Mental Health Webinar Series : Recent Episodes
Rhode Island Student Assistance Services
Welcome to the Rhode Island Youth Mental Health Webinar Series, funded by the Rhode Island Department of Health. This series of webinars, presented by industry professionals, is designed to increase the awareness of parents, educators, and youths themselves of the mental health problems facing today's youth.
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Parents are the leading influence on teenagers’ decisions about drinking and other substance use. Many caregivers wonder how to approach this topic in a way that young people will listen. It’s not a one-time conversation but an ongoing process that can be simple and honest. What you say, how, and when you say it matters. Young people are more likely to listen if they know you are on their side. This webinar will offer strategies for connecting with youth in ways that will optimize your role as a parent to prevent substance use and support wellbeing.
Diane Ferrara is a clinical supervisor at Rhode Island Student Assistant Services where she has been employed since 2001. She spent 19 of those years as the student assistance counselor at Pilgrim High School in Warwick. Prior to that, she had a 12-year career in early childhood education. In addition, Diane has been in private practice since 1999. She received her BS in Human Development, Counseling, and Family Relations from URI and her MSW from Boston University.
Colleen Judge is Director of School-Based Services at RI Student Assistance Services. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with over 25 years of experience in the counseling field including providing substance use prevention and early intervention services in schools as a Student Assistance Counselor and individual and family therapy in private practice. Colleen received a master’s degree in Human Development and Family Relations from the University of Connecticut. She has her own personal experience raising four young adults.
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COVID19 has changed the way we look at grief and loss. Our nation is grieving the loss of our daily routine, the way we say goodbye to our loved one, and it's brought to the surface feelings of depression that we really could not identify. It’s made us face the grieving process head on with feelings of anger, depression, denial, bargaining, and finally acceptance. Let’s talk about how we as adults are dealing with all of these unpredictable feelings and how we manage talking to our children about loss and uncertainty.
Frances DaLomba is a Dominican American, bilingual, (Spanish), BIPOC female, and first-generation college graduate. She is a licensed clinical social worker who has worked with children, youth, and families for over 20 years. Earning a BSW and MSW from Rhode Island College, she has the opportunity to work in psychiatric, educational, and community settings. Her experience has been working with adolescents and their families, who suffer from anxiety, depression, mood disorders, trauma, grief, and loss.
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Jennifer Gaviria es de descendensia Colombiana y creció entre Central Falls y Pawtucket, RI. Es su crianza que la motiva a ayudar a su comunidad, en particular, a la comunidad Latinx. Ella se graduó de Providence College y pronto su trabajo en el campo de la equidad educativa comenzó. Después se graduó con su Maestría en Trabajo Social de Washington University en St. Louis. Jennifer ha trabajado los últimos 10 años en organizaciones sin ánimo de lucro. Más recientemente, se ha enfocado en la equidad de la salud y salud mental y el desarrollo de la fuerza laboral en su rol de Consejera y Supervisora a estudiantes de Trabajo Social en Thundermist Health Center. Jennifer es la Cofundadora del Latino Mental Health Network de RI, una iniciativa comunitaria que busca reclutar y retener proveedores de salud mental Latinx y/o multilingües dándoles apoyo y desarrollo profesional. Ella también
Jennifer Gaviria is of Colombian descent and grew up in Central Falls and Pawtucket, RI. It is her upbringing that motivates her to give back to her community, in particular, the Latinx community. She graduated with her Bachelor’s from Providence College and shortly after her work in education equity began. She then obtained her Master’s in Social Work from Washington University In St. Louis. Jennifer has been working in the nonprofit space in RI for the past ten years. Most recently, she has focused on health and mental health equity and workforce development in her role as a Behavioral Health Clinician and Supervisor to Social Work students at Thundermist Health Center. Jennifer is the Co-Founder of The Latino Mental Health Network of RI, a community initiative that seeks to recruit and retain Latinx and multilingual mental health providers by providing support and professional development. She has also served on the board of the National Latino Behavioral Health Association, a national nonprofit that aims to eliminate disparities in mental health care for the Latino community.
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This webinar will provide participants with an introductory overview of the latest research on the etiology, progression, and recovery from substance use disorders. A brief review of the evolving theories about addiction will be followed by a more detailed review of current research on the neurobiology of addiction and the evidence that addiction is a brain-based illness. Emphasis will also be placed on encouraging participants to identify a personal goal related to the reduction of addiction-related stigma by Bringing Science to the Streets through the sharing of information learned in this presentation, and from the various references cited in the handouts.
Lee Dalphonse is an educator, organizational consultant, and psychotherapist with thirty-plus years of experience planning, implementing, and evaluating a number of innovative outpatients, residential, home, and hospital-based programs and services for individuals with co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorders. Lee has provided training and consultation for a variety of audiences, and for a number of health, human service, and governmental organizations throughout the United States and Canada.
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Join us in learning about empowerment and why it is so important to give youth voice and autonomy- leave the training with strategies to implement with young people.
Lisa joined Sojourner House in 2019. She has over 20 years of experience and has developed and facilitated hundreds of training and workshops for a variety of audiences nationwide. She is a graduate of Rhode Island College, where she is an adjunct faculty for the Health and Physical Education Department, and was the former Director of the RIC Women’s Center. She works closely with school districts and agencies to provide professional and youth development, training, consultations, curriculum development, and assistance setting up peer education and advocacy programs. She is a co-founder and active member of the RI HIV STI prevention coalition and an active member of the RI Cross Campus Collaborative to prevent sexual assault on campus. She is also a certified curriculum developer and trainer for the Rhode Island police academy and is a co-chair of the RI crime victim service providers and co-chair of the Providence Health and wellness- healthy relationship subcommittee. She specializes in inclusive, comprehensive sexuality education and interpersonal violence prevention.
Hannah Woodhouse is an educator with years of experience in the fields of violence prevention, social justice, sexual health, and gender equity. Though she works with people of all ages, she is especially passionate about talking about these issues with young people and empowering the next generation of leaders through conversation, collaboration, peer education, and advocacy. She hopes to build empathy and compassion through education, and Sojourner House offers the perfect platform to achieve that goal.
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This webinar, based on years of helping teachers with trauma-impacted students, provides a common-sense approach to understanding childhood trauma and how it manifests in the classroom, and it supplies dozens of practical strategies that teachers can use to support all children, but especially kiddos impacted by trauma.
Kevin Plummer is a prominent licensed child psychologist with more than 30 years of experience specializing in childhood trauma, autism spectrum disorder, stress and resilience, and school-based therapeutic programming for emotionally impacted students. He is also the creator of the seminal Brain-Based Therapeutic Intervention Program for Children, which is a guide—based on applied brain science—for producing school-based interventions for emotionally-impacted children. His work is featured in a vast library of original articles and other program material on his free access website kevinplummerphd.com.
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Mayra is an immigrant from the Dominican Republic who has worked in the field of social work and counseling for the last 28 years. She has provided individual, group, and family counseling to diverse groups of youth and their families, including students that have experienced complex trauma. Mayra currently works as a Student Assistance Counselor with RISAS to help promote mental and physical health among young people.
Mayra es una inmigrante de República Dominicana que ha trabajado en el campo del trabajo social y la consejería durante los últimos 28 años. Mayra ha brindado consejería individual, grupal y familiar a diversos grupos de jóvenes y sus familias, incluyendo estudiantes que han experimentado traumas complejos. Mayra actualmente trabaja como consejera de asistencia estudiantil con RISAS para ayudar a promover la salud física y mental entre los jóvenes.
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Selby Conrad, Ph.D. is a child and adolescent psychologist with clinical expertise in the treatment of adolescent substance use and co-occurring disorders. Dr. Conrad completed her Ph.D. at the University of Kansas and her post-doctoral fellowship at the Brown University Consortium in Clinical Psychology. She has worked with adolescents and their families in a variety of settings including juvenile justice, integrated care, residential treatment, and outpatient. She currently spends her clinical time focused on training, supervision, and program development related to youth with co-occurring substance use and directs Bradley Hospital’s Wave Clinic. Additionally, she is an Assistant Professor at Roger Williams University where she teaches undergraduates and graduate students in psychology.
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Join us in learning about digital citizenship and different ways for youth to engage safely online.
Hannah Woodhouse is an educator with years of experience in the fields of violence prevention, social justice, sexual health, and gender equity. Though she works with people of all ages, she is especially passionate about talking about these issues with young people and empowering the next generation of leaders through conversation, collaboration, peer education, and advocacy. She hopes to build empathy and compassion through education, and Sojourner House offers the perfect platform to achieve that goal.
Lisa Hoopis joined Sojourner House in 2019. She has over 20 years of experience and has developed and facilitated hundreds of trainings and workshops to a variety of audiences nationwide. She is a graduate of Rhode Island College, where she is an adjunct faculty for the Health and Physical Education Department, and was the former Director of the RIC Women’s Center. She works closely with school districts and agencies to provide professional and youth development, training, consultations, curriculum development, and assistance setting up peer education and advocacy programs. She is a co-founder and active member of the RI HIV STI prevention coalition and an active member of the RI Cross Campus Collaborative to prevent sexual assault on campus. She is also a certified curriculum developer and trainer for the Rhode Island police academy and is a co-chair of the RI crime victim service providers and co-chair of the Providence Health and wellness- healthy relationship subcommittee. She specializes in inclusive, comprehensive sexuality education and interpersonal violence prevention.
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The COVID19 pandemic has imposed prolonged inconveniences and disruptions to most areas of life. For our youth, the impact has been profound and has potential to wreak havoc on social, emotional, psychological, and physical functioning for years to come if not thoughtfully acknowledged and addressed by the grownups caring for children. It is imperative that we are intentional in our efforts to support children and adolescents; validating the hardships AND focusing on what can be controlled during this time of uncertainty. Dr. Pelletier will offer practical tips and strategies for parents, educators, caregivers, healthcare, and mental health providers to begin implementing with youth at various stages of development.
Heather Pelletier, Ph.D., is a pediatric psychologist at Hasbro Children’s Hospital and a clinical assistant professor in the departments of Psychiatry and Human Behavior and Pediatrics at the Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University. Dr. Pelletier provides integrated clinical services to medical specialty clinics including pediatric rehabilitation and gastroenterology. She specializes in treating childhood mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, trauma, somatic symptoms, and functional neurological symptom disorders in children ages 2-21 years of age. Her primary areas of clinical and research interest are in pediatric pain and rehabilitative restoration.
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Leigh A Reposa will be speaking about the importance of knowing the warning signs of suicide and how to get someone connected with help.
Leigh A. Reposa, MSW, LICSW has been with the Rhode Island Youth Suicide Prevention Program since the Fall of 2009. As part of her work, Leigh and members of the RI Youth Suicide Prevention Project continue to train and educate adults and youth throughout Rhode Island on the warning signs for suicide, risk, and protective factors, and how to get a young person connected with help. For self-care Leigh enjoys spending time with her husband and their 2 dogs, visiting area beaches, hiking, and running. For More Information,
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Parents and educators play an important role in supporting LGBTQIA+ youth in their decision to come out. This presentation will educate parents and educators about ways to foster resilience and reduce the risk for LGBTQIA+ youth during this important time in their lives.
Alex Keuroghlian MD MPH is Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School (HMS)and co-Director of the HMS Sexual and Gender Minority Health Equity Initiative. He directs theNational LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center at The Fenway Institute, an HRSA-funded cooperative agreement to improve care for LGBTQIA+ people across the U.S.. He established the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Psychiatry Gender Identity Program and is clerkship director for the fourth-year elective in sexual and gender minority health at HMS.
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LICSW Leigh A. Reposa talks about youth suicide warning signs and preventative measures. Care to test your knowledge after? Try taking our quiz!
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YouTube: @ RI Youth Mental Health Webinar Series
In this webinar, Jordyn Hagar, MSW, LICSW, gives an in-depth introduction to understanding, recognizing, and addressing mental health in your community.
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Listen to Dr. Kevin Plummer, a licensed child psychologist with more than 30 years of experience specializing in childhood trauma, autism spectrum disorder, stress and resilience, and school-based therapeutic programming for emotionally impacted students, speak to the importance of resilience and the family dynamic. Want More? Check Out our Social Media: Website: www.risas.org/ Facebook: @RISASorg Instagram: @risas_org Twitter: @RISAS_Org
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Dr. Jennifer Jencks, LICSW will present how parents can recognize the signs that children are experiencing mental health challenges and how they can support those needs.
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Join Michael Dzwil, LCSW, as he takes a deep dive into the addictive nature of social media and video games and how they can impact the lives of Children and Teens. He continues and discusses how to set boundaries and foster a healthy relationship between youth and technology.
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Post-Survey: https://tinyurl.com/y4gp9p9w Slides: https://drive.google.com/file/d/19XEc16GgPcx-hPxy72ApM_OIr3A82-bh/view?usp=sharing During this webinar, for educators and professionals working with youth, YOU will gain an understanding of the unique mental health needs and risks of LGBTQIA+ youth and what schools and youth-serving organizations can do to promote mental health and reduce risk with this population. Want More? Check Out our Social Media: Website: www.risas.org/ Facebook: @RISASorg Instagram: @risas_org Twitter: @RISAS_Org
Join Michele Stewart-Copes and Marie Spivey for a training that will build and foster understanding of implicit biases and cultural humility. A framework for positive attitude development and the facilitation of reciprocal open questions will be cultivated.
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Self Assessment: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15oEJlASI-bE_5G90HrZwe0sxrN6Tvenm/view?usp=sharing
Self Assessment 2: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1P1fopoHFpffGQ8DW40jj9rA-r6Uo28M3/view?usp=sharing
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In this webinar, Ryan Loiselle, LICSW will discuss how to work with grieving children and teens. Through first-hand experience and years of practice, Loiselle gives his audience the in's and outs of how to help children cope.
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Join Colleen Judge as she helps parents understand the most up-to-date thinking about the nature of adolescent risk-taking and offer ways that parents can communicate with their teens to help them make choices that balance safety with their innate need for exploration and growth.
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Post-Survey: https://tinyurl.com/y4gp9p9w Join Dr. Keuroghlian, who during this webinar, for parents working with their youth, YOU will gain an understanding of the unique mental health needs and risks of LGBTQIA+ youth and what parents can do to promote mental health and reduce risk with this population. For More Information, Check Out Our Social Media: Website: www.risas.org/ Facebook: @RISASorg Instagram: @risas_org Twitter: @RISAS_Org
Join Dr. Michelle Crossley as she explores the intricacies and details of how children and teens deal with grief and loss.
The past 18 months have been full of hardships for everyone, Properly expressing and dealing with those hardships is an incredibly important, yet difficult, skill for youth to learn. Thankfully Dr. Crossley is here to explain how and why children and teens may grieve, and how their needs may differ from those of a grown adult.
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A concussion can affect a student in a variety of ways. Learn about the mechanisms of concussion, the signs & symptoms, the possible effects on a student’s mental health and some strategies to support student’s return to learn.
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Join Dr. Kalina Brabeck and Student Assistance Counselor Mayra Peguero-Bueno as they discuss the effects of Trauma and Stress on Latinx Youth in Rhode Island, as well as how to be properly equipped to give these children the attention, understanding, and care they deserve. In Dr. Brabeck's own words... "This webinar will define trauma and stress and explain how these experiences affect students' learning and behavior. We will review unique sources of stress and trauma that may impact Latinx students in immigrant families. Finally, we will review culturally relevant sources of strength and resiliency that help Latinx students move past trauma and thrive."
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It can be hard to connect with the youth in your life. In turn, it can be just as difficult for those youths to trust the adults in their lives. Thankfully Lisa Hoopis and Hannah Woodhouse are here to help!
Lisa has over 20 years of experience developing and facilitating training and workshops to a variety of audiences. She is a graduate of Rhode Island College, where she is an adjunct professor in the Health and Physical Education Dept, and teaches Human Sexuality. She works with school districts and organizations to provide professional and youth development training, program consultations, curriculum development, and assistance setting up peer education programs. She is also a certified RI police academy trainer and academy curriculum developer.
Hannah has been involved in violence prevention education since her undergraduate career at the University of Rhode Island, where she was a member of the campus’s peer advocacy group and eventually rose to the coordinator role. Through this experience, she developed a strong passion for educating students and adults of all ages and backgrounds on the topics of violence prevention, social justice issues, and sexual health. She is a current graduate student at the Boston College Lynch School of Education obtaining her Masters' degree in Educational Leadership and Social Policy to be conferred in 2022. Join our two presenters in exploring the impact of language on youth and gain the strategies and characteristics to be able to become a safe and brave space for them.
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Join Dr. Booth, Ph.D. in an introduction to trauma and how it surfaces in the classroom using Providence and Central Falls as case studies.
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