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Cedar Valley Mental Health Summit

Sep13

Date:
Friday, September 13, 2019

Time:
7:30am–4:30pm

Location:
Main Campus—Tama Hall

Map and Directions

Sessions & Presentations

Dare to Lead: Brave Conversations on Inclusion and Equality

Presenter: Dr. Catalina D’Achiardi-Ressler

This keynote session is designed to provide a motivating and encouraging introduction
to the exploration of issues of equality and inclusion. Based on the work of Dr. Brené
Brown, certified Daring Way and Dare to Lead facilitator, Dr. D’Achiardi-Ressler will offer
an opportunity for self-reflection and a guide through the courageous journey of owning
our stories.

Download the Dare to Lead presentation.

Adverse Childhood Experience and Equity: What Students of Color Need from You

Presenter: Laura Gray

In this presentation the participant will be able to identify ACES and ways in which it
effects academic success. The participant will be able to identify the difference in equity
and equality and also walk away with ways in which privilege and power can be used to
help those in need.

Download the Adverse Childhood Experience and Equity presentation.

Impacts of Historical Trauma on African Americans and Its Effect on Navigating White Spaces

Presenters: Keyah Levy, Juana Hollingsworth, and Shantila Caston

In this session the participant will be able to take a deeper look into Navigating White
Spaces. The participant will be able to identify adverse responses due to race related
stress. The participant will walk away with resources available to navigate white spaces
and cope with race-related stress.

Download the Impacts of Historical Trauma on African Americans presentation.

Invisible and Ignored: The Power of Healing-Centered Approaches with Women and Girls of Color

Presenter: LaTasha DeLoach

We will discuss a reframing of how to work towards healing for women and girls of
color who have been impacted by traumatic events. Looking at approaches that are
holistic involving culture, spirituality, civic action, and collective healing. We will also
discuss how we can improve outreach goals by adjusting the engagement tools. We
will look specifically at how women and girls of color are impacted by hypervisibility
and invisibility and its impacts on them in how they view and experience trauma in
predominantly white spaces and institutions.

Who Do I Want You to Be? Racial/Cultural Trauma in Schools

Presenter: Dr. Jennifer Ulie-Wells

Government, law enforcement, and school systems were created to benefit those in
white dominant culture. Participants will learn about the brain science behind trauma
and how that impacts people through bias, generational trauma, white privilege, microaggressions, and, more importantly, how to prevent it.

Download the Who Do I Want You to Be presentation.

Centering Health Equity in Your Public Health Approach

Presenter: Nalo Johnson

In this session, learn how placing health equity at the center of your public health
approach supports positive mental health outcomes. You will learn the importance of
normalizing language around health disparate populations to truly address community
needs.

Download the Centering Health Equity in Your Public Health presentation.

How Inter-Generational Trauma Affects Parent/Child Relationship for Diverse Populations

Presenter: Roun Said

Learn how to identify ways in-generational trauma affects parent/child relationships in
diverse populations and how to recognize examples of parenting through trauma. Lastly
the session will have discussions about the implications for practitioners.

Download the Parenting through Trauma presentation.

Impacts of Historical Trauma on Communities of Color and Its Effects on Health Seeking Behaviors

Presenter: Dr. Keisha Ross

Explore the basis of historical and cultural trauma and learn how it impacts the willingness
of ethnic communities and people of color to seek help for a variety of mental health
challenges. Dr. Ross will engage participants in a session outlining coping mechanisms
and cultural considerations for serving communities impacted by trauma. This event will
build connections and grow alliances for mental health access and advocacy, with a focus
on bridging educational, faith, and mental health circles.

Download the Impacts of Historical Trauma and Its Effect on Health Seeking Behaviors presentation.

Purpose

To equip our community's service delivery professionals with tools and best practices to support racial and ethnic minorities who face mental health challenges. We seek to help professionals, who work with these individuals on a daily basis, gain a better understanding of the underlying issues of these individuals' behaviors, as well as how to best respond in a positive, healthy, and impactful way. We also intend to provide attendees with information on local mental health resources, as well as resources for continued learning opportunities.

Audience

Nurses, EMS professionals, substance abuse counselors, social workers, educators, and other healthcare providers.

Continuing Education

Participants must attend the entire conference. No partial credit will be awarded. Allied health professionals are responsible for reviewing the governing rules of their board to determine if appropriate subject matter will apply for continuing education.

Nurses will receive six contact hours awarded by Hawkeye Community College, IBON Provider #5.
EMS providers will receive a certificate of attendance reflecting six CEHs.
Substance abuse counselors will receive six CEUs.

Keynote Speakers

Catalina D’Achiardi-Ressler, Ph.D, CDWF, CDTLF

Dr. D’Achiardi-Ressler is founder of the West Des Moines Center for Psychotherapy. She has more than 12 years of experience as a licensed psychologist working with adults in outpatient, inpatient, and forensic settings. For the past six years, Dr. D’Achiardi-Ressler has conducted psychotherapy with individuals, couples, and families. She specializes in group dynamics and group therapy, the treatment of relational and shock trauma, adult attachment, and relational issues.

Previously, she served in senior management in a private-sector organization that specialized in career guidance and assessment. This role allowed her to develop a unique set of skills in group
dynamics, leadership, communication, and change management. Most recently, she completed a term as president of the Iowa Psychological Association where she successfully led the 2017-2020 strategic planning process. A native of Colombia, Dr. D’Achiardi-Ressler is fluent in Spanish.

Keisha Ross, Ph.D.

Dr. Keisha Ross is an experienced clinical psychologist practicing full-time at the St. Louis Veterans Affairs Medical Center. She co-leads a national grant focused on race-based stress and minority resilience, as well as a local grant focused on improving health communication between providers and rationally/ethnically diverse patients.

As owner of New Horizon Psychological Services, she provides national diversity, inclusion, and cultural competency trainings with an emphasis on the impacts of historical/intergenerational trauma on communities of color. Dr. Ross also volunteers for faith-based community organizations, providing education on mental health to decrease stigma.

She has a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in clinical psychology from St. Louis University.
Her specialties include working with individuals who experience or may be at risk for trauma due to physical or sexual abuse, neglect, violence, and combat exposure. She is cited in journal publications in the area of religion and spirituality and its impact on psychological adjustment.
Dr. Ross is a member of the American Psychological Association and Missouri Psychological Association (MOPA). She is MOPA’s past president (2017-2018) and developed their diversity committee, serving as its chair from 2012-2017.

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