TRACKS:

MENTAL HEALTH

Dennis Morrow, M.A.Ed., MBA

A-4/A-5: Not So Basic Listening Skills (2 part)

Listening skills are one of the most powerful yet least understood tools in building effective professional and personal relationships. Every interaction which you have with another human being has only two possible outcomes: the other person feels better or worse and the outcome is most strongly impacted by your listening ability.

 Listening can be defined simply as “The unnatural act of verbally demonstrating to another person that he/she has been heard”. First, it is unnatural because humans are not born with an innate ability to communicate effectively—we only have to look at a divorce rate of over 50% for first marriages to validate this concept (and the primary reason is communication problems). Second, it is active verbal communication—listening is not a “passive sport”. The best listeners are actually the best communicators of what has been said. And third, your listening skill is not measured by how well you think you did—but by how well the speaker thinks you did.

There are two roles in any communication process: a Speaker and a Listener. The most important thing to understand about communication is that you cannot do both at the same time. American culture teaches us to think about what to say WHILE the Speaker is talking rather than focusing on what is BEING SAID to us. Effective listening skills are actually a series of responses to the various levels of human communication. These levels involve responses to the speaker’s behavior, content, emotions, and sources for the emotions. Training effective listeners involves specific practice in identifying and responding to each level—it is not an intuitive process but a highly structured, professional set of skills. The average American rates at l.85 on a 5 point scale where Level 3 is the minimal level for a person to be “heard”. It takes 35 hours of training to build the skills necessary to listen for 10 minutes without doing harm.

The good news: Listening skills are easy to define, easy to learn, and extraordinarily effective in both personal and professional relationships. The bad news, without training and practice, most of us go through life believing we are far better at listening than we truly are.

This workshop will provide a simple, highly usable framework to increase the listening skills of participants. This model is also very effective in teaching, training, or coaching others regarding “not so basic” communication skills.

Ann Kirkwood, M.A.

A-6:  Link Between Mental Illness & Suicide
Current research literature describing link between mental illness and risk for suicide will be presented.  Focus will be on importance of recognizing warning signs and referring for professional risk assessment and treatment to save lives.  Idaho is consistently in the top 10 states for rates of suicide deaths each year.  Through awareness and action suicide deaths can be prevented.

 go to top of page

SUPERVISION/LEADERSHIP 

Dan Baker, Ph.D.

B-4/B-5: Intergenerational Management (2 parts)

Managers are often of a different generation than people they supervise.  While every worker is different, knowledge of generational characteristics provides a good starting point in the process of individualizing management practices.  This interactive session will help answers questions about different generations, including learning about characteristics and defining events.  Then, we will translate this information into direct tips about management and motivation for everyone from a Gen Xer to a member of the Silent Generation. 

Janice Lung, EdD

B-6: Empowered to Create Well-being!

With shrinking budgets and growing demand, many in the human services are being called on to do more, more, more with less, less, less – and of course you  are answering the call. Over time, this can put a serious strain on the health and well-being of human service professionals. Known as compassion fatigue, the consequences are serious. Most of us don’t need to read the extensive research on the impact of stress; we live it every day. What we need is support.

This 2nd edition of a well-received program from 2010 features engaging activities, reflective questions and group discussion. In the 2.5 hour presentation, participants will review the research on stress, compassion fatigue and relaxation response and learn about Harvard’s Mind/Body Institute which teaches people how to conquer the harmful effects of stress. In the 1.25 hour presentation, participants will learn a comprehensive process and daily practices that will empower them to create complete and balanced well-being.

After this program, participants will have the tools to create well-being in their life! Participants will define their own version of well-being, design strategies to achieve it and make choices everyday to create it.   

go to top of page

PROFESSIONAL/PERSONAL GROWTH

Robin Rose, M.A.

C-4/C-5: Managing Challenging Change (2 part)

Change is guaranteed. It is the most dynamic force in the world. Our ability to adapt determines the quality of our lives. Dealing with immediate and ongoing change takes a subtle toll on our long-range focus, daily effectiveness and overall satisfaction. It can cause us to move into ‘get-through-today’ mode, and diminish our greater sense of passion and clarity. Whether the change involves team changes, integrating new schedules, a new mix in personnel, or increased duties and responsibilities, there are common responses to change that can disrupt teamwork, individual health and negatively impact a positive work atmosphere. This session focuses on building individual effectiveness and maintaining collaborative teams during times of change. Learn how to individually and collectively move through change with greater ease.

• Understand the normal and often chaotic process of change
• See how change is necessary for all positive growth and opportunities
• Determine what you need to stay healthy, energized and professional during change
• Learn what team processes reduce stress during change
• Identify and separate personal needs/reactions from professional responses
• Develop an awareness of what sabotage behaviors frequently occur in teams, and how to
• reduce or avoid them.

C-6: Dennis Morrow, M.A.Ed., MBA

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or Why We Really Do the Silly Things We Do

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been defined as a “highly structured method to alter distorted attitudes and problem behavior”. This workshop is designed to “make easy” an understanding of basic human behavior. It presents an integrated model for linking personal behavior with both cognitive belief systems and emotions. This model can be used in both professional helping relationships and also in personal relationships (friend, parent, partner) to understand why people act in both self-destructive and self-supportive ways. Participants will engage in an interactive/experiential learning process to identify personal belief systems and to understand how to use the concept of belief systems to facilitate behavioral change.

go to top of page

DIRECT SUPPORT - CHILDREN

Whitney Schexnider, M.Ed. (2 part)

D-4/D-5: Increasing Independence in Children with Developmental Disabilities

By beginning to actively work on teaching children how to complete everyday skills independently, doors are opened for more skills and more opportunities for learning. This presentation will focus on:

• Identifying the barriers to independence and how to increase independence by breaking down skills into smaller, teachable steps.
• Identifying the barriers to children’s independence
• Breaking down everyday skills and tasks.
• Discussion about capitalizing on natural opportunities and contriving opportunities in the home, school and community settings

IDHW Staff

D-6: Evidence-Based Practices: A Toolbox for Intervention
Covers where to find resources on evidence-based practices and how to choose the best therapy intervention and implement them. Designed for Habilitative Interventionists.
 

go to top of page

DIRECT SUPPORT - TEENS

Rebecca Evans

E-4: Uncovering your Sense of Self & Those Around You

In this workshop, Certified Life Coach and Motivational Speaker, Rebecca Evans, will facilitate powerful techniques to help our teen population to re-identify with the core of self and discover their values, passions and gifts.  She will also share tools regarding friends and social selection and healthy boundaries.

Matthew Jordan & David Brown

E-5: Confidence, Relationships, and Music

In these presentations we will discuss the universal power of music to move people. Through the skilled direction of a music therapist, the tremendous power of music can be focused toward achieving specific outcomes. The most common goals include the ability to initiate and enjoy interaction with others in a fun, non-threatening environment. Beyond that, music therapy can also be used to reduce maladaptive behaviors, increase attention, enhance motivation to participate in other treatments, stimulate memory function, counteract the effects of anxiety and depression, and to reinforce positive social interaction. Most importantly, however, music provides individuals with a nonverbal form of expression that allows them to convey the essence of who they are and what they feel to others. When this form of expression is cultivated by a trained therapist, individuals are empowered with a far greater capacity to assert themselves as beautiful and important human beings of infinite worth.

Teen Panel

E-6: Leading the Way: Empowered Teens Preparing for the Future
A panel of teens explains their struggles and successes on their journey to independence.

go to top of page

DIRECT SUPPORT - ADULTS

Kathie Snow

F-4: Disability is Natural.

Yes, like gender, ethnicity, and other traits, disability is one of many natural characteristics of being human! What can happen when we deconstruct disability, use People First Language, and focus on people’s strengths and abilities? Our attitudes drive our actions, and awesome change is possible when we think and talk differently! (Note: this is my “signature” presentation; other topics are based on the foundational concepts in this one.)

Kathie Snow

F-5: Living Real Lives and Dreaming Big Dreams

The services and assistance provided to children and adults with disabilities can lead to lifelong dependency and hopelessness in Disability World, along with other unintended, negative consequences. But this can change: children and adults with disabilities can enjoy real lives—self-directed lives—and achieve their dreams when they have three important tools for success. Everyone has the right to live a real life included in the real world!

Dan Baker, Ph.D.

F-6: Identity Development for People with Disabilities

Who am I? What am I to do in life? These are two of the central questions in the development of a unique identity, which is among the most important developmental tasks of life, beginning in infancy, sometimes resolved during adolescent years, continually forming through all of life. Identity includes occupational goals, religious beliefs, sexual identity, and ethnic background. The presence of intellectual disability is a relevant aspect as well, which will be explored in this teleconference along with relevant topics and supports in identity formation for persons with IDD.

go to top of page

PARENTS

Char Quade, J.D.

G-4: Legal Planning for Life After 18

This can be broken into two sessions, and provide more in depth discussion of the issues and considerations in each of the two areas:

1. Substitute Decision Making—Power of Attorney, Guardianship, Conservatorship

Practical implications and discussion of:

• The rights v. protections
• The duty and responsibilities of the Power of Attorney, and the G/C
• The rights of the individual through the process and under power of attorney, guardianship, limited guardianship, conservatorship, and limited conservatorship
• Succession planning for aging guardians, conservators, and the use of professionals as guardians and conservators.
• The ethical issues that face the G/C’s, providers, etc.
• When accountings and reports are made to the court
• Exploitation and abuse; legal protections under G/C

2. Estate Planning:

• The Public Policy pertaining to Supplemental and Special Needs Trusts
• Wills, Family Trusts, and special needs planning o   Duty of the Settlor/Grantors of the Trusts
• Duty of the Trustees
• Duty of the Trust Protector
• When accountings and reports are made to the court

Rebecca Evans

G-5: Brave Steps Forward: How to Make a Move No Matter What

In this workshop, Certified Life Coach and Motivational Speaker, Rebecca Evans, will facilitate training techniques to take a small step and, eventually, a giant leap, towards the professional and personal life you envision.  These techniques will help you get unstuck, gain clarity and redefine your personal and professional goals.

Angela Lindig

G-6: Working for Change: Using the Power of a Personal Story

Systems change is about improving access to services and supports for children with disabilities and their families.  This workshop will help parents become "System Change Agents."  Parents will explore what advocacy is, why changing systems is important and how to use the power of their personal story to create change

go to top of page

SELF ADVOCATES

Rachael Raidon

H-4: Parenting with a Disability
If you are a parent with a disability or thinking of starting a family, help is out there! Learn from others, get support and find resources!

James Turner
H-5: Keys to Accessing the Power of Work

Learn how to access federal work incentives, gain more choice in choosing employement goals and neutralizing the fear regarding working and benefits (SSI, SSDI, etc.).

Kathie Snow

H-6: Cooperative Advocacy

Traditional advocacy sometimes leads to anger, arguments, and worse. Ensure win-win outcomes for all by learning new strategies for relationship-building, proactive partnerships and improving communication.

go to top of page

EMPLOYMENT

Laurie Ford

I-4: The Top Ten Ways to Increase Access to Employment for People with Psychiatric Disabilities (formerly named: Advanced Selling Skills for Job Developers: Supporting Individuals with Psychiatric Disabilities)

Our jobs are often about helping people reach their goals – but for 8 out of 10 people with psychiatric disabilities the goal of employment remains tantalizingly out of reach.  This presentation will challenge you to reexamine your assumptions and evaluate your skills – and you may be surprised at the results.

Topics of this session include:

1) Understanding how your values impact the way you look at people with psychiatric disabilities;

2) Preparing yourself to deal with inaccurate public perceptions and the stigma of mental illness;

3) Understanding effective program design and funding strategies;

4) Learn about mental illness, but don’t put a lot of eggs in the diagnosis basket;

5) Learn about stress, stability, and employment;

6) Understanding how people get motivated to work;

7) Getting over the fear of losing benefits;

8) Building relationships with employers;

9) Helping people develop broad-based support resources;

10) Taking a teaching approach.

John Dineen

I-5: Session #2: Reasonable Accommodation in the Workplace

If you’re involved with helping individuals with disabilities become employed and keep their job, and have wondered about how “reasonable accommodation” works, then this session is for you. We’ll explain the rules, offer numerous illustrations and case studies, and build your understanding of the legal framework provided by the ADA. The presenter works for the regional ADA office and has experience as a job developer and job coach.

John Dineen

I-6: Session #3: Doing More with Less: The Efficient Job Coach

Good job coaching support has allowed a lot of individuals with significant barriers to employment to become and stay employed, right?  Yet as our economy dictates more frugal times, you have to wonder how job coaching can possibly do as much as is needed with so little support. This session will not offer the magic solution or easy answers, but we will explore some of possibilities for stretching your support and taking advantage of available resources.  If you have been wondering whether cloning yourself might be worth exploring, come join us first in this session.

 go to top of page