“Pursuit of Excellence: From Trauma to Resiliency”

Victor Rivas Rivers

A film star, author and renowned advocate for violence prevention, Rivers seeks to raise awareness and activism of related forms of abuse, along with ways that individuals and communities can do more to end violence.

Rivers has come a long way since being an abused, angry gang member. If not for individuals in his community who were willing to take a stand on his behalf, Rivers doubts he would be alive today. In his memoir, A Private Family Matter: A Memoir, and the upcoming sequel, A Public Family Matter: Journey of An Accidental Activist, Rivers shares his remarkable life story with the world. Now one of the most well-known domestic violence activists, Rivers uses his voice to advocate for the safety of all women and children.

• Introduction to Trauma Informed Care*

  Ronald Gering, LPC, CCMHC
  The core concepts of Trauma-Informed care are discussed as well as the importance of the ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) and its significance to understanding individuals seeking help from human service and behavioral health agencies. Resiliency and self-care are introduced and explored.

• What Makes Us Resilient?*

  Steve Hanni, MSW, LSW, DRCC, CPRP
  As we learn about the effects of trauma and being trauma-informed, it is also important to understand what makes us resilient. This workshop will address the questions: What makes us resilient? What can we do to find a positive adaptive response to adversity? How will this help us personally, our coworkers and those we serve? Five key areas discussed will include defining resiliency, exploring examples of resiliency, identifying factors that contribute to resilience and exploring evidence based strategies to build resilience.

• The Anatomy of Survival: Brain-Body Responses to Neglect, Trauma and Violence in Children and Adolescents*

  Mark S. Woodford, PhD, LPC, MAC
  This course is designed for clinicians to learn how violence and trauma can impede normal brain development, undermine an individual’s ability to function at an age-appropriate level, process information, control risky behavior and form intimate relationships.

• Immigration and Trauma

  Roberto Hernandez, BA, CSW, BIA
  Individuals that have immigrated to the U.S. often experience some form of trauma that can often leads to feelings of isolation and depression. This workshop will address two key areas – “Know Your Rights” and “The U Visa” so that immigrants can be better served and to lessen their trauma by providing information about their rights and actions they can take.

• Suicide Prevention for Schools*

  Caryn Hirsch, LCSW
  QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) is the newest model used for New Jersey’s traumatic loss coalitions. This training will teach school personnel how to identify warning signs of suicide, both direct and indirect, and will teach how to ask the questions, persuade someone to get help and when to refer for counseling.

• The Psychology of Terrorism

  Steven M. Crimando, MA, CTS, CHS-V
  Managing the Psychosocial Consequences of Terrorism: Incidents of mass violence involving shooting, bombing and kidnapping (conventional terrorism), as well as the use of more exotic hazards such as chemical, biological and radiological agents (unconventional terrorism) produce unique and complex psycho-social reactions in individuals and communities. This awareness-level workshop explores the types and nature of acts of both conventional and unconventional terrorism, as well as the emotional and behavioral reactions to these incidents. Attention is given to the demands on leaders and planners, as well as crisis responders and others who mobilized to assist. Both long- and short-term effects are explored, as well as models and methods of support and intervention.

• Art Therapy for Children Affected by Trauma*

  Mary Ellen McAlevey, MA, LPC, ACS, ATCS
  Trauma can be stored in the right cerebral hemisphere making verbalization about trauma difficult. Art therapy is a treatment of choice for children affected by trauma because children are afforded the opportunity to communicate non-verbally, thereby minimizing the need for language and recall.

• Impact of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) on Children and Teens*

  Michele M. Fesler, MS, MT-BC
  Participants will gain an understanding of IPV and how widespread it is within society. This workshop will explore the direct effect on children and teens across the child development continuum to include physical, emotional, social and behavioral functioning. An introduction to the preeminent treatment program for child witnesses of IPV, the Peace: A Learned Solution (PALS) program, will also be provided.

• Children Teaching Caregivers: Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)*

  Barbara McDermott, MA, LPC and Melissa Boege, MS, LPC, NCC
  Therapists will present an overall view of TF-CBT and for each module and component of treatment will demonstrate and discuss the skills and techniques that children and their caregivers can use, including relaxation skills, thought stopping, personal boundaries and safety skills, gradual exposure techniques and other strategies for healing.

*Workshops eligible for 1.5 CEUs each

Note: Schedule will be determined by level of interest. Our
best attempt will be made to accomodate your preference.

Refunds (minus a $20 administrative fee) will be provided before April 24, 2017. No refunds will be given after April 24, 2017 or for “no shows” the day of the event.

If the conference is cancelled for any reason, Children and Family Services of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton, will issue a full refund to all who have registered.