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Achieving the Promise: Cultural and Linguistic Competence in Maine

Thursday, June 28, 2007
8:15 am – 4:45 pm

Ramada Conference Center
Lewiston, Maine

Presented by:

• Thrive, Maine’s Trauma-informed System of Care for Children & Families
• Maine Department of Health & Human Services, Children’s Behavioral Health Services

Special Thanks to the City of Lewiston and the Office of Multi- Cultural Affairs, Maine Department of Health & Human Services

Conference Goals

By creating opportunities for dialogue and collaboration, this conference will focus on heightening the awareness of diversity, mental health and well-being in our community. The conference objectives are to:

1. Provide information on trauma informed cultural and linguistic competence best practices
2. Highlight efforts/initiatives within the state that have been successful in developing and implementing cultural competence models.
3. Enhance sustainability by sharing resources, technical assistance, and ongoing training after the conference.
   

About Thrive, Maine’s Trauma-informed System of Care for Children & Families

A System of Care is a network of local services and supports for children and youth with serious mental health needs and their families. An estimated 3 million children and adolescents in the US are exposed to serious traumatic events each year. In Maine, our System of Care will also be Trauma-informed which means that providers understand the effects of trauma and avoid re-traumatizing those who seek services. Systems of Care are family driven, youth-guided, and Culturally and Linguistically Competent.

Who is involved and what is happening in Maine?

Children's Behavioral Health Services, a division of the Maine Department of Health & Human Services was awarded this cooperative agreement in the fall of 2005 and has teamed up with various stakeholders, under the leadership of Tri-County Mental Health Services, to build a seamless 'system of care' for children and their families in the western Maine area. The initiative is funded by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

Who Should Attend

1. Families and individuals who live in our communities and access many of the available mental health & social services.
2. Family and youth organizations that have organized themselves to advocate on behalf of those who may not have a voice of their own.
3. The youth who are faced with challenges of finding their voices in an adult world.
4. Mental health providers, social services providers, community organizations, educators, child welfare, juvenile justice, ethnic self-help groups, and ethnic representatives.
5. Health care oversight bodies e.g. MaineCare, local governments, policy makers, and insurers among others.

Keynote Speaker: Keva White, MSW, LCADC

Mr. White is credited for the infusion of statewide youth advocacy programs throughout the state of New Jersey during his 3-year tenure as youth coach for the Burlington Partnerships local system of care. Mr. White is the Community Resource Director at Partners for Kids and Families, Inc. where he expands and develops programs for young people with serious emotional disorders. He is trained through the National Multicultural Institute (NMCI) and is a cultural competency trainer. Mr. White is President/CEO of VIP Community Services, Inc., a social services and training consultant agency.

• 8:15 – 8:45 Registration and Continental Breakfast
• 8:45 – 9:00 Cultural Opening: Cambodian Dancers & Blessing
• 9:00 – 9:15 Welcome: Laurent F. Gilbert, Sr., Mayor of Lewiston
• 9:15 – 9:30 Opening Remarks: Brenda Harvey, Commissioner, Maine Department of Health & Human Services
• 9:30-10:15 The Maine Ingredients to Sustaining Cultural Competence in Systems of Care
  Keva White MSW, LCADC, Community Resource Director at Partners for Kids and Families, Inc.
• 10:15 – 10:30 Break
• 10:30 – 12:00 Breakout Session A

1. Finding Your Voice in a Trauma Informed System of Care
   Panelists: Tonya Labbe, Family Coordinator for Thrive; Lisa Bishop, Family Member; Sharon Harbin, Family Member; Chuck Carter, Family Member; Melanie Swift, MSW; Youth TBA
2. Native American Youth Experience in the Child Welfare System
   Presenter: Martha Proulx, Deputy Director, Child Welfare Division, Maine Department of Health & Human Services and youth panelists
3. Transcultural Health
   Presenter: Carl Toney, Assistant Professor, College of Health Professions, University of New England
4. Stigmabusters
   Presenter: Carrie Horne, Assistant Director, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) Maine

• 12:00 – 1:00 Lunch (will be provided)
• 1:00 – 2:30 Breakout Session B

1. Time Dollar and Natural Supports in a Caring Community
   Panelists: Tonya Labbe, Family Coordinator for Thrive; Sharon Harbin, Family Member; and Anissa Roberts, Family Partner
2. Refugee & Immigrant Trauma
   Presenter: Blanca Gurrola, Director of Refugee and Immigrant Children’s Case Management, Community Counseling Center and panel of case managers representing diverse ethnic backgrounds
3. Health Care Disparities
   Presenter: Bankole Kolawole, M.D., Minority Health Program Coordinator Public Health Division, HHS Department, City of Portland
4. Navigating Identities: A direct approach to address oppression
   Facilitators: Ryan Conrad & Erica Rand, Outright Lewiston/Auburn

• 2:30 – 2:45 Break
• 2:45 – 4:15 Breakout Session C

1. 1. Wraparound Experiences of a Maine Tribal Community
   Presenter: Marjorie Withers, Assistant Director, Kmihqitahasultipon (We Remember) Project
2. 2. Who are the Somali Bantus?
   Presenters: Catherine Besteman, Professor of Anthropology, Colby College and several panelists from the Somali Bantu Community, moderated by Luc Nya, Coordinator of Multicultural Affairs for the State of Maine.
3. 3. Workforce Development
   Presenter: Jim Baumer, Business Assistance Coordinator, Maine Department of Labor
4. 4. Language Access
   Presenter: Meryl Troop, Director of Multicultural Services, Office of Immigrant and Multicultural Services

• 4:15 – 4:45 Cultural Closing & Closing Remarks Arabella Perez, Thrive Director & Joan Smyrski, Director of Children’s Behavioral Health Services

Program subject to change without notice

Achieving the Promise: Cultural and Linguistic Competence in Maine
Thursday, June 28, 2007
8:15 am – 4:45 pm
Ramada Conference Center - Lewiston, Maine

THERE IS NO COST TO ATTEND THIS CONFERENCE
Lunch and conference materials will be provided

REGISTRATION: Pre-registration is required. Confirmations will be sent by email.
DEADLINE: Registrations must be received by June 14.

For further information, please contact Great Gatherings LLC at 207-622-5330 or Susan@GreatGatherings.com.

To register online please visit: www.thriveinitiative.org