Dr. Sh’nai Simmons, PhD., LMHC; Taiwan Simmons, licensed Minister, of Community Victory Family Services
While the mental-health benefits of spirituality are known to those of faith, collaboration between mental health professionals and spiritual leaders is often undeveloped. In a comprehensive Community-Based System of Support, local faith communities are actively engaged with community leaders and providers. In this two-part session, participants will learn about initiatives addressing the issue of faith-integrated mental health care while exploring the challenges of varying demographics, resources, and culture. Participants will identify barriers to collaborative efforts between faith communities and mental health professionals; develop a working definition for community-based systems of support; identify personal efficacy toward building an improved system of care; and identify individual and collective actionable steps toward that end.
Larry Allen, MBA, LCSW, LHRM, Chief Operating Officer of the Central Florida Behavioral Health Network; Dr. David Clapp, Ed. D., LMHC, CAP, Director of Supportive Housing and Community Development; D. Ruth Power, LCSW, MCAP, Program Manager of the Pinellas Integrated Care Alliance, Central Florida Behavioral Health Network
In an effort to reduce or eliminate the revolving door between the criminal justice system and behavioral health care systems, two data sharing projects have been implemented with very positive results. In these data sharing projects, local Sheriffs’ matched booking data with service recipients for publically funded behavioral health services through the Central Florida Behavioral Health Network. This presentation will explain the Sheriff Data Sharing Project; ways to implement a collaborative project with community partners and stakeholders; and how to manage a data system for evaluating success.
Shelby Meaders, MPH, Grant Coordinator for Florida’s Department of Children and Families
In an effort to decrease opioid overdose deaths, increase naloxone use, and increase the number of individuals trained on overdose recognition and response, Florida’s Department of Children and Families launched the Save-A-Life campaign in November 2018. Through this program, non-profit organizations receive training on opioid prevention and overdose recognition, as well as free Narcan to distribute to those at risk of overdose as well as their family and friends. This presentation reviews the signs of an opioid overdose and how to administer life-saving nalaxone.
Dr. Steffani Corey, Doctor of Oriental Medicine, White Crane Clinic; Dr. Robert De Stefano, Jr., Doctor of Chiropractic, Florida Spine and Injury Center
Complementary Alternative Medicine offers a wide array of options for treating pain, addiction, and behavioral health concerns without the need for prescription pain management. The focus of this presentation is to educate and promote the merging of both Eastern and Western medicine with the understanding that the body can heal if taken care of physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Health care providers, community stakeholders, and those seeking recovery can truly benefit from learning more about acupuncture, chiropractic services, and stem cell therapy as alternatives.
Patty Taddei-Allen, PharmD, MBA, BCACP, BCGP Director, Outcomes Research WellDyneRx
In this session, the presenter will discuss the optimization, administration, and modification of analgesic therapy treatment plans for patients with chronic pain. The various pharmacotherapeutic regimens used to treat chronic pain will be reviewed.
The neurophysiology of nociceptive transmission will be related to the mechanism of action for commonly prescribed pharmaceutical agents for chronic pain. The current CDC Recommendations for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain will be articulated and reviewed.
Dr. Abraham Salinas-Miranda, M.D., PhD, MACE, Research Faculty College of Public Health, University of South Florida
Opioids Use Disorder will be described and defined as well as the ways in which it is screened during Pregnancy. The role of Obstetrician – Gynecologist and other obstetric care providers will be discussed as well as the effects of opioids on pregnancy and the ways in which it can influence pregnancy outcomes. Opioids Treatment in pregnancy using opioid agonist pharmacotherapy will be discussed. The presenter will also describe the antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum care in women with Opioids Use Disorder.
Eva Slomiak, RN, BSN, BayCare Health Systems
Healing Touch is an energy therapy in which practitioners consciously use their hands in a heart-centered and intentional way to support and facilitate physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health of patients. This presentation explores the application of this modality in the journey to wellness across care settings. The history and foundations of Healing Touch will be discussed as well as an examination of research studies regarding the implementation of this therapy in healthcare settings. Additionally, the practical applications of Healing Touch in personal and patient care will be addressed.
Ginny LaRue, MNM, Director, Recovery Project, Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association
Recovery Community Organizations (RCOs) focus on the reality of long-term recovery from a Substance Use Disorder (SUD). This session focuses on creating awareness of the voice of recovery and understanding the benefits that an RCO brings to its community. Participants will learn the fundamental concepts of an RCO, how to create recovery champions, and how to utilize the voice of recovery through peer driven programs that include public education, policy advocacy, community peer programs, and inclusion. The basics for increasing community recovery champions within a Recovery Oriented System of Care (ROSC) will be discussed.