Native American Track: American Indian People in Minnesota

Shawnee Hunt, MN DHS

American Indian communities have faced historical use and abuse of alcohol and drugs at a startling rates which has continued up to today. The curriculum was designed for non-American Indian providers who work with American Indians in clinical settings. This training could be likened to an American Indian 101 class where the requisite knowledge gained in this training will assist with the reduction of disparate outcomes for American Indian people.

Objectives:

1. You will gain a fundamental understanding of American Indian cultures in Minnesota
2. Participants on average report high degree of satisfaction with attending
3. You will have a foundational understanding of inter-governmental relationships

Co-Occurring Track: Implementing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Strategies for the Treatment of Anxiety and Depression

Dr. Hal Baumchen, NorthStar Regional

A myriad of difficulties including withdrawal effects, sleep deprivation, chemical imbalance, traumatic experiences, and emotional issues including anxiety and depression compromise a client’s cognitive processing abilities. Because abstract reasoning is inherently more difficult, clients need concrete and practical treatment materials in order to achieve long-term recovery. This workshop presents key Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) strategies with ready to use clinical interventions and original resources that can be implemented immediately to increase your overall clinical effectiveness. Participants will build their knowledge to recognize signs of depression and anxiety in a clinical setting and learn specific interventions to help clients manage symptoms, challenge negative thinking, and develop positive recovery skills.

Objectives:

1. Participants will recognize complexities of co-occurring anxiety and depression disorders and adapt strategies to meet clients’ processing difficulties.
2. Participants will identify positive thought replacements and utilize cognitive skill builders to help clients in long-term recovery.
3. Participants will acquire resources to improve the overall quality and effectiveness of treatment for anxiety and depressive disorders.

Native American Track: Poison Came to the People

Rick Moldenhaur, MS, LADC, ICADC.LPCC; DHS Behavioral Health Division

This presentation will review the disparities in treatment program admissions for Native vs. on-Native for SUD, specifically meth and heroin, in Minnesota. Attention will be paid to location and methods of referral to Native, culturally specific programs in Minnesota.

Objectives:

1. Identify at least two major disparities between Native and non-Native drug use patterns
2. Identify at least two referral opportunities for clients requesting Native specific treatment services
3. Identify at least one cultural aspect effective in treatment for Native People

Co-Occurring Track: Bi-Polar Disorder & Co-Occurring Disorders

Dr. Lois Cochrane Schlutter, PhD, LP, MAC, CCDPD; Sclutter & Associates

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. There are four basic types of bipolar disorder; all of them involve clear changes in mood, energy, and activity levels. Discussion will identify the main types of bipolar disorders.
Bipolar disorder involves a spectrum of psychiatric symptoms often compounded by a substance use disorder and addiction. Clinicians are often challenged to identify co-occurring symptoms and treatment goals. The purpose of this course is to provide clinicians with knowledge on co-occurring bipolar disorder. A number of the physical causes that can cause bipolar symptoms and syndromes are discussed, as these are often overlooked. Co-occurring bipolar disorder and substance use disorder pose a serious health risk to affected individuals. Patients with dual diagnoses may experience substantial challenges during treatment for their mental illness and recovery from substance use. Early diagnosis and intervention can significantly improve the potential outcomes for patients with a dual diagnosis. Multiple types of treatment approaches and engagement will be given.

Objectives:

1. Be able to identify the main types of Bi-Polar Disorders; (not necessarily be able to diagnose all these).
2. Be able to identify a number of the differential diagnoses for bipolar disorder and other mental health disorders.
3. Be able to identify a number of the differential diagnoses for bipolar disorder and substance use disorders.

Native American Track: Native American Diversity

Donald W. Moore Jr., Minnesota DHS Behavioral Health Division

The training will also inform on specific historical and current traumatic experiences, e.g., boarding school experiences, abandonment and rejection, etc., experienced by some Native Americans, and the possible relationship of these experiences to substance abuse lifestyles.

Objectives:

1. To become aware of the extent of trauma in the lives of some Native Americans in current times.
2. Historical Trauma is real.
3. Prevalence rates are unknown due to lack of adequate measurements.

Co-Occurring Track: Cognitice, Behavioral and Spiritual Interventions for Co-Occurring Disorders

Dr. Tim Walsh, Minnesota Adult and Teen Challenge

The research on positive psychology represents a paradigm shift in the philosophy and focus of the field of co-occurring counseling. This body of evidence speaks to spirituality, identity, life meaning and purpose, flourishing, relational health, virtues or moral strengths, motivation, optimism and hope, personal growth, happiness and joy, resilience or grit. This research provides the “how to” of recovery and life transformation for both mental health and substance use disorder treatment.

Objectives:

1. Participants will analyze the similarities and contrasts of positive psychology as it relates to SUD and mental health recovery
2. Participants will actively engage in group discussion to identify practical applications of this body of research
3. Participants will identify the surprising findings of positive psychology and how it relates to cognitive, behavioral and spiritual applications to their work with clients and themselves

Native American Track: Widokowishin Equaywug (Helping Native Women): Native American Substance Exposed Infants (SEI)

Shirley Cain J.D., Minnesota DHS

This presentation shows data and how data involving Native American women and substance exposed infants is the highest in the state, how substance use is an epidemic in Indian country and across the nation, opioid prescriptions, symptoms of SEI and opioid use, medication assisted treatment and wrap around services, recovery from drug addiction, use of trauma-informed care, bonding, belonging, utilization of non-judgmental treatment and the critical use of culturally-based treatment models to assist Native women and others to heal, utilization of the use of the mom-centered approach wherein mom is the treatment and what other states and tribes are doing to address substance use in other states, including Minnesota, urban Native programs and tribes in Minnesota.

Objectives:

1. Understand data and how data affects Native women and babies.
2. Understand how opioids and other drugs are affecting Native women, babies and other community members in Indian country.
3. Understand how and why culturally-based treatment, belonging, bonding and being non-judgmental is key to helping women and others to heal.

Co-Occurring Track: Psychotropic Medications and Non-Pharmacologic Interventions in the Treatment of Co-Occurring Disorders

Dr. Beth A. Good, DNP, APRN, PMHCNS-BC

This training will focus on identifying the need for and the effectiveness of psychotropic medication in persons with Co-Occurring disorders. Various psychotropic medications as well as their indications, actions, as well as side effect profiles will be discussed along with non-pharmacologic treatment interventions. Some persons dependent on alcohol or other substances may not be aware of their psychiatric symptoms or illness, and may fear the use of these medications. Persons with psychiatric illness may not be aware of the connection between their mental health symptoms and substance use or that one may have led to the other. Various strategies for engaging the Co-occurring disorder populations while in treatment will be explored.

Objectives:

1. Identify 2 psychotropic medications utilized for treatment of depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder in the Co-occurring disorders population.
2. State three non-pharmacologic strategies used for treatment of depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder.
3. State two strategies for engaging the Co-occurring disorders population in psychotropic medication treatment.

Native American Track: Native American Diversity

Monica Haglund, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe District III Aazhoomog/Hinckley area

This training focuses on the traditional, bicultural and assimilated cultural orientations of Native Americans. Related behavioral traits will be discussed, as well as some of the challenges that individual Native Americans experience in interacting with mainstream society. 

Objectives:

1. To promote an awareness of traditional, bicultural and assimilated cultural orientations of Native Americans.
2. To become aware of behaviors that are associated with each cultural orientation, e.g., verbal and non-verbal   communication styles, expressions of emotions, etc.
3. To promote an awareness of how these cultural 
4. To become aware of the challenges that Native Americans might experience integrating into mainstream society.

Co-Occurring Track: Men and Trauma

Kevin Spading LICSW LADC CPP, Peter Feeney LADC, Shane Pugh LADC; Metropolitan State University

Over the past 20 years, the terms gender-responsive and trauma-informed have become synonymous with innovative quality care. We have witnessed programs move from gender-neutral to gender-specific to gender-responsive. And, we have to come to recognize that gender-responsive does not only mean services designed for women.

River Ridge has been on the cutting edge of gender-responsive and trauma-informed care, working closely with Dr Stephanie Covington to bring progressive services to women. Yet again, men’s services lagged behind, until the Helping Men Recover curriculum was piloted at River Ridge, being the first gender-responsive/trauma-informed program for men. At last, a curriculum for men that took into account the unique experiences of men was in practice.
In the last two years, River Ridge has again sought to move the compass. Historically, trauma-informed services have been about policy and services, in that they sought to assist those with trauma history in navigating chemical health services. In other words, trauma-informed took into account the trauma history, created system and clinical structure, and assisted clients in fostering skills that would allow them to “do” chemical treatment programming.  Within the River Ridge practices. We have moved to trauma-responsive care, which seeks to provide opportunities for clients to both “do” chemical treatment programming and engage in services that address the trauma at the same time. Moving to trauma-responsive services has taken integrated, collaborative care between chemical and mental health professionals to new levels.

Both Shane and Peter have been intricately associated with this change at River Ridge to trauma-responsive care, and sought to bring both the idea and practice of working with men in this type of setting to others.

Objectives:

1. Participants will gain an understanding of moving trauma-informed services to trauma-responsive practices.
2. Participants will gain an understanding of the intersections of gender-socialization/culture/family systems and their potential impact on working with men and trauma
3. Participants will learn specific skills/therapeutic interventions to manage trauma symptomology.