Day 1
Fueling Change Agents: Energizing the Path of Resiliency | Nick Szubiak, LCSW, MSW
Fueling Change Agents explores how resilience, energy, and sustainability are essential to driving meaningful, lasting change—both for the individuals we support and for ourselves.
Through practical strategies and actionable tools, you’ll learn how to prevent burnout, sustain your passion, and tap into the inner strength required to thrive in this emotionally demanding field. Walk away recharged, refocused, and ready to lead with renewed purpose and impact.
Fortifying the Village of Support through Trauma-Informed Care | Karen Simms
Trauma-informed principles serve as essential cornerstones in building environments that not only protect individuals at risk but also support and sustain the well-being of those providing care. When applied effectively, these principles reduce the risk of secondary and vicarious trauma among staff and volunteers and promote resilience within the workforce.
Karen Simms outlines practical strategies for integrating trauma-informed care into existing suicide prevention infrastructures and offer real-world examples of how community partnerships enhance outreach, engagement, and long-term impact.
Intersections of Domestic Violence and Mental Health | Samantha Dickens, MSW & Fran Reyes
Domestic violence occurs throughout all communities and within all age groups, and while the characteristics and behaviors of such violence are similar across these spectrum's, the complexities specific to youth survivors are dynamic.
Samantha Dickens, MSW & Fran Reyes will discuss these complexities and potential barriers and offer strategies to navigate the work being done by mental health and substance providers in supporting survivors of domestic violence.
Examining the Intersections of Domestic Violence and Suicide | Karen Simms, Samantha Dickens, MSW, & Fran Reyes
Examine the Intersections of Domestic Violence and Suicide at the Individual, Family, and Community Levels with Karen Simms, Samantha Dickens, MSW, & Fran Reyes.
Day 2
Building a World Worth Living in: Youth Suicide Prevention in 2025 | Dr. Jonathan B. Singer, Ph.D., LCSW
We often hear that suicide is the second leading cause of death. Behind that oft-quoted statistic is a more complex picture of youth and families struggling with suicidal thoughts and behaviors and navigating a maze of systems that rarely communicate well with each other.
Dr. Jonathan B. Singer, Ph.D., LCSW unpacks some of the data, myths and facts, and ways that professionals can work with suicidal youth and their families in school and community settings.
The Intersection of Mental Illness and Substance Use | Mark Sanders
Mental illness and substance use disorder are risk factors for suicide among adolescent and emerging adults. When combined, the risk for suicide is even greater. In this skill-building presentation, Mark Sanders, LCSW, CADC covers: definition of co-occurring disorder; the interaction between mental illness and substance use disorder among adolescents and emerging adults; the link between suicide and co-occurring disorders among adolescents and emerging adults; accurate diagnosis to guide treatment and reduce suicide risks; integrated co-occurring disorders treatment; evidence based treatment; increasing hope and optimism as suicide prevention; improving effectiveness in addressing co-occurring disorders on the micro and macro level.