2017 Trauma Informed Care Conference is September 26-29 in Jackson

The 2017 Trauma Informed Care Conference will be September 26-29 at the Jackson Convention Center. Titled “Standing in the Eye of the Storm,” the conference brings together mental health professionals from throughout the state to build skills, knowledge, and awareness so they can effectively respond to various aspects of child, adolescent, and adult trauma.

The conference track on September 26 focuses specifically on law enforcement and first responders. It features sessions on the neurobiology of the human stress response system, suicide prevention, partnerships between law enforcement, first responders, and local Community Mental Health Centers, and self-care for law enforcement.

“The planning committee is excited to announce Dr. Vincent J. Felitti as one of the Keynote Presenters for this yeara��s conference,” said Jackie Chatmon, conference chair. ” A renowned physician and researcher, Dr. Vincent J. Felitti is one of the worlda��s foremost experts on childhood trauma as well as the A�co-principal investigator of the internationally recognized Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study.”

Registration for the full event is now available online atA�2017traumainformedcareconference.weebly.com. Registration is $75 for single day attendees, $190 for three-day attendees, and $250 for the full four days of the event. Students and parents/caregivers can also register for the three-day conference for $75.

Keynote presentations at the 2017 Trauma Informed Care Conference are:

• “Calming the ‘I’ of the Storm,” by Glenda Crump, which discusses “compassion fatigue,” a secondary traumatic stress disorder that is a byproduct of working with traumatized clients.
• “Supporting Youth and Young Adults, a Trauma Informed Method of Engagement,” by Eric C. Lulow. This presentation focuses on the importance of engaging youth and young adults in trauma-informed services and supports.
• “Managing Vulnerability: Integrating Ethical Principles in Trauma Treatment,” by Damien Thomas. This presentation highlights factors associated with ethical dilemmas in trauma treatment.
• “The Impact of Childhood Experience on Adult Health and Well Being,” by Vincent J. Felliti, M.D. This keynote covers a study that compared 10 common categories of adverse childhood experiences with the health status of those individuals decades later.
• “Soul Damaged,” by Maximus Wright, in which the presenter’s personal experiences provides participants with practical strategies in dealing with topics like sexual abuse or prostitution that are often taboo to discuss.

“With over 40 sessions, the conference will address various topics related to trauma informed care services and supports,” Chatmon said. “The past conferences have brought together over 600 participants representing a diverse group of individuals with a common goal of providing the best interventions to those who have experienced trauma.”

For the full agenda and a complete list of breakout sessions, visit the web site. More information, including vendor and sponsorship information and details on continuing education, are also available online. You may also contact Jackie Chatmon atA�jackie.chatmon@dmh.ms.gov.