Upcoming Trainings

Triggers, Transference, and Counter Transference

Friday, April 9, 2021, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. PT

This session provides an overview of transference, countertransference, and triggers between mental and behavioral health professionals and clients. We will discuss strategies for building awareness of your own transference and triggers, as well as provide tips and short practices on how to reduce reactions to triggers and transference in a professional setting.

Meet the Trainers

Ragini Lal is a dedicated, compassionate, solution-driven mental health advocate and humanitarian for underserved populations. She is currently the Community Engagement Manager at NAMI California, with experience in qualitative and quantitative research, cultural competency and responsiveness trainings, family and peer support trainings, report writing, and executing mental health equity and advocacy through large events. She received a Bachelor’s in Psychology at California State University, Sacramento, and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Mental Health Clinical Counseling – Marriage, Family, and Children program to obtain a License in Professional Clinical Counseling (LPC- CA). Ragini is certified in Mental Health First Aid for Youth and Adults, Psychological First Aid, Cultural and Linguistic Competence Certification, and Peer & Family Support Specialist. Formerly a Behavior Health Therapist at Genesis Behavior Center and Peer Counselor at California State University, Sacramento, Ragini has direct clinical experience with diverse communities, families, and children with various mental health conditions. Ragini was also a Crisis Peer Counselor at California Coalition for Youth, specifically working with peer youth and family members in need of immediate crisis counseling. Her long-term goal is to earn a PhD in Clinical Psychology, specializing in holistic healing to provide whole health care for diverse populations world-wide. Her work’s devotion is to empower others to believe in their personal strengths in an all-inclusive clinical healing journey—moreover, to increase systemic changes for more sustainable access to care through education and social advocacy.

Angela Brand is the Vice President of Strategic Engagement at NAMI California. She has extensive experience in mental health programming focused on community engagement, advocacy, and training, having worked in both public and private sectors with consumers and family members. Prior to joining NAMI California, she worked for the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission and United Advocates for Children and Families. She is passionate about peer- and family-led system transformation and the inclusion of individuals in all aspects and levels of decision making. Her areas of special interest include advocacy, family and peer support, youth mental health and leadership development, prevention, early intervention, and education. Her work is driven by a passion to develop systems that improve access to care through community-based and recovery-focused programs that are reflective of and responsive to the needs of diverse populations. Ms. Brand holds a degree in Sociology from Arizona State University.

AOT County Panel

Monday, April 12, 2021, 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. PT

Many counties are preparing to establish Assisted Outpatient Treatment (AOT). Join us to learn about the experiences of existing AOT programs with a panel discussion among experienced California counties. Representatives from Orange County, Los Angeles County, Nevada County, and Ventura County will share their expertise with AOT program implementation, including their successes, barriers, and lessons learned. Following the panel presentation, panelists will answer questions from the audience.

Family-Centered Practices

Wednesday, April 14, 2021, 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. PT

This training addresses key elements of family-centered practice and provides overarching strategies for family-centered casework practice across service systems that focus on strengths, engage families and involve them in decision-making, advocate for improving families’ conditions, and engage communities to support families. Strategies for creating a family-centered agency culture and crisis continuum of care are also addressed. Specific examples of crisis care include the Family Urgent Response System (FURS) and family-centered engagement practices for general mobile crisis units, peer respite programs, and other brief psychiatric stabilization units.

Meet the Trainers

Providing Youth and Family Services for over 17 years, Ebony Chambers brings both professional and personal life experiences to her work. As a mother who has worked through and navigated multiple systems with her own child, she brings that experience to her work and provides the oversight of advocacy and support to families in the greater Sacramento, Yolo, El Dorado, Napa and Placer communities. Prior to her role as Chief Officer of Family and Youth Partnership at Stanford Youth Solutions, she worked as an Administrator in Children’s Residential Care. Ebony is also an instructor for UC Davis Center for Family Focused Practice and a National Speaker with the Building Bridges Initiative, supporting the transformation of residential services and promoting family driven care. Chambers also worked with the National Council of Behavioral Health, on addressing Health Disparities within her local community, with a focus on eliminating barriers and increasing access for the LGBT community. Chambers is the recipient of the 2017 Sacramento Business Journal’s 40 under 40 award for her outstanding professional accomplishments and community involvement. She is actively involved in the community, serving as the Co-Chair of the UC Davis Parent Partner Advisory Committee, and co-chairs the Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Steering Committee and other community initiatives.

Christina Cagle has 16 years of experience of working in the youth and family provider field. In her lived experience as a mother and adult sister/caregiver she has touched the child welfare, juvenile justice, and mental health systems. Her lived experience assisted in training and supporting new resource parents’ understanding the necessity for biological family’s reunification plans. With her Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Masters in Social Work, Christina utilizes her educational background with lived experience on advocating for families in various systems of care. She is an established trainer of over 11 years in Therapeutic Crisis Intervention Training and American Red Cross.

Thomisha Wallace began her journey as the Youth Advocate Manager at Stanford Sierra Youth and Families in September of 2018. Thomisha’s experience stems from navigating through the mental health system on behalf of herself as well as her family. Driven by a passion to serve youth who have similar experiences as her own, Thomisha pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a Masters in Social Work. She loves being able to support Youth Advocates in empowering youth, and elevating youth and families’ voice and choice within their services and lives.

Trauma-Informed Care and Services

Monday, April 19, 2021, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. PT

This session will provide information on trauma, including the characteristics of traumatic events, the impact of trauma, and common evidence-based studies that emphasize the importance of trauma-informed care. We will provide tips on understanding and recognizing trauma and how to provide effective care for individuals with experiences of trauma.

Meet the Trainers

Ragini Lal is a dedicated, compassionate, solution-driven mental health advocate and humanitarian for underserved populations. She is currently the Community Engagement Manager at NAMI California, with experience in qualitative and quantitative research, cultural competency and responsiveness trainings, family and peer support trainings, report writing, and executing mental health equity and advocacy through large events. She received a Bachelor’s in Psychology at California State University, Sacramento, and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Mental Health Clinical Counseling – Marriage, Family, and Children program to obtain a License in Professional Clinical Counseling (LPC- CA). Ragini is certified in Mental Health First Aid for Youth and Adults, Psychological First Aid, Cultural and Linguistic Competence Certification, and Peer & Family Support Specialist. Formerly a Behavior Health Therapist at Genesis Behavior Center and Peer Counselor at California State University, Sacramento, Ragini has direct clinical experience with diverse communities, families, and children with various mental health conditions. Ragini was also a Crisis Peer Counselor at California Coalition for Youth, specifically working with peer youth and family members in need of immediate crisis counseling. Her long-term goal is to earn a PhD in Clinical Psychology, specializing in holistic healing to provide whole health care for diverse populations world-wide. Her work’s devotion is to empower others to believe in their personal strengths in an all-inclusive clinical healing journey—moreover, to increase systemic changes for more sustainable access to care through education and social advocacy.

Angela Brand is the Vice President of Strategic Engagement at NAMI California. She has extensive experience in mental health programming focused on community engagement, advocacy, and training, having worked in both public and private sectors with consumers and family members. Prior to joining NAMI California, she worked for the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission and United Advocates for Children and Families. She is passionate about peer- and family-led system transformation and the inclusion of individuals in all aspects and levels of decision making. Her areas of special interest include advocacy, family and peer support, youth mental health and leadership development, prevention, early intervention, and education. Her work is driven by a passion to develop systems that improve access to care through community-based and recovery-focused programs that are reflective of and responsive to the needs of diverse populations. Ms. Brand holds a degree in Sociology from Arizona State University.

Mobile Crisis Outreach Teams: Staffing and Policies

Thursday, April 22, 2021, 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. PT

Join us for a three-session series about mobile crisis outreach teams (MCOT) with CARE TA Center partner RI International. Building on the first presentation regarding Mobile Crisis Units 101, which provided an overview of MCOT models, this second presentation will explore the ways to operationalize MCOT services. Audiences will learn the staffing models, training needs, and infrastructure necessary to deploy Mobile Crisis Outreach Teams utilizing SAMSHA’s National Guidelines for Behavioral Health Crisis Care.

Meet the Trainer

Jamie Sellar, MA, LPC, is a behavioral health executive with 25 years of successful experience in running crisis programs in multiple states. These programs have included both inpatient, sub-acute, residential, mobile crisis outreach teams, hospital rapid response, and mental health urgent care centers. Currently, Jamie specializes in crisis system development and operational management. In his current role as Chief Strategy Officer at RI International, he consults both nationally and internationally on topics such as crisis system optimization, peer use in the workforce and program design. Jamie has a long history of training professionals and paraprofessionals on practical client engagement strategies. A licensed clinician, Jamie strongly believes that the rapport between caregivers and those in need is a primary driver of success in crisis work. RI (https://riinternational.com), is a global organization with more than 50 behavioral health programs throughout the United States and abroad, provides Crisis, Health, Recovery and Consulting services, wherein our values and priorities include: maintaining a recovery culture, ensuring clinical best practices, making safety a priority for all, measuring value and results, optimizing quality and compliance, and serving as a key resource for First Responders.

HIPAA, Ethics, and Professional Boundaries

Friday, April 23, 2021, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. PT

This session will cover the general code of ethics for mental health professionals, HIPAA rights, and the importance of medical records and mandated reporting. We will discuss in depth of the general professional ethics and boundaries as well as provide information of the laws for protection of both the professionals and clients.

Meet the Trainers

Ragini Lal is a dedicated, compassionate, solution-driven mental health advocate and humanitarian for underserved populations. She is currently the Community Engagement Manager at NAMI California, with experience in qualitative and quantitative research, cultural competency and responsiveness trainings, family and peer support trainings, report writing, and executing mental health equity and advocacy through large events. She received a Bachelor’s in Psychology at California State University, Sacramento, and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Mental Health Clinical Counseling – Marriage, Family, and Children program to obtain a License in Professional Clinical Counseling (LPC- CA). Ragini is certified in Mental Health First Aid for Youth and Adults, Psychological First Aid, Cultural and Linguistic Competence Certification, and Peer & Family Support Specialist. Formerly a Behavior Health Therapist at Genesis Behavior Center and Peer Counselor at California State University, Sacramento, Ragini has direct clinical experience with diverse communities, families, and children with various mental health conditions. Ragini was also a Crisis Peer Counselor at California Coalition for Youth, specifically working with peer youth and family members in need of immediate crisis counseling. Her long-term goal is to earn a PhD in Clinical Psychology, specializing in holistic healing to provide whole health care for diverse populations world-wide. Her work’s devotion is to empower others to believe in their personal strengths in an all-inclusive clinical healing journey—moreover, to increase systemic changes for more sustainable access to care through education and social advocacy.

Angela Brand is the Vice President of Strategic Engagement at NAMI California. She has extensive experience in mental health programming focused on community engagement, advocacy, and training, having worked in both public and private sectors with consumers and family members. Prior to joining NAMI California, she worked for the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission and United Advocates for Children and Families. She is passionate about peer- and family-led system transformation and the inclusion of individuals in all aspects and levels of decision making. Her areas of special interest include advocacy, family and peer support, youth mental health and leadership development, prevention, early intervention, and education. Her work is driven by a passion to develop systems that improve access to care through community-based and recovery-focused programs that are reflective of and responsive to the needs of diverse populations. Ms. Brand holds a degree in Sociology from Arizona State University.

Self-Care and Compassion Fatigue

Monday, April 26, 2021, 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. PT

This session will discuss the significance of self-care, levels of functioning, and the meaning of “effective helpers” in the mental health field. We will provide tips on how to prevent compassion fatigue and build resiliency by using self-care as a tool.

Meet the Trainers

Ragini Lal is a dedicated, compassionate, solution-driven mental health advocate and humanitarian for underserved populations. She is currently the Community Engagement Manager at NAMI California, with experience in qualitative and quantitative research, cultural competency and responsiveness trainings, family and peer support trainings, report writing, and executing mental health equity and advocacy through large events. She received a Bachelor’s in Psychology at California State University, Sacramento, and is currently pursuing a Master’s in Mental Health Clinical Counseling – Marriage, Family, and Children program to obtain a License in Professional Clinical Counseling (LPC- CA). Ragini is certified in Mental Health First Aid for Youth and Adults, Psychological First Aid, Cultural and Linguistic Competence Certification, and Peer & Family Support Specialist. Formerly a Behavior Health Therapist at Genesis Behavior Center and Peer Counselor at California State University, Sacramento, Ragini has direct clinical experience with diverse communities, families, and children with various mental health conditions. Ragini was also a Crisis Peer Counselor at California Coalition for Youth, specifically working with peer youth and family members in need of immediate crisis counseling. Her long-term goal is to earn a PhD in Clinical Psychology, specializing in holistic healing to provide whole health care for diverse populations world-wide. Her work’s devotion is to empower others to believe in their personal strengths in an all-inclusive clinical healing journey—moreover, to increase systemic changes for more sustainable access to care through education and social advocacy.

Angela Brand is the Vice President of Strategic Engagement at NAMI California. She has extensive experience in mental health programming focused on community engagement, advocacy, and training, having worked in both public and private sectors with consumers and family members. Prior to joining NAMI California, she worked for the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission and United Advocates for Children and Families. She is passionate about peer- and family-led system transformation and the inclusion of individuals in all aspects and levels of decision making. Her areas of special interest include advocacy, family and peer support, youth mental health and leadership development, prevention, early intervention, and education. Her work is driven by a passion to develop systems that improve access to care through community-based and recovery-focused programs that are reflective of and responsive to the needs of diverse populations. Ms. Brand holds a degree in Sociology from Arizona State University.

Film Screening: “The S Word”

Tuesday, April 27, 2021, 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. PT

Join us for a screening of the documentary “The S Word,” a SAMHSA Voice Award-winning film that breaks the silence and undermines the shame of suicide. The critically acclaimed “The S Word” is filmed by a suicide survivor who interviews a diverse group of people across race, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation about their experiences of trauma, suicide, survival, and mental health advocacy. Following the film screening, participants will receive multimedia socially distanced suicide prevention resources, from warm and crisis lines to self-help mental health apps and virtual support groups.

Meet the Trainers

Heliana Ramirez, PhD, LISW, is a licensed clinical social worker with over 20 years of experience. Dr. Ramirez has addressed a variety of clinical issues through individual and group interventions including suicide prevention and postvention, Veteran post-deployment health, psychosocial rehabilitation, LGBTQ minority stress and resilience, trauma-informed care with combat Veterans and survivors of sexual assault, HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C prevention, and substance abuse harm reduction efforts. Dr. Ramirez’s suicide prevention work with clients includes suicide assessments, developing Safety Plans, crisis intervention, and assessing the continuum of crisis care systems. Dr. Ramirez organized the nation’s first multi-state LGBT Veteran Suicide Prevention Conference and produced a documentary about trauma and recovery among LGBT Veterans that addresses suicide from a strengths-based and culturally-specific perspective (www.camouflagecloset.com).