SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5 - PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOP (Optional - Additional Cost)

12:45-5:00 PM - Pre-Conference Workshop (4 hours total)

The Ethics of Tending to Burnout: Creative Expression for Burnout Care & Prevention

Presenter: Jennifer Wolfe, LICSW

Burnout rates for social workers are among the highest of any profession. In our post-pandemic atmosphere many social workers are coming to realize that they are either actively burnt out or heading in that direction. As our code of ethics now includes the need to focus on our own self-care and well-being in order to ethically practice, we are tasked with looking at our patterns and making educated decisions about how best to care for ourselves. This hands-on experiential workshop will explore the topics of burnout and its connection to our professional ethics, intertwining ethical dilemma discussions and case studies throughout, completing the stress cycle, how creativity can be an important part of our self-care regimen, and how to access it. Participants will leave with a clear understanding of how they can tend to burnout, how creativity can help, and concrete activities to use for themselves and with clients.

3:00-3:15 PM - BREAK

This workshop is optional, requires separate registration and additional fee, and can be attended independently of the main conference.

MONDAY, OCTOBER 6

7:00 AM - Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:00 AM - Welcome Announcements and Conference Orientation

8:15-9:45 AM - WORKSHOP BLOCK A (1.5 hours)

Session A1: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Choosing Valued Action in Response to Social Injustice

Presenter: Julia Bergquist, LCSW

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has proven to have increasing and emerging evidence showing that its focus on psychological flexibility and valued-based action has been able to help empower individuals facing social injustice such as Minority Stress. Within this training we will explore ACT and its six core processes of (a) acceptance, (b) cognitive defusion, (c) present-moment awareness, (d) self-as-context, (e) values clarity, and (f) committed action, which each provide adaptable tools to respond to Minority Stress and feelings of powerlessness that we will practice. This training has the goals of helping our clients reconnect with themselves and allow for the reconnection to things that are part of that self during this time where many of us feel a lack of control in our daily lives, in addition to encouraging providers to operate as allies to help elicit self-wisdom and honor the resiliency that led our clients to this point.

Session A2: Flash Forward: Evolving Complex Trauma Treatment with Adaptive Processing Techniques

Presenter: James Skelton, LCSW, LADC, CCS

This workshop introduces the Four Blinks Version of Flash, an innovative approach to processing traumatic memories with minimal distress. Developed by Thomas Zimmerman as an evolution of traditional trauma processing methods, this technique utilizes memory reconsolidation principles to help clients process complex trauma efficiently and safely. You'll learn the six-step protocol that alternates between brief exposure to contained memory segments and focused attention on positive experiences, disrupted by timed eye blinks. This approach is particularly valuable for clients with complex trauma, dissociative symptoms, or those who struggle with traditional exposure-based therapies. Through demonstrations and guided practice, you'll experience how this method can quickly reduce emotional distress in traumatic memories without requiring extensive re-experiencing of the trauma. You'll leave with practical skills to implement this approach immediately in your clinical work, helping clients process difficult memories to zero distress while maintaining safety and stability throughout the treatment process.

Session A3: AAPI 101: Support and Advocacy for Individuals, Families, and Communities from the AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) Diaspora (Ethics)

Presenters: Savitri Horrigan, MSW and Angela Zhang, MSW

According to the Pew Research Center, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) are the fastest growing ethnic group in the United States. Yet relatively little attention has been paid to the enormous diversity within this group, and the challenges that AAPI experience. Using an outlook of "informed not knowing," in this workshop we will explore the history of the AAPI diaspora, how the "Asian American" identity has been shaped by systemic racism, and the impact of race-based traumatic stress. We will pay special attention to the intra-group differences within the AAPI label, and the intersections with other dimensions of identity. At the end of the workshop, participants will be equipped to explore the uniqueness and nuances of the individual experiences of AAPI community members, and ways to support the AAPI community on a micro, mezzo, and macro level.

Session A4: Cultural Competence in Suicide Prevention for Autistic People

Presenter: Lisa Morgan, LCSW-CC, M.Ed.

Research has shown suicide to be a leading cause of death for autistic people. The crisis hotlines, suicide prevention resources, and best practices are not aligned with the needs of autistic people. This workshop presents the latest research findings about risk factors and warning signs for autistic people, as well as practical ways to identify, communicate with and support autistic people in crisis.

Session SCH A: Improvisation in School Social Work (School Mental Health Track)

Presenter: Jeremy D. Lynch, MA, MA in Social Work

Clinical social work interventions have been strongly influenced by "talk therapy" approaches. While such interventions may work well for highly verbal individuals who are able to sit still for long periods of time, talking intervention techniques do not work well for many children, who are developing their verbal skills and often have difficulty staying in one spot for very long. One way for school social workers to engage children in services is through acts of play utilizing techniques and exercises derived from improvisation. In this session you will learn about the foundational history the field of social work has had with improvisation–dating back to work in Chicago's Hull House in the early 20th century, learn about the philosophy and efficacy regarding improv techniques in social work practice and, learn three different improv activities you can utilize to help engage your students in social work interventions.

9:45 AM - BREAK (30 minutes)

10:15-11:45 AM - WORKSHOP BLOCK B (1.5 hours)

Session B1: Ethical Considerations for Rural LGBTQ+ Youth (Ethics)

Presenters: Shawna Traugh, DSW, MSW, LCSW and Ben White

The presenters will cover the ethical considerations social workers must navigate when working with LGBTQ+ youth living in rural communities. Guided by the NASW Code of Ethics, the presenters will examine key items such as confidentiality, care and competence, informed consent, cultural humility, advocacy, and community engagement. Special consideration will be given to the unique set of challenges endured by rural LGBTQ+ youth, including limited access to gender-affirming care and lack of community support. The presenters plan to foster an educational environment in which attendees will learn how to better navigate those unique barriers and gain strategies on how to be a competent, ethical, and empathetic social worker when engaging with this vulnerable population of Maine.

Session B2: Breaking Stereotypes: Redefining Fatherhood in the Modern World

Presenters: Judith Josiah-Martin, PhD, CADC and Thomas Sigler, LCSW

This workshop is a presentation that engages social workers in exploring ways to assist individuals who want to enhance their role of fatherhood. This workshop aims to challenge traditional stereotypes and explore the diverse experiences of modern fathers. Through open dialogue, interactive activities, and expert insights, participants will examine the impact of societal expectations on fatherhood, discuss strategies for breaking free from limiting stereotypes, and discover ways to foster healthy relationships with their children while navigating the unique challenges faced by men who parent in the contemporary world.

Session B3: Strengthening Your Creative Muscles: Creative Problem Solving in Social Work

Presenter: Leah Forster Gauvin, LCSW, OSW-C Oncology Social Worker-Board Certified

Social Workers encounter unique problems that demand specialized attention every day. When our usual ways of problem solving are ineffectual, we must learn to formulate problems in novel ways and find innovative solutions. Creativity is often seen solely in terms of the expressive arts, such as painting or playing an instrument, leading many people to believe that they are "not creative." While creativity does encompass the expressive arts, it is a broader concept that includes self-reflection and intuition. Social Workers often use creativity by "thinking outside the box" and by holding a distinctive and valuable perspective with clients and on our teams. Creativity is a skill that can be developed, practiced, and nurtured. Drawing from multiple disciplines, including cognitive science, mindfulness, the expressive arts, and personality theory, this interactive workshop will help you develop a personal creativity practice and strengthen your creative muscles through information, inspiration, and experiential exercises. As we develop a "creative state of mind," we will also address how to cope with what often stands in the way of our creativity: fear, vulnerability, and uncertainty.

Session B4: The Anxiety Experience

Presenter: Sarah Hazelton, LICSW

Anxiety is widespread clinical issue, even in client populations that don't present with identified anxiety disorders. This presentation will explore the neurological framework of subclinical and diagnosable anxiety and it's impact on our physiology, thoughts, behaviors, and social connectedness. We will discuss anxiety assessment and diagnostic presentations and how to select treatment interventions for general worry through crippling panic. Attendees will have an opportunity to engage in building an anxious experience, use treatment interventions, and "sit with" their anxiety as part of building competency in the delivery of anxiety treatment.

Session SCH B: Beyond the Social Worker: Building Systems of Continuous Behavioral Support for Student Success (School Mental Health Track)

Presenters: Kelli Wedgewood, LCSW, Ed.D. and Devon Freeman, Ed Tech III

This session will explore the development and implementation of a behavior support classroom designed to provide efficient, scalable, and precise behavioral interventions for students in need. Unlike traditional models where social workers are the sole providers of behavioral support, this program leverages a structured, team-based approach—with the social worker overseeing but paraeducators leading the daily interventions using Tier 2 and Tier 3 supports. Participants will gain an understanding of the core components of the program, including an integrated continuum of support, proactive detection, diagnostic assessments, progress monitoring, sustained high-fidelity implementation, and team-based problem-solving. The workshop will present research-based strategies that maximize low-burden, high-impact practices, ensuring flexibility in intervention intensity while maintaining system-wide efficiency. Through interactive discussions, real-world case studies, and practical tools, attendees will leave with a blueprint for building a sustainable behavior support system that reduces the burden on social workers, enhances family engagement, and creates a proactive, data-driven approach to student behavioral needs. This session is ideal for school leaders, social workers, and others who are looking to create scalable, effective behavioral interventions in their schools.

11:45 AM - LUNCH

12:15-1:15 PM - KEYNOTE AND Q&A DISCUSSION (1.0 hour)

"Compassion + Action on the Daily" - Charlotte Warren

Our NASW Code of Ethics says, “The primary mission of the social work profession is to enhance human well-being and help meet the basic human needs of all people, with particular attention to the needs and empowerment of people who are vulnerable, oppressed, and living in poverty.” The theme Compassion + Action was our guide in March when we celebrated social work in the Maine legislature. But what does that look like? And how can I incorporate it into my already busy schedule? How do I even know where and when to show up?

Charlotte’s talk will feel part Advocacy training and part Self-Care workshop because we must incorporate both into our work. Compassion + Action on the Daily means practicing Resistance & Resilience in the policymaking sphere, which means that in addition to working to enhance human well-being, we need to care for ourselves. Now more than ever. Charlotte will share Maine social justice history, lessons learned, and self-care strategies from nearly two decades of advocacy as a social worker in the Maine legislature.

1:15 PM - BREAK (15 minutes)

1:30-3:00 PM - WORKSHOP BLOCK C (1.5 hours)

Session C1: The Art of Uncertainty

Presenter: Barbara Davis, REAT, LCSW

We all know that sometimes words aren't sufficient to express our internal experience, especially when it comes to strong emotions such as anxiety about things over which we have no control. This state of anxiety has become the norm for so many of our clients as well as ourselves. This workshop is designed to help settle anxiety so that we may reconnect with our compassion and many other strengths. This is an experiential workshop in which participants will learn and experiment with simple grounding techniques and sensory and creative arts interventions that are designed to help calm the central nervous system of both client and clinician. These interventions are safe and appropriate for survivors of trauma and can be adapted for all ages and settings. And it's fun!

Session C2: Supporting clients at end of life: medical, psychosocial, and ethical perspectives (Ethics)

Presenters: Anne-Marie Miller LCSW APHSW-c, Susan Bredlau PhD, MSW, and Sara Happel DO

This interactive, interdisciplinary workshop is designed to help clinicians better support clients who are nearing the end of life. Participants will learn about the physical changes and symptoms that occur as death approaches, as well as how those are commonly medically addressed. We will discuss strategies to help clients make meaning of this time, and also to decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression. We will talk about the models of Dignity Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment therapy. Then, we will situate our discussion of death and dying within the ethical framework developed by existential philosophy. Existential philosophy argues that honestly acknowledging our own deaths enables us to clarify the values and meanings through which we define ourselves. Reflecting on our own deaths, therefore, far from being a pointless or morbid activity, can actually enhance our capacity for self-determination and enable us to better support the self-determination of others. There will be opportunities to ask questions and to process learning through a brief case study. This session is focused toward practitioners at all experience levels who work with adult clients in therapeutic or medical settings.

Session C3: Engaging Adolescents and Young Adults in Effective Group Counseling

Presenter: Miki Beach, MSW, LICSW, CPHQ

This interactive workshop provides practical strategies for overcoming the barriers and challenges to engaging adolescents, emerging adults, and young adults in effective and meaningful group counseling. Participants will discuss real-world concerns that frequently prevent the development and launch of groups. This workshop provides an introduction to evidence-based approaches and real-world case studies for addressing common objections to engaging clients in group work. Through guided discussion and small group activities, attendees will develop practical skills for undertaking group curriculum development, successful promotion of and recruitment into their groups, and collaborative scheduling. Special attention will be given to serving adolescents and young adults. This session is ideal for practitioners of all experience levels seeking to enhance their skills in developing, planning, and launching counseling groups.

Session C4: Child Welfare Practices and the Criminalization of BIPOC Children

Presenter: Sherri Y. Simmons-Horton, Ph.D., MSW, AA

The child welfare system postulates itself as an agency intended to protect maltreated children, with the intent to provide services and resources to restore families or provide children with permanent loving homes. However, Black and other children of color disproportionately have adverse experiences while in foster care and are subject to increased trauma through child welfare practices that lead to juvenile or criminal justice system involvement. This session will deconstruct and discuss how child welfare practices deviate from protection and instead align with punishment. The session will end with a discussion of transformed anti-oppressive practices that child welfare workers can engage to dismantle the foster care-to-prison pipeline.

Session SCH C: The Maine Department of Education Supports School Social Work! (School Mental Health Track)

Join your Maine DOE Mental Health Specialist, Bear Shea LCSW, who will be overviewing the numerous state level resources and supports for your school based practice. The session will outline additional roles within the Maine DOE that are relevant to school based mental health professionals, overview the Chapter 117 rule regarding school social work roles, and host a Q&A to try and answer all of your school practice related questions.

3:00 PM - BREAK (30 minutes)

3:30-5:00 PM - WORKSHOP BLOCK D (1.5 hours)

Session D1: Empowering Change in Children and Their Families: The Power of Collaborative Practice

Presenter: Brent Scobie, PhD, LCSW

Children can exhibit an array of behaviors that present challenges to themselves and those around them, yet in the majority of cases, these behaviors are not purposeful. In fact, they are not the primary problem. Unfortunately, many adults who are parents, caregivers, educators, and even providers disagree with this statement. Instead, they rely on "conventional wisdom" and "adult will" to inform their responses often using a combination of rewards and consequences to try and motivate the child to "do better." This presentation will help attendees understand how such responses to challenging behaviors in youth actually works against us by amplifying burnout and limiting our impact on those we treat. It will present Collaborative Problem Solving as an evidence-based and trauma-informed alternative to conventional wisdom. With an understanding of the CPS philosophy and methods attendees will develop an understanding about how they might consider adopting such an approach as individuals and at the organizational level.

Session D2: We're Through Accepting Limits, Cause Someone Says They're So. A Look Into the Impact of Social Workers on the Forensic and Criminal Justice System.

Presenters: Brooke Sheehan, DSW, LCSW, CCS; Joy Hall-Roche, DSW, LCSW, CCS and Biz Hyde, LMSW-CC

This interactive workshop will focus on highlighting the ways in which social workers can meaningfully impact client care within these traditionally masculine and psychologist heavy systems. Special attention will also be given to examining ethical scenarios that arise in these systems and ways our knowledge of social work can help lead to effective client care, all while maintaining our core values and competencies. We will provide these examples throughout the session and provide time for audience members to discuss and consider how they would envision handling the ethical dilemmas presented. Audience members will walk away with the following learning objectives: 1) Ability to understand ways social workers can be impactful in specialized systems 2) Ability to understand ethical considerations that arise in these systems and 3) Be able to refer to core competencies and values that impact our ability to make effective ethical decisions in these systems.

Session D3: Beyond Binaries: Navigating Gender Identity and Inclusive Practices

Presenter: Kalyn DaSilva, MSW, LICSW

In this workshop, participants will gain essential skills and knowledge for effectively supporting transgender and non-binary clients. This workshop will delve into fundamental concepts and practical strategies aimed at fostering inclusive and affirming practices in social work settings and beyond, and will address critical areas including terminology, inclusive language practices, legislative considerations, and suggestions for creating inclusive spaces.

Session D4: Organizational Resistance and Defiant Humanism in Ruptured Times

Presenters: Julie M. Schirmer, LCSW, ACSW and Ann A. Hartman, LCSW

Our country is undergoing rupturing political times and a cultural shift that can lead us to ruin or make us stronger as a discipline and a nation. Social workers cannot shrink from standing up during this time. We must use our skills and call upon our colleagues, institutional leaders, and elected officials to insist that our government and institutions adhere to the values and principles of our code of ethics. In response to edicts and actions from the executive branch, NASW has been issuing statements standing up for the principles of social justice, integrity, and the dignity and worth of each person. Social workers have the training and skills to help clients recover from ruptures and trauma, guiding them toward a stronger sense of self and experiencing life as they never have before. We must do the same for our society, ensuring we shift towards and not away from the values clearly written in our code of ethics. This workshop provides participants with a deeper awareness of their calling to the core values of the social work profession, understanding, and skills to resist without jeopardizing our personal or professional lives, and a path forward that delineates individual and collective steps needed to move our society toward a moral and value-based future.

Session SCH D: Strengthening School Social Work: Upholding Standards and Enhancing Collaboration (School Mental Health Track)

Presenter: Sharon S. Fowler, BSW, MSW, LCSW

School social workers play a critical role in fostering student well-being and success, yet their effectiveness is deeply tied to adherence to current professional standards and their ability to collaborate with educators and staff. This presentation will explore the importance of aligning school social work practice with established ethical and professional guidelines, as outlined by the National Association of Social Workers and School Social Work Association of America. In addition to upholding ethical and professional standards, effective school social work requires meaningful collaboration with teachers and other school personnel. This session will explore practical strategies for fostering interdisciplinary partnerships. Participants will gain insights into proactive communication techniques, joint intervention planning, and co-facilitation of social-emotional learning initiatives. By integrating best practices, school social workers can enhance their impact, strengthen school climates, and promote student success.

5:00 PM - Day 1 Ends

Optional Evening Activities:

• Networking opportunities: outdoor spaces, exhibit hall, informal gatherings
• 5:30 PM - Restorative Yoga and Mindfulness (Potential for CEs)
• 7:00 PM - Documentary Screening: "Fattitude" with Discussion (2.0 hours - CEs available)

7 hours instructional time (additional optional hours available)
Continental breakfast and lunch are included in your registration fee.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 7

7:00 AM - Rise and Shine Yoga (Potential for CEs)
7:00 AM - Breakfast
7:45 AM - Morning Announcements

8:00-9:30 AM - WORKSHOP BLOCK E (1.5 hours)

Session E1: Better Serving Women and Families with ID/DD/Autism

Presenter: Lisa M Dryan, LCSW

This presentation will describe the prevalency rates of people with IDD/Autism; origins of the disorder as well as the stigma, myths and biases against this population, particularly when they are pregnant or parenting, and barriers to obtaining health and mental health treatment. I will address culturally appropriate ways to talk about or with this population and laws that have been enacted to ensure equity. This seminar will address what types of supportive services this population requires in order to thrive as well as advocacy for programs and services that do not yet exist but would be warmly welcomed.

Session E2: Leadership Impact on Turnover and Retention in Social Services

Presenter: Katiuska (Kat) Cabral, PhD, CSWM, LCSW-C

This interactive session explores the critical role of leadership styles in workforce retention within healthcare organizations. Participants will review findings from a recent study conducted in Maine, which examines how different leadership approaches impact employee satisfaction, commitment, and turnover. Through group discussions and case study analysis, attendees will explore the benefits of transformational leadership in promoting job satisfaction and reducing burnout, while also considering the limitations of transactional leadership in enhancing retention. The session will focus on practical strategies for healthcare leaders to cultivate a supportive, motivating work environment that improves workforce stability and public health outcomes. This session is ideal for healthcare professionals and organizational leaders looking to enhance leadership skills and strengthen workforce retention in their organizations.

Session E3: Working with survivors of abuse involved in the criminal legal system

Presenters: Jenny Stasio, LCSW and Jen LaChance

Women have been and remain the fastest growing population of incarcerated people both nationally and globally. Since 2019, the number of women who are incarcerated has increased more than 700%. The vast majority of these women are survivors of intimate partner violence. Recognizing the link between trauma and abuse and the criminalization of survival and coping strategies, Through These Doors launched an innovative program in the early 2000s to provide victim advocacy services to survivors of abuse incarcerated in Maine. This interactive workshop will explore the connection between trauma and incarceration, the unique pathways to incarceration for survivors of abuse and the benefits of providing survivor centered advocacy to those incarcerated as well as those re-entering the community post incarceration. Participants will walk through case examples, exploring ways to support survivors of abuse along the way.

Session E4: The Power of Empathy and Compassion

Presenter: Stephen R. Andrew, LCSW, LADC, CSS, MINT Certified MI Trainer

This presentation centers on the client-centered, evidence-based practice of Motivational Interviewing, a style of communication rooted in compassion, collaboration, and acceptance. The spirit, skills, and structure of Motivational Interviewing are immediately applicable to clinicians, practitioners, healthcare workers, mental health counselors, therapists, and administrators, in a variety of settings. We will discuss practicing radical compassion with others, using active empathetic listening to avoid compassion fatigue, and striving to build a working alliance with the people we serve. By aiming to move away from our "righting reflexes" and our attachment to the outcome, we can show up more compassionately, for both ourselves and others. This presentation will offer a series of techniques, ideas, and concepts, for transforming the most problematic challenges encountered in everyday caregiving. Here we will approach the daunting task of creating hope within hopelessness.

Session SCH E: How to implement grief focused peer support groups in the school setting (School Mental Health Track)

Presenters: Elizabeth Schrider, LCSW and Michelle Jones, MS, CLS 

1 in 10 Maine Children will lose a parent or sibling by the age of 18. With this statistic in mind, the goal of this presentation is to equip school social workers with practical, compassionate, and hands-on skills to support grieving children in the school setting. By focusing on the power of reflective listening, this training will help social workers foster safe spaces for grieving students and empower them to connect with their peers in meaningful ways. Participation in grief-focused peer support groups can help reduce social isolation and increase the development of positive coping strategies.

9:30 AM - BREAK & HOTEL CHECKOUT (30 minutes)

10:00-11:30 AM - WORKSHOP BLOCK F (1.5 hours)

Session F1: Sustaining Success: Strategies for Longevity in Your Career

Presenters: Judith Josiah-Martin, PhD, ACSW, CADC and Kimberly Mills, DSW, LCSW, ITTP

In this session, participants will learn valuable tactics and techniques to maintain and enhance their success over the long term. Through interactive discussions, case studies, and hands-on activities, attendees will explore the importance of work-life balance, self-care practices, and personal growth initiatives in sustaining a fulfilling and prosperous career. This workshop is ideal for social work professionals looking to establish a sustainable path to achieving greater fulfillment in their professional endeavors.

Session F2: Harnessing Our Power to Combat Loneliness as Social Workers (Ethics)

Presenter: Cynthia Cushing, CCM, MSW

This workshop will explore the complex issue of loneliness in today's society, examining its various forms, root causes, and far-reaching consequences. Considering the NASW Code of Ethics as part of this work, participants will delve into the social, cultural, and technological factors contributing to loneliness, while also learning practical strategies for fostering connection and building stronger communities. The training will cover evidence-based interventions for addressing loneliness at both individual and community levels, emphasizing the importance of empathy, active listening, and creating inclusive spaces. NASW's commitment to social justice, the dignity and worth of the person, and the importance of human relationships will be woven throughout this training; addressing loneliness is an ethical imperative for social workers.

Session F3: Meet your Inner Crew: A quick overview of the IFS Model

Presenter: Karen Hardy, LCPC

This workshop is designed to provide a brief overview of the basics of the IFS Model. Participants will be encouraged to engage in activities that will support the learning in an experiential way. A short video will be shown that depicts the way parts show up in our everyday lives. Questions and discussions will be encouraged to support the understanding of the basics being presented. It is the goal of the presentation that the attendees come away with a different perspective about how to view their clients' issues in a non-pathologizing way and develop a deeper sense of compassion.

Session F4: Introduction to Fat Liberation in Social Work.

Presenter: Olivia Montgomery MSW, LICSW

Come learn about the foundations of the Fat Liberation movement in the United States! We will learn together about the history of anti-fatness, how to recognize and challenge it in ourselves and others, and how to advocate against size discrimination in policy.

Session SCH F: Suicide Prevention Advocacy 101 for Social Workers (School Mental Health Track)

Presenters: Ian Gould, BA & Mary Gagnon, LMFT

Suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention are best addressed in schools and other organizations with a systemic approach. However, sometimes social workers may encounter reluctance to go "all in" with a comprehensive suicide prevention protocol and programming. In this program, we'll discuss the importance of systemic approaches to suicide PIP, protocols, the benefits of investing in programming and drawbacks of not doing so, advocacy skills, and taking care of yourself.

11:30 AM - BREAK (20 minutes)

11:50 AM-1:20 PM - WORKSHOP BLOCK G (1.5 hours)

Session G1: Empowered Decision Making

Presenter: Joe Silvia, MSW

Empowered Decision-Making: An interactive presentation focused on the importance of medication adherence in the treatment of schizophrenia that empowers a treatment team approach to medication discussions. This presentation includes a review of strategies to effectively communicate medication options to your adult patients living with schizophrenia including the use of LAI Medications.

Session G2: Working with Children and Families Affected by High Conflict Divorce Dynamic

Presenter: Jude Currier, LICSW

Divorce is always difficult on children, but never more than when their parents' conflict becomes complicated by poor communication, lack of trust, escalating litigation and the creation of loyalty struggles. Mental health clinicians working with these families are often poorly prepared for the shifting effects that this conflict has on children, and the complex parent-child relationship issues that form as a result. Clinicians can easily and unwittingly become involved in this dynamic such that they become siloed by one side or the other, distracting them from the needs of their client. This training will introduce social workers to the world of parent-child contact problems, alienating behavior, resist-refuse dynamic the role of the voice of the child and will better prepare them to be of service to children and families struggling in high-conflict divorce situations.

Session G3: Positionality and Clinical Academic and Advocacy Settings

Presenters: Brandy Brown, DSW, LCSW (ME, NY), LICSW (MN, VT) and Leandra Smollin, Ph.D

Does recognition of a shared marginalized identity cultivate trust or introduce bias? Is disclosure of a “hidden” identity inherently at odds with ethical boundary setting? This workshop examines the role (and power) of identity in work with individuals and communities in a changing socio-political climate. Participants will consider how positionality— one’s position in relation to social and political power associated with our multiple, intersecting identities— impacts relationship building. Discussion will focus on how decisions to share or talk about one’s gender, race, class, age and other aspects of identity may impact the clinician, the client, and the community.

Session G4: Spiritual Distress at End of Life

Presenter: Steve Reddy, CSD, Certified Spiritual Director, M.A. Spiritual Direction

This presentation is intended for providers in all healthcare fields. We will cover the definition of spiritual distress, how it may present itself in different client populations and what we should do to ease spiritual distress. Have you ever felt ill at ease answering spiritual/ existential questions that dying patients or their family may have? Have you yourself not had a forum where these questions can be explored in safety with other professionals? I invite you to join this workshop and explore these topics that lay at the very core of what it means to be human. We will explore the difference between spirituality and religion, doubt and faith and what it means to have a "good death". There will be small group discussion and question and answer periods throughout this presentation. Prepare to leave this presentation with a newfound appreciation for the human spirit!

Session SCH G: Navigating Rough Waters: Ethical Best Practices for School-Based Behavioral Health Providers (Ethics - School Mental Health Track)

Presenter: Chris McLaughlin, MSW, LCSW

In the dynamic environment of schools, behavioral health providers face unique ethical challenges that require specialized knowledge and decision-making skills. This session is designed to equip school-based behavioral health providers with the essential tools and understanding needed to navigate these complexities effectively. Participants will explore real-world, common ethical dilemmas encountered in school settings, such as confidentiality issues, dual relationships, supporting LGBTQIA+ youth, and informed consent with minors. Working more effectively with families, co-workers, and community members, especially when conflict arises, will also be an area of focus. This session is designed not only to inform but also to foster a community of practice that supports ongoing learning and ethical sensitivity among professionals dedicated to the mental health and well-being of all students.

1:20 PM - LUNCH, EXHIBIT HALL NETWORKING, AND AWARDS (1.0 hour) Please turn in your Bingo Cards to NASW Staff during lunch

2:20-3:20 PM - CLOSING KEYNOTE (1.0 hour)

Dr. Dorothy Roberts - Imagine a Future Without Family Policing!

In Torn Apart: How the Child Welfare System Destroys Black Families—and How Abolition Can Build a Safer World, acclaimed legal and social science scholar Dorothy Roberts draws on decades of research and activism to expose the foundational racism of the child welfare system. She argues that it is a “family policing system” that is deeply entangled with criminal law enforcement and unjust social policies, designed to put Black and other marginalized families under intense state surveillance and regulation, to drive their children to juvenile detention and imprisonment, and to promote a punitive logic that impedes needed social change. She calls for dismantling this destructive system as we radically reimagine how to support families and keep children safe. Social workers are key participants in the family policing system—and should be leaders in imagining a future without family policing.

3:20 PM - CLOSING REMARKS AND RAFFLE WINNERS (10 minutes)
3:30 PM - Conference Closure

5.5 hours instructional time
Continental breakfast and lunch are included in your registration fee.

Plan Your Conference Experience

Conference Mini-Tracks

Curated learning pathways for specialized interests

1. School Social Work (SSW) Track

"Together We Learn" - Available in All Blocks

A comprehensive track designed specifically for school social workers and those interested in school-based practice. From innovative intervention techniques to ethical challenges, this track addresses the full spectrum of school social work practice.

Sessions:

• SCH A: Improvisation in School Social Work
• SCH B: Building Systems of Continuous Behavioral Support for Student Success
• SCH C: DOE Presentation/Panel (TBD)
• SCH D: Strengthening School Social Work: Upholding Standards and Enhancing Collaboration
• SCH E: How to implement grief focused peer support groups in the school setting
• SCH F: Suicide Prevention Advocacy 101 for Social Workers
• SCH G: Navigating Rough Waters: Ethical Best Practices for School-Based Behavioral Health Providers (Ethics)

2. Social Justice & Advocacy Mini-Track

"For Good"

Fight for equity and justice through evidence-based advocacy strategies. This track explores how social workers can challenge systemic oppression, support marginalized communities, and create lasting change from individual to organizational levels.

Sessions:

• A1: ACT and Social Injustice Response
• A3: AAPI Advocacy (Ethics)
• C4: Child Welfare & BIPOC Criminalization
• D2: Social Workers in Criminal Justice
• D4: Organizational Resistance & Defiant Humanism
• F2: Combat Loneliness (Ethics)

3. Trauma-Informed Care Mini-Track

"Finding Your Voice"

Develop cutting-edge trauma intervention skills using innovative, evidence-based approaches. Learn how to support clients experiencing complex trauma while maintaining your own well-being through trauma-safe practices.

Sessions:

• A2: Flash Trauma Processing
• A4: Cultural Competence in Suicide Prevention for Autistic People
• B4: Anxiety Experience
• C1: Art of Uncertainty (trauma-safe interventions)
• E3: Criminal Legal System Survivors
• F4: Sex Trafficking

4. LGBTQ+ & Gender Competency Mini-Track

"As We Are"

Build essential skills for supporting LGBTQ+ clients across all practice settings. Address unique ethical challenges, create inclusive environments, and advocate effectively for gender-diverse communities.

Sessions:

• B1: Rural LGBTQ+ Youth Ethics
• D3: Beyond Binaries: Gender Identity
• SCH G: Ethical Best Practices (includes LGBTQIA+ youth support)

5. Family & Children's Services Mini-Track

"No One Is Alone"

Enhance your work with children and families through collaborative, anti-oppressive approaches. Address complex family dynamics while centering equity and family strengths.

Sessions:

• C4: BIPOC Children in Child Welfare
• D1: Collaborative Practice with Families
• E1: Families with ID/DD/Autism
• G2: High Conflict Divorce

6. Leadership & Professional Development Mini-Track

"Rise Up"

Develop leadership skills and sustainable practices for long-term career success. Learn to navigate organizational challenges while maintaining your well-being and effectiveness.

Sessions:

• Pre-Conference: Ethics of Tending to Burnout
• E2: Leadership & Retention
• F1: Career Longevity
• D4: Organizational Resistance

Mix and match sessions across mini-tracks to create your personalized conference experience!

***** 12.5 total hours of CE time offered (additional optional hours available).***

Presenters:

Stephen R. Andrew, LCSW, LADC, CSS, MINT Certified MI Trainer

Stephen Andrew (he/him) is a storyteller, trainer, author, group worker, therapist, and community organizer. He has been a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT) since 2003, becoming a Certified MINT Trainer in 2019. He is the CEO (Chief Energizing Officer) for Health Education & Training Institute, maintains a compassion-focused practice, and facilitates mutual aid support groups. He is the author of six books and the creator/host of the podcast, "Conversations in Compassion."

Miki Beach, MSW, LICSW, CPHQ

Miki Beach (she/her/hers) is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in Vermont and a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality. Miki’s 10 years of prior experience in leadership roles at Vermont’s Blueprint for Health and the Vermont Child Health Improvement Program inform her transformative approach to individual and group counseling, outreach, teaching, and organizational change initiatives in her current role at Counseling and Psychiatry Services (CAPS) at the University of Vermont.

Julie Berguist, LCSW

Julia Bergquist (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker operating a private practice called Ash Point Counseling while also serving as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Southern Maine in Portland, Maine. Within her twelve years of experience exploring a myriad of macro and micro levels of social work, Julia has landed on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), as her clinical modality home. The application of ACT within our current political atmosphere is what she would like to focus on with you all today.

Susan Bredlau PhD, MSW

Susan Bredlau (she/her) is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at the University of Maine and has training in both philosophy and social work. She is the author of The Other in Perception: A Phenomenological Account of Our Experience of Other Persons (SUNY Press, 2018) and co-edited Normality, Abnormality, and Pathology in Merleau-Ponty (SUNY Press 2022). Her research engages with issues of health, habituation, perception, interpersonal relationships, and community well-being.

Brandy Brown, DSW, LCSW (ME, NY), LICSW (MN, VT)

Brandy Brown, DSW, LCSW (ME, NY), LICSW (MN, VT) (They) is the owner of Transform and Rise Up, LLC, where they provide educational, clinical and consulting services. They received a DSW (2022) at Capella University and their MSW (2013) and BSW (2012) at the University of Southern Maine.   They are a WPATH SOC 8 Certified Member and Mental Health Mentor, Past President of NASW Maine, and a member of the NASW National Committee on LGBTQ+ issues. They are well known for interdisciplinary collaboration and medical education, and they teach as part time MSW faculty for Capella University.  Dr. Brown is a lifelong advocate for LGBTQ+ people and, over the past decade, they developed and led The Gender Clinic at MaineHealth. Dr. Brown has worked primarily with vulnerable populations in different systems of care, including psychiatric inpatient, residential, corrections, and neurorehabilitation.

Katiuska (Kat) Cabral, PhD, CSWM, LCSW-C

Katiuska (Kat) Cabral (she/hers) is a Senior Program Manager with over 20 years of experience in social services, specializing in strategic program management, team leadership, and improving client care. Currently leading the Access to Care programs at MaineHealth, Kat focuses on enhancing access to healthcare services for underserved populations and addressing social determinants of health. She is adept at fostering strong collaborations with healthcare providers and social service organizations to meet the diverse needs of clients. A certified EPIC trainer and DEI ambassador, Kat has significantly increased staff engagement and productivity by 45%, while also developing training materials that empower staff to meet regulatory and organizational requirements. With a background in special education and a doctorate in Business Administration focusing on leadership, Kat is passionate about improving service delivery, promoting equity, and supporting communities in need. Bilingual in English and Spanish, she holds numerous certifications in project management, emotional intelligence, and healthcare operations.

Jude Currier, LICSW

Currently in private practice, Jude (he/him) has been a social worker for over 30 years. His experience in the field has been wide ranging, including child protective social work, home based psychotherapy, emergency room psychiatric assessment and community mental health. Today Jude’s private practice focuses on helping parents create and maintain healthy, safe and balanced home environments for their children, especially those affected by family conflict and divorce. As one of only a few Spanish speaking clinicians in the State of New Hampshire, Jude has intersected with the Latino community for most of his career and strives to make mental health services available and approachable to those representingall races, cultures, orientations and faiths. Jude is licensed in New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, Florida and Idaho, and has been a proud member of NASW since 1992.

Kalyn DaSilva, MSW, LICSW

Kalyn DaSilva, MSW, LICSW (they/them), is the Assistant Director of Counseling and Outreach and an adjunct professor at Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, New Hampshire. Originally from Massachusetts, Kalyn earned their Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Franklin Pierce before returning to Boston to complete their Master of Social work at Simmons University. Kalyn has dedicated their career to supporting the LGBTQIA+ community through both clinical practice and education. With over eights years of personal and professional experience, they have developed and facilitated Gender Diversity trainings for a wide range of audiences including students, healthcare professionals, organizations, and mental health clinicians. In addition to their clinical and educational roles, Kalyn is a dedicated advocate, actively engaged in efforts to combat anti-trans legislation in New Hampshire.

Barbara Davis, REAT, LCSW, REAT

Barbara Davis (she/her/hers) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and a Registered Expressive Arts Therapist (REAT) with over 30 years of experience, the last 20 years in private practice.Ms. Davis has training in contemporary psychoanalytic psychotherapy, addictions treatment, trauma-informed expressive arts therapy and mind-body medicine.She has worked as a therapist, supervisor and agency director, and has taught graduate level social work courses as well as facilitated numerous expressive arts workshops.Early in her career she integrated mental health treatment into both traditional outpatient and residential addictions treatment programs when such integration was rare.Ms Davis has authored a chapter on the integration of trauma recovery and addiction treatment and served as an expert panelist and field reviewer for several Treatment Improvement Protocols (TIPs) published by SAMHSA/CSAT.Currently she has a private practice in Camden, ME and offers expressive arts workshops and classes in the community.

Lisa M Dryan, LCSW

Lisa Dryan-Zagala (she/I) is a licensed clinical social worker in private practice. She graduated from USC with a specialty in Community Organization, Planning and Administration and has been focused on family mental health issues since 1999 starting several pilot programs to serve very young children as well as pregnant and postpartum women. One of these pilot programs was called Growing Up Special to serve teens and young adults with developmental and intellectual delays. From 2009 to 2016 she was the Director of Mental Health for The Wylie Center, a non-profit serving primarily very young children and families with special needs. While in this role she was also chairing the Inland Empire Maternal Mental Health Collaborative for nine years and was awarded over $100,000 in grants to serve this population. Due to her work on maternal mental health, she was awarded Woman on the Year by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors and the Commission on Women as well as an Individual of Excellence by the Non-Profit Resource Center and Public Health Champion Aware by Riverside County Public Health. Additionally she served as a member of the California State Maternal Mental Health Collaborative in conjunction with Stanford University to examine the mortality rates of perinatal women over a 10 year period. In July of 2024 she presented on the topic of Maternal Mental Health and Women with ID/DD/ Autism in Washington DC for Postpartum Support International.

Devon Freeman, Ed Tech III

(she/her/hers) Bio Coming Soon

Leah Forster Gauvin, LCSW, OSW-C

Leah Forster Gauvin (she/her) retired in 2024 after 32 years of social work practice, with the last 26-1/2 as a pediatric oncology social worker and clinical manager at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City. She volunteers as Treasurer on the Association of Pediatric Oncology Social Workers Board, and addresses upstream psychosocial issues for Lincoln County FISH (Friends in Service Helping) as a volunteer driver, and as a volunteer literacy coach for immigrant Mainers through Midcoast Literacy.

Sharon S. Fowler, BSW, MSW, LCSW 

Licensed Clinical Social Worker | Advocate for School Social Work Excellence

With 37 years of experience in the field of social work, Sharon Fowler (she/her/hers) has dedicated her career to supporting individuals, families, and communities while upholding the highest standards of clinical practice. A passionate advocate for the vital role social workers play in educational settings, Sharon has worked extensively with students, educators, and families to foster safe, inclusive, and effective learning environments.

Throughout her distinguished career, Sharon has gained expertise in a variety of settings, including public and private schools, community mental health centers, and school-based day treatment programs. She has been instrumental in promoting the social and emotional well-being of students, while collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to enhance school systems and implement evidence-based practices.

As a dedicated mentor and trainer, Sharon has shared her knowledge with colleagues through direct clinical supervision with clinical staff and MSW Students, workshop presentations and professional development sessions, empowering social workers to strengthen their skills and grow their professional practice. Her upcoming session, Strengthening School Social Work: Upholding Standards and Enhancing Collaboration, will focus on effective strategies for maintaining ethical standards, strengthening school-based social work interventions, and fostering collaborative partnerships with educators and parents to support student success.

An advocate for continued learning, and past Chair of NASW Maine School Social Work Committee, and Consultant with University of Maine School of Social Work, Sharon remains deeply committed to the growth and development of the social work profession and is excited to contribute to the ongoing conversation surrounding best practices in school social work.

Mary Gagnon, LMFT

Mary Gagnon is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and the Director of Suicide Prevention at NAMI Maine. A graduate of the University of Connecticut, Mary has over twenty-five years of experience in the mental health field, including agency and private practice counseling, training, and supervision of outpatient, targeted case management, and community integration programs. Mary is a passionate educator and learner, spending her career inspiring and teaching thousands of individuals and groups on suicide prevention and other mental health topics. She brings that passion for learning into her hobbies of traveling and writing.

Ian Gould, BA

Ian Gould B.A. (he) is a suicide prevention trainer at NAMI Maine. In that role, he designs and leads suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention education programs for schools, healthcare providers, and community organizations. With a degree in Criminology and Sociology from the University of Southern Maine and his 20 years’ experience in crisis intervention, case management, and community mental health, Ian has firsthand insight into the challenges of mental health care and prevention. Outside of social work, he’s a coach, where he emphasizes resilience and teamwork.

Joy Hall-Roche, DSW, LCSW, CCS

Joy Hall-Roche, DSW, LCSW, CCS, (she/her) is a clinical social worker specializing in the area of correctional mental health. Joy has worked in an array of settings over a 25-year period and specializes in treating individuals with severe and persistent mental illness. She has particular experience working with individuals experiencing acute psychotic illness, delusional disorders, and substance use disorders within the community setting as well as in the correctional system. She has a particular interest in supervision and enjoys the legacy and gatekeeping aspects of bringing new practitioners into the field. She currently works as a Behavioral Health Director in the field.

Sara Happel, DO

Sara (she/her) is a former ER and home health nurse turned Palliative Care Physician. She works at Eastern Maine Medical Center providing symptom management and general guidance to folks living with cancer and other complex progressive medical diseases, and has a particular interest in the intersection of substance use disorder, mental health, and chronic pain, as well as expanding access to underserved communities. She lives in Bangor with her wife, where she can be found starting and neglecting to finish multiple home improvement projects, and attempting to teach her eldest cat to walk on a leash.

Karen Hardy, LCPC

Karen Hardy (she/her) is a Maine licensed LCPC and CADC (inactive) and a Level 3 Certified IFS (Internal Family Systems) Therapist. She worked as a correctional counselor in the CT prison system for 20 years prior to gaining the above credentials. She moved to Maine in 2014 and worked for two different agencies where the MST model was used at one agency and worked with a refugee population at another agency before entering private practice. She currently has a strong interest in using IFS with addictions and loved ones of those who struggle with them, though there is also a strong focus on cPTSD.She has presented many times on the IFS model and is an IFSI Approved Clinical Supervisor.

Ann Hartman, LCSW

Ann Hartman, LCSW, (she/her/hers) has been a part-time faculty member at the School of Social Work at the University of Maine for over a decade and currently advises and mentors students as the MSW Distance Program Coordinator and member of the Internship Team.She received the 2018 School of Social Work Outstanding Alumna Award and the 2023 Outstanding Staff Award for the College of Natural Sciences, Farming, and Agriculture.Ann is a clinical social worker who has provided individual and family therapy through her private practice since 2004. She has served as a clinical consultant in several settings over the years and continues in that role with Rape Response Services.She is a member of the NASW-ME JEDI committee, the Greater Bangor Area Branch NAACP, the Juneteenth Downeast planning group, and the Wabanaki Alliance Coalition Building Team.

Sarah Hazleton, LICSW

Sarah Hazleton, LICSW, graduated from the University of New England's MSW program in 2007. After many years as a clinician in intensive residential treatment programs, she opened her private practice in early 2020 with a specialty in OCD and anxiety related disorders. Trained by the International OCD Foundation, she is passionate about sharing the "logically illogical" nature of anxiety and OCD with other clinicians to improve treatment outcomes for all clients. Sarah is also a gender affirming provider within the queer and trans community. As a regional referee for women's roller derby, she has a special interest in the intersection of gender and athletic/performance anxiety.

Savitri Horrigan, MSW

Savitri (she/her) earned her B.S. in Molecular and Cell Biology with a minor in Human Rights at the University of Connecticut in 2013, and her Master of Social Work with a focus in Community Organizing at the University of Connecticut in 2017. She is a Cohort 10 graduate of the Equity Leaders Fellowship and shadowed the ACLU of NH board in 2024. She currently works with the Nashua Division of Public Health and Community Services as the Behavioral Health Strategist. Her former roles include being the Food Access Manager at the Organization for Refugee and Immigrant Success, and the Population Health Program Manager at Planned Parenthood of Northern New England. Her areas of interest and former work include health equity, anti-racism, food access, climate justice, reproductive justice, and immigrant rights. Savitri is Indonesian American and resides in Manchester, NH where she enjoys creative writing, playing board games, and spending time with friends and family.

Biz Hyde, LMSW-CC

Elizabeth Hyde, LMSW-cc, (she/her) is a conditionally licensed clinical social worker currently working in a carceral setting. Elizabeth provides individual and group therapy to residents with severe psychiatric illnesses and co-occurring disorders.In both her professional and personal life, Elizabeth is passionate about destigmatizing efforts for people who have SUD and/or have been justice impacted.

Michelle Jones, MS, CLS

As the Grief Support Coordinator and Child Life Specialist at the Center for Grieving Children, Michelle is responsible for coordinating bereavement services, supporting volunteers and families, and providing outreach and community support.

As a child life specialist, Michelle has worked in a variety of healthcare settings to provide psychosocial support to pediatric patients and their families. Michelle has experience working with a wide variety of multidisciplinary teams and advocating for the emotional needs of children navigating hospitalization, illness, and loss. Michelle received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the College of St. Benedict and has a master’s degree in Child Development and Family-Centered Care from Wheelock College.

Judith Josiah-Martin, PhD, CADC

Judith Josiah-Martin, PhD, ACSW, CADC, Dr. Josiah-Martin (she/her) has been a part of the University of Maine community for the past 16 years, as School of Social Work faculty and as the Director of Multicultural Student Life. Her alma maters are Smith College School of Social Work for a PhD in Clinical Social Work, and Washington University-St. Louis for a MSW degree emphasis in Social Welfare, Administration and Community Development. Dr. Josiah-Martin was the 2021 President’s Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award recipient for the University of Maine. She serves the broader community on the Board of Trustees for St Joseph’s Healthcare System, and the Board of Directors for Maine Migrant Health Program. She has spent 38+ years working in the field of social work as a: clinical social worker; program administrator; mental health trainer and consultant; community advocate; secondary and tertiary educator; social activist; grant coordinator; and researcher.

Jen LaChance

Jen LaChance (she/her) is the Director of Advocacy and Victim Services for Through These Doors. Jen collaborates with multiple systems in order to support victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, human trafficking and/or stalking. Jen oversees six direct service programs at TTD including the Safe Reentry program at Maine Correctional Center, Cumberland County Jail and the Southern Maine Women’s Re-Entry Center.

Jeremy D. Lynch, MA, MA in Social Work

Jeremy (he/him) is the School Culture and Climate Coordinator at Rowe Elementary School in Portland, ME.  Prior to that he was the General Education School Social Worker at Saccarappa Elementary School in Westbrook, ME. Jeremy has also worked as a Special Education School Social Worker and has provided outpatient therapy for children and families as a Public School Counselor, an outpatient therapist, a counseling affiliate, and as a social worker in a day treatment setting. Jeremy is the former co-chair for NASW Maine’s School Social Work Committee and a previous NASW ME board member. Jeremy lives in Gorham, ME with his wife, two children and their dog. When not social working, Jeremy is improvising with The Teller's Garden playback theater group in Portland, ME.

Anne-Marie Miller LCSW APHSW-c

Anne-Marie Miller (she/her) is a licensed clinical social worker with advanced certification in palliative and hospice care. She is currently is a part of the inpatient palliative care team at a northern Maine hospital. She has worked in hospice and oncology as well as in palliative homecare. Her interests include spirituality, interdisciplinary teamwork, and trauma-informed end of life care.

Chris McLaughlin, MSW, LCSW

Chris (he/him) is a licensed clinical social worker, consultant, educator, advocate, and the owner of Inspired Consulting Group, LLC. Chris brings more than 25 years of experience working with youth and families across multiple clinical, community, and educational settings. Chris proudly served as the Executive Director of the Maine Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) from 2022 – 2025 where he led professional development and advocacy efforts as well as legislative strategy for the Chapter. He’s currently pursuing his Doctor of Social Work (DSW) at the University of New England, and he teaches as an adjunct faculty member for schools of social work at multiple universities across Maine. A passionate advocate for equity and inclusion, Chris is a DEI&B coach and consultant and is the creator of the Inspired Allies certificate program which seeks to enhance provider confidence and competence in delivering affirming care to members of the LGBTQIA+ community. He’s also the co-host of the Inspired Insights podcast. He and his husband, Derek, live in Hermon, Maine with their 3 dogs, Anna, Becky, and Sawyer.

Kimberly Mills, DSW, LCSW, ITTP

Kimberly Mills, DSW, LCSW, ITTP - A career social worker Dr. Mills (she/her/hers) attained clinical licensure from University of New England at Westbrook in 2007 and then a doctoral degree in 2021 from Capella University. Dr. Mills has worked within multiple disciplines of social work from direct practice with individuals and families to community engagement work addressing issues such as, trauma, substance abuse, and other mental health problems. She is currently engaged in private practice and as a therapist for Penobscot Community Health Center in Bangor Maine. She is an Adjunct Instructor for Beal University for the Counseling Addictions Program and volunteers with the State of Maine Disaster Behavioral Health Team providing crisis debriefings or short-term therapy response for first responders throughout Maine.

Lisa Morgan, LCSW-CC, M.Ed.

Lisa Morgan is a trauma-informed consultant specializing in crisis supports and suicide prevention for autistic people. Lisa is founder and co-chair of the Autism and Suicide Prevention Workgroup and has led the development of several autism specific resources for communicating and supporting autistic people in crisis. A self-advocate with a passion for strengths-based solutions, Lisa has authored several books, articles, and resources all available on her website: www.autismcrisissupport.com. She is a member of AASET (Autistic Adults and other Stakeholders Engaged Together) where she has contributed to community participatory research projects in various roles, including the co-lead of a clinician training team. Lisa has a master’s degree in social work and in the Art of Teaching, is a Certified Autism Specialist, a research consultant, and owner of Lisa Morgan Consulting LLC.

Olivia Montgomery MSW, LICSW

Olivia (she/they) is an Assistant Clinical Professor and Practicum Education Coordinator at the University of New England in Portland, Maine. Olivia is a community leader and subject matter expert in Fat Liberation and Health-At-Every-Size (HAES) frameworks, providing workshops, seminars, and speaking engagements focused on eliminating discrimination on the basis of body size.

Steve Reddy, CSD, M.A.

Reverend Steve Reddy (he/his) is an ordained interfaith minister with experience serving in hospice since 2010. Steve is currently serving as a hospice chaplain for Constellation Health Services, an affiliate of National Health Care Associates, in a role that includes one on one with patients and provides for the emotional and spiritual support of family members, medical staff and social work staff. Steve provides worship services, bereavement groups and communion to his patients and their families. Steve has worked at Maine Medical Center where he specialized in the adult psychiatric and emergency care floors. Steve has been certified as a Pastoral Care Specialist through the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education at Yale/New Haven Hospital. Steve brings a wealth of experience as a presenter of topics such as Dying at Home, The Spiritual Aspect of Death, and, After Death : What Next?

Dorothy Roberts

Dorothy Roberts is a groundbreaking scholar, social justice advocate, and award-winning author whose work has transformed how we think about reproductive justice, child welfare, and bioethics. A distinguished professor of Africana studies, law, and sociology at the University of Pennsylvania, founding director of the Penn Program on Race, Science & Society, and a MacArthur “Genius” Fellow, she is widely known for her influential books, including Killing the Black Body, Shattered Bonds, Fatal Invention, and Torn Apart. Her pathbreaking work bridges rigorous research and urgent public engagement, and she has been featured in The New York Times, NPR, MSNBC, CBS Sunday Morning, and other major media outlets. Her TED Talk has been viewed more than 1.6 million times. Recent recognitions of her leadership include elections to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Philosophical Society and the National Academy of Medicine; honorary doctorate degrees from Rutgers University and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland; TIME Magazine’s 2025 The Closers list; 2025 STATUS list of leaders in life sciences; Society of Family Planning Lifetime Achievement Award; Juvenile Law Center Leadership Prize; and American Psychiatric Association Solomon Carter Fuller Award. Her forthcoming memoir, THE MIXED MARRIAGE PROJECT, will be published in February 2026.

Julie M. Schirmer, LCSW, ACSW

Julie M. Schirmer, LCSW, ACSW, (she/her/hers) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, President of the Board and Co-Chair of NASW Maine's Policy Committee.She has over 40 years of experience in teaching, researching, and consulting on behavioral health issues and systems development.Over the past six years, she has focused her work and energies on prevention, social justice, and behavioral health workforce issues. She is passionate that social workers are experts in how policies affect our communities and in giving hope and lighting the advocacy fire in those working on a micro-level to find their voice, focus, and avenues to support our profession, clients, and communities

Elizabeth Schrider, LCSW

Elizabeth Schrider (she/her) is Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Grief Services Coordinator at the Center for Grieving Children. Elizabeth supports the Center’s programming to help provide peer support groups for children ages 4-18 and the adults supporting those children.Elizabeth also helps to provide outreach and education and bereavement resources for individuals and agencies.Elizabeth has been in the Social Work field for 10 years with clinical experience providing trauma focused therapy for students at both the Elementary and Middle School levels.

Brent Scobie, PhD, LCSW

Brent Scobie, PhD, LCSW, (he/him) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 25 years of experience providing trauma-informed, evidence based care to children and adults. With experience in both acute inpatient and outpatient settings, Dr. Scobie applies Collaborative Problem Solving as both a philosophy and approach in his work with children and their families, offering guidance and teaching to help them develop skills to address complex emotional and behavioral challenges and to achieve lasting change. Dr. Scobie is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Maine School of Social Work and a Certified Trainer in Collaborative Problem Solving through Massachusetts General Hospital.

Bear Shea, LCSW

Bear Shea LCSW he/him, Maine DOE Mental Health Specialist, Climate, Culture and Resilience Team Coordinator. Bear Shea is the Mental Health specialist for the Maine Department of Education, tasked with identifying and supporting best practices for student and educator mental health, examining state policies, and increasing awareness and implementation of school-based Trauma Informed Practices. Bear’s DOE responsibilities also include the areas of: Truancy, Restraint and Seclusion, School Based Mental Health Professionals and LGBTQ+ student/staff/school supports. As the coordinator for the DOE Climate, Culture and Resilience Team, he leads team members to provide resources for schools to support equity, family engagement, restorative practices, social emotional learning and to reduce barriers for vulnerable student populations.

Before joining the DOE, Bear has been a school social worker, interventionist, and was the Clinical Director at the REAL School, a grades 5-12, public, adventure based, day treatment, clinical support education program. He has worked with many Maine school districts to bring trauma informed professional development and structure multi-tier, schoolwide mental health supports. As a licensed mental health clinician, Bear brings over 15 years of experience working therapeutically, through Trauma Informed best practices, with children and young adults who have significant emotional and behavioral barriers.

Brooke Sheehan, DSW, LCSW, CCS

Brooke Sheehan, DSW, LCSW, CCS, (she/her) is a clinical social worker specializing in the area of correctional mental health. Brooke has worked in an array of correctional settings and specializes in treating individuals with severe and persistent mental illness. She has particular experience working with individuals experiencing acute psychotic illness, delusional disorders, and intellectual disabilities within a correctional system. She has a particular interest in the impact of incarceration on children’s attachment styles, particularly in relation to the mother-child connection. She currently works as a regional behavioral health director in the field.

Thomas Sigler, LCSW

Tom Sigler, LCSW, (he/him) is a clinician at Atlantic Academy, a special purpose private school in Camden, Maine and runs a private practice in Damriscotta. He has engaged in clinical work at MaineGeneral’s Intensive Outpatient Program in Augusta and worked as an in-home support for Pathways of Maine. He also owned his own restaurant and spent 15 years in the culinary field before embarking on his current career. Tom is a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, University of Maine with a degree in Philosophy, and a Masters Degree from the University of Maine School of Social Work. He has worked with a diverse range of individuals, with an emphasis on substance use in adults and adolescents, personality disorders, and children with traumatic histories. In his practice, Tom emphasizes experiential therapy, encouraging bilateral stimulation in the outdoors and engaging in mindfulness practices throughout the sessions.

Joe Silva, MSW

Joe Silvia Serves as the Community Medical Liaison for Jannsen Neuroscience in New England.  In this role Joe provides educational support for Treatment Teams, Caregivers, and those diagnosed with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder through staff trainings, family support groups, groups for patients, and trainings for peer support specialists.  Joe’s work history includes positions at Silver Hill Hospital in New Canaan, CT; Senior Counselor for the Persistent Psychiatric Disorder program and Supervising Senior Counselor for the Transitional Living Program, and volunteer work with the Department of Adult Probation in Bridgeport, CT. 

Sherri Simmons-Horton, PhD, MSW

Sherri Simmons-Horton, PhD, MSW, is an Assistant Professor in the Social Work department at the University of New Hampshire (UNH). She also serves as a Core Faculty member in the Women and Gender Studies at UNH. Simmons-Horton has over 25 years of practice experience in the child welfare system in the state of Texas, with a focus on addressing racism and racial disparities present for Black children, youth, and families. Simmons-Horton’s research focuses on youth with Dual System Involvement (DSI) (adolescents with involvement in the juvenile justice and foster care systems), structural intersectional inequities across both systems, and the empowerment of system-involved Black youth and families through an anti-oppressive lens. Simmons-Horton serves as the 2nd Vice President of the Black Administrators in Child Welfare, and she is a staunch child, family, and youth advocate, with a strong interest in practice and policy strategies to dismantle oppressive practices in the family policing and juvenile legal system.

James Skelton, LCSW, LADC, CCS

James Skelton, LCSW, (he/him/his) is a therapist in private practice and the Clinical Director of a substance use and mental health treatment program in Lewiston, ME. With over 15 years of experience, he has helped individuals and families navigate addiction and mental health challenges. He has worked in outpatient, residential, and wilderness therapy settings, specializing in dual diagnoses. Passionate about trauma-informed care, he integrates mindfulness, positive psychology, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and EMDR to support lasting change and personal growth.

Leandra Smollin, Ph.D.

Leandra Smollin, Ph.D., (she/her) is an applied sociologist with over 15 years of experience as a teacher, researcher and advocate. Leandra’s main areas of focus include LGBTQIA+ health, violence prevention, and feminist methodology; and they currently manage the Office of Research Ethics and Compliance at Fenway Health in Boston, MA. Prior to their current role at The Fenway Institute, Leandra was a professor of Sociology and Director of the Human Services Program at SUNY Potsdam, where they led DEI efforts. Leandra mentored students while engaging in community-based public health research with the Gaston Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy at UMass Boston, and led policy efforts while serving on the Executive Board for the Massachusetts Commission for LGBTQ youth. Leandra earned a PhD from Northeastern University in 2014, after completing a MA in Sociology and Graduate Certificate in Women’s and Gender Studies (2007). Leandra’s BA is from Stonehill College (2005).

Jenny Stasio, LCSW

Jenny Stasio (she/her) is the Co-Executive Director at Through These Doors.Jenny has held various positions during her time at Through These Doors including Incarcerated Women’s Advocate, Residential Services Director and Director of Operations. Jenny holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Bates College and a Master’s of Social Work from Boston College. Additionally, Jenny is licensed in the state of Maine as a clinical social worker.

Shawna Traugh, DSW, MSW, LCSW

Dr. Shawna Traugh (she/her) is the Director of Field Education at the University of Maine at Presque Isle and a per diem Clinical Consultant for the Children’s Services at the Aroostook Mental Health Center. She has worked in the social work field since 1997 and has been a licensed clinician for 19 years. Shawna has experience in micro, mezzo, and macro practice. She is the Board Chair for Pride Aroostook, a Board member of the National Association of Social Workers Maine Chapter (JEDI committee member), the Maine Women's Lobby/Education Fund (Development committee member), and the AARP LGBTQ+ advisory board. In her spare time, she enjoys singing and performing in community theater. Shawna lives in Caribou with her partner and high-maintenance cat.

Charlotte Warren

Kelli Wedgewood, LCSW, Ed.D.

Dr. Kelli Wedgewood (she/her/hers) is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, currently working with the special education department at Durham Community School. She has worked in the field of social work for over twenty years in a variety of settings. Over the past nine years working at DCS, Kelli has helped to bolster SEL programming across all three tiers of support. She recently completed a doctorate of education (Social Emotional and Academic Leadership) from Sacred Heart University where she focused on and specialized in trauma informed school based intervention, and MTSS practices. Her dissertation work examined social workers' role in empowering the school system to meet the diverse social and emotional needs of a school population.

Ben White

Ben White (he/him) is a Bachelor-level Social Work student at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, with a strong interest in LGBTQIA+ advocacy, most notably in supporting LGBTQIA+ youth. Ben is dedicated to promoting equity for marginalized individuals and is committed to policy changes and improvements at both the micro and macro levels. Through his education, he strives to contribute meaningful change and create an environment conducive to inclusivity and social justice.Ben, a 27-year-old Transman, is an active member of his University’s Student Organization of Social Workers. He lives in Madawaska with his wife and six cats.

Jennifer Wolfe, BS Edu, MSW, LICSW

Jennifer Wolfe, BS Edu, MSW, LICSW (she/they) is a creative leader, trainer, clinician, supervisor, artist, and change-maker. They provide LGBTQIA+ and NeuroDivergent Affirming clinical psychotherapy, clinical supervision, professional training, and creative expression workshops for helpers and healers. Committed to inspiring self- advocacy for clients and colleagues, Jennifer strives to walk the walk, not just talk the talk and believes that “Role Model” is one of her most important titles. Across multiple mediums Jennifer inspires folx to break cycles of pain and live free, authentic, and joy-filled lives! Jennifer is based in Southern New Hampshire with their kiddo, animals, family (bio & chosen), and friends. Connect with them at  KindnessCornerTherapy.com & KindnessCornerStudio.com!

Angela Zhang, MSW

Originally hailing from Virginia and now living in Lebanon, NH, Angy Zhang (she/her) earned her B.A. in Geography at Dartmouth College in 2012 and her Master of Social Work at the University of New England in 2018. In 2017, Angela began working as the Programs Director at LISTEN Community Services, a social services agency based in Lebanon dedicated to helping meet the critical needs of Upper Valley individuals and families. She also teaches at the Social Work department at Plymouth State University. In 2020, Angela co-founded the BIPOC Social Workers of Northern New England affinity group. In her spare time, she volunteers as a crisis line advocate for WISE, and serves on the Board of Directors for WISE and Twin Pines Housing Trust. Angela was named the 2022 Social Worker of the Year by NASW NH.