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NAMI Iowa 2023 Annual Conference
Wednesday, November 8, 2023 Holiday Inn Des Moines- Airport and Conference Center 6111 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, IA 50321 The Annual Conference provides educational opportunities to individuals with mental health conditions and their loved ones, policymakers, mental health professionals, and mental health advocates.AGENDA + DETAILS
Welcome to the NAMI Iowa 2023 Annual Conference! This year's event features exciting keynote speakers from national and Iowa stakeholders, as well as timely mental health issues presented in three track options. You can customize your conference experience to best suit your interests and needs.
Throughout the day, visit the Calm Zone (located just behind the registration area) to relax, engage in sensory and mindfulness activities, and learn more about therapy, peer support, and therapy dogs. The Calm Zone is hosted by Courageous Minds Counseling and therapy dogs are courtesy of Dog Training Elite - Des Moines.
AGENDA and SCHEDULE
8:30-9:30 a.m.: Registration, Vendor Exploration, and Calm Zone Open
9:30-10:30 a.m.: Federal Mental Healthcare Policy: Updates from Congress and the White House — Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer, NAMI National
10:30-10:45 a.m.: Break, Vendor Exploration, and Calm Zone Open
10:45-11:45 a.m.: Breakout Sessions
- 988 and Crisis Response Track: Panel Discussion: Best Practices in Mobile Crisis Response — Breanna Degelau, Community-Based Crisis Response Supervisor, Eyerly Ball Community Mental Health Services; April Chavira, Mental Health Advocate, and Kinsey Hauser, Mental Health Advocate Supervisor, Iowa State University Police Department; Chad Colston, Major, Linn County Sheriff's Department; Rich Nesmith, Mental Health Liaison, Linn County Sheriff's Department and Crisis Counselor, Foundation 2 Crisis Services; Moderator: Peggy Huppert, Executive Director, NAMI Iowa
- Mental Health Access in Underserved Communities Track: Panel Discussion: Mental Health Equity in Iowa's Black Communities — Matthea Little Smith, NAMI Trainer, Peer Support Specialist, and Family Peer Support Specialist; JaCarie Owens, LMHC and Owner, Courageous Minds Counseling; Audrey Kennis, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Director, City of West Des Moines; Moderator: Breanne Ward, LMHC and Founder/CEO, ForWard Consulting
- Mental Health Advocacy and Public Policy Track: Panel Discussion: Strengthening Iowa's Mental Health System through Policy: A Conversation with Iowa Lawmakers — Sen. Sarah Trone Garriott, Senate District 14, and Coordinator of Interfaith Engagement, Des Moines Area Religious Council; Rep. Ann Meyer, House District 8, and Registered Nurse; Rep. Megan Srinivas, House District 30, and Infectious Disease Physician; Moderator: Dave Price, Gray Television Iowa Political Director and Analyst, and columnist with Iowa Writers Collaborative
11:45 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Break, Vendor Exploration, and Calm Zone Open
12:00-12:30 p.m.: Lunch
12:30-1:30 p.m.: Keynote Presentation: Panel Discussion: Mental Health in Iowa Schools: Best Practices and Innovations in K-12 Education — Alissa Doobay, Director of Clinical Services, Scanlan Center for School Mental Health; Jadie Boens, Director of SEBMH Services, Heartland Area Education Association; LeMar Yeager, Program Manager, NAMI Iowa; Sarah Harris, MTSS-Social Emotional Behavioral Health Coordinator, Bettendorf Community School District; Jennifer Best, Extension Educator, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach; Moderator: Mary Neubauer, Mental Health Advocate and Chair, NAMI Iowa Board of Directors
1:30-1:45 p.m.: Break, Vendor Exploration, and Calm Zone Open
1:45-2:15 p.m.: Breakout Sessions:
- 988 and Crisis Response Track: Innovations in Crisis Response and Programming for Youth — Nikki Thomson, Chief Clinical Officer, Ellipsis
- Mental Health Access in Underserved Communities Track: Why I Answered the Phone: The Power of Community Support — Corey Dion Lewis, Clinical Health Coach, Broadlawns Medical Center, and Founder, My City, My Health Conference and the Healthy Project Podcast
- Mental Health Advocacy and Public Policy Track: Self-Advocacy: How to Speak Up and Navigate Iowa's Behavioral Health System for Ourselves and the People We Love — Karen Hyatt, Emergency Mental Health Specialist, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services; Devon McClurken, Director, Iowa Office of Recovery Services
2:15-2:30 p.m.: Break, Vendor Exploration, and Calm Zone Open
2:30-3:30 p.m.: Breakout Sessions:
- 988 and Crisis Response Track: 911-988 Integration: How, When, and Why It Matters — Emily Blomme, Chief Executive Officer, Foundation 2 Crisis Services; Hannah Wesolowski, Chief Advocacy Officer, NAMI National; Moderator: Tony Thompson, Sheriff, Black Hawk County
- Mental Health Access in Underserved Communities Track: Uplifting LGBTQ Mental Health in Iowa: The Way Forward — Keenan Crow, Director of Policy and Advocacy, One Iowa; Joby Holcomb, LMHC; Angie Knoblauch, DO, Internal Medicine and UnityPoint LGBTQ Clinic; AJ Ballantyne, MD, Blank Children's Hospital/UnityPoint Health Blank Adolescent Clinic; Moderator: Luke Bonner, Program Coordinator, NAMI Iowa
- Mental Health Advocacy and Public Policy Track: Our Stories Are Our Power: How to Use Your Lived Experience to Advocate for Change — Bethany Snyder, Owner, Snyder Strategies, and Executive Director, Iowa Nonprofit Alliance
3:30-3:45 p.m.: Break, Vendor Exploration, and Calm Zone Open
3:45-4:45 p.m.: Inside My Head (a musical performance about one individual's mental health journey) — Zak Sandler, composer and Broadway pianist
CEUs are offered for Peer Support Specialists and Social Workers. Questions about CEUs? Email bethany@namiiowa.org.
Calm Zone hosted by:
Therapy dogs courtesy of:
Thanks to our sponsors for their support of the 2023 NAMI Iowa Annual Conference!
PRESENTING SPONSORS:
MENTAL HEALTH LEADERS:
MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATES:
Letsch Law Firm
Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems, Inc.
ABOUT
NAMI Iowa serves as a catalyst around advocacy, education, support and public awareness so that all Iowans impacted by mental health conditions can lead better lives.