The Head to Toe preconference provides a unique opportunity for individuals to learn new skills and reinforce existing ones.  Attendees can expand their conference experience by attending in-depth full or half-day session on learning to implement Motivational Interviewing, addressing fetal alcohol syndrome or exploring the concept of community schools.  This year, we have developed a half-day "mini conference" specifically for school-based health center coordinators and clinical staff. With such an array of topics offered, pre-conference attendees are sure to walk away better equipped to fulfill their mission of improving students’ wellbeing and academic success. 

Click on the topic to learn more about the pre-conference offerings:

• Morning Mini-Conference: Designed for SBHC Coordinators and
  Clinical Staff

• Full-Day Focus:  Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
• Afternoon Learning Lab #1:  Motivational Interviewing
• Afternoon Learning Lab #2:  Elev8: Community School Model

• Afternoon Learning Lab #3:  Clinical Overview of Behavioral Health Intervention

A small registration fee gives you access to these great trainings, free parking, snacks and continuing education for nurses, counselors, social workers and behavioral health professionals.

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Morning Mini-Conference: For SBHC Coordinators and Clinical Staff

AGENDA AT A GLANCE

NOTE: Sessions in RED are targeted to SBHC Coordinators, in BLUE are for clinical staff and in GREEN are for all audiences.

SESSION DESCRIPTIONS

8:30 – 10:00 am  

What's Right with You is More Powerful than What's Wrong With You

Presenter:  Paula Duncan, MD, Pediatrician, University of Vermont College of Medicine

Health and mental health professionals are educated to identify and intervene with youth about their unhealthy risk behaviors, related to poor nutrition, inadequate physical activity, unsafe sexual behaviors, substance abuse, intentional and unintentional injury. This presentation focuses on providing strategies to approach these risk behaviors from a strength-based perspective. These methods, part of the new preventive services guidelines, provide professionals with an innovative approach to youth growing up in difficult situations. It helps youth and their parents or guardians build on their positive attributes as they try to make health behavior changes.

10:15 - 11:15 am  BREAKOUT SESSIONS (Choose One)

A. Understanding SBHC productivity: it is more than the numbers! [SBHC COORDINATOR]
Presenters:  Yolanda Cordova, Director, NM Department of Health, Office of School and Adolescent Health; Linda Juszczak, Executive director, National Assembly on School-Based Health Care; Nissa Patterson,  MPH, Program Manager, New Mexico Alliance for School-Based Health Care

As the school based health center movement grows across NM and as our centers refine services and improve practices it is important that SBHCs examine at their clinic level productivity.  While many centers are concerned that productivity is “all about the numbers” it is really so much more. In fact, increasing your productivity is a way to deeply understand your clinical practice, increase access to services, maximize billing revenue and make a difference in the health status of school aged children. This presentation reviews the basics of productivity, tools for analyzing your clinic’s productivity and a case study of how a productivity analysis helped the Elev8 SBHCs improve their practice.

B. Health Promotion & Health Education: Teachable Moments, the Power of Anticipatory Guidance [CLINICAL STAFF]
Presenters: Paula Duncan, MD, Pediatrician, University of Vermont College of Medicine; Therese Hidalgo, Carmen Martinez-Tittman

This session provides a follow-up opportunity to discuss concepts presented during the keynote presentation.

C. Sports Medicine: Common Injuries and Conditions [CLINICAL STAFF]
Presenters: Christopher McGrew, MD, UNM Health Sciences Center; Sports Medicine Fellow, UNM

How would you examine and treat a injured ankle, knee or elbow?  What about a neck injury?  SBHCs are available to provide assistance and the initial evaluation of injuries at schools. This presentation covers the general orthopedic exam and evaluation of common sports injuries and provides an opportunity to observe and practice some of the orthopedic maneuvers for the physical exam.

 

D. The Evaluation of Management of the Child with Elevated Blood Pressure [CLINICAL STAFF]
Presenter: John Brandt, MD, Chief of Pediatric Nephrology, UNM School of Medicine

This session reviews the most recent literature on the identification, evaluation and management of elevated blood pressure in children.  In particular it will focus on the growing prevalence of primary hypertension and its association with obesity and the metabolic syndrome.

11:20 – 12:20 pm BREAKOUT SESSIONS (Choose One)

E. Supporting and Strengthening Student Health Through School Health Advisory Councils [SBHC COORDINATOR]
Presenters:  Chenoa Bah Stilwell-Jensen, MS, Community Outreach Coordinator, Envision New Mexico; Susan Rice, Silver City High School, School Health Advisory Council

The session focuses on the successes and lessons-learned through pro-active efforts of school health advisory councils (SHAC) in NM.  Learn about key tips to overcome challenges when developing a SHAC while exploring highlighting how a SHAC can support and empower student, staff, community and school wellness.

 

F. Accessing and Utilizing School-Based Health Center Data [SBHC COORDINATOR]
Presenters:  Michelle Bloodworth, PhD, Evaluator, Apex Education; Beth Hamilton-Ignacio, Director, Cuba Schools Wellness Center; Carlos Romero, President, Apex Education

The utilization of quality SBHC data can inform program improvement and service delivery at the local level and aid in advocacy efforts at all levels. The workshop covers the many ways SBHC data can be of use at the local, state and national levels, but will focus on data use at the local level. Learn first-hand from a SBHC director as she describes her experiences with data use, including using SBHC data to advocate with the local school board regarding the importance of the SBHC. You will receive numerous examples of the types of data that can be useful to SBHC staff and learn how to access reports that provide this data.

 

G. Cardiac Evaluation and Common Pediatric Murmurs [CLINICAL STAFF]

Presenter:  Beth Goens, MD, Interim Chief of Pediatric Cardiology, University of New Mexico

 

This session takes the mystery out of the scariest part of the health assessment.  Many people are uncomfortable with the cardiac evaluation because of the rare but serious consequences of unrecognized cardiac disease.  In this workshop, the true risks to children from cardiac problems are reviewed.  The most important elements of the history and physical examination are clarified.   Case examples are used to illustrate important details of the cardiac evaluation.  The audience is encouraged to share cases for discussion.

 

H. More Than Just a Tummy Ache: A Collaborative Approach to Primary Care and Behavioral Health Assessment [CLINICAL STAFF]
Presenters:  Anna Nelson; MSW, LISW, Behavioral Health Program Manager, NM Department of Health, Office of School and Adolescent Health;  Mary Ramos, MD, School Health Officer, NM Department of Health, Office of School and Adolescent Health/UNM Envision; Dan Rifkin, MD, Envision New Mexico

Is a stomach or headache a warning sign of something greater? This dynamic workshop, led by prominent professionals in the field of school behavioral health and primary care, will answer this important question for participants. Gain heightened awareness of co-morbid conditions and common psychosomatic complaints related to adolescent behavioral health needs. Prepare to leave with two innovative assessment tools and strategies for increasing collaborative care in your clinic or school setting.

12:25 – 1:15 pm  SBHC Poster Presentations/Lunch on own

Thank you to Elev8 for sponsoring Dr. Paula Duncan's participation

at the Head to Toe conference.  Learn more about Elev8.

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Full-Day Focus: Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)

AGENDA/SESSION DESCRIPTIONS

8:30 – 9:30 am

Working with Schools to Prevent Fetal Alcohol Syndrome

Presenter: Jerome Romero, BA, Director, New Mexico State Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention Program, University of New Mexico Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse and Addictions

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is %100 preventable, yet this birth defect is the number one preventable cause of mental retardation in the United States. It is also the number one or number two cause of mental retardation in the US. In New Mexico we need to do more to educate everyone on the hazards of drinking alcohol during pregnancy. This message needs to start at a young age and what better place to educate then in our schools. No mom should have to tell their son or daughter that the reason they are struggling in life is because they drank alcohol while they were pregnant. You will leave this session with a solid knowledge about Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS), a variety of various tools and resources and a strategy for their school to include information about FAS.

9:30 – 11:30 am

Toward a Shared Understanding

Presenters: Wendy Kalberg, MA, CED, Educational Diagnostician, University of New Mexico; Kathleen “Mo” Taylor, OTR-L, Occupational Therapist, The UNM Center on Development and Disability

This session outlines the physical, developmental, and behavioral characteristics of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD and provides an overview of the research that has been done to investigate the neuro-behavioral characteristics associated with children who have been prenatally exposed to alcohol or who have a full-blown diagnosis of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome..  Explore a practical real-life model which bridges what is known from research about behavior and real-life functioning of children with FASD to appropriate school, home and community interventions.  This workshop will be presented by two professionals who have worked in the field of Autism intervention for the past twenty years.  The lead presenter is also an adoptive parent of a child with FASD, thereby bringing a professional as well as a personal perspective to the goal of better interventions for children affected with FASD.

11:30 – 1:00 pm

Lunch (On Own) 
Pick up a map and listing of restaurants within walking distance of the convention center at the registration desk.

1:00 – 2:00 pm

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in Mainstream Populations

Presenter:  Philip May, PhD, Professor of sociology and Family and Community Medicine, University of New Mexico

This presentation summarizes data on the prevalence and characteristics of FASD collected by various research methods. It will then highlight the prevalence and characteristics of FASD as evidenced from in-school studies of general populations. FASD may affect as many as 2 to 5 per cent of all children of the general population of the United States and other developed nations of Europe.

2:15 – 3:30 pm 

FAS activities for the Classroom and the Teen Peer Education Program

Presenters: Sally Kosnick; Jerome Romero, BA, Director, New Mexico State Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention Program, University of New Mexico Center on Alcoholism, Substance Abuse and Addictions

3:30 – 4:00 pm

Wrap Up/Certificate Distribution

Thank you to the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention Program for sponsoring this session.

Learn more about the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention Program.

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Afternoon Learning Lab #1: Motivational Interviewing

1:30 – 4:30 pm  

Motivational Interviewing Skills and Strategies for (Busy) School Health Practitioners

Presenter:  Carole Conley, MSW, Quality Improvement Consultant, Envision New Mexico; Carmen Martinez-Tittmann, LPCC, LMSW, Quality Improvement Consultant, Envision New Mexico

Why do people change?  What happens between a health care provider and a client that facilitates healthy change?  This workshop explores the dynamic and evidenced-based communication style known as Motivational Interviewing.  This powerful clinical communication tool can change how you communicate and connect to your young clients.  In this interactive and experiential workshop, you will practice some foundational MI tools and strategies.  As an additional benefit, many attendees report better communication in their personal and work environments!

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Afternoon Learning Lab #2: Elev8 Community School Model

1:30 – 4:30 pm  

SESSION INFORMATION NEEDED

Thank you to Elev8 for sponsoring this presentation.

  Learn more about Elev8.

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Afternoon Learning Lab #3: Clinical Overview for SBHC

Behavioral Health Interventions

1:30 – 4:30 pm  

Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care: Strategies for the Busy SBHC Provider

Presenters:  Kristine Carrillo, LISW, Program Operations Director, Envision NM, UNM Pediatrics Department; Leslie Kelly, MA, LPCC, Statewide Behavioral Health Telehealth Coordinator, UNM Center for Rural and Community Behavioral Health; Anna Nelson, MSW, LISW, Behavioral Health Program Manager, NM Department of Health, Office of School and Adolescent Health

Part I:  Short Term Strengths-Based Interventions for Adolescents
Whether you are a PCP or behavioral health provider, it is common that as providers we only get one chance to see a student. We’ll provide some overview of common depression or anxiety symptoms that students bring to SBHCs, and provide some practical skills you can use with a student for their self-management of depression or anxiety symptoms.  

Part 2: Title: Psychiatric Consultation *Live* for New Mexico SBHC Providers 
This interactive session is an opportunity for primary care and behavioral health providers to engage in the consultation process, along with their peers, to enhance behavioral health services they provide in school-based health centers (SBHCs).  Psychiatric consultation improves the quality of behavioral health services delivered by primary care and mental health providers in SBHCs. Providers are invited to present case vignettes to the psychiatrist, involving students seen in their school clinics, for consultation about assessment (including suicidality, other harmfulness, and substance abuse), treatment plans (including crisis intervention and safety planning), systems-of-care dilemmas (including resources/referrals), consent & confidentiality issues, and other clinical matters relevant to their SBHC practice.