Workshop Descriptions for the 2012 Providers’ Council Convention & Expo: Caring It Forward
The Providers' Council's Annual Convention & Expo offers more than 30 informative and engaging workshops that inform and empower a wide range of professionals in the human services sector.
Interested in submitting a workshop for the 38th Annual Convention & Expo on November 6th, 2013? Learn more and download the presentation proposal form here. Keep reading to learn more about workshops from last year's convention.
In addition to breakfast, lunch, access to the tradeshow floor, a wealth of networking opportunities, and awards ceremonies, your convention registration grants you access to the morning (1-16) and afternoon (17-32) workshop sessions.
Check out our Sample Workshop Tracks below to find some of the workshops that may be relevant to you or review the entire Workshop Directory to find the two workshops you want to attend.
Sample Workshop Tracks
Workshop Directory
Morning Workshops
1. Preparing for Payment Reform and Person-Directed Care
- Dr. Bruce Bird, CEO, Vinfen Corporation
- Dr. David Jordan, CEO, Seven Hills Foundation
Significant changes in the human services system in Massachusetts will occur as a result of healthcare payment reform and person-directed care. Come learn about these changes, preliminary recommendations for organizational self-assessments and options for internal organizational responses and collaborative relations. The Council’s 2012 report on Trends in the Human Services Landscape will also be discussed.
2. Practical Collaboration Options for Nonprofits
- Thomas McLaughlin, President, McLaughlin and Associates
This highly interactive workshop will feature an in-depth examination of nonprofit collaboration options. We will begin by focusing on attendees’ specific questions about any aspect of collaboration. We will offer practical frameworks that you can use to design an effective collaboration with another organization. This workshop will provide attendees with a practical look at this fast-growing trend in the human service field.
3. Chat with the Commissioners: Disability & Community Services
- Charles Carr, Commissioner, MRC
- Elin Howe, Commissioner, DDS
- Janet LaBreck, Commissioner, MCB
- Heidi Reed, Commissioner, MCDHH
- Sarah Selkovits, Director of Recovery, Bay Cove Human Services
- Charlotte Hett, Peer Specialist, Bay Cove Human Services
This workshop will discuss the evidence-based practice of Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP). Presenters will share how we use our WRAP to deal with symptoms of illness or provide our supporters with a disability plan. The workshop will focus on nine components of WRAP and the way plans are created through sharing.
5. National Standards Project 2.0 for Autism Treatment
- Hanna Rue, Director of Evidence-based Practice, The National Autism Center
This workshop will provide professionals with information regarding evidence-based practices for adults and children with an autism spectrum disorder. The National Standards Project 2.0 provides the most up-to-date information regarding scientifically supported treatments and strategies for individuals with an autism spectrum disorder across the lifespan. Attendees will learn about the importance of evidence-based practices, the science behind the treatment of autism, and building capacity.
6. Supporting Persons with Developmental Disabilities and Dementia
- Robin Farrago, Occupational Therapist, AmericanTraining, Inc.
- Julie Herget, Behaviorist, American Training, Inc.
With increased life expectancy among people with developmental disabilities, the prevalence of dementia in this population is growing, especially for people with Down Syndrome. Participants learn more about how dementia impacts the lives of people they support and strategies for supporting people with this condition.
7. Creating Communication Accessible Programs and Services
- Jonathan O’Dell, Assistive Technology Manager / Training Specialist, Mass. Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing
There are over 600,000 people with hearing loss in Massachusetts. Many of them are customers of state, public and private human service agencies. Learn how to self-evaluate your program, identify gaps and implement solutions to provide comprehensive communication access to your clients and consumers using technology.
8. Moving Your Fund Development Program to the Next Level
- Robin Cabral, Principal, Development Consulting Solutions
The challenge: to realign fundraising from one special event to a professional class department with a focus on individual and major gifts. Through an example of how one organization has made this shift, participants will learn about running a fund development program including planning, assessing staff skills, realigning staffing, budgeting, and shifting organizational culture.
9. Building a Culture of Worker Safety
- Skip Stuck, Executive Director, Family Continuity
Human services, like all helping professions, require a competent and confident workforce, to which the personal safety of staff is critical. It can’t be assured by training alone. Participants will learn the components of a safer culture, how to focus on culture change, and the importance of organizational commitment to safety.
10. Top 10 Governance Changes in 2012
- Richard Allen, Partner, Casner & Edwards, LLP
- Robert Cowden, Partner, Casner & Edwards, LLP
- James Mecone, Partner, CBIZ Tofias / Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C.
This workshop, geared to senior managers, will review the top 10 developments impacting human service providers for 2012, including executive and director compensation, state audits, Form 990 reporting, Ch. 257 updates and accounting issues on the horizon.
11. Electronic Health Record Implementation
- Dan Scharfman, VP Information Solutions, Baird Assoc.
- Vic DiGravio, President/CEO, Association for Behavioral Healthcare
- Manu Tandon, Chief Information Officer, EOHHS
- Kristina Boldebuck, NFI
Electronic Health Record systems are the most expensive, transforming software purchase most providers will ever make. Learn all about what’s mandated and what’s not, technology options, cost and financing options, implementation timelines and more.
12. Criminal Issues in the Human Services Workplace
- Catherine Reuben, Attorney, Hirsch Roberts Weinstein LLP
- Andrea Kramer, Attorney, Hirsch Roberts Weinstein LLP
Join a practical discussion of criminal law issues that commonly face human service employers. Learn about CORI reform, when a criminal record disqualifies a job candidate, actions to take if an employee is arrested, and how to investigate theft, violence and misconduct.
13. Multitasking & Information Overload
- Gregory Enos, Managing Principal, Time Communications Associates
This program will focus on multitasking in today's workplace, current brain research and realistic approaches to effectively accomplishing practical goals. Participants will learn about misconceptions about how much work can really be accomplished, the difference between multitasking and switchtasking, key findings of brain research on multitasking, what true information overload is and realistic techniques for dealing with multitasking and information overload.
14. Competency-Based Employment Interviewing
- Jeffrey Berman, Consultant, ESC of New England
An employment interviewer needs to understand how to elicit behavioral examples during an interview and how to avoid the most common interview errors. Sinceemployment procedures are regulated by equal employment opportunity laws, the interviewer must know what questions to ask and which to avoid.
15. Interrupting Racism in the Workplace
- Debora Bloom, President, Debora Bloom Associates
- Barbara Holland, President & Founder, Break Through Partners
Become better prepared to deal with racist language and behavior in your agency by building greater understanding of racism and white privilege. This session will provide perspectives and tools to increase your confidence and comfort level in addressing racist incidents. The result can be enhanced quality of service for your multi-cultural client populations and improved relations among staff.
16. Successful Wellness Initiatives
- Susannah Locketti, Aquatics & Wellness/Nutrition Coordinator, New England Village
- Kim Lowman, Adaptive Fitness Coordinator, New England Village
Come learn about implementing strong systems of agency accountability within health and wellness initiatives that lead to positive outcomes. This workshop highlights multiple case studies of clients and staff who significantly improved their health and skill sets as a direct result of stronger systems of agency accountability. Topics include fitness program start-ups, standardizing healthy meal planning and acquiring staff buy-in.
Afternoon Workshops
17. Laying the Groundwork for The Caring Force
- Kevin Gilnack, Campaign Manager, The Caring Force
- Michael Moloney, President and CEO, HMEA
- Other Special Guests
The Caring Force is Massachusetts’ exciting grassroots advocacy initiative that supports human services and has grown exponentially in its first year. Come find out how The Caring Force is empowering human service workers and program participants to fight for their interests and learn how you, your colleagues and your agency can build political power for yourself and the entire sector.
18. Building a Social Enterprise
- Deirdre Hunter, Division Director of Disability Services, Justice Resource Institute
- Susan Miskell, Business Development & Operations Manager, Pine Street Inn
- Susan Moody, Day Service Director, Justice Resource Institute
- Roger Wellington, Director, iCater Enterprises
Nonprofit organizations can generate unrestricted income by leveraging a particular expertise. iCater, a social enterprise of Pine Street Inn, offers two lines of high quality, nutritious and delicious food. JRI operates Full Circle Arts, a social enterprise retail store featuring up-cycled goods made by people with developmental disabilities, and previously operated a cafe and catering business, The Lunch Express. This workshop will describe the process of launching a social enterprise and the benefits for individuals, the organization and the community as well as lessons learned.
19. Chat with the Commissioners: Children, Youth & Family
- Angelo McClain, Commissioner, DCF
- Sheri Killins, Commissioner, EEC
- Edward Dolan, Commissioner, DYS
- Daniel Curley, Commissioner, DTA
- Gail Garinger, Child Advocate, Office of the Child Advocate
20. Chat with the Secretaries and Commissioners: Public and Mental Health, Veterans' Services & Elder Affairs
- Marcia Fowler, Commissioner, DMH
- Ann Hartstein, Secretary, Elder Affairs
- Coleman Nee, Secretary, Veterans’ Services
21. DBT: Sports in Behavioral Treatment of Youth
- Rebekah Conway Roulier, General Manager, Doc Wayne Athletic League
- Nikki Valila, Sexual Exploitation Coordinator, Youth Villages-Germaine Lawrence Campus
The workshop will cover the use of sports in the group therapy setting to increase self-esteem, self-concept, social awareness and to improve overall effective emotion management. Techniques from Doc Wayne’s sport-based do the good curriculum will be taught.
22. Addressing Problem Gambling
- Jim Wuelfing, Director of Prevention and Recovery, Mass. Council on Compulsive Gambling
- Victor Ortiz, Intervention and Treatment Director, Mass. Council on Compulsive Gambling
Many people in recovery from addictions find themselves gravitating toward gambling and even problem gambling. With expanded gambling on the horizon in Massachusetts, there will be more opportunity to develop problem gambling issues. Those that serve people with addiction and mental health issues need to be able to describe gambling disorder, screen for the disorder and refer to effective treatment and recovery support services.
- Kelly Challen, Program Director, Northeast Arc
The Spotlight Model is a relational and drama-based approach to social skills development for individuals with developmental disabilities. It is based on the premise that drama and improv support development of core social pragmatic skills in a fun environment. Come learn relational strategies for building alliances with clients, how drama can support experiential social learning, and methods for incorporating client interests.
24. Communicating in the Multigenerational Workplace
- John Poirier, President, Poirer & Associates, Inc.
For the first time, there are four generations in the workforce. Add clients/customers to this mix and it is easy to appreciate the increased challenges of communicating at work. Attend this workshop to increase your awareness of generational preferences in communication style and method, expand your adaptability to different preferences, and increase your effectiveness with all people in the workplace.
25. Making Your Fundraising Event a Financial Success
- Cindy Rowe, Principal, Rowe Resources
Are you wondering about the future of your organization's special event, whether it can still be successful in the current environment? This workshop explores techniques that will make your event a positive experience for everyone involved. Learn how to ensure your fundraising event is set up so that your board, volunteers and staff are all working together for success. Find out the steps to meet your financial goals and bring in new supporters.
26. A Healthcare Revolution in your Pocket
- Jacob Buckley-Fortin, CEO, eHana LLC
This workshop will provide a broad survey of cutting-edge mobile health technology, using the growth of smartphones and tablets as a lens to examine broader trends in delivery of care and tracking of health data. Participants will learn how consumers are tracking and using their own health information, about the emerging class of health tracking gadgets, and how providers can improve patient engagement and participation using these new tools.
27. Transforming Conflicts into Conversations
- Claudette Rowley, President, MetaVoice Coaching & Consulting
Are you looking for a blueprint for resolving organizational conflict and training your employees to manage conflict in constructive ways? Want to learn how to use disputes to strengthen your organization? During this workshop, learn about varying conflict styles, the role of emotion in conflict, a four-step conflict resolution process, and practice mediation skills.
28. Promoting a Culture of Safety and Risk Managers
- Darlene LaBaire-Dugay, Sr. HR Generalist, Seven Hills Foundation
- Erin Delussey, Training Associate, Seven Hills Foundation
This will be an interactive presentation on workplace safety, risk management and workers compensation. Areas of knowledge will include how to be proactive in preventing workplace injury, using data to decide which safety issues to look at, and tips for the development of a successful safety program.
29. Basic Project Management Skills
- Casey Hall, President, Casey Hall Training Associates
Every day, we’re judged by our ability to manage projects, priorities and deadlines. This workshop will provide an overview of successful strategies and best practices for effective project management. Learn the phases and process of project management, how to develop a project plan and tools to improve outcomes.
30. Asian Healthcare to Restore Vitality
- Elizabeth Sommers, Director of Research & Education, Pathways to Wellness
- Edie Snow, Shiatsu Therapist, Pathways to Wellness
Experience and learn stress reduction techniques that can be used at work or home. Integrating breathing, acupressure massage, and advice based on traditional Asian medicine, you can learn self-help techniques to enhance your health and well being.
31. Laughter: The New Bottom Line
- Trevor Smith, Human Potential Coach, Laugh For No Reason
Laughter Therapy is a health promotion method that uses laughter without comedy to help free people from daily stress. Learn techniques for self-care and personal stress management and apply therapeutic strategies to work with clients and to utilize laughter as a tool to build effective and professional relationships in the workplace.
32.The Importance of Being Happy
- Pamela MacLeod-Lima, Executive Director, TheWomen’s Center
As a direct care professional, you constantly give to clients — time, attention, compassion and caring support. What do you do when you have given your all? Don't let compassion fatigue turn to burnout. Learn self-care through building an optimistic outlook that will see you through your toughest days and your most challenging clients!
