27th Annual Summer Institute

Presented by Tarinda Craglow, LMSW, Director of Enrollment and Outreach for Ombudsman High Schools

This session explores how trauma-informed principles can be applied to build psychologically safe communities that strengthen engagement across diverse service settings. Drawing on established frameworks, including SAMHSA’s trauma-informed care principles and research on regulation, relational safety, and protective factors, this presentation translates evidence into practical application. Participants will examine how safety is intentionally created through staff interactions, organizational practices, and leadership approaches, and how these strategies support connection, trust, and sustained engagement. Real-world examples from alternative education settings will be shared to demonstrate how these practices can be adapted across systems. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to implement trauma-informed, relationship-centered approaches within their own organizations.

Presented by Denise Beagley, Director of Training for Beagley Consulting, LLC  and Guillermo Velez, Senior Director, Complete Care for Banner Health

3 hours of cultural competence

This session explores how conscious and unconscious biases shape workplace culture and influence inclusion. It introduces "ableism" as a mindset grounded in awareness, accountability, and allyship, drawing on key research and established frameworks. By connecting theory to practice, the session highlights real-world examples, data on inequities, and practical strategies for fostering empathy-driven environments. Participants will gain insight into identifying systemic barriers, challenging assumptions, and adopting more equitable behaviors in everyday interactions. An interactive exercise will reinforce these concepts, allowing attendees to practice applying these skills in real-world scenarios. Attendees will leave with actionable tools to help cultivate inclusive, respectful, and human-centered workplaces.

Presented by Chris Sharp, MSW, Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of the Office of American Indian Projects and Dwight Francisco, Independent Native Cultural Wellness Consultant & Healer

3 hours of ethics

This training will provide participants with the opportunity to understand the interconnection between Tribal worldviews and ethical practices in Tribal communities and organizations that serve people and families from those communities.

Presented by Lekeshia Mathis, DSW, Therapist/ CEO for Evolutionary Services and Consulting

3 hours of cultural competency

This session explores the intersection of cultural norms, stigma, and mental health within African American communities, highlighting how historical experiences of slavery and systemic oppression have shaped perceptions of resilience and emotional expression. The referenced works on cultural competence, racial identity, and community-based interventions provide theoretical and practical foundations for examining the mistrust of mental health systems and the reliance on spiritual coping. Drawing from research on culturally responsive care and social media advocacy, this program emphasizes innovative, culturally sensitive approaches, such as peer-led forums and online support networks, to reduce stigma, promote openness, and encourage help-seeking behaviors that foster mental and emotional wellness.

 

Presented by Jack Register, LCSW, PhD Candidate, Founder & Clinical Director for Catharsis Counseling Center   

3 hours of clinical supervision CEUs

This presentation challenges the “how and why” supervision is structured as it is now, using a teach-back methodology. This model challenges the hegemony of deficits first as the way in which clinicians learn to work with vulnerable populations. This presentation challenges the diagnostic model of over diagnosing or diagnoses that are biased based and not evidence-based.

Presented by Jenifer Riggins, LCMSW and Chris Valev, LMSW

This presentation explores the importance of Trauma-Informed Care in supporting individuals impacted by behavioral and mental health challenges, particularly those with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Participants will learn how trauma affects the nervous system, examine the Four R’s of trauma-informed practice, and gain practical strategies to build emotional safety, empowerment, and trauma-responsive therapeutic relationships. The session also highlights the importance of provider resilience and addressing secondary traumatic stress. In addition, attendees will be introduced to culturally responsive substance use and recovery resources, training opportunities, and evidence-based tools available through the Pacific Southwest ATTC and SURSI initiatives.

Presented by Amber Maiberger and Micaela Mercado

As communities across the Southwest face rising homelessness, social isolation, and systemic inequities, there is a critical need for trauma-informed, community-centered housing solutions. This interactive session explores shared housing—intentional roommate arrangements among unrelated adults—as a strategy to expand housing access while actively reducing loneliness and social isolation through meaningful, daily connection. Grounded in regional practice, the presenters will highlight models across Arizona that integrate culturally responsive approaches and support individuals with complex trauma histories in rebuilding social networks and a sense of belonging. Drawing on cross-sector partnerships, the session demonstrates how shared housing bridges homelessness response systems and long-term community well-being. Participants will examine trauma-informed evaluation methods that center lived experience and measure outcomes such as reduced loneliness, increased connection, and sustained housing stability.

Presented by Matt Sandoval, MSW, MEd

This presentation spotlights Art Heals Arizona, a non-profit serving youth experiencing parental separation. Their research-based, trauma-informed program model, Art + Mentors = Resilience, will be explored, and data demonstrating its effectiveness will be shared. 

Research shows that artistic expression can promote positive biological, cognitive, and emotional outcomes. However, these benefits may be inaccessible for youth who experience trauma, because arts-based programming without a trauma-informed approach may feel unsafe or triggering. Through Art Heals Arizona’s trauma-informed program model, youth are able to establish safety and connection and subsequently experience significant increases in key outcomes, including self-expression, skill-building, self-efficacy, and resilience. 

This presentation will share strategies used in Art Heals Arizona’s programming that can be adapted across settings to support not only children, but also parents, caregivers, and staff.
 

Presented by Lia Robles, LMSW, BHP

Prevention is the foundation of substance use work, but what happens when it isn't enough? With youth substance use and overdose rates continuing, along with youth use starting at younger ages, professionals must be prepared to recognize when prevention is not enough and intervention is critical. This presentation is set to explore understanding and the shift from prevention to intervention, equipping participants with the knowledge and tools to identify early and escalating warning signs, and support youth across the treatment continuum. Participants will gain practical insight into harm reduction approaches, screening tools, and levels of care, with a focus on improving outcomes for youth and families.

Presented by Eric Perry, M.S. 

Behavioral addictions are patterns of behavior that start out as normal habits and activities, but can take over in ways that look and feel very similar to substance addiction. There’s no drug involved, but our brains can get hooked on the rush. Common examples include gambling, shopping, social media use, pornography/sex, and even work or exercise! Under the hood, the same reward circuits in the brain are involved as with drugs and alcohol. To make things worse, these addictions can be hard to spot because many of these activities are socially acceptable and often even encouraged. The key difference is impact. When the behavior starts to interfere with daily functioning, creates secrecy or shame, and continues despite negative consequences, it’s no longer just a habit.

Presented by Liz Lightfoot, PhD

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework that can make social work practice more inclusive. While UDL is typically discussed as a means for making education more accessible for people with disabilities, its strategies can improve communication, engagement, and outcomes for all clients by reducing the cognitive load that often impedes success. This session will introduce practical ways social workers can apply the UDL framework across diverse practice settings at both the agency and personal practice levels. Attendees will compare low-tech and high-tech AI-enhanced approaches for making their practice more universally accessible, with many real-world examples. These design strategies are directly relevant to trauma-informed social work practice as they can help reduce situational stress, foster predictability, and empower clients.

Presented by Tenasha Hildebrand, MPA and Paula Krasselt, PhD

The rise in stress among Americans can be attributed to various factors, including direct and indirect experiences of trauma. Stigma continues to hinder individuals from seeking help, often resulting in prolonged struggles before they reach out for support. To address this, it is crucial to integrate trauma-informed care throughout the Sequential Intercept Model. 

Building strong partnerships among stakeholders, providers, organizations, and municipalities is essential for effective support. Collaboration is central to the Sequential Intercept Map, enabling communities to develop a more efficient system for assisting individuals in crisis. By fostering these partnerships and focusing on emerging trends and solutions, we can achieve better outcomes and reduce interactions with the criminal justice system. 

This presentation will provide attendees with an understanding of the Sequential Intercept Model and its significance. We will explore key partnerships in Arizona, including law enforcement, the judiciary, mental health treatment providers, and crisis services. Additionally, we will discuss emerging trends and solutions aimed at enhancing crisis and justice systems to improve recovery outcomes.
 

Presented by Candy Espino, MBA and Helena Whitney, MSW

This session will explore how associations play a critical role in advancing policy, advocacy, and systems-level change through strategic collaboration and stakeholder engagement. Using the successful passage of Arizona’s 2025 Behavioral Health Technician (BHT) legislation as a case study, presenters will highlight how statewide associations can leverage relationships, align diverse partners, navigate legislative complexities, and build consensus around shared priorities. The session will also examine how associations serve as trusted conveners and information hubs through initiatives like Arizonans for Better Healthcare, a statewide coalition focused on healthcare policy education and public engagement related to H.R. 1 and RHTP. Attendees will gain practical insight into how associations can drive sustainable policy change and strengthen systems through unified advocacy efforts. 

Presented by Hyunsung Oh, Ph.D., Millie Moran, Ammaar Zindani, and Elizabeth Hayward

AI large language models (AI LLM) are rapidly entering social work practice, offering support for documentation, communication, and information access. However, their adoption is shaped less by technical barriers and more by ethical concerns, professional values, and organizational norms. This workshop synthesizes findings from qualitative and quantitative studies examining how students, faculty, and practicum supervisors use AI LLMs and factors that influence their adoption. Results highlight key use cases alongside persistent concerns, including confidentiality risks, AI inaccuracies, value conflicts, and “AI guilt”, a new construct referring to emotional discomfort associated with relying on AI for professional tasks. Organizational image and perceived norms also significantly shape adoption choice. We urge organizations to build structured training and dialogue to support ethical AI adoption. Participants will explore how individual values, organizational contexts, and professional standards intersect, and engage in guided discussions to identify strategies and protocols for responsible AI LLM use across practice, education, and policy settings.
 

Presented by Cassandra Pena, MSW

American Indian youth in urban settings experience elevated risk of substance use linked to structural inequities, historical displacement, and limited access to culturally grounded prevention resources. Cultural identity is increasingly recognized as a resilience-enhancing factor that strengthens coping, belonging, and cultural continuity, yet the literature remains fragmented in how it defines and measures these processes. This session shares findings from a scoping review that synthesizes how cultural identity is conceptualized and operationalized in relation to substance use among urban American Indian youth. Participants will explore ways to incorporate cultural identity processes into assessment, program design, and behavioral health service delivery to strengthen culturally grounded, resilience-informed approaches for urban Native youth.
 

Presented by Katherine Nisbet, MS, LIAC and Emily O’Brien, LCSW

This session examines how behavioral health and reentry programs can design and sustain trauma-informed systems for justice-involved clients within Medicaid-funded and community-based settings. Participants will explore how trauma-informed principles are operationalized through leadership structures, clinical workflows, supervision practices, and documentation standards to promote safety, engagement, and continuity of care. The presentation integrates current research on complex trauma, institutionalization, and reentry adjustment with evidence-based frameworks, including SAMHSA’s trauma-informed care model, cognitive-behavioral and motivational approaches, and implementation science principles. Emphasis is placed on aligning clinical practice with regulatory, ethical, and quality assurance requirements while maintaining fidelity to trauma-responsive values. Through applied examples and system-level case studies, attendees will learn how coordinated organizational design supports recovery, reduces staff burnout, and improves long-term outcomes for justice-involved individuals and their communities.
 

Presented by Evette Mei, LCSW

Since trauma often originates within relationships, healing must be achieved through them. Whether trauma is intergenerational or individual, secure attachment remains the bedrock of recovery. 

This training explores the neurobiology of the developing brain and common trauma symptoms in children. We will examine family-based interventions that empower caregivers to act as catalysts for healing through empathic attunement and attachment repair. Participants will also delve into the clinician's role, exploring essential goals, evidence-based assessment tools, and unique systemic challenges. 

Finally, we address the intersection of trauma and comorbid mental health conditions. Attendees will gain practical skills to deactivate physiological threat systems and foster long-term family resilience.

Presented by Katie Marwitz, LPC

As cannabis products have increased in potency, availability, and social acceptance, clinicians are increasingly tasked with assessing use among populations with high rates of trauma exposure. This trauma informed workshop equips behavioral health professionals with practical, evidence based tools to assess cannabis use while prioritizing safety, trust, and client autonomy. Participants will gain an overview of contemporary cannabis products, methods of ingestion, potency, and cumulative effects, with attention to how trauma histories may influence tolerance, coping behaviors, and disclosure. The session emphasizes respectful, non-stigmatizing assessment strategies aligned with DSM 5 TR criteria for Cannabis Use Disorder and provides guidance on asking clinically necessary questions in ways that reduce shame and defensiveness. Through self reflection and case based scenarios, attendees will examine how personal beliefs, policy history, and systemic bias may impact clinical interactions. Participants will leave better prepared to engage clients collaboratively, improve diagnostic accuracy, and deliver trauma responsive care across substance use, mental health, and justice involved settings
 

Presented by Sharon Bell, MSW

Caring Through the Chaos is a skills based, trauma informed training designed for practitioners who support families navigating the challenges of serious mental illness. This 90 minute workshop examines how trauma shapes communication, behavior, and crisis responses within family systems, and how these dynamics influence engagement, treatment adherence, and long term stability. Drawing from social work practice, caregiver research, and real world case examples, participants will learn practical strategies for de-escalation, grounding, and caregiver stabilization, along with tools for strengthening safety, collaboration, and emotional regulation at home. The session also addresses secondary trauma and burnout among helping professionals, offering frameworks that enhance practitioner resilience and capacity. By the end of the workshop, attendees will be equipped with actionable, evidence aligned interventions they can immediately integrate into clinical practice, case management, and family support settings. 
 

Presented by Melanie O’Neil, MSW, PhD, and Lindsay Cantelme, MSW, PhD 

This workshop will explore the ASU School of Social Work’s international opportunities that equip students with culturally responsive and ethically grounded practice skills. These short-term opportunities place students in direct engagement with social issues such as migration, extreme poverty, and structural inequalities through an iterative process of learning, doing, and reflecting. Through exposure to a different culture and social services, students develop a knowledge base and critical awareness of diversity issues in practice and policy, as well as become familiar with culturally grounded approaches to practice, as they increase their understanding of social justice and immigration. Workshop participants will discuss how service and experiential learning principles may be applied toward their own work with students or employees to create similar learning experiences within their community.

Presented by Alexander Demain, LMSW, ACHE and Tonya Cwynar, BS, LMSW

Hospital transitions can re-activate trauma, strain caregivers, and worsen disparities, particularly in the Southwest where distance, workforce shortages, housing instability, and language access barriers often limit post-acute options. This session strengthens trauma-informed, culturally grounded level-of-care decision-making across the healthcare continuum by aligning clinical criteria with patient goals and real-world access constraints. Attendees will leave with a practical decision-making framework, documentation language to support medical necessity and appeals, and warm handoff tools to improve transition safety and equity. Trauma-informed, access-aware level-of-care planning can support continuity, caregiver sustainability, and strengthen patient outcomes.

Presented by Dawn McReynolds

This session is grounded in over 30 years of behavioral health and advocacy experience and reflects real‑world application of collaborative practices between peer, family, and clinical professionals. Using the “Meaningful Peer and Family Collaboration” framework, participants will explore how intentional communication and the Best Desired Outcome (BDO) approach improve engagement, reduce conflict, and strengthen person-centered care. The presentation content is supported by applied field experience and practical communication strategies highlighted throughout the PowerPoint, emphasizing collaboration as a daily practice rather than theory. Attendees will gain insight into how integrating lived experience with clinical expertise aligns with effective outcomes and the mission of the Office of Individual and Family Affairs to ensure individuals and families are central to behavioral health service delivery. 

Presented by Ashley Denton, LCSW

Over 5 million U.S. children have experienced parental incarceration, and justice-involved youth are disproportionately likely to come from these families. Traditional approaches often fail because they demand trust before offering it. This workshop presents an alternative pathway grounded in restorative justice, strengths-based programming, and creative engagement strategies tailored for the Southwest.
 

Presented by Kayla Ianello, DHSc candidate

This presentation will explore Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) and its impact on newborns and families in Arizona. Participants will learn how NAS is defined, how frequently it occurs, and how hospitals typically care for affected infants, including an overview of the Eat, Sleep, Console approach. The session will highlight the critical role of non-stigmatizing language and practices in improving care experiences and outcomes. Emphasis will be placed on the importance of keeping mothers and babies together and providing supportive, trauma-informed care. Participants will also learn about their role in the Maricopa SHIFT Collaborative and the value of completing an Infant Care Plan prior to delivery to promote coordinated, compassionate care.

Presented by Tracy Lopes and Tonya Hamilton

Presentation description to be announced.

Presented by Lindsay Cantelme, MSW, PhD

In order to fully and holistically support women with substance use histories, it is necessary for practitioners to be equipped with knowledge about biological factors that influence women’s substance use and sustaining recovery over time. In particular, it is important for practitioners to understand how fluctuating hormones relate to the development of substance use in women and the process of recovery. This presentation aims to synthesize the literature regarding women’s hormones and substance use from puberty and through menopause. The presentation will equip attendees with digestible information and practical tools to support their work with women with substance use histories, helping practitioners provide more informed, targeted services for women. 

Presented by Mike Policky, COO and Dr. Roderick Logan, DPTh, FAAETS 

Molina Healthcare of Arizona, in partnership with the Arizona Trauma Institute, will share a practical case study on becoming a Certified Trauma-Informed Organization. Speakers will walk through the certification journey, including leadership alignment, training, and system-wide integration of trauma-informed principles. The discussion will contrast traditional pathogenic models with a salutogenic approach that emphasizes resilience, recovery, and whole-person care. The presentation will include key lessons learned from implementation and a forward-looking view of how trauma-informed care will continue to evolve within a managed care setting. Attendees will leave with actionable insights to guide their own certification efforts and strengthen trauma-informed practices across their organizations. 

Presented by Zoe Baccum, MPH, LMSW

This session explores trauma-informed and culturally responsive social work practice with refugee and immigrant communities, emphasizing the complex impacts of displacement, gender-based violence, historical trauma, and systemic inequities on individual, family, and community wellbeing. This presentation will provide practical strategies for social workers and allied professionals to ethically engage refugee populations while addressing behavioral health disparities and structural barriers to care based upon contemporary research and best practices while utilizing a critical lens to assess practice up to this point. Participants will examine how trauma-informed principles can be operationalized across direct practice, community engagement, and organizational settings to strengthen trust, resilience, and healing. This session integrates evidence-based and community-centered approaches relevant to practitioners serving diverse populations across the Southwest.

Presented by Yaminikrishna Sabesan, MD and Theresa Costales, MD

Trauma‐informed care has long emphasized safety, trust, empowerment, and human connection in healthcare delivery. As artificial intelligence (AI) and digital tools become increasingly embedded in clinical workflows, trauma‐informed principles must evolve thoughtfully to ensure technology enhances— rather than undermines—these core values. This presentation explores both traditional and AI‐enabled approaches to trauma‐informed care, highlighting practical opportunities, risks, and ethical considerations. Presenters will examine how AI can support trauma‐informed care through improved access, early risk identification, clinical decision support, and reduction of administrative burden, while also addressing concerns related to bias, transparency, data privacy, depersonalization, and patient trust. The session will focus on using technology wisely, reinforcing that AI should augment—not replace—human judgment, empathy, and therapeutic relationships. Attendees will gain insight into how healthcare organizations, clinicians, and patients can prepare for the future of trauma‐informed care, including strategies for digital readiness, patient engagement, staff education, and governance frameworks. Emphasis will be placed on maintaining equity, cultural sensitivity, and psychological safety as technology advances. This session aims to equip healthcare leaders and clinicians with a balanced, practical framework for integrating AI in ways that responsibly support trauma‐informed care.
 

Presented by Desiree Voshefsky-Auge

Trauma-informed outreach plays a critical role in healing communities across the Southwest by fostering trust, reducing harm, and improving access to care for individuals impacted by substance use, homelessness, and systemic trauma. This session explores how trauma-informed social work principles are operationalized in community outreach efforts in Arizona, with a focus on person-centered care, ethical engagement, and cultural responsiveness. Drawing from real-world practice, presenters will highlight strategies such as engaging large encampments, maintaining small outreach teams to reduce retraumatization, collaborating with law enforcement in non-punitive ways, and adapting approaches to meet gender, cultural, and identity-based needs. Participants will gain practical insights into implementing trauma-informed, person-centered outreach that strengthens engagement, supports dignity, and promotes sustainable community healing.

Presented by Gordana Vincic, MSW

In times of uncertainty and rapid change, leadership requires more than strategy; it calls for humanity. This session explores how resilient leadership is rooted in healing, authentic connection, and personal growth. Drawing from social work principles and holistic practices, it highlights how self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and community-centered approaches can strengthen leaders and the people they serve. Participants will gain practical tools to navigate complexity while fostering trust, well-being, and purpose. This conversation invites leaders to move beyond survival and toward transformation, creating spaces where individuals and organizations can grow, adapt, and thrive together.

Presented by Illiamari Houston, LCSW

This interactive workshop reframes generational healing as a form of community wealth within Latine communities in the Southwest. Grounded in trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and relational social work practice, the session explores how intergenerational trauma and resilience impact individuals, families, and communities. Participants will engage in reflective and experiential activities while learning practical, holistic strategies to support healing across generations. The presentation highlights how trauma-informed care can be operationalized through cultural humility, embodied practices, and community-centered approaches. Attendees will leave with tools to integrate culturally grounded, trauma-informed interventions into clinical, community, and organizational settings.

This workshop, Generational Healing as Community Wealth, expands the concept of trauma-informed care by centering healing as a collective and culturally rooted process within Latine communities in the Southwest. While traditional frameworks often focus on individual symptom reduction, this presentation reframes healing as an intergenerational and community-based intervention that addresses historical trauma, migration experiences, systemic inequities, and cultural strengths.

Participants will explore how trauma-informed social work practice can be applied across micro, mezzo, and macro levels, including clinical care, family systems, community engagement, and organizational culture. The workshop integrates key principles of trauma-informed care—safety, trust, empowerment, collaboration, and cultural responsiveness—while also addressing the limitations of traditional models when working with collectivist and culturally diverse communities.
Drawing from trauma-informed, liberation-oriented, and culturally responsive frameworks, the presentation highlights how intergenerational trauma may manifest through emotional suppression, hyper-independence, family role expectations, and stigma around mental health. At the same time, it emphasizes cultural strengths such as familismo, resilience, spirituality, storytelling, and community connection as pathways to healing.

This session is intentionally interactive and experiential. Participants will engage in a guided “Inheritance Map” activity, reflective exercises, and discussion to deepen understanding of how trauma-informed care can be embodied and applied in practice. The workshop also explores how trauma-informed principles can be integrated into self-care, supervision, and organizational culture, supporting both client and practitioner well-being.

Attendees will leave with practical tools and frameworks to support culturally grounded, trauma-informed healing in Latine communities, while also strengthening ethical, inclusive, and community-centered social work practice in the Southwest.

Presented by Tonia Stott, LMSW, PhD and Raymond Rice, MSW

Social workers and social service providers are often on the front lines of supporting people who are experiencing trauma symptoms. Yet, the common frameworks of trauma-informed care are designed to be implemented either at an organizational level or an internal thought level, while the primary practice models are designed to be carried out within a therapy office. This presentation identifies six trauma-responsive strategies, each inclusive of three actionable skills guiding what we do and say, that can be implemented by practitioners outside the therapy office. The focal strategy will present specific skills in bearing witness. A child welfare social worker will share examples of how he has implemented skills from the six strategies and how his ability to bear witness has strengthened engagement with clients.

Panelists: Angela Schultz, MSW; Carlos Ramos, MSW; Andrea Enciso, LMSW; Michelle Coldwell, MSW; Catherine Nichols, PhD; Justin Chase, LMSW, MBA, FACHE

Moderated by Toni Peters, MSW

This session will explore the challenges of navigating the constant flow of information, policy changes, and emerging issues that directly impact the communities we serve. As helping professionals, we are often tasked with understanding complex developments, communicating their implications to clients and stakeholders, and adapting our practices to meet evolving needs.

Participants will discuss strategies for staying informed, translating information into meaningful action, and effectively supporting communities through periods of change and uncertainty.