McHenry County Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Recovery Conference
Friday, September 8, 2023 | 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
McHenry County College Luecht Auditorium
8900 US Hwy 14, Crystal Lake, IL

4.25 Free CEU's & complimentary lunch provided
(IAODAPCA pending)

Join us for the 7th Annual Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Recovery Conference. This event is a collaborative effort between the McHenry County Mental Health Board and the McHenry County Suicide Prevention Task Force which focuses on suicide prevention, 
mental health and substance abuse. 

Who Should Attend: Mental/Behavioral Healthcare Providers, School Professionals, Law Enforcement, First Responders, survivors of suicide, individuals seeking resources for themselves, residents interested in resources to help others. ALL are encouraged to attend! The conference will provide a space for professionals & the community to discuss their concerns, successes, and challenges, and share tools and best practices.

If conference space capacity should become limited, priority status is given to individuals who reside in McHenry County or are employed within McHenry County.

Register Now! 

Breakout Session Descriptions and Presenter Bios

8:15 - 9:00 am | Check-in - Exhibitors open 

9:00 - 9:15 am | Opening Remarks | Leonetta Rizzi | McHenry County Mental Health Board Executive Director  

9:15 - 10:30 am | Keynote Presentation | Chelsea Laliberte Barnes
"Go Upstream Together: A Call for 'Come Unity' in Driving Change"

10:30 - 10:45 am | Break - Exhibitors open

10:45 - 11:45 am | Breakout Session I - 3 concurrent breakouts

• Surviving Trauma and Stress: The Mind-Body Connection - Judy Pasternack, BSN, RN, NPD-BC, and Gary Rukin, LPC
• The Intersection of Neurodiversity and Mental Health - Courtney Behrens, LCSW, and Susan Perkins, MA, LPC (This breakout session is full)
• Youth Advocacy Movement - Dr. Melissa Katz and local youth advocates

11:45 - 12:45 pm | Complimentary lunch - Exhibitors open 

12:45 - 1:45 pm | Breakout Session II - 3 concurrent breakouts

• Reintegrating Offenders into the Community - Erica Harris, MSW 
  (This breakout session is full)
• Resiliency as it Relates to Alcohol Use Disorder - Sara Lemke, LCPC, CADC 
• Youth Advocacy Movement - Dr. Melissa Katz and local youth advocates
  (This breakout session is full)

2:00 - 3:00 pm | Breakout Session III - 3 concurrent breakouts

• Importance of Peer Support and Community Connection in Early Recovery - Bobby Gattone 
• Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention - ENGLISH - Nicole O'Dea
  (This breakout session is full)
• Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention - SPANISH - Suzanne Martinez and Edith Sanchez

Please complete evaluations and collect free CEUs

 

Special Accomodations

For any special accommodations needed, including dietary needs for lunch, translation and/or transportation please indicate it on the registration form or call the McHenry County Mental Health Board at 815.455.2828 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. Requests must be received by Monday, August 28, 2023.

Register Now!