Healing from COVID-19 Impact in Tribal Communities (cultural)

*CULTURAL

This is a 3.5 hour session.

COVID-19 has impacted numerous communities of color. This interactive group discussion will highlight the challenges tribal and urban American Indian communities encountered providing behavioral health services. Solutions to those challenges will be identified and shared with all participants. Lastly, lessons learned, healing practices, and self-care activities will be highlighted to ensure participants share their stories of wellness and successful outcomes.

Presented by:

Jennifer S. Nanez, MSW, LMSW, currently serves as a Training and Technical Assistance Coordinator with the SAMHSA Tribal Training and Technical Assistance Center under Tribal Tech LLC. Ms. Nanez is an enrolled tribal member of the Pueblo of Acoma, New Mexico. Ms. Nanez has been in the social work and education fields for over 20 years with an emphasis in serving the American Indian population, and promoting effective community engagement and clinical work in the American Indian community.

Charlene Poola is a PhD candidate at Arizona State University School of Social Work. As a clinical social worker, she has provided counseling, suicide, and substance abuse prevention services to American Indian communities in the southwest for twenty years. Her practice experience informs her dissertation that explores how American Indian Behavioral Health organizations adapt evidence-based treatments. This research aims to ensure culturally appropriate treatment is provided to Indigenous populations. Charlene has taught courses on Evaluative Research Methods to MSW students. She provides clinical supervision to social work students seeking licensure and has been a field practicum consultant. Her focus is on enhancing behavioral health systems that serve Indigenous communities based on her years of clinical experience.

Lena Gachupin, (Zia-Jemez Pueblo, Sun Clan). Upon completion of a Masters’ degree in Administrative and Clinical Social Work from the University of Utah, Lena began as a Social Worker providing Child Protective services with BIA. Much of her professional career has been practicing as a Substance Abuse Specialist, Mental Health Specialist and Behavioral Health Specialist with the Indian Health Service. She retired with 31 years working with the federal system. She also completed post graduate training at the University of New Mexico in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Since retirement she has worked with the Pueblos of San Felipe as a therapist, a supervisor and with the Pueblo of Jemez as a BH Program Manager. She has also worked with 4Winds Behavioral Health providing individual and group therapy to clients with addictions. In addition to her career as a therapist/supervisor, Lena served for a number of years as President and now as Acting President with the Albuquerque Area Inter-tribal BH Council (AAITC) representing all tribal BH programs in NM, CO and parts of Navajo. AAITC is a consortium of tribal BH directors coming together to be apprised of tribal, state and federal information affecting tribal communities. Lena has been on the Advisory Council for the National American Indian and Alaska Native ATTC for about 7 years. The National Center provides education and training opportunities for tribes. ATTC also provides a Mental Health and Prevention ATTC and have most recently hosted webinars with the Hispanic ATTC. Lena is also a trainer with ATTC specific to culturally appropriate addiction treatment/recovery services. An advocate and voice for our Native people.

Tasha Guerrero is a member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate and is also from the Spirit Lake Nation and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Tasha is married and has four sons. Tasha is the Family Advocacy Social Worker for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Central Office, Office of Indian Services, Division of Human Services. Tasha is based in Albuquerque, NM. Tasha received a Masters of Social Work from the University of Minnesota and a Bachelors of Social Work from New Mexico Highland University. Tasha has been employed with the BIA for eight years. Tasha has worked in the areas of child protection, child welfare, family violence prevention, providing services to Individual Indian Money (IIM) account holders, crisis intervention, school-based social work, home-based therapy, and providing training and technical assistance to Tribal communities. Tasha is passionate about serving Indian Country and improving outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Native children and families.

3.5 Cultural CEU's

NASW Member- $70
Non-Member- $105