We are excited to announce the Parent/Professional Advocacy League (PPAL) will hold its 3rd Annual Conference and Celebration for Families and Professionals on May 31, 2013 at the Best Western Royal Plaza & Trade Center, Marlborough, MA from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This year promises to be an outstanding event, gathering more than 500 attendees with a comprehensive agenda, including: workshops, speakers and a large and diverse Exhibition Hall filled with organizations and companies serving the children’s mental health communities.

We are also proud to present our Second Youth/Young Adult Conference Track, giving young people aged 16-25 the opportunity to develop their skills as leaders and advocates.

Our Conference will be an amazing connection to family and youth journeys. Our Keynote speaker, Fletcher Wortmann, author of Triggered: A Memoir of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder will connect personal accounts to many we support. Our other featured speaker, Marvin Alexander, Advocate, LICSW and President of Youth M.O.V.E. National, will illuminate the path for Peer Voice.

 Title Sponsor

Keynote Speaker 

Fletcher Wortmann

In 2007, Fletcher Wortmann was diagnosed with crippling obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). His book Triggered: A Memoir of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder deals with the challenges of growing up with undiagnosed OCD and how he learned to manage his disorder. After receiving treatment at the OCD Institute at Mclean Hospital, Fletcher went on to graduate from Swarthmore College with Bachelors in English Literature, writing his senior thesis on the evolution of the superhero in American culture.

Fletcher has worked as a college Writing Instructor, "Party Associate," SAT tutor, record store clerk, farm-stand hand, and on-line magazine contributor. He currently lives and writes in Philadelphia, PA where he is working towards his MFA in creative writing at Temple University. Fletcher also performs with the New York/Philadelphia sketch comedy group, The Disappointments.

Featured Speaker

Marvin Alexander, MSW, LCSW

Marvin Alexander is a founding member and current President of the Board of Directors at Youth MOVE National, Inc., a national youth/young adult-run organization that is devoted to improving services and systems that are designed to serve young people. Marvin Alexander is also a Clinical Social Worker employed by Magellan Behavioral Health as a Youth Support Coordinator for the Louisiana Behavioral Health Partnership. With lived experience in children’s residential centers, juvenile detention, alternative schools, and a host of different child service programs; Marvin knows what it’s like being “that youth” or the “subject” of service provision. Marvin is alumni of Arkansas State University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in Social Work and has served as an adjunct instructor in social work. Marvin’s master’s degree is also in Social Work, received from Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida. Marvin later received a Graduate Certificate in Conflict Mediation from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Marvin is a champion for the study, development and implementation of strategies that engage and empower young people in their own service planning and the integration of these voices in to policy development and transformation of systems that impact the lives of America’s youth population.

Workshops

1.  Towards Prevention of Psychosis and Disability Through Early Interventions: 

      Improving Parent-Child Mental Health Support:

Presenter: Larry J. Seidman, PhD, Director of Commonwealth Research Center

Dr. Seidman presents a new strategy to help strengthen families challenged by mental illness. He will review specific services and interventions to help improve competencies and enhance overall resilience. The approach utilizes a combination of individual and family treatment as well as cognitive therapies.

2. It’s a Big Deal:  Appropriate Use of Psychotropic Medications with Children & Youth

Presenter: Pat Hunt, Magellan Behavioral Health Services

There is much concern about the use and overuse of psychotropic medications prescribed for children. Magellan has taken on this issue nationally and invites stakeholders to help develop solutions for appropriate and effective treatment.    

3. Transitioning to Young Adulthood: What Youth & Young Adults Want You to Know - Closed

Moderator: Marvin Alexander, Featured Speaker

A panel of youth and young adults will provide insight on what would be helpful from families and systems as they transition to young adulthood. They will provide their recommendations based upon their lived experience.  

Youth Track

PPAL and Youth MOVE Massachusetts would like to invite you to attend our Youth Track for youth/young adults in the age range of 16-25 yrs old. We are offering a unique and amazing opportunity to youth to gain friendships, professional development, and skills with their peers.  Youth MOVE Massachusetts believes in the peer to peer model of learning and development.

Our Youth Track will offer the following:

- Connections to Peers with Similar Journeys

- Public Speaking Skills

- Strategies to protect your story

- Self Expression in Visual Art

We are a part of a youth led national organization devoted to improving services and systems that support positive growth and development by uniting the voices of individuals who have lived experience in various systems including mental health, juvenile justice, education, and child welfare.

We, the members of Youth M.O.V.E. Massachusetts work as a diverse collective to unite the voices and causes of youth while raising awareness about youth issues. We advocate for youth rights and voice in mental health and the other systems that serve them, for the purpose of empowering youth to be equal partners in the process of change.

Scholarships

Scholarships are available on a sliding scale fee.  Call 508-767-9725 for more information.

Printable Conference Information

Register Now!