Education & Training | Sunshine Social Services, Inc.

The SunServe Institute
Fostering Clinical and Cultural Competencies in Service to the LGBT Community

Background | Calendar

Education and Training

BACKGROUND

All SunServe training programs are delivered by seasoned educational, communications and clinical professionals with substantial expertise in addressing the needs of the LGBTQ community. In addition, each training:

Benefits education, management, human relations and clinical professionals as well as support
and customer service line staff at any level of experience serving the LGBTQ community.

Increases competency and confidence.

Includes bibliographies and websites linking to the best resources.

Includes innovative, interactive and participatory designs.

Provides opportunities to network and share experiences.

Identifies community resources for staff and clients.

A. CORPORATE, AGENCY, SCHOOL AND GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT AND STAFF TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES:

We custom design our cultural competency training packages to meet the needs of various non-profit and for profit companies, agencies and corporations. That package can include specialized training for front line and support staff as well as administrative, human resources professionals and supervisory personnel.

SunServe’s commitment does not stop when the training workshops end. We always make ourselves available to the agencies and organizations we train for ongoing organizational consultation to assist leadership teams in becoming more LGBT competent through policy and procedures alignment to the best practices for LGBT inclusiveness and quality care.

We also frequently serve as clinical consultants for staff in various agencies seeking professional assistance for specific case needs, whether it is a family struggling with the coming out process or a facility seeking the best way to serve the needs of a gender variant resident.

Costs: Contracts are customized according to needs and size of the organization requesting the training

B. CLINICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS:

These programs are designed especially for, and limited to, clinicians and students in the helping professions. -

1. Clinical Competencies Curriculum: Mental Health specialists have the opportunity to gain fundamental understanding of central issues in clinical care of LGBT clients. Training sessions are designed to address central topics in competency guidelines prepared by American Psychological Association Division 44 and American Counseling Association’s ALGBTIC.

          a. Regular training sessions at SunServe and other locations
          b. Annual Professionals Conference (2nd weekend in November)

2. On Site Clinical Placement Program:
          a. Student practicum placement. SunServe has contractual relationships with various graduate programs in the helping professions for advanced student placements.
          b. Florida registered internship placement (Social Work, Mental Health Counseling and MFT). In exchange for supervision toward licensure, in-service agency specific training and free participation in all SunServe training programs and case conferencing, SunServe expects a minimum of 6 clinical face to face contacts with SunServe clients per week.

Costs:
Clinical training activities are $10 - 20 per CEU for clinical trainings. Case conference participation is by invitation only. Licensed therapists may contract for the full 30 hours required for licensure renewal (including Prevention of Medical Errors and Ethics) and 2 years participation in monthly conferences at a total package rate of $650. Conclusion of this training packing includes listing of therapist’s practice on the SunServe website. SunServe registered interns participate free in all these activities

CEUs:
Most of SunServe’s training opportunities provide CEUs for all mental health professionals (Social Workers, Mental Health Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Psychologists and School Psychologists). In addition most trainings provide CEUs for RNs, ARNPs, LPNs and CNAs. Training CEUs are automatically reported to the state boards through CEBroker. SunServe is CEBroker Provider #50-5251.

CE Broker

WINTER-SPRING, 2013 TRAINING CALENDAR
Download calendar

INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE IN THE LGBT COMMUNITY (2 CEUs)
THURSDAY, January 17, 8:30 – 10:30 AM
Location: Training Room at SunServe, 2312 Wilton Dr., Wilton Manors, FL, 33305
Presenter: Mary Elizabeth Quinn
COST: $20
TO REGISTER, Click on this link http://www.regonline.com/dvcourse

LGBT survivors of intimate partner violence face increased barriers in seeking safety and receiving services and support. Participants in this training will understand the dynamics of intimate partner violence as they specifically relate to people who identify as LGBT. Specific considerations for the counseling and social service professional will be discussed as well as resources and services for LGBT survivors of intimate partner violence.

Have an increased understanding of the dynamics and impact of intimate partner violence among people who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and/or Queer

Be able to identify the strategies that batterers may use which exploit the victim’s sexual orientation or gender identify to gain or maintain power and control

Be able to identify barriers for LGBTQ victims of intimate partner violence who are seeking services, support and safety

Be able to list three important safety planning tools for use with victims who identify as LGBTQ

Mary Elizabeth Quinn, MSW, coordinated the annual GLBTQ Domestic Violence Coalition Screening Tool Conference at The Network/La Red in Boston, MA. She also has served as Domestic Violence Advocate at the Womencare Shelter in Bellingham, WA, where she also was a conference presenter on DV in the LGBT community.

UNDERSTANDING SEXUAL ORIENTATION IDENTITY: A YOUTH WORKERS GUIDE
(3 CEUS PROVIDED BY CHILDREN’S SERVICES COUNCIL)
FRIDAY, February 1, 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Location: Children’s Services Council, 6600 W Commercial Blvd., Lauderdhill, FL, 33319
Presenter: James Lopresti, PhD, LMHC
COST: $10
TO REGISTER, visit the CSC training website at www.cscbroward.org.

The development of healthy self-esteem presents unique challenges for the young person who gradually discovers a difference about his/her sexual orientation. In this workshop participants will examine key challenges in working with gay and lesbian youth, discuss specific approaches to developing supportive relationships, and creating implementation plans for after school youth program settings. To enhance the learning in this session, participants will hear from current and former high school students about their experiences dealing with sexual orientation.

PREVENTION OF MEDICAL ERRORS WITH AN EMPHASIS ON LGBT CLIENTS (2 CEUs)
THURSDAY, February 14, 8:30 – 10:30 AM
Location: Training Room at SunServe, 2312 Wilton Dr., Wilton Manors, FL, 33305
Presenter: James Lopresti, PhD, LMHC
Cost: $20
TO REGISTER, Click on this link: http://www.regonline.com/mederrors
This 2 hour class covers topics require by Florida law, including root cause analysis, error reduction and prevention as well as patient safety in behavioral healthcare practice. Provider is uniquely equipped to address special concerns that arise in serving the gay and lesbian population.

Define medical errors for behavioral health practitioners.

Identify root causes/factors that contribute to the occurrence of behavioral health care practice errors.

Identify situations that are especially error prone in mental health settings and contexts.

Understand approaches to improving outcomes in those error prone situations

Understand reporting responsibilities in practice settings/contexts and how reporting errors arise.

Identify ways to minimize the occurrence of such reporting errors.

Understand fundamentals of client safety and client rights that underlie responsible and careful clinical practice.

James Lopresti, Ph.D., LMHC, SunServe’s Director of Clinical Education, a frequent presenter on gay and lesbian issues for professionals, has taught at various graduate level programs including Barry University, Loyola University of Chicago and the JohnsHopkins University.

WORKING, LIVING AND LOVING IN THE SAME COMMUNITY:
SPECIAL ISSUES FOR LGBT THERAPY (3 CEUs).
THURSDAY, March 14, 8:30 – 11:30 AM
Location: Training Room at SunServe, 2312 Wilton Dr., Wilton Manors, FL, 33305
Presenters: Paul Briggs, LCSW, LMT and Lyle Davis, LCSW
COST: $25
TO REGISTER, Click on this link http://www.regonline.com/ethicscourse

This training is thoroughly interactive. After moderating a discussion to articulate a common understanding about ethical standards and professionally accepted principles that apply to dual relationship management (referencing Florida law that addresses ethics in the mental health professions and the codes of ethics of the various professions) presenters facilitate a consultation process on case vignettes. Participants discuss avariety of dual relationships and boundary crossing challenges faced by therapists in the LGBT community. (This fulfills the biennial requirements

Understand the fundamental requirements of Florida laws and statutes concerning ethical behavior for mental health professionals.

Apply specific ethically based principles to make practical choices about personal and professional behaviors in potential relationships that arise in their work with GLBT clients.

Paul Briggs, LCSW, LMT, is a member of the Clinical Advisory Board and the Therapist Collective at SunServe. Lyle Davis, LCSW, is a clinical volunteer at SunServe and a therapist in private practice.

CARE GIVING NEAR THE END: HEART HOME AND HOSPICE (3 CEUs)
FRIDAY, March 22, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: Sunshine Cathedral MCC, 1480 SW 9th Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL, 33315
Presenter Panel: Chris MacLellan (facilitator), Jake Miller, JD, and Regina DiPietro, MSW
COST: $30
TO REGISTER, Click on this link http://www.regonline.com/CareGiving

Human kind are most vulnerable when we first come into this world as infants and, perhaps equally for many, as we are stripped of our ability for self-care near the end of life. While that is true for everyone, that special vulnerability is even more challenging for the LGBT patient, especially those who entered maturity “pre-Stonewall.” Those challenges impact not only the patient but the entire system around him/her. In this session we will consider the emotional threat of vulnerability for (closeted) LGBT seniors, the legal and financial challenges for persons whose life-long central most relationships have no legal recognition and the choices about how to provide physical and medical care when use of healthcare institutions that may, or may not, be gay affirming, are required

This training includes a private screening of the award winning documentary, GEN SILENT, and a live video feed conversation with the film director, Stu Maddux.

Identify the central emotional and physical challenges to LGBT seniors (and others) as end of life issues encroach on daily life for patient, family and friends.

Understand the legal and financial concerns that emerge at this last stage of life’s journey for LGBT patients.

Identify strategies for providing guidance and assistance to patients, partners, families and friends about end of life care,whether in home or institutional settings, including hospice care.

Chris MacLellan, currently the Coordinator of SunServe's Senior Services and Senior Phone-A-Friend program, has over 10 years of personal LGBT Caregiving experience. With a professional background in social work and crisis intervention, Chris advocates for LGBT Seniors and LGBT Caregiving issues through his blog, 'The Purple Jacket'.
Jake Miller, JD, is an attorney in private practice in North Miami who concentrates his practice on real estate, estate planning, family law and LGBT issues.
Regina Di Pietro, MSW, is Senior Director of Patient Care for the Central Region at Hospice of Broward County. She been a presenter at various hospice conferences, including the Jewish Federation of Miami, the Alliance on Aging and others

3rd ANNUAL TRANSGENDER MEDICAL SYMPOSIUM
FRIDAY-SATURDAY, April 12-13
Embassy Suites Hotel, 17th St Causeway, Fort Lauderdale, FL

This annual conference affords medical and mental health professionals a full array of seminars and workshops to better equip clinicians addressing the needs of their transgender and gender variant patients and clients. SunServe is once again co-presenting with The Broward County Health Department, Florida-Caribbean Aids Education Network and various community partners including, Poverello, Care Resource, The Pride Center, Gilda’s Club and Hospice of Broward.

SunServe is the provider of CEUs for mental health and nursing professionals attending the mental health track of this annual conference.

This conference is free. Register at https://aetcnec.virtualforum.com.

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For more information contact:

Jim Lopresti, PhD, LMHC
Director of Clinical Education,
Senior Clinical Supervisor
954.957.5616
jlopresti@sunserve.org

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