2024 National Latino Behavioral Health Conference Agenda at a Glance

8:30 am – 10:15 am

Opening Session

• Welcome Remarks by Dr. Ruben J. Lozano, NLBHA Board President
• Opening Remarks by Veronica Martinez, State of Texas Mental Health Director of Planning, Program and Policy
• Conference Blessing by Maestro Jerry Tello, National Compadre Network
• Keynote Speaker – Dr. Octavio Martinez, CEO Hogg Foundation

10:15 am – 10:30 am

Morning Break

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Concurrent Workshops

• Building Community: Peer Support as a Culturally Responsive Service for the Latinx Community ~ Presented by Natanael Choi, MSW, CPSS
• Aculturación e Integración de Niños Latinos Inmigrantes: una aproximación informada sobre el trauma ~ Presented by Rubén de Rus, LPA-A, NCC (In Spanish)
• Maternal Realms: Exploring Multicultural Insights in Maternal Mental Health ~ Presented by Jessica Gonzalez, LMHT
• Culturally appropriate efforts to reduce stigmatization of mental health and increase help-seeking behaviors ~ Presented by Daniel Castellanos, MPH, DrPH and Evelio Escamilla, BA
• Connecting Our Voices: A Community-wide Participatory Approach to Substance Use Disorder Prevention through the Strategic Prevention Framework ~ Presented by Cynthia Lentini, GCDF, BA & Jorge Gonzales, BA
• L(atinx)GBTQIA+ Suicidality: Minimizing risk through culturally oriented suicide assessment and treatment ~ Presented by Adrian Lira, PhD, LPC-S
• Empowering the Latinx Community: Assertive Communication, Negotiation, and Resilience ~ Presented by Dr. Jaime G Raygoza
• Eclipsing Limits: How The Field of Stars Uses the Power of Awe to Inspire Students & Reinforce Community Connection ~ Presented by Corinne Chacon, MCSE, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Leader (45 Minute Session)
• Operation Lone Star and State of Texas Senate Bill 4 ~ Presented by Raices Texas (45 Minute Session)
• Empowering Latino Families: Culturally Informed Strategies for Supporting Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder ~ Presented by Janet Espinoza, LCSW & Tony Bobadilla, PhD, LCSW

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Lunch

12:30 pm – 1:00 pm

Plenary Speaker – Dr. Lisa Cacari-Stone, Professor, UNM College of Population Health | Executive Director/PI, Transdisciplinary Research, Equity & Engagement Center

1:00 pm – 1:30 pm

Networking/Visit Exhibit Hall/Silent Auction

1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Concurrent Workshops

• A Success Story – New Mexico Office of Peer Recovery and Engagement ~ Presented by Anita Mesa, LCSW, OPRE Supervisor and Melishia Montano, OPRE Program Manager.  
• Un programa de dos-generaciones y su potencial para mitigar los efectos perjudiciales de las experiencias adversas de la infancia (ACEs) ~ Presented by Alejandra Alfaro, BSW & Rosalinda Crescencio, BS (In Spanish )
• Bonita, poderosa, y valiente: Understanding the intersectionality of Latina women ~ Presented by Yolanda Rodriguez, PhD
• La Cultura Cura: Our Cultural Medicine is In Us A Culturally based, Trauma informed, Healing centered Pedagogy ~ Presented by Jerry Tello, MA
• Leveraging the Neuroplasticity of the Adolescent Brain to Build Nurturing Mentoring Relationships ~ Presented by Lucila Beaton, LISW-CP-S
• The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s (AFSP) Talk Saves Lives™ (TSL): An Introduction to Suicide Prevention for Latinx and Hispanic Communities ~ Presented by Dr. J Rocky Romero, PhD, LMSW
• Creating Equity in Behavioral Health Services by Improving Language Access ~ Presented by Rosalie Nava, LMSW, MPH & Ana Chavez-Mancillas, MSW, DSW Candidate (45 Minute Session)
• Everyone Deserves – An assertive community bilingual and bicultural approach to increasing access to underserved populations ~ Presented by Arturo Gonzales, PhD & Enrique López-Escalera, JCL, STL, MSW (45 Minute Session)
• Navigating Loss from a Distance: Transnational Grief Therapy for the Latino Immigrant Population ~ Presented by Tania Perez, MA, NCC, LMHCA, Marilyn Quintero LAPC (ND), CT (MN), NCC, & Allison Joyal, MS, LPC-Associate, NCC
• Nuestra Familia:  A School-Based Cultural Approach to Building Individual, Family and Community Mental Health Awareness and Supports ~ Presented by Amando Gonzalez, Licensed Professional Counselor – Supervisor

3:00 pm – 3:15 pm

Afternoon Break

3:15 pm – 4:45 pm

Concurrent Workshops

• Unidos Sanamos (Together We Heal):  Community Health Worker’s Training on Cultural Health Literacy ~ Presented by Carlos Linares Kolffon, MD, MPH & Lisa Cacari Stone, PhD, MA, MS
• Quebrado Las barreras a Través de la Cultural y Lingüística en al tratamiento de las adicciones ~ Presented by Salvador Amezola, CADCII, QMHAI, CGAC-R (In Spanish)
• The Intersections of Sizeism and Fertility for Latinx Female-Identifying Individuals: Implications for Mental Health Professionals ~ Presented by Samantha Airhart-Larraga, PhD, LPC-S, LCDC, NCC & Felicia Holloway, PhD, LMFT-S, LPC-S, AAMFT
• Ethical Considerations and Practices for Hispanic Clients – “Mi voz cuenta” ~ Presented by Gabriela Rangel, LPC-A, LCDC-I
• Latino Youth Gang Prevention in School Systems ~ Presented by Kristin Scardamalia, PhD
• Mental Health and Parent Education in Migrant and Seasonal Head Start Programs: Promoting Self and Family Wellness ~ Presented by Leticia Cervantes, BA in ECE,  LMFT Student & Joaquin Hernandez Cruz, NMSHSA President; BA;
• Building the Latino/x/e Behavioral Health Workforce: Eliminating Disparities and Leading with Equity ~ Presented by Haner Hernandez, PhD, CPS, CADCII, LADCI
• From Shadows to Light: Supporting Minority, Immigrant, and War-Affected Victims of Domestic Violence ~ Presented by Aleyda Sanchez, LPC/MHSP
• Building resiliency and coping skills for trauma & adversity in children ~ Presented by Claudia Basham, LCSW

5:15 pm – 6:30 pm

Reception and Silent Auction

8:00 pm – 9:45 pm

Little Joe and La Familia Concert – Hyatt Grand Ballroom