Friday, March 21
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
“The Times They Are A-Changin’”: What Is Your Next Step as a Leader?
When Bob Dylan wrote this song in the 1960s, the United States was in the midst of significant social and political change.
“Come gather ’round people, wherever you roam / And admit that the waters around you have grown / And accept it that soon you’ll be drenched to the bone / If your time to you is worth savin’ / Then you better start swimmin’ or you’ll sink like a stone / For the times they are a-changin’.”
The first verse of the song conveys the force of the change at play. Change – it is a concept with which we are well acquainted as it is an integral part of our work. We facilitate change in the lives of our clients and supervisees daily; however, I believe when we are tasked with our own change, we often struggle to implement the change. I believe what seems to get in the way is what we think the change should look like.
How does this connect to becoming a leader? In many ways, our leadership development is challenged by the same struggle – what should a leader look like? What does leadership look like? Change is an integral part of our leadership development as we are ever-evolving. Amid significant societal change what is your next step? What do you feel called to do? What might be getting in the way of identifying your first step? We will explore where you are in your leadership development and explore what the next step will be in your leadership journey in this time of social and political change.
The learning objectives are as follows:
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Explore beliefs and thoughts that influence how we view change.
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Explore the narratives that inform our ideas of leadership.
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Understand how dominant narratives may interfere with our ability to visualize our next leadership step.
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Identify potential roadblocks to taking the next leadership step.
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Identify three behaviors that will bring the next leadership step into focus.
Workshop: What Is Your Brand? Challenging the Narrative of Leadership
Ponder the power of a brand and their products. Coca-Cola…Johnson & Johnson...Pfizer. What thoughts and feelings come to mind when you consider these brands and the products which represent them? A brand is simply the story crafted by a company that shapes how they want their product known or how they communicate their values.
The stories we tell ourselves and the stories others tell about us significantly inform what we believe about ourselves and our capacity to become a leader or take on a leadership role. What should your brand be? What stories have you told yourself about what it takes to become a leader? To pursue a leadership role? What is your brand or the story by which you desire to be known? How do your values communicate your brand?
The learning objectives are as follows:
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Explore the narratives that exist about leaders and leadership.
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Explore self of the therapist influences that contribute to the shoulds you believe.
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Identify your values of leadership.
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Identify your leadership brand.
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Dr. Williams is a licensed marriage and family therapist who has dedicated her professional career to teaching and training the next generation of marriage and family therapist to become successful clinicians. She uses her knowledge of systems and relationship dynamics to help clients develop more genuine connections with others to facilitate trusting, honest and effective communication. She uses a narrative approach to help couples, families and individuals understand how their lived experiences, both past and current have shaped how they engage with loved ones. She walks alongside her clients as they manage difficult experiences, aiding their transition into a better understanding of themselves and a greater appreciation of what makes them unique.
Dr. Williams is an experienced clinician, supervisor, and teacher. Her research interests are multicultural and international supervision, training, and teaching. Dr. Williams is an American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) Approved Supervisor and is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) in North Carolina. She serves as a director on the AAMFT Foundation for the Advancement of Human Systems (FAHS), which exists to fund research focusing on healthy and strong human systems – individuals, couples, families and communities. Dr. Williams has over 12 years teaching experience in Marriage and Family Therapy master’s and PhD programs.
Dr. Williams graduated with her BA in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She obtained her NC Secondary Science Education license and taught in the NC public school system for two and a half years before deciding to return to school where she went on to earn her MS in Cell Biology at East Carolina University. After working in both the private and public sector, Dr. Williams shifted course and pursued her MS in Marriage and Family Therapy, which she earned from East Carolina University in 2007 and continued her education in the field by earning her PhD in Human Development with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2018 from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech).
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Saturday, March 22
9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Bridging Leadership and Innovation: Empowering Communities through Strength-Based Solutions
Join us for an insightful panel keynote, "Bridging Leadership and Innovation: Empowering Communities through Strength-Based Solutions," where we bring together leaders in marriage and family therapy to discuss cutting-edge approaches to community development. This panel will explore how leadership and innovation can be leveraged to strengthen mental health and substance abuse services, particularly for marginalized populations. Attendees will gain valuable insights from thought leaders on integrating evidence-based practices with community strengths, building connections, and applying leadership skills to create lasting, impactful change. Do not miss this opportunity to learn from experts who are transforming mental health landscapes and empowering communities through action and innovation.
The learning objectives are as follows:
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I can systemically identify and explore pathways to positively impact my community in the context of mental health and substance use services.
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I can understand how external factors influence the intensity of symptoms related to mental illness, substance use, and relational issues within underserved populations.
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I can develop and enhance my leadership skills to effectively lead initiatives addressing mental health, substance use, and relational issues within underserved populations.
Moderated by Jermaine Lowery, MPH, MCFFM, CNEL, CDEI (Chief Operating Officer of the Foundation for the Advancement of Human Systems)
Panelists are Natira Staats, PhD, LMFT (MFP Advisory Committee Chairperson), Samuel R. Heath, Katrina N. Edmonds, MFT, and Eman Tadros
3:15 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.
Advancing Health Equity in the Field of Marriage and Family Therapy
This presentation will highlight key tenets of health equity including historical and current issues in healthcare and considerations for practice and within health systems. I'll share real life examples of health equity work and offer time to consider how you might integrate these or new ideas into your work.
The learning objectives are as follows:
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Describe the central tenets of advancing health equity work.
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Recognize and name the difference between standard practice and adopting an intentional health equity lens, and explain why this difference is crucial for ethical practice.
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Consider how you might integrate health equity example strategies into your practice and local health system.
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Laurelle Myhra is an enrolled member of Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians in Minnesota. Dr Myhra directs her tribes' Mino Bimaadiziwin (“Good Life”) Wellness Clinic in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and has practiced in the Native American community since 2007. She holds a master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from East Carolina University in North Carolina. She also completed her PhD in Family Social Science and Marriage and Family Therapy at University of Minnesota. She teaches and provides clinical supervision. Her research focuses on American Indian mental health, integrated health care, and training for health professionals. She is also a co-creator of the Indigenous Health Toolkit, a seven-module training for professionals working with Native American communities. She started this work with Dr Melissa Lewis, as fellows in the AAMFT Minority Fellowship program. Dr. Myhra also holds seats on health equity boards including the state of Minnesota’s Department of Health Equitable Health Care Task Force, and large local hospital/health systems.
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