(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.)—Behavioral Health professionals can learn the latest advances in child behavioral health treatment from nationally known speaker Jack Calhoun and a panel of local experts, while receiving continuing education credit for their attendance at a summit hosted by California State University, San Bernardino.

The Behavioral Health Summit begins at 8:45 a.m. Friday, Feb. 18 and runs through 5 p.m. at Cal State San Bernardino’s Santos Manuel Student Union.

Registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, attorneys and others will be able to receive continuing education credit by attending the Behavioral Health Summit, said Dr. Mark Agars, professor in the Psychology Department at CSUSB and chair of the summit organizing committee .

“This is a unique opportunity for professionals in the Inland Empire to learn about cutting-edge practices in child behavioral health and to earn highly affordable continuing education units,” Dr. Agars said.

Registration, which begins at 7:45 a.m. the day of the event, is $150. It can also be made in advance online at bhs.csusb.edu A continental breakfast and sit-down lunch are included in the registration.

“We have purposefully kept the cost of registration as low as possible for this conference, because we believe no Inland Empire behavioral health professional should miss out on the opportunity to attend,” Dr. Agars said.

With Calhoun as the keynote speaker, professionals from mental health, psychology, social work, law enforcement and health will discuss topics related to “Improved Mental Health Outcomes for Children and Their Families: A Multidisciplinary Team Approach to Treatment.”

“Children and their families impacted by mental health problems have multiple risk factors including family violence, substance abuse, health issues and poverty which contribute to family dysfunction,” said Kent Paxton, director of the San Bernardino Mayor’s Office of Community Safety and Violence Prevention, and one of the conference organizers.

Local guest speakers will include:
·     Allan Rowland, director of the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health;
·     Xiomara Flores-Holguin from the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services;
·     Clare Matney, assistant professor of pediatrics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine;
·     Karen Bell of the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s;
·     Patrick Morris, mayor, San Bernardino.

Speakers and an expert panel will discuss the value of a multidisciplinary team approach to addressing mental health problems. In afternoon presentations, real-world applications of the multidisciplinary approach to addressing mental health problems will be presented by noted researchers and scholars including CSUSB professors Teresa Morris, Laura Kamptner, Faith McClure and Kent Paxton, chair of the Development Council at CSUSB’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

The Behavioral Health Summit is sponsored by CSUSB’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Local funders including First 5 of San Bernardino, Kaiser Permanente, The California Wellness Foundation and Bank of America will take part in a funder panel during lunch. Representatives of these four groups will discuss their priorities for funding areas including behavioral health.

Additionally, behavioral health providers and interested organizations will be on hand displaying their products, services and literature to summit attendees.

For more information, contact Jackie Carrillo at (909) 537-3676 or hoodj@csusb.edu.

The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (CSBS) offers programs that explore a wide range of human issues. It is dedicated to the growth and support of undergraduate and graduate education, research, public service, and professional development.