(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.)—Priority registration ends Friday, Jan. 7, 2011 for California State University San Bernardino’s Behavioral Health Summit, featuring keynote speaker Jack Calhoun of the U.S Department of Justice and a panel of local behavioral health experts.

Registration until Friday, Jan. 7 is $125. From then through Feb 18, 2011, the day of the conference, it is $150.

“The keynote speaker, Jack Calhoun is a national figure,” said Dr. Mark Agars, professor in the Psychology Department at CSUSB and chair of the summit organizing committee.” He and several of local experts will discuss cutting-edge approaches to child behavioral health.”

“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.

Register online at http://bhs.csusb.edu , or for more information, contact Jackie Carrillo at (909) 537-3676 or hoodj@csusb.edu.

The Behavioral Health Summit is sponsored by CSUSB’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. 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.”

This is the first Behavioral Health Summit in the Inland Empire dedicated to solving the mental health care needs of children and their families.  The event will take place at the university’s Santos Manuel Student Union.

“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.

Jamal Nassar, dean of the CSUSB’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, points to the summit’s impact on the community. According to Nassar, “The Behavioral Health Summit is an opportunity for CSUSB to continue its support of the community by providing professionals in San Bernardino and Riverside counties with access to leading-edge practices in addressing child mental health.”

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;
·     Donald Kurth, former mayor, Rancho Cucamonga.

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.

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

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.