Empowering Communities, Transforming Lives:

A Decade of Community Support Services

The Rutgers School of Health Professions CSS Training and Technical Assistance Initiative and the New Jersey Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) are proud to announce the first CSS Conference, “Empowering Communities, Transforming Lives: A Decade of Community Support Services” which will take place on October 25th, 2024 at the Pines Manor in Edison, New Jersey.

Registration

Plenary Speakers

Valerie Mielke is the Deputy Commissioner for Health Services, overseeing the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services which manages the NJFamilyCare health insurance program. NJ FamilyCare is New Jersey’s Medicaid program. She also oversees the Department’s work on First Lady Murphy’s Nurture NJ maternal health initiative and supports the Catastrophic Illness in Children’s Relief Fund.

Mielke had been the Assistant Commissioner leading the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, where she was responsible for the coordination, administration, management and supervision of the community mental health system, and regulating, monitoring, planning and funding of substance use prevention, treatment and recovery support services.

Mielke holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fairfield University and a Master of Social Work degree from Rutgers University, and has been with the state for 20 years.

Mielke also serves as a board member of the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors as First Vice President; on the advisory board of the Council of State Governments Justice Center; and as Secretary on the NRI Board of Directors; and she previously served on the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors Board of Directors, including as president from 2019 – 2021.

Mielke has also been honored several times for her efforts, including the State Leader of the Year Award from the NJ Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies (2023) and NASADAD Service Award from the National Association of State Alcohol & Drug Abuse Directors (2024).

Kevin Martone is Executive Director for the Technical Assistance Collaborative, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping our nation’s behavioral health, homelessness, and affordable housing systems implement policies and practices that empower people to live healthy, independent lives in the communities they choose. He is also on the board of the National Association for Rural Mental Health and the Massachusetts Association for Mental Health.
Prior to TAC, Kevin was Deputy Commissioner at the New Jersey Department of Human Services (2005-2011) where he oversaw the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, the Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and the Commission for the Blind and Visually Disabled. As the designated state mental health commissioner, he led a multi-year system reform effort that resulted in significant expansion of community-based services, including integrated, supportive housing for people with mental illness. He spent several years as a board member and president of the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors where he helped inform national behavioral health policy. Earlier in his career, he was CEO of Advance Housing and spent several years working in community mental health. He has taught courses at the Rutgers University School of Social Work and Tufts University School of Medicine. Kevin is currently board president for the National Association for Rural Mental Health.

Nora Barrett, MSW, LCSW, CPRP, is an Associate Professor and Vice-Chairperson of the Rutgers University Department of Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Counseling Professions. This role includes oversight of multiple training and technical assistance projects funded by the NJ Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services, including the CSS training initiative that began in 2013. Professor Barrett previously served as Director of Undergraduate Degree Programs, overseeing the curricula and ensuring that it reflected current best practices. She is a co-author of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, now in its 3rd edition. She has also published a number of articles in peer-reviewed journals. She has more than 30 years of experience teaching academic psychiatric rehabilitation courses and presenting at local, national, and international conferences. She has served on the Boards of IAPSRS, USPRA, and NJPRA and continues to be an advocate for recovery-oriented services and the credentialing of psychiatric rehabilitation practitioners. Prior to coming to Rutgers (formerly UMDNJ), Professor Barrett worked for more than a decade as a direct practitioner, clinical supervisor, and mental health administrator.

Confirmed Presentations

: Discover effective approaches and practical solutions for assisting the older adult clients who wish to remain in their homes and communities. Learn how to navigate their specific needs, from medical appointments to daily living activities, and ensure their well-being and independence.
: Join us for an engaging panel discussion featuring direct support professionals and leaders who excel in team building and staff morale. This session is an excellent opportunity to share success stories, discuss effective techniques, and explore innovative ideas around services and team collaboration. Learn about creating self-care stations, supporting staff on the go, and fostering a positive and cohesive work environment.
: Explore innovative approaches to create, run, and re-engage participants in social wellness groups. This presentation will cover effective strategies for enticing individuals, especially those recently discharged from hospitals, back into group settings. Learn techniques to decrease burnout by focusing on topics of interest, bring joy back into the work environment, and enhance staff retention. Additionally, discover ways to reconnect with community resources to support your groups. This session is ideal for those looking to brainstorm, share ideas, and improve the overall effectiveness and appeal of social wellness groups.
: Join us for an engaging session on Individualized Rehabilitation Plan (IRP) development, featuring a Q&A with the Interim Management Entity (IME) team. This interactive presentation will cover strategies for maintaining repeated needs, introduce new language and techniques for writing effective interventions, and provide valuable insights directly from the IME. Perfect for professionals seeking to enhance their IRP development skills and ensure adherence with best practices.
: Community Support Services (CSS) agencies are facing unprecedented challenges in recruiting and retaining dedicated staff. This session will focus on the unique workforce dynamics within CSS agencies, presenting the latest survey results that highlight the key factors contributing to these challenges. We will discuss tailored strategies to enhance recruitment and retention efforts, share successful practices from within the field, and explore innovative approaches to building a sustainable and resilient workforce. Join us to gain practical insights and solutions that can help your CSS agency thrive in the face of these workforce challenges.
: This session will delve into the complexities of the Supportive Housing Connection (SHC) and what agencies and clients can expect when navigating the voucher system. Participants will gain insights into the application process, eligibility requirements, and the benefits that supportive housing vouchers can provide. We’ll also explore common challenges faced by clients and providers, such as limited availability, waitlists, and navigating bureaucratic hurdles. By understanding these obstacles and how to address them, CSS providers can better support their clients in securing stable housing and improving their overall quality of life. This session is essential for anyone involved in the process of assisting clients with their housing needs and seeking to enhance their agency’s effectiveness in utilizing SHC resources.

Event Date and Location

The conference will take place on October 25th, 2024, from 8:30 am-4:30 pm at Pines Manor in Edison, New Jersey.

Directions to the Pines Manor

Breakfast and Lunch

Breakfast and lunch will be included for all conference participants. In addition to breakfast and lunch, participants will have access to coffee, tea, water, and soda service.