8th Annual Behavioral Health Conference

Keynote Speakers

Dr. Stephanie S. Covington, Ph.D., LCSW
Co-Director of the Institute for Relational Development 
Center for Gender & Justice
An internationally recognized clinician, organizational consultant, lecturer, and author, Dr. Covington is a pioneer in the field of addiction and trauma. For more than 35 years, she has created gender-responsive and trauma-informed programs and services for use in public, private and institutional settings. Her extensive experience includes consulting for and developing programs for numerous U.S. and international agencies and designing women’s services at the Betty Ford Center. Dr. Covington has also developed programs for people in criminal justice settings and has conducted seminars for behavioral health professionals, community organizations, criminal justice professionals and recovery groups in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Europe, Africa, Iceland, Brazil, and New Zealand. She has published extensively, including twelve gender-responsive, trauma-informed treatment curricula. Dr. Covington wrote the first manualized treatment program for substance use disorder treatment and authored the best-selling book, A Woman’s Way through the Twelve Steps.
 

M Abeo
Mental Health Advocate | Podcast Host & Producer | Photographer
Faces of Fortitude Movement
M Abeo (they/them) is a Mental Health Advocate, Speaker, Podcast host, Producer and Photographer and Creator of the Faces of Fortitude movement, which began as a series of portraits documenting the healing for those affected by suicide – providing a safe, stigma-free space both virtually and in person for mental health and suicide to be discussed. After losing their brother over a decade ago to suicide, and surviving their own severe attempt as a teen, M started this movement initially for their own healing. The portraits caught fire online and they quickly saw a need for others to have a safe space to share their stories. They now travel the country to capture portraits of those affected by the epidemic in any way (be it loss, attempt or first responders) as a step towards their healing, and to educate people as both a mental health advocate + suicide loss and attempt survivor.

M’s Faces of Fortitude project has grown exponentially, and is now considered by many in the mental health field, as an essential healing space for anyone who has experienced the trauma of suicide. They single handedly manage all the projects under the Faces of Fortitude umbrella; the portrait work, traveling interactive photography exhibits, and a podcast entitled Behind the Lens – A conversation series that provides a platform focusing on the LGBTQ+ & POC communities and their allies, in the areas of activism, politics, mental health, arts & entertainment and community – discussing the human experience in our ever changing world. Faces of Fortitude has a rapidly growing social media fan base, followers and fans growing into an organic community of people creating safe spaces for each other across the world. In their spare time, M lives in the heart of the city in Seattle, Washington and is working on a first edition fine art book.
 

Yolo Akili Robinson
Executive Director
BEAM (Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective)
Yolo Akili Robinson (he/him/his) is a non binary award-winning writer, healing justice worker, yogi and the founder and Executive Director of BEAM (Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective).  BEAM is a national training, movement building and grant making organization dedicated to the healing, wellness and liberation of Black communities. Yolo has worked primarily in three areas: Batterers intervention/family counseling with Black men and boys, HIV/AIDS, and healing justice/wellness. In 2018, Yolo was awarded the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson Foundation "Health Equity Award" for his work. He was also featured at the 2020 BET Awards as an "Empowerful Spotlight," highlighting his work facilitating the vision of BEAM. His writings and work have appeared on Shondaland, GQ, Women's Health, USA Today, Vice, BET, Huffington Post, Cassius, Ebony, Everyday Feminisms and more. He is the author of the social justice themed affirmation book, "Dear Universe: Letters of Affirmation & Empowerment for All of Us" (Michael Todd Books, 2016) and a contributor to Tarana Burke and Dr. Brené Brown's anthology on Black vulnerability and shame resilience, "You are Your Best Thing" (2021, Random House Books).
 

Featured Speakers

Dr. Tisa McGhee, LCSW
Dr. Tisa McGhee, LCSW, with 25 years of experience in social work, is committed to promoting the development of transformational growth within individuals, organizations, and marginalized communities.  Her research is community based and participatory with a focus on both macro and trauma informed social work practices relative to the areas of leadership, advocacy and public policy.  More recently, her work informs health equity education and explores Diversity, Equity and Inclusion through a social work lens.  At the core of all of her work: Building community using engaging and empowerment techniques to create social change.  Dr. McGhee degrees include a both a BA and MA in Psychology, MSW and PhD with a concentration in macro organizational capacity in Social Work. 

Rev. Dr. Que English
Rev. Dr. Que English joins HHS from the State of New York where she served as the Deputy Director of Faith-Based Initiatives for the Governor’s Office of Faith and Community Development Services.  Here she identified opportunities for the State of NY and HCR to elevate strengths and identify new opportunities to build relationships with the faith-based community.  She also conceptualized and was instrumental in forming the faith-based office in the Office of the Mayor of New York City.  

Named 1 of 25 Most Influential Women in the Bronx, Dr. English brings to HHS a wealth of knowledge in working with the criminal justice system, substance abuse issues, health and mental health, human trafficking, domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, civil rights and more.  She received her masters and doctorate degrees from New York Theological Seminary where she was the recipient of the Excellence in Ministry Award, the highest award given to a graduating doctoral student.
 

Robin Hart
Robin Hart holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. She has trained with the Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida Training Institute and Healthy Families Florida for 27 years. She is a certified Healthy Families America Core Foundations trainer and is a Great Kids, Inc., Growing Great Kids Next Generation trainer.

Sponsors

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