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ForwardSouthwest Colorado Youth Mental Health Symposium: A Community Approach
LIVE OUTREACH IN-PERSON ACTIVITY
Overview and Target Audience
This symposium is designed for mental health, school, and healthcare professionals seeking to deepen their expertise in youth mental health. Sessions will address topics relevant across a variety of practice settings, including counseling and crisis centers, schools, hospitals, primary care practices, and outpatient services. Participants will receive clinical updates and engage in discussions on current, evidence-informed issues impacting the care of youth with mental health needs.
This symposium will be held at Fort Lewis College with an in person only attendance option. No virtual links are provided for this event.
Learner Outcome
As a result of this activity, learners will be able to report new knowledge related to evidence-based youth mental health care strategies.
Objectives
- Identify practical, strengths-based strategies that support neurodiverse learners’ social, behavioral, and executive functioning needs within school environments.
- Recognize the risk factors and warning signs associated with teen substance use.
- Describe the updated ASQ suicide screening pathway to interpret screening results, determine appropriate triage responses, and identify next steps for patient care.
- Apply the ASQ pathway to case scenarios by interpreting screening results, determining appropriate next steps, and addressing implementation challenges.
- Recognize the impact of trauma on the brain and stress response system and identify school, family, and community-based strategies to reduce avoidance, increase distress tolerance, and support youth resilience.
- Describe diverse community perspectives and priorities highlighted by Durango leaders and explain how these insights can shape program planning.
- Illustrate how the school based behavioral health and wellness teams creates plans to support students.
- Identify the key elements that drive successful community collaboration using a local prevention focused case study.
- Identify how local community organizations and providers can raise awareness of youth mental health in the upcoming gubernatorial election.
- Identify opportunities to build upon existing partnerships and coordinated efforts that support youth and families in their communities.
Additional Information
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 Brochure | 292.9 KB |
Agenda
September 30, 2026
| 7:30 a.m. | Check-in & Breakfast |
| 8:00 | Welcome and opening remarks |
| 8:20 | Supporting Neurodiverse Learners: Practical Strategies for ASD and ADHD Lauren Henry, PhD, LP, NCSP |
| 9:20 | Intersection of Substance Use and Mental Health Carrie Nostrant, LPC, M.S.Ed., NCC |
| 10:05 | Break |
| 10:15 | From Screening to Action: Navigating the Updated ASQ Pathway for Suicide Risk Identification and Response Jessica Hawks, Ph.D |
| 11:15 | Breakout Activity: ASQ in Practice: Case-Based Decision Making and Problem Solving Jessica Hawks, Ph.D |
| 11:45 | Lunch |
| 12:30 p.m. | Coping, Non-Avoiding: Helping Build Distress Tolerance and Resilience in Youth Impacted by Trauma Lauren Henry, PhD, LP, NCSP |
| 1:30 | Durango Engaged: Responses from Community Leaders Moderator: Michele Lueck Amy Aweida, MA, ECMH-E, ERS Jason St. Mary,PhD, MSW |
| 2:00 | Break |
| 2:15 | Collaboration in Action Highlight Presentations
|
| 3:30 | The Work Ahead: Turning Connection into Action Jessica Hawks, Ph.D |
| 3:45 | Closing comments and evaluation |
| 4:00 | Adjourn |
The symposium will be held at Fort Lewis College in the Student Union 212, Ballroom.
Parking: Complimentary parking has been arranged in the 8th Ave parking lot for symposium attendees.
Faculty and Planning Committee
Amy Aweida, MA, ECMH-E, ERS
Early Childhood Mental Health Counselor and Supervisor
Harris Community Fellow
University of Colorado
Haley Bierk, M.Ed. LSC
Schools Program Manager
Pediatric Mental Health Institute
Children's Hospital Colorado
Sarah Bonar, MHA
Communications Program Manager
Children's Hospital Colorado
Elyssa Clark, M.Ed., BCBA
District Behavioral Analysis
Durango School District
Ray Cuellar
Operations Coordinator
Professional Development
Children’s Hospital Colorado
Jessica Hawks, PhD
Associate Professor, Dept of Psychiatry
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Dale and Cindy Francescon Family Endowed Chair for Mood Disorders
Chief of Psychology, Pediatric Mental Health Institute
Children's Hospital Colorado
Natalie Hazemi, MBA
Program Manager
Pediatric Mental Health Institute
Children's Hospital Colorado
Lauren Henry, PhD, LP, NCSP
Assistant Professor
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Licensed Child Psychologist
Children's Hospital Colorado
Emily Huminski
Senior Director of Community Collaboration
Team Up
Michele Lueck, MA
Senior Clinical Instructor
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Executive Director, Pediatric Mental Health Institute
Children's Hospital Colorado
Carrie Nostrant, LPC, M.S.Ed., NCC
Department of Psychiatry
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Behavioral Health Clinician
Outpatient Psychiatric Services
Pediatric Mental Health Institute
Children’s Hospital Colorado
Kelly Reichert, MS, RN, CCRN, NPD-BC
Professional Development Specialist
Outreach Education
Children's Hospital Colorado
Nicki Shonka, MS, RN, NPD-BC, CPN
Clinical Education Outreach Program Director
Children's Hospital Colorado
Jason St. Mary, PhD, MSW
Executive Director, La Plata Youth Services
Program Director, The Hub Therapeutic Program
Adjunct Faculty, University of Denver
Royce Tranum, LCSW
Executive Director
San Juan Board of Cooperative Education Services
Lynn Urban, PhD
President and CEO
Team Up
Disclosure
Planners, faculty and others in control of content (either individually or as a group) for this activity have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.
Continuing Education Credits
Registration, attendance, sign-in and submission of the evaluation, including a written response to questions related to any change in practice that you may make as a result of learning that took place at this activity, are required for successful completion and receipt of the certificate of attendance. Claim only those hours you attend.
Nursing: Children’s Hospital Colorado is approved with distinction as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the Colorado Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. This educational activity for 6.5 nursing contact hours is provided by Children’s Hospital Colorado.
EMS: Children’s Hospital Colorado is a State of Colorado recognized EMS Training Group (CO-049) and will provide 6.5 continuing education credits for all pre-hospital providers.
Other: A general certificate of attendance will be available.
Available Credit
- 6.50 Attendance
- 6.50 Colorado State EMS
- 6.50 NCPD
Price
Registration Required
There is no cost to attend; however, registration is required.
Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous community donor, this educational activity is being provided at no cost to professional clinicians in Southwest Colorado.
Cancellation Policy
Children’s Hospital Colorado reserves the right to modify the agenda or cancel the activity due to unforeseen circumstances.