Creating Safe Spaces: Cultivating Mental Wellness in the Community

March 14, 2025
8:30 - 10:30am CST
Location: Virtual via Zoom
Fee: $10 full members; $25 partial members and nonmember
Trainer(s): Jason Phillips, LCSW
Continuing Education Hours: 2.0

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Course Description

This comprehensive workshop aims to empower human service professionals to create supportive and inclusive environments within their communities.  Participants will explore the significance of safe spaces in community care and address existing disparities in behavioral health.  The workshop will cover various aspects, including understanding the landscape of behavioral health, supporting individuals with serious mental illness (SMI), building effective alliances, enhancing service delivery to marginalized populations, and fostering communication, cultural competence, and sensitivity.  Through real-world examples, case studies, and practical strategies, attendees will be equipped to provide equitable and effective community care, advocate for systemic changes, and collaborate with other professionals to better serve diverse populations.  

Learning Objectives: 

• Analyze the significance of creating safe spaces in community care and develop strategies to address current disparities, empowering practitioners to foster supportive environments for their clients.
• Evaluate the impact of social determinants of health and implicit biases on behavioral health outcomes. Analyze the role of cultural factors in healthcare delivery and review real-world examples and case studies highlighting community disparities.
• Define serious mental illness and examine the impact of stigma. Develop and implement strategies to address barriers to psychological safety, manage challenges in community settings, and apply best practices for engaging and supporting individuals with SMI.
• Formulate strategies to build strong alliances with community care providers. Implement practical steps to create an inclusive environment, overcome barriers to inclusivity, and analyze case studies highlighting successful collaborative practices.
• Apply culturally competent communication skills to foster inclusivity and trust. Develop and share best communication practices to create safe and inclusive spaces, emphasizing the importance of cultural competence.