Supporting Veterans’ Resilience Symposium

NAMI Maine and the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services are co-hosting the Supporting Veterans’ Resilience Symposium on September 11, 2024, at Hannaford Hall on the University of Southern Maine’s Portland campus. Registration opens at 7:00 a.m., the symposium starts at 8:00 a.m. and will conclude by 5:00 p.m. 

This event is supported by the VA’s Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant and the Bingham Foundation Grant and offers a professional, day-long CEU training regarding veterans’ resiliency. Due to the generosity of our grant sponsors this event will be free for attendees and includes lunch and parking.

The symposium’s keynote speaker will be Iraq War Combat Veteran and Mental Health and Holistic Healing Advocate, Tom Voss, who will be available to sign his book, Where War Ends: A Combat Veteran’s 2,700-Mile Journey to Heal – Recovering from PTSD and Moral Injury through Meditation. There will also be a screening of his film, Almost Sunrise, which will be featured during the lunch break.

Summit Topics:

• Utilizing veterans’ safety plans and the safe storage of firearms and medications.
• What happens when you request a law enforcement welfare check.
• A panel discussion regarding the reintegration into civilian life with veterans and family members.
• How to talk to kids about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
• Healthcare providers connection to veterans and the Maine Medical Association’s Veteran Suicide Prevention Toolkit.
• Veterans, Service Members, and Family Expos.
• Peer Support Programs, and Alternative PTSD Therapies. 

*This training is eligible for contact hours for continuing education for licensure.

The Maine Medical Education Trust designates this live activity for a maximum of 5.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s) TM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the Joint Providership of the Maine Medical Education Trust and NAMI Maine**.** The Maine Medical Education Trust is accredited by the Maine Medical Association Committee on Continuing Medical Education and Accreditation (CCMEA) to provide Continuing Medical Education (CME) for physicians.

Event Attendance: Open to Public

AGENDA:

7:00 – 8:00am – Registration Check in and Continental Breakfast

8:00am – Opening Ceremonies and Remarks: 

• University of Southern Maine ROTC Color Guard
• National Anthem performed by SFC Crystal Ryder – Maine National Guard
• Welcome and the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant –
  David Richmond, Director Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services
• Bingham Foundation Grant – Hannah Longley, Senior Clinical Director, NAMI Maine
• Opening Remarks – Brigadier General Diane Dunn, Adjutant General- Maine National Guard
• Maine’s Governor’s Challenge Team – Governor Janet T. Mills
• Prayer – Col. Earl Weigelt, Chaplain, Maine National Guard

8:45-9:15am – Lethal Means and Risk Reduction  Carla J. Mowatt, LCSW – Integrated Primary Prevention Officer, Maine National Guard 

9:15-9:45am – What Happens When You Request a Law Enforcement Welfare Check Mark Holmquist, Veteran and Scarborough Police Chief. 

9:45-10:45am – A Panel Discussion Regarding the Reintegration Into Civilian Life With Veterans and Family Members – Moderated by Hannah Longley
Joe Tatem, U.S. Army Veteran and Soldier and Maine National Guard – Family Readiness Specialist; 

Kevin Marcotte, U.S. Army Veteran

Elizabeth Marcotte, Eastern Regional Manager for the Army National Guard Child and Youth Services and a Veteran’s Spouse

10:45-11:00am – Break

11:00-11:45am – How to Talk to Kids About Post Traumatic Stress Disorder –
Libby Wright, LSW – Director of Youth Services, NAMI Maine 

11:45am-1:15pm – Lunch and screening of the film Almost Sunrise.

1:15-1:30pm – Break

1:30-2:30pm – PTSD, Moral Injury, and Recovery Keynote speaker, Tom Voss Iraq War Combat Veteran and Mental Health and Holistic Healing Advocate.

2:30-3:30pm – SSG Fox Veteran Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Health Care Providers – 

• Jessica Reed, MSN, GNP-BC, Clinical Quality Manager, MMA-CQI

• Kate Marble, LCSW, Clinical Director, Health Affiliates Maine

• Christina Cook, Director of Maine Crisis Line at The Opportunity Alliance

• Catherine E. Cooper, LCSW, VA Maine Suicide Prevention Program Manager

• Eric Haram, LADC, Haram Consulting, LLC.

3:30-4:30pm – Veterans, Service Members, and Family Expos, Peer Support Programs, and Alternative PTSD Therapies

• Christina Smith, Public Affairs Officer, Togus Regional Office Veterans Benefits Administration, Kristina Sabasteanski, OTR/L – Director, Veterans Adaptive Sports; VAST; 

• Scott Hutcherson, LCPC – Director Lewiston Vet Center; 

• Darren Ripley, Veterans Services Coordinator – Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness and Passamaquoddy Combat Veteran (U.S. Army, Iraq War – Purple Heart Decorated)

• Maggie Catanese, Executive Director, Vet2Vet Maine

• Tracy Shaw, Maine Paws for Veterans

4:45pm – Closing Remarks – David Richmond and Hannah Longley