Maria Craft has worked in mental health organizations for more than four years. During this time she has developed and delivered a variety of educational programs and worked to raise much needed awareness. Maria has completed Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), holds a master’s degree in teaching and a bachelor’s degree in communications.
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Tim Rudder, MSW, received his Bachelors of Social Work from Saint Louis University and Masters in Social Work from the University of MO-Columbia. Mr. Rudder holds a CADC and MARS credential from the Missouri Credentialing Board. Mr. Rudder began work with the DMH in 2008 as the Treatment Specialist for Missouri’s Access to Recovery (ATR) federal SAMHSA grant, prior to that working as a CADC at a treatment facility for adolescents with substance use disorders. Currently, he is the Manager of the DBH Billing and Services Review team, the Project Director for Missouri’s Medication Assisted Treatment – Prescription Drug and Opioid Addiction (MAT-PDOA) federal SAMHSA grant, and the Treatment Manager for Missouri’s State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis grant. Mr. Rudder also serves on the MO-HOPE (Missouri Opioid/Heroin Overdose Prevention and Education) Advisory Council.
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Dr. Walter Kisthardt is one of the original conceptual framers of the Strengths Perspective in Social Work Practice (Weick, Rapp, Sullivan and Kisthardt, 1988). The Strengths Model of case management, proved to be one of the early approaches to work with adults with persistent mental illness that reflected evidence informed practice (Rapp, 1988). Kisthardt is currently the Department Chair and MSW Program Director at Park University. He is also the Director of the Center for Research and Training in Integrative Behavioral Health at the University. He has provided training and technical assistance to programs in 43 states, England, New Zealand and South Africa.
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Integrating the Six Principles of Trauma Informed Care with the Six Principles of Strengths-Based, Person-Centered Model of Interpersonal Helping
John Shuchart is a successful entrepreneur, educator and author of the humorous book, “You are not the brightest of my four sons”. A member of the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Kansas board of directors, John is a nationally recognized mental health advocate and presenter at the 2016 Mental Health America National Conference. He has successful managed his depression and ADHD for decades, and is brining laughter and learning to groups across the country.
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Ned Presnall is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has taken a leadership role in advancing the scientific understanding of addiction and individualized Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) in the Midwest. He is Executive Director of Clayton Behavioral Treatment Programs in St. Louis, MO and an Adjunct Professor in the Brown School of Social Work. Mr. Presnall has given presentations, conducted trainings and written papers for the Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC), the Missouri Department of Mental Health, the Missouri Chapter of the National Association of Social Work, the St. Louis Alliance for Re-entry (STAR), and St. Louis Probation and Parole. He is passionate about reducing the stigma against persons with addiction and facilitating system-level changes to improve access to effective, life-saving medical treatment.
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Beyond Awareness: Changing systems to reverse the overdose epidemic
Luis Giuffra received his MD from Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia. Giuffra went on to receive his PhD from Yale University. Giuffra completed his Psychiatry Residency at Washington University. He is currently the Medical Director at Clayton Behavioral and Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Washington University.
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Dr. Rodgers is the Chief Behavior Analyst for the Missouri Department of Mental Health Division of Developmental Disabilities in Jefferson City, Missouri. Since December 2008-to-present she has been providing oversight for behavioral services of state operated programs, regional office behavior resource teams and service coordinators as well as private provider services. One critical initiative is the development of infrastructure and capacity to support and expand effective and ethical behavioral services. Dr. Rodgers is serving on a variety of committees, task forces and work groups to support the goals and mission of the Department of Mental Health and the Division of Developmental Disabilities. Her areas of interest and expertise include functional assessment of challenging behaviors, effective parent and support staff interactions skills and curriculum development for such skills, best practices in use of psychotropic medications and behavior, and system change.
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Helping Someone on the “Borderline”: Behavioral Strategies for Better Outcomes
Heather Williams is a Substance Abuse Specialist in an ITCD program. Heather graduated from Southeast Missouri State with a degree in Psychology and is currently enrolled in Masters of Mental Health Counseling. She earned a Certified Criminal Justice Professional and Medication Assisted Recovery Specialist credential through the Missouri Substance Abuse Credentialing Board. Heather is on the board of the Eastern Missouri Chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention as a Community Outreach Director. She also sits as the Philanthropic Chair of Chi Sigma Iota at Southeast Missouri State University.
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Medication Assisted Treatment: Not Just a Safety Net, a Part of Integrated Treatment
Rick Strait currently works at Community Counseling Center as the ITCD program manager Rick is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has multiple certifications from the Missouri Credentialing Board included the Medication Assisted Recovery Specialist. Rick is a board member with the Eastern Chapter of Missouri American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Rick is a Co-author of The i’Mpossible Project Reengaging with Life, Creating a New You. Rick is an adjunct instructor with Central Methodist University where he teaches Advanced counseling with evidence based practices.
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Medication Assisted Treatment: Not Just a Safety Net, a Part of Integrated Treatment
Caroline S. Cooper is Certified Missouri Peer Specialist (CMPS), having passed her exam in August 2016. She works part time as a peer rehab specialist for Truman Behavioral Health-Employment Services. She has led volunteer support groups and provided one-on-one support for individuals with emotional/behavioral health issues for many years. Caroline is also a writer and has a blog series titled “Memoirs of Mental Illness” in which she shares inspirational stories from individuals who live with mental illness. Their testimonies demonstrate that hope, treatment, recovery plans, and perseverance can lead to a full, productive life. Caroline has a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Bible & Theology. Caroline and her husband have been married for almost 34 years and have 4 children and 2 grandchildren.
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