CHADRON – Chadron State College seniors Emily Beye of Chadron and Sandra Artl of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, in the Social Work will host the program’s annual conference on Nov. 6 in the CSC Student Center Ballroom. This year, the theme will be Winning the Battle with Mental Health. No registration is required, and the conference is free. The first 75 attendees will receive a free lunch.
Following the opening ceremony at 8 a.m., Dr. Tara Wilson, professor of Counselor Education, will speak. She is a licensed mental health practitioner with nearly 15 years of professional experience working in various rural settings including integrated behavioral health, school-based mental health, and group private practice. She has conducted research and presented extensively on rural mental health. Additionally, Wilson is a co-director of Behavior Health Education Center of Nebraska-Panhandle.
Keynote speaker Ross Szabo will speak at 9:15 a.m.Artl said Szabo has an honest, relatable, and humorous approach. Szabo was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at age 16 and hospitalized for attempting to take his life during his senior year of high school. He said his story resonates with millions of college students putting on happy faces to hide their genuine emotions. He will cover warning signs students can look for in their friends and peers, as well as resources that can provide guidance. Szabo is the CEO of the Human Power Project, an award-winning mental health speaker, writer, trainer, and former Peace Corps volunteer. He is the co-author of Behind Happy Faces; Taking Charge of Your Mental Health, and a blogger for The Huffington Post.
A panel discussion with local professionals will follow Szabo’s speech from 10:25 to 11 a.m.
Lunch will be at 11 and Dr. Brittany Helmbrecht will conduct a chair yoga session from 11:55 to 12:15 p.m.
From 12:15 to 1:05 p.m., Dr. Carrie Howton and LaTashia Ramirez will co-present.Howton has more than 15 years of experience providing mental health services in the Scottsbluff area as a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor and an Independent Mental Health Practitioner. Howton’s background includes five years as a Clinical Therapist in the Behavioral Health Unit at Regional West Medical Center and as a dually licensed clinician at Panhandle Mental Health Center. Howton is the Human Services Program Director at Western Nebraska Community College. Ramirez has an associate degree in Human Services and a certificate in Drug and Alcohol Counseling from WNCC. Drawing from her personal experience with addiction and her dedication to recovery, Ramirez has been an advocate for individuals on the path to sobriety and rehabilitation, according to Artl. She is a Community Support Worker at Cirrus House in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, where she provides support to individuals seeking to improve their mental health and well-being.
Dr. Sandy Cook-Fong will address attendees from 1:15 to 2:05 p.m. She received a master’s in Social Work and a doctorate from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln She is a faculty member in the Grace Abbott School of Social Work at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Before teaching at UNO she was a faculty member in the University of Nebraska-Kearney Social Work department.
Jenilee Woltman will address the conference from 2:15 to 3 p.m. Shehas a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Nebraska-Kearney. She said her life journey has been shaped by her undercover superpowers, which have guided her through the complexities of family, ranch life, and her private practice, Sand Canyon Therapy, where she serves patients of all ages and focuses on helping neurodivergent pediatric clients. She said she is dedicated to uncovering each patient’s hidden superpowers, working tirelessly to support their growth and success.
The conference will close at 3 p.m. with comments from the event’s organizers.
A special evening session, including time for Q&A, with Szabo is sponsored by CSC Wellness and will start at 6 p.m. in the Ballroom. It is free and open to the public.