From Research to Action: Florida Behavioral Health Workforce Summit

Turning shared commitment into collective action
About this Event

What to expect:

• Real-time translation of research into action
• Cross-sector collaboration

Our inaugural summit will feature two days of interactive learning, collaboration and networking focused on strengthening Florida's behavioral health workforce through research, education, policy and practice.

Highlights:

• Keynote presentations from national behavioral health workforce experts Caren Howard and Brianna Lombardi
• A panel discussion exploring workforce innovation across education, practice, programs and policy
• Concurrent sessions featuring FCBHW-funded research and workforce initiatives
• Interactive workshops on research, evaluation, publication and science communication
• Networking opportunities, including an evening reception
• Luncheon awards program

Presentation topics:

• Addiction training for providers
• Pathway to clinical social work licensure
• Qualified supervisor workforce and training
• The impact of AI on the behavioral health workforce
• Workforce compensation and retention
• Opioid overdose surveillance and EMS response
• Rural behavioral health workforce challenges
• Integrated care workforce development
• Collecting and analyzing evaluation data
• Strategies for creating publishable work
• And more!

Sep 10

🕑: 08:00 AM
Registration
🕑: 09:00 AM
Summit Kick-off

Info: With FCBHW Executive Director Courtney Whitt, PhD

🕑: 09:30 AM
Plenary feature presentation
Host: Khary Rigg, PhD

Info: Why Addiction Training Matters for All Behavioral Health Providers

🕑: 10:05 AM
Panel Discussion with experts on education, practice, programs and policy
🕑: 11:45 AM
Concurrent Sessions I
Education and Training:
Host: Cathy Sowell, MSW, LCSW

Info: The Pathway to Clinical Social Worker Licensure in Florida: Developing Solutions to Improve Examination Pass Rates

Practice and Program Development:
Host: Emilie A. Ellenberg, PhD, LMHC-QS

Info: Evaluating the Qualified Supervisor Workforce & Training

Policy:
Host: Karni Chagal-Feferkorn, PhD

Info: The Impact of AI on Behavioral Health Workforce Development

🕑: 01:00 PM
Lunch w/ Keynote: Brianna Lombardi
Host: Brianna Lombardi, PhD, MSW

Info: Designing the Behavioral Health Workforce Around Community Need: What Data and Policies Will It Take to Get There?

🕑: 02:15 PM
Concurrent Sessions II
Education and Training:
Host: Amy Vargo, PhD

Info: From Research to Practice: Developing Florida's Retention-Focused Supervision Framework for the Behavioral Health Workforce

Practice and Program Development:
Host: Kimberly Menendez, PhD

Info: Improving Nonfatal Opioid Overdose Surveillance & Response: Insights from EMS Data & First Responder Experiences

Policy:
Host: Linda M. Callejas, PhD

Info: Examining Factors Influencing the Entry, Retention and Advancement of the Behavioral Health Workforce Trained to Work in Integrated Care Settings

🕑: 03:30 PM
Concurrent Sessions III
Education and Training:
Host: Vickie A. Lynn, PhD, MSW, MPH

Info: Scope-AI: Simulation for Competency Optimization in Practice & Education

Practice and Program Development:
Host: Kathleen Moore, PhD

Info: Beyond Traditional Roles: A Mixed-Methods Needs Assessment of Tampa Bay’s Behavioral Health Workforce

Policy:
Host: Troy Quast, PhD

Info: Compensation Analysis for Behavioral Health Occupations

🕑: 04:45 PM
On-site Reception
Sep 11

🕑: 08:00 AM
Registration
🕑: 09:00 AM
Future of the Florida Center for Behavioral Health Workforce
Host: Courtney Whitt, PhD
FCBHW Research Core
Host: Oliver “Tom” Massey, PhD
Education and Professional Development Core
Host: Emilie Ellenberg, PhD
🕑: 09:45 AM
Keynote: Caren Howard

Info: Sr. Director of Policy & Advocacy, Mental Health America

🕑: 10:30 AM
Plenary research presentation
Host: Jacob Gray, PhD

Info: The Rural Divide in Florida’s Behavioral Health Growth and Acquisition: Implications for Regional Mental Health

🕑: 10:50 AM
FCBHW Request for Proposals
Host: Oliver “Tom” Massey, PhD
🕑: 11:30 AM
Workshops
Bridging Academia and Practice:
Host: Emilie A. Ellenberg, PhD, LMHC-QS

Info: Strengthening Field Placement Partnerships to Better Prepare Behavioral Health Clinicians for the Workforce

Collecting and Analyzing Evaluation Data
Host: Jacob Gray, PhD
From Practice Innovation & Success to Published:
Host: Kimberly Menendez, PhD

Info: Strategies for Creating Publishable Work

The Science of Storytelling
Host: Kristin Kosyluk, PhD
🕑: 01:00 PM
Lunch Awards Presentation
🕑: 02:15 PM
End of summit