Upcoming Events

Partnering with Caregivers Part One: Recognizing Caregivers as Essential Partners

When: Thursday, April 23 - 12:00 PM

Duration: 2 hours

Location: Zoom

Event Details:

Part 1 of this series will discuss the importance of caregiver partnership, ground us in important frameworks, provide an overview of barriers to partnership, and introduce a family we will be working with during the training sessions. Presenters will discuss types of barriers and their impact on partnership as well as ways to proactively identify potential barriers. Please bring your experiences of partnership, questions, concerns, and intentions as we launch into family partnership together.

By the end of this series, participants will be able to:

  • Describe the essential approaches in mental health service delivery when working with families, including family-driven, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive care
  • Identify key barriers that prevent meaningful caregiver engagement
  • Recognize strategies to strengthen the therapeutic relationship
  • Explore approaches to authentically partner with caregivers to promote positive outcomes and lasting well-being for young people and their families

About the presenters:

Melanie Funchess, FPA, is the CEO/ Principal of Ubuntu Village Works, LLC and the Director of Mental Health and Wellness of Common Ground Health, a health planning organization serving the nine county Finger Lakes region, where she has served as an advocate for families and youth for over two decades. She is a member of CTAC's Advisory Board, offering feedback and advice about the needs of the field.

Amy Piroli, FPA-C, is the Director of Peer Support Training at the NYU McSilver Institute, a dedicated professional who has spent years working at the intersection of mental health, child welfare, and family support.

Kara Dean-Assael, DSW, LMSW, is the Senior Director of Innovation and Education and the Leader of CTAC at NYU's McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research and has been working with children and families since 1997.

Diana M. Arias, LMSW, MS, is the Director of Innovation and Education at the NYU McSilver Institute. She assists on developing and disseminating training initiatives and educational resources for behavioral health agencies.