June 10, 2010 at the Sioux City Convention Center
Sponsored by Siouxland Mental Health Center
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS:
Amalia Starr
Will your special needs child − and you − achieve maximum independence? "Rarely do I meet a mom who has a child with special needs who's not feeling overwhelmed and looking for solutions," says Amalia Starr, the author of Raising Brandon: Creating a Path to Independence for your Adult "Kid" with Autism & Special Needs. Starr’s 36-year-old son, Brandon, has a form of autism called Asperger Syndrome, plus untreatable epilepsy and severe learning disorders.
In her uplifting presentation she shares her experiences and practical strategies that will make life easier for you and your children, no matter what their age or stage of development. She offers help, hope and inspiration for parents who don't know where to turn. "I always wanted my son to have the opportunity to live his best life possible," says Starr, and today he does.” Against, all odds, for the past twelve years, Brandon has been living in his own apartment and enjoying his independence.
Starr is on a mission to guide, support and empower parents and their children to reach their fullest  potential.
Bruce Goldstein, Author of Puppy Chow is Better than Prozac
The only thing better than getting a puppy as a little kid is getting a puppy when you turn 27 years old, you’re out of work, you’re diagnosed with Manic Depression, your first love says she needs more space, and you’re thinking about killing yourself. Bruce Goldstein was unemployed and recently dumped. This twenty-something New Yorker trying to make his mark in advertising had fallen into such a deep depression that he needed to call his mother just to get out of bed in the morning. From blowing $18,000 on helicopter rides over Hawaiian volcanoes to talking to the knives in his sink, Bruce was well into a downward spiral of bipolar disorder. Even with therapy, lithium, Paxil, Wellbutrin, and Prozac, he could not shake his rapid mood swings, his fear of dying, or  the voice of Satan, who first visited him one sunny day in Central Park.
At the end of his rope, Bruce takes a desperate ride in a hurricane to find the one thing that just might save him: a slobbery, squirmy, ball of black fur. Promptly named Ozzy (after heavy metal’s “Prince of Darkness”) this exuberantly life-affirming black Labrador puppy forces Bruce on a surprising, uproarious journey of complete canine dependence. From teaching Bruce how to not take himself so seriously, Ozzy helps Bruce heal through the most unexpected source: the love of a good dog.
Nan Crockett – Valentine
 “Learn your hot buttons. Everyone else has.” This sort of irreverent humor characterizes the approach Nan Crockett Valentine offers in this informative and inspiring keynote presentation.
An author, consultant and executive coach who has worked with thousands of men and women, Nan will show us ways we can use humor to overcome life’s most vexing hurdles. Service providers in the field of mental health face numerous challenges each day. Nan will offer us insights and perspective options that can help us weather life’s storms. Her light, humorous approach offers us a fun, inspiring, and uplifting break in the middle of our busy day!
Other Topics Include:
Navigating Change: Staying Positive, Proactive and Afloat in Rough Waters
By Nan Crockett – Valentine
Let’s face it. Major change is generally about as welcome as a flat tire on the freeway. In this interactive and fun session participants will identify changes they are currently experiencing at work or at home. Nan Crockett Valentine will help us look at strategies for embracing and proactively managing ourselves as we work through these changes.
Holistic Wellness – By Mary Hughes
The Holistic Approach to the Fullness of Living is a simple, practical, and effective management method for individuals with a variety of challenges, which offers new skills and perspectives regarding recovery through self-help and self-empowerment strategies and techniques. By managing the Whole of our lives, we can attain our greatest level of functioning, recovery, discovery and fulfillment.
 Obsessive – Compulsive Disorder With Hoarding as a key topic– By Chris Trondsen
Chris started suffering with OCD as early as age 7. The OCD became so bad that
in October of 2002 he attempted to take his own life to alleviate the suffering. That’s when it became clear to his family there was something wrong. By reading a chance article in a magazine about OCD, it was the first step in getting his OCD under control. He was diagnosed at age 20 but told by his primary care physician that his OCD was so severe that he could never improve. His parents were told that he would have to live under their care for the rest of his life because his OCD was simply that bad. After research through the OCF’s website, Chris and his family started him in treatment with The OCD Center of Los Angeles. With hard work, determination, and the help of the OCD Specialists and support of his family, Chris was able to get his OCD in complete control. Since completion of treatment, Chris was able to go from not being able to leave the house due to 18 hour a day crippling obsessions and compulsions, to graduating college, taking martial arts, going back to work, and getting his life back. He has since been active in helping others get information and treatment for OCD so they won’t have to suffer as long as he did without any knowledge or awareness of what they are suffering from.
Treating Co-Occurring Disorders – By Fred White LICSW, LADC
Fred is the Director of Substance Abuse Services at Community Council of Nashua. He has promoted New Hampshire’s disaster behavioral health effort by working with towns, hospitals, community mental health centers, public health networks and others to include behavioral health interventions in their disaster planning. He helps train and maintain the volunteer Disaster Behavioral Health Response Team and plays a leadership role in assessing community needs after critical incidents. He has had an active role in supporting collaborative efforts with the New Hampshire National Guard and has been awarded the Commandant’s Award for civilian service to the military.
For more details call or email:
Kim Fischer-Culver 712-202-0173 ext. 23
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