Advances and Innovations in Violence Prevention & Treatment:
The First 25 Years of The Melissa Institute

Building Empathy: The Missing Piece in Violence Prevention
December 31, 2020
Healing Reconciliation, & Growth: A Trauma Informed Community Model
March 8, 2021
 
Conference Handouts

When:
Friday, May 7, 2021
9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. EST

Where:
Zoom

Ticket Pricing:

  • Registration: $70
  • University of Miami Faculty Registration: $30
  • University of Miami Student: Free, please email info@melissainstitute.org to complete registration

Please be sure to register by April 30, 2021

register here
 

About the conference

For 25 years The Melissa Institute has been at the forefront in the education and training of violence prevention and treatment in South Florida and beyond. Every year we set out to provide state of the art conceptual and practical tools to help make our lives safer and healthier. During this time the Institute has been part of a remarkable evolution in violence prevention programs and services that has significantly improved the safety and wellbeing of individuals, children, families, schools and neighborhoods across the nation.

The 25th Anniversary Conference highlights essential research-based knowledge and strategies for educators, mental health professionals, social service providers, and policy makers. Following a year where unexpected health, social, and financial challenges have threatened the stability and safety of our lives, this conference offers insights and guidance to address some of the most complicated issues affecting us.

This year’s extraordinary challenges have left us with a deeper sense of appreciation and gratitude for the importance of educators, health professionals, and social service providers in our lives. It has also highlighted the value of research-based violence prevention strategies in making our homes, schools, neighborhoods, and communities safer. By equipping these essential professionals with proven tools to prevent violence, the conference supports their efforts and takes an important step towards creating a much safer and healthier post-pandemic life.

The Melissa Institute’s internationally renowned Scientific Board Members will share their current work on violence prevention and the promotion of well-being. Dr. Ron Slaby make the case for research-based violence prevention as a central component in our efforts to repair the world. Dr. Debra Pepler will talk about early childhood violence prevention and child development research. Dr. Jim Larson will discuss managing adolescent anger and behavioral concerns. Dr. Guerda Nicolas will examine the impact of trauma and racialized violence for racial minorities. The Institute’s Scientific Director, Dr. Donald Meichenbaum will talk about the power of active bystanders to help defuse conflict and prevent violence from escalating. Finally, Dr. Isaac Prilleltensky will discuss research-based methods to help people achieve a higher sense of purpose and a deeper sense of meaning, providing professionals the tools needed to optimize well-being and productivity.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the training participants will be able to:

  • Explain the role of emotional competence in successful school experiences and incorporate science-based techniques to promote connection, engagement, and belonging within families, schools and communities;
  • Overcome obstacles in the implementation of active bystander violence prevention interventions, community enhancement initiatives and youth school-based interventions;
  • Recognize multisystemic roadblocks to key resources to deal with cumulative burdens and support the healthy development of at-risk children, families, and communities;
  • Incorporate into professional practice evidence-based skills and interventions to promote mattering and well-being as well as be acquainted with key resources readily available to help individuals, organizations and communities.

 

Presenters

Ron Slaby, Ph.D., has helped to shape national and global strategies for treating and preventing violence and bullying through his innovative research, teaching, and program development. A developmental psychologist, Dr. Slaby is known for coauthoring the CDC’s first National Agenda for the Prevention of Violence, the WHO’s global program for Preventing Violence in Schools, the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) Program to prevent men’s violence against women, and the multi-media Eyes on Bullying Program to prevent bullying in early and middle childhood — and for introducing a widely applied “bystander intervention strategy” into the field of violence prevention.


Debra Pepler, Ph.D., has led research on aggression, bullying, and victimization among children and adolescents for over 35 years. Her programs of research on peer and family relationships have been embedded in educational, clinical, and community programs. Her research has informed practice and policy related to children and youths’ relationships and violence prevention.


Jim Larson, Ph.D., is Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where he directed the graduate program in School Psychology for 21 years. He is the author of Think First: Addressing Aggressive Behavior in Secondary Schools and co-author of Helping School Children Cope with Anger: A Cognitive-behavioral Intervention (with John Lochman, Ph.D.).


Guerda Nicolas, Ph.D., is a multicultural (Haitian American) and multilingual psychologist (Spanish, French, and Haitian Creole). Her current research highlights the integration of race, culture and well-being for ethnically diverse and immigrant communities. Current projects include: spirituality across the life span among minorities and culturally effective mental health intervention for minority adolescents, with a specific focus on immigrant children, adolescents and families. Dr. Nicolas has published several articles and book chapters. She is an invited presenter at national and international conferences on women’s issues, depression and intervention among Haitians including social support networks of ethnic minorities and spirituality. Her most recent book is Social Networks and the Mental Health of Haitian Immigrants.


Donald Meichenbaum, Ph.D., is Research Director of The Melissa Institute and Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Waterloo in Ontario. He has served as Distinguished Visiting Professor at the School of Education at the University of Miami. He is one of the founders of cognitive behavior therapy. North American clinicians voted Dr. Meichenbaum “one of the 10 most influential psychotherapists of the 20th century.” He has presented in all 50 states and internationally. Dr. Meichenbaum has published extensively, and his most recent book is The Evolution of Cognitive Behavior Therapy: A Personal and Professional Journey with Don Meichenbaum. Other books include Roadmap to Resilience: A Guide for Military, Trauma Victims and Their Families; Treatment of Individuals with Anger-control Problems and Aggressive Behavior; Treating Adults with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; Nurturing Independent Learners; and Stress Inoculation Training.


Isaac Prilleltensky, Ph.D., is the former Dean of the School of Education and Human Development at the University of Miami, where he currently serves as Professor of Educational and Psychological Studies and Vice Provost for Institutional Culture. In addition, he holds the Mautner Endowed Chair in Community Well-Being at the University of Miami. He has published twelve books and over one hundred and forty scholarly papers and book chapters. His areas of expertise are well-being, mattering, fairness, and organizational culture. He is the recipient of multiple awards from the American Psychological Association, including the Lifetime Achievement Award for Prevention from the Division of Counseling Psychology and of the Distinguished Contribution to Theory and Research and the Seymour Sarason Awards, both from the Division of Community Psychology of APA. In 2015 he won an award from the National Newspaper Association for his humor writing about Miami.



DISCLOSURES:
The following faculty members have indicated that they do not have any relevant relationship with ineligible companies* to disclose. They have indicated that their individual’s presentation will not include discussion of off-label or unapproved. usage.
Ron Slaby, Ph.D.
Debra Pepler, Ph.D.
Jim Larson, Ph.D.
Guerda Nicolas, Ph.D.
Donald Meichenbaum, Ph.D.
Isaac Prilleltensky, Ph.D.

Other individuals involved in planning, content review, approval, or moderating for this educational activity have no relevant financial relationships to disclose with ineligible companies*.

*Ineligible companies are those whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

 

Target Audience: Teachers, administrators, school counselors, psychologists (intermediate level), social workers, family mediators, mental health workers, marriage and family therapists, social services agency personnel, juvenile and family-court judges, lawyers, law enforcement personnel, clergy, nurses, pediatricians, primary care physicians and psychiatrists.

Baptist Health South Florida is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Baptist Health South Florida maintains responsibility for this program and its content.


CREDIT INFORMATION

FLORIDA BOARD OF CLINICAL SOCIAL WORK, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPY AND MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING: The Melissa Institute has been approved by the Florida Board of Psychology and the Florida Board of Clinical Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling to sponsor 6 continuing education credits for mental health professionals CE Broker Course #20-772217.

EDUCATORS: Conference registration and payment to The Melissa Institute must be completed prior to registering for Miami-Dade County Public Schools professional development credit online at http://calendar.dadeschools.net. Seven (7) master plan points will be awarded to participants who have completed a follow-up activity and have preregistered online with M-DCPS. (Approval Pending).

MEDIATORS: The Melissa Institute for Violence Prevention and Treatment is a recognized provider of Continuing Mediator Education (CME) credits for Florida Supreme Court certified mediators. This course is eligible for up to 7 CME hours for certified mediators. Mediators are required to self-report those hours applicable to their areas of certification at the time of their renewal. For more information on the CME requirement, visit www.flcourts.org select Alternative Dispute Resolution/Mediation.

NURSES: This continuing education activity has been approved for 6.25 credits for Nursing and Nurse Practitioners. Baptist Health South Florida CE Broker Provider #50-182, CE Broker Course #20-772217.

PHYSICIANS: This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essentials and Standards of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of Baptist Health South Florida and The Melissa Institute for Violence Prevention and Treatment. Baptist Health South Florida is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Baptist Health has been re-surveyed by the ACCME and awarded Commendation for 6 years as a provider of CME for physicians. Baptist Health South Florida designates this live activity for a maximum of 6.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. This activity has been approved for 6.25 credit hours, CE Broker Course #20-772217, by the Florida Boards of Medicine, Osteopathic Medicine and Psychology.

*CEs for Florida license only. Upon request, the Melissa Institute will provide a certificate of completion that can be self-reported to other boards. We cannot guarantee that it will be accepted by other boards for approval.

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