2025 Virtual STAR-Center Conference Agenda

May 9, 2025, via Zoom

8:15 AM                          LOG ONTO ZOOM

8:30 to 11:30 AM         CONFERENCE OVERVIEW

                                           KEYNOTES

Dr. Marisa Marraccini, PhD, NCSP

Donald and Justeen Tarbet Distinguished Scholar

Associate Professor of School Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

There will be a brief break between Keynotes

Dr. Rachel Vaughn-Coaxum, PhD

Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Dr. James Huguley, PhD

Associate Professor, University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work

11:30 AM                       LUNCH (On Your Own)

12:45 PM                        SKILL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS - GROUP 1

2:00 PM                           BREAK

2:15 PM                           SKILL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS – GROUP 2

3:30 PM                           ADJOURNMENT

STAR Center is funded by an appropriation from the Pennsylvania General Assembly.  The University of Pittsburgh is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution.

All workshops are introductory to intermediate instruction level.

KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS

Keynote Address #1: Innovative Approaches for Improving the Transition from Hospitals to Schools

Marisa Marraccini, PhD, NCSP

Donald and Justeen Tarbet Distinguished Scholar

Associate Professor of School Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

This presentation provides an overview of ways to support adolescents as they return to schools following a suicide-related crisis. The presentation is informed by a mixed methods study that explored adolescent, care provider, school professional, and hospital professional perceptions to develop and refine guidelines for school reintegration. The presentation also shares findings from a pilot trial of a virtual reality intervention that provides practice opportunities for hospitalized teens to learn and practice using therapeutic skills in an immersive school environment. The presentation is appropriate for introductory and intermediate participants, as it provides an overview of hospital-to-school considerations, as well as specific recommendations relevant to practicing professionals.

At the completion of this session, participants should be able to:

1.   Recognize key considerations for supporting students returning to school following suicide-related crises

2.   Identify pertinent information to consider requesting and/or sharing for improving the hospital to school transition

3.   Explore how school re-entry processes can be improved at their own entity (e.g. hospital, clinic, school)

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Keynote Address #2: The SIRCH (System for Integrated Restorative Change) for Trauma-responsive School-based Care: Empowering students through intensive mental health support in the Just Discipline Project

Rachel Vaughn-Coaxum, PhD

Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

James Huguley, PhD

Associate Professor, University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work

The Just Discipline Project’s System for Restorative Change (JDP SIRCH) is a multi-tiered restorative practice intervention designed to transform school climate and reduce racialized educational disparities in harsh and exclusionary discipline practices in schools—which result in poor behavioral, social, and academic outcomes. Dr. Huguley will present the foundational model and its impact to date through a recent cluster randomized trial funded by the U.S. Department of Education. Dr. Vaughn-Coaxum will present the development of the trauma-responsive tier of intensive mental health support, the DREAMs intervention, to promote emotion regulation and empower students in effective strategies for coping with stress, structural inequity, and biases in the school setting. Drs. Huguley and Vaughn-Coaxum will present on the recent implementations of DREAMs in local schools for students who have been exposed to trauma and experience elevated emotional and behavioral problems that typically result in punitive discipline. Drs. Huguley and Vaughn-Coaxum will discuss challenges and opportunities for meeting youth’s mental health needs in the context of broader intervention models and discuss future directions for the JDP SIRCH intervention.  

At the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to:

1. Understand how restorative practice models in schools can be leveraged to support youth with needs for more intensive mental health support
2. Describe the impact of adversity and trauma exposure on emotional and cognitive processes that impact behavioral and academic outcomes
3. Understand the strengths and limitation of implementing multi-tiered restorative practice models in school systems

SKILL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS
Please note that participants will select two workshops – one from Group 1 and one from Group 2. 

GROUP #1 - 12:45 – 2:00 p.m. (SELECT ONE WORKSHOP FROM GROUP #1)

1. Workshop Title:  Caring for Our Future

• Courtney Abegunde, MA

Operations Director, Steel Smiling and “Organization in Residence’ of Neighborhood Allies

“Caring for our future” is a workshop focused on understanding the needs and priorities of Black youth, including a review of local community resources and initiatives. This is an introductory offering.

At the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to:

1. Understand concerns and trends related to Black youth and mental health
2. Learn about best practices in involving youth leadership and ideas in program development
3. Learn about local efforts to foster healthy wellbeing for Black youth in Pittsburgh

2. Workshop Title:  Suicidal Thoughts, Behaviors, and Self-Injury in Autistic People

• Ligia Antezana, PhD

Postdoctoral Scholar, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

It is particularly concerning that autistic people are three times more likely to die by suicide than nonautistic people. Recent work in the last decade has highlighted that suicidal thoughts, behaviors, and self-injury are strikingly common in autistic people, leading to frequent interaction with mental health and crisis services. It is known that many mental health providers do not feel like they have enough training in autism to service autistic clientele, and further that autism specialists do not always have training in evidenced-based practices for mental health, creating a burgeoning service gap for suicide in autistic people. This presentation will summarize current themes and gaps in the emerging literature on suicidality and self-injury in autistic people, including (1) risk factors for suicidal thoughts, behaviors, and self-injury, (2) adaptations for assessment, and (3) safety planning and treatment considerations. This presentation will be at the intermediate level.

At the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to:

1. Identify increased risk factors for suicidal thoughts, behaviors, and self-injury in autistic people
2. Understand how to adapt assessment for suicidal thoughts, behaviors, and self-injury in autistic clients
3. Be able to apply considerations for how to conduct safety plans and ongoing treatment for autistic clients with suicidal thoughts, behaviors, and self-injury

3. Workshop Title:  Socializing with Social Anxiety: Using an Evidence-Based Approach in Group Therapy

• Kelsey Bero, LPC, NCC

Behavioral Health Therapist, STAR Center

Sleep Therapist, ETUDES Center

• Dara Sakolsky, MD, PhD

Associate Professor, University of Pittsburgh Department of Psychiatry

Associate Medical Director, STAR Center

This intermediate presentation will introduce evidence-based treatment options for adolescents with social anxiety disorder and briefly review tools for providing measurement-based care as part of treatment. We will then discuss the components of conducting an exposure-based group therapy for social anxiety. Related coping skills and cognitive strategies will be reviewed, as well as an introduction to creating and conducting exposures for reduction of anxiety-related avoidance and distress.

At the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to:

1. Understand evidence-based treatment options for youth experiencing social anxiety disorder
2. Explain the components of an exposure-based therapy group
3. Identify the components of creating a therapeutic exposure in a group setting

4. Workshop Title:  Addressing Cultural Barriers to Treatment: How to Be Respectfully Curious When Working with Families

• James Russell, MSCP, NCC, LPC

Family Therapy Lead, UPMC Center for Children and Families

• Brittany Weaver, LMFT, LPC, NCC

Behavioral Therapist III, UPMC WBH Center for Children and Families

Outpatient Therapist, Cranberry Psychological Center

Professionals have the unique opportunity to work intimately with families. As professionals, we have an obligation to be respectfully curious when granted this unique access. It is so easy to do harm, try to enforce our values on families, and attempt to “fix” a pattern of interaction that we have not taken the time to appreciate the “very good reason” why our families do what they do. Participants will practice how to be respectfully curious when engaging with families. Strategies will be presented and opportunities for the audience to learn from each other will be encouraged.

At the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to:

1. 1. Discuss and identify the nuances of culture and identity
   2. Demonstrate 30 minutes of cultural humility experiential skill practice with fellow participant(s)
   3. Practice being respectfully curious when exploring an individual or family’s cultural background, values, barriers, and protective factors

E.  Workshop Title: Suicidality Screening in the School Setting: Risk Assessment and Safety Planning for Students

• Mackenzie Osborn, MSCP, LPC

Behavioral Health Therapist, STAR Center

This interactive workshop will overview how to perform suicide risk assessments and complete safety planning with students in the school setting. Learn how to identify warning signs that indicate students may be at risk, have challenging and open conversations with students and families about suicide, and create collaborative safety plans as a means to supporting safety and hope for the future. This is an introductory workshop.

At the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to:

1. Identify warning signs that students display in the school setting that indicate they may be at risk of suicide
2. Complete a screening assessment to determine suicide risk for students in the school setting
3. Describe ways to collaboratively complete a safety plan with students who are at risk and their families

F.  Workshop Title:  Successful Transition to Early Adulthood Milestones (STEAM) Program

• Erin Belback, MS, LPC

Research Operations Coordinator, UPMC, CABS, STAR, CoSTAR Centers and University of Pittsburgh Department of Psychiatry

This introductory presentation will provide an overview of the Successful Transition to Early Adulthood Milestones (STEAM) program, an initiative funded by the SAMHSA Healthy Transitions Grant, aimed at supporting youth and young adults through critical life transitions. It will focus on the integration of peer specialists into UPMC's specialized clinics at CABS, STAR, and CoSTAR, highlighting their crucial role in supporting young people facing mental health challenges. Attendees will learn how peer specialists, with lived experience, are central to fostering engagement, providing emotional support, and promoting recovery. Key topics will include their impact on patient outcomes and how they collaborate with clinical teams to address the unique needs of individuals in transition. The presentation will also explore strategies for ensuring successful collaboration and enhancing the delivery of personalized, peer-driven care.

At the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to:

1. Describe the role of peer specialists
2. Understand the impact of peer specialists
3. Explain how peer specialists collaborate with clinical teams

GROUP #2 - 2:15-3:30 p.m. (SELECT 1 WORKSHOP FROM GROUP #2)

G.  Workshop Title:  Schools and Providers Working Together: Helping Students Succeed

• Sara Goodyear, MSEd, LPC, NCC

School Counselor, A.W. Beattie Career Center

This session offers resources for building effective, mutually beneficial partnerships between schools and community mental health providers. It will highlight key questions to ask during development and share successful examples to inspire new partnerships that benefit all stakeholders. This is an intermediate workshop.

At the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to:

1. Understand the process of building effective partnerships between schools and community providers, including key questions to ask
2. Identify mutual benefits and contributions that schools and providers can offer each other in a successful partnership
3. Explore successful resources and strategies developed by schools and providers to strengthen their partnerships

H.  Workshop Title:  Social Media, Chatbots, AI and Adolescents: Current Trends in Digital Technology Use and Considerations for Adolescents’ Mental Health

• Candice Biernesser, PhD, LCSW

Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh

Director of Digital Interventions, University of Pittsburgh

Digital media, including social media, artificial intelligence, and digital interventions are used increasingly by adolescents. There is a growing interest in learning how to support adolescents in using digital technologies in ways that positively influence their mental health. This presentation will provide an updated understanding of current trends in adolescents’ use of digital technology and offer practical strategies for supporting adolescents in using technology in ways that support their mental health.

At the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to:

1. Gain an updated understanding of current trends in adolescents’ use of digital technologies (e.g. social media, chatbots, and AI) from research and experience
2. How to recognize and evaluate risks and benefits of digital technologies for adolescents’ mental health with balance
3. Gain awareness of 3-5 strategies for supporting adolescents with using digital technologies in ways that positively influence their mental health

I.  Workshop Title: Collaborating with Colleges and Universities on Safety Planning for Transitional Age Youth

• Salena Binning, LCSW

Behavioral Health Therapist III, STAR Center

Transitional age youth (TAY) are often impacted by complex psychosocial factors that influence suicidal thinking and their ability to utilize a safety plan. This presentation aims to address such complexities and problem-solve obstacles to safety planning for those who are not monitored or supported by parents or guardians.

At the completion of this session, participants should be able to:

1. Identify effective safety planning strategies for transitional age youth who are at risk of suicide
2. Problem-solve obstacles related to safety planning for transitional age youth who are away from parental monitoring
3. Identify cultural considerations for safety planning with transitional age youth who are of minority race and ethnicity

J.  Workshop Title:  ADHD in Adolescence

• Traci Kennedy, PhD

Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh

This intermediate presentation will introduce ADHD, describe the clinical presentation of ADHD in adolescence, briefly address assessment and treatment considerations and resources specifically for ADHD, and facilitate discussion of the ways in which ADHD may impact the mental health treatment for young people.

At the completion of this session, participants should be able to:

1. Identify the diagnostic criteria of ADHD in adolescence
2. Describe one method of assessment and/or treatment for adolescents with ADHD
3. Explain how at least one impairment related to ADHD can interact with other mental health symptoms or aspects of mental health treatment

K.  Supporting Youth After the Traumatic Loss of a Peer by Suicide

• Kelly Monk, BSN, RN

Clinical Research Coordinator, UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital

• Hannah Gozzard

Behavioral Health Therapist, STAR Center

In this introductory presentation, we will discuss bereavement/complicated grief related to individuals who have lost someone to suicide, supporting youth in the aftermath of the loss and address the impact that working with the bereaved by traumatic loss may cause.