The Eastern New Mexico Behavioral Health Leadership Council is hosting a free mini Behavioral Health Symposium for the region on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. This event is provided through grant funding obtained through the New Mexico Sentencing Commission and will feature Justin Volpe. Justin is an international consultant, advocate, and peer specialist based out of Miami, FL. He has presented and trained mental health facilities and other organizations on trauma informed practices and used his life experiences to discuss workforce issues and connecting community providers to better serve individuals in need. His lived experience is a remarkable example of the importance of a collaborative community response for those experiencing behavioral/mental health and/or substance use disorders.
The symposium will be held on Tuesday, May 30, 2023 with two time/location options (sessions are basically identical – only necessary to attend one). The first session is at 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Eastern New Mexico University – Becky Sharpe Auditorium. The second session is slated for 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Clovis Civic Center in the Enchantment Room. Please register in advance if you plan to attend. There is a hyperlink on the flyer to register or you can register by visiting Behavioral Form | Roosevelt County. All attendees will receive a certificate with the noted CEUs as requested following completion. Registrations will be accepted through Tuesday.
The focus of this symposium will highlight the growing demand and need for trained professionals in response for those experiencing behavioral/mental health and/or substance use disorders and effective crisis intervention. Everyone is invited to this free event and mental health practitioners, social workers, counselors, peer supports, educators, professors, law enforcement, security and detention officers, first responders, healthcare professionals, foster families, and any other disciplines or family members are encouraged to attend. Additional training opportunities will also follow this symposium throughout the summer and will be noted at the conclusion of the events.
Leadership team members for the NM Office of Peer Recovery and Engagement will present on the certified peer support program and its important role in a response focused on recovery and resiliency. This is a key element for the successful establishment of a mobile crisis response team and growing workforce development opportunity for peers.
Previously, Justin worked as a Jail Diversion Peer Liaison for the 11th Judicial Criminal Mental Health Project for 14 years. He has worked as a Certified Recovery Peer Specialist in Florida since 2008. Justin has extensive work experience in the community and has supervised and coordinated thousands of engagements with participants with serious mental health and co -occurring issues in the criminal justice system. He has assisted in training over 2,500 Miami Dade Law Enforcement Officers in Crisis Intervention Team Training. His passion for this work is based on bringing systems together locally and nationally while reducing stigma and advocating for the persons served. He is recently the recipient of the 2021 Fred Frese Award from CIT International and has many other awards and achievements; including multiple articles and film Definition of Insanity, (PBS 2020) with his experience with the Jail Diversion Program and a Ken Burns Documentary: “Hiding in Plain Sight” (PBS 2022) on Youth Mental Health.
