Thank you to everyone who attended the 2nd Annual  LGBTQ+ Mental Health Summit!

PDFS of speakers’ presentations are available below: 

8:45 – 9:15 a.m.

Plenary Session (CME) – CLICK HERE FOR SLIDES
Location: Gov. Doty Ballroom A & B
Reiko Ramos (they/them), Director of Statewide Anti-Violence Programs, Diverse & Resilient
This opening session is for all conference attendees and will serve as a moment to ground everyone with some shared understanding of the importance of inclusive & affirming mental health services. All attendees will set intentions to listen, learn, and center the experiences of the LGBTQ+ community throughout the conference, and commit to using this experience to improve mental health access and outcomes for LGBTQ+ people. This session will include an overview of the Fox Cities Mind Your Wellness Survey data and the BIPOC & LGBTQ+ community-specific recommendations that came out of the survey. Diverse & Resilient will provide context for the data and recommendations based on what they have seen and witnessed in their advocacy for LGBTQ+ people.

9:25 – 10:35 a.m. sessions

QTBIPOC: Health and Wellness – Systemic Inequities and Beyond (CME) – CLICK HERE FOR SLIDES
Location: Gov. Doty Ballroom A
Chris Allen, President & CEO, Diverse & Resilient
Our mental health is an encompassing dynamic state of balance that enables us to interact with the world around us which includes establishing harmonious relationships with others, the ability to recognize and express healthy emotions, basic cognitive skills, the flexibility and ability to cope with life’s stressful changes, and the ability to take care of our physical bodies in a healthy way. In this workshop we will examine some of the unique barriers and challenges in access to quality mental health care for QTBIPOC. We will also increase knowledge and improve practice in order to achieve more equitable mental health outcomes for QTBIPOC.

Understanding & Affirming LGBTQ+ 101 (CME) – CLICK HERE FOR SLIDES
Location: Riverside Ballroom A
Keira Kowal Jett (they/them), Community Education & Outreach Advocate – Diverse & Resilient
The session will cover key knowledge that is essential to your work as an ally. Expect to learn about affirming language and pronoun use, get a snapshot of the challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community, and discover how to best support the LGBTQ+ people in your life.

Spoken Word for Self-Exploration: Finding Inner Harmony through Verbal Artistry
Location: Riverside Ballroom B
Andrew McKee (they/he), LGBTQ+ Anti-Violence Program Advocate – Diverse & Resilient
This 70-minute, interactive spoken word poetry workshop aims to provide a safe and supportive space for participants to explore their emotions, enhance their self-regulation skills, and foster a sense of community through the art of spoken word poetry. It combines creative expression, self-reflection, and peer support to promote mental well-being and personal growth. 

10:45 – 11:55 a.m. sessions

LGBTQ+ Gender Affirming Care: Creating Inclusive Spaces in Mental Health – Part 1 (CME) – CLICK HERE FOR SLIDES
Location: Riverside Ballroom A
Kathleen Schiltz (she/they), Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
This is part one of a two-part session designed for mental health providers to gain skills and knowledge on providing inclusive and affirming care to LGBTQ+ individuals. Topics will include identity development, standards of care models, letters of support, inclusive documentation, and more. Participants will need to have basic understanding of LGBTQ+ language and terminology before attending this session and should plan to attend both parts 1 and 2 of this session.

A Look at Anti-Trans Legislations and What YOU Can Do About it (CME) – CLICK HERE FOR SLIDES
Location: Gov. Doty Ballroom A
Raphael Miller (they/he/she), Community Advocate
In 2023 alone, 566 anti-trans bills have been introduced across the country. This number is not an invitation to live in fear but something to be made aware of. In knowing this, we can either remain stagnant, thus giving into a cycle of fear perpetuated by anti-Trans legislators, or we can do the opposite by leaning into activation; we can create the empowered, Trans futures that we want to see. The first step is educating ourselves on these issues as they present themselves, followed by understanding their impact and taking action. Join us as we explore attempts to pass anti-Trans legislation in Wisconsin and across the country, its impact on the Trans community, the work being done to block these bills, and what
we can do to move to a future where Transness is celebrated.

Kindle the Spark, Tend the Fire: Igniting Change Your Way
Location: Riverside Ballroom B
Nick Ross (they/them), Anti-Violence Advocate – Diverse & Resilient
Each one of us is necessary to create the lasting change we want to see in the world, and each one of us has a unique but equally important role to play. Learn how to identify the roles and changemaking strategies that best fit your own brilliance, and how to put those strategies into action. From grassroots activism, to organizing for mutual aid, to running for office and beyond, there’s no “one” way to make a positive impact on your community–only your way!

 12:55 – 2:05 p.m. sessions

Gender Affirming Care: Creating Inclusive Spaces in Mental Health – Part 2 (CME) – CLICK HERE FOR SLIDES

Location: Riverside Ballroom A
Kathleen Schiltz (she/they), Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist
This is part two of a two-part session designed for mental health providers to gain skills and knowledge on providing inclusive and affirming care to LGBTQ+ individuals. Topics will include identity development, standards of care models, letters of support, inclusive documentation, and more. Participants will need to have basic understanding of LGBTQ+ language and terminology before attending this session and should plan to attend both parts 1 and 2 of this session.

Mental Health Toolkit Workshop (CME) – CLICK HERE FOR SLIDES
Location: Riverside Ballroom B
Nathaniel Fores (he/him), Registered Nurse Case Manager
Corynn Stoltenberg, Mental Health Counselor
This workshop will be collaborative space for knowledge sharing among LGBTQ+ community members and providers to discuss what safety, competency, and affirming care looks like as defined by folks with LGBTQ+ lived experience. Providers in the space will listen and learn while sharing insider knowledge on navigating access to mental health and healthcare. This session will be co-facilitated by professionals who are both part of the LGBTQ+ community and highly skilled at navigating care systems for themselves and for others.

Sharing Wisdom Through Song
Location: Elisha Smith Room
Betsy Kowal Jett (pronouns), Singer, Creative & Community Artist
Keira Kowal Jett (they/them), Community Education & Outreach Director, Diverse & Resilient
Join us for time to discern and share inner wisdom through collaborative songwriting. This session will include grounding and centering, individual reflective journaling, and lyric and melody creation in small groups. No musical experience needed! This space is designed for LGBTQ+ people.

2:15 – 3:25  p.m. sessions

Gender Diverse Youth & Families (CME) – CLICK HERE FOR SLIDES
Location: Riverside Ballroom A
Isaac Kabacinski (he/him), Clinical Therapist, MSW, APSW
Attend this provider-focused session to learn more about supporting gender diverse youth and their families in ways that meet the individual young person’s needs while providing education, communication skills, and relationship building for families.

Ending Stigma for LGBTQ+ & HIV-Affected Communities (CME) – CLICK HERE FOR SLIDES
Location: Riverside Ballroom B
Anthony Harris (he/him), Manager of Prevention & Care Services, Diverse & Resilient
Lorenzo Rivas (he/him), Manager of Prevention & Care Services, Diverse & Resilient
Justin Roby (he/him), Director of Finance & Human Resources, Diverse & Resilient
HIV stigma can manifest in many ways including discrimination, prejudice, and violence and can impact individual identity development, interpersonal communication, community engagement and ultimately impedes people living with HIV from reaching optimal health and mental health outcomes. This will be an educational session for participants to learn about and address misconceptions, bias, and harm that are caused by HIV stigma. Providers and community members will gain knowledge on best practices for treatment and prevention efforts rooted in dignity giving on the individual level.