Waynesburg University's Regional Counseling Symposium

Fostering Connection: Addressing the Needs of Marginalized Groups

Waynesburg University will it's Regional Counseling Symposium Friday, March 21, 2025, in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania.

Individuals are cordially invited to submit a proposal to present at the Symposium, which will focus on ways to foster connections among behavioral health and social service agencies.

Licensed professional counselors, psychotherapists, counselor educators, clinical supervisors, community stakeholders, human resources professionals, and other members of the behavioral health workforce are encouraged to submit a proposal to present.

Agencies can help make this conference a success by sharing the knowledge they have about working with marginalized groups. Agencies are encouraged to share their expertise by participating in a round table discussion with other providers and stakeholders or presenting a workshop or paper pertaining to behavioral health interventions, social service initiatives and advocacy efforts promoting social justice for underserved groups. In addition, agencies can use this symposium as an outreach and networking opportunity by setting up an informational table.

Submission Deadline: Jan. 24, 2025
Notification of Selection: Feb. 14, 2025

Submit a Proposal

OUTSTANDING CHANGE LEADERSHIP AWARDS

This year, awards for Outstanding Change Leadership will be awarded. Nominations should include a name and short paragraph about the person or agency that best represents an Outstanding Program or Outstanding Change Leader. Awardees will be recognized at the 2025 Waynesburg University Counseling Symposium.

Submit a Nomination

About the Speaker

Kami Anderson, Executive Director of the Armstrong-Indiana-Clarion Drug and Alcohol Commission, Inc.

Kami Anderson is the Executive Director of the Single County Authority (SCA) for the counties of Armstrong, Indiana and Clarion in Western Pennsylvania. The Armstrong-Indiana-Clarion Drug and Alcohol Commission has a reputation of aggressively seeking additional funding for new innovative programs for the prevention, intervention, treatment, case management and recovery support services for those with substance use disorders. She has been employed in the drug and alcohol field since 1993.

Ms. Anderson currently serves as the President of the Board of Directors of the Southwest Behavioral Health Management (SBHM) Corporation, providing oversight of the Pennsylvania HealthChoices Medicaid program for the Southwest Six Counties; and a member of the Executive Committee for the Board of Directors of the Behavioral Health Association of Rural Pennsylvania (BHARP), providing oversight of services for the HealthChoices Medicaid program for the NorthCentral 23 Counties.

Ms. Anderson is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania, with a BS degree in accounting. Prior to being employed in the drug and alcohol field, she worked as an accountant for a public accounting firm and as an assistant controller for a major petroleum products distributor. She resides in Indiana, Pennsylvania, with her husband, their black Labrador and English Bulldog, and enjoys shopping, traveling and spending time with her family.

Date: Friday, March 21, 2025
Time: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Location: Hilton Garden Inn, Southpointe
1000 Corporate Dr., Canonsburg, PA 15317

Symposium Agenda

8-8:30 a.m. - Registration

8:30-9:15 a.m. - Keynote Speaker: Kami Anderson

9:30-10:20 a.m. - Three 50-Minute Sessions:

Importance of the Mental Health Care of the Latino/Hispanic Immigrant
Revolutionizing Family Engagement: Building Trust and Equity Through Trauma-Informed Listening
Centering Intersectional Identities and Attachment in Clinic Supervision: Building Strong Supervisory Relationships

10:30-11:20 a.m. - Three 50-Minute Sessions:

Diagnosis and Treatment of Perinatal Mental Health Conditions (PMH)
Fostering the Needs and Connection of Marginalized Groups with Nature-Informed Therapy: Exploring Accessibility, Inclusivity, and Empowerment
Rolling with resistance: The Power of Tabletop RPGs & Narradrama Therapy

11:30 a.m.-12 p.m. - Poster Presentations

Poster Sessions

12-1 p.m. - Lunch

1-2 p.m. - Three 20-Minute Sessions:

Harm Reduction and Recovery Support: Meeting people where they're at
Changing the Narrative for Mothers Dealing with Addiction
PA Navigate: Connecting Pennsylvanians to Needed Social Services

2-2:50 p.m.

Mindfulness: How to Stay Present & Regulate our Emotions
Fostering School Connection: Understanding School Avoidance within Neurodiverse Student Populations.
Too Much and Too Little: Understanding the Dialectics of Abuse and Dissociation

3-3:50 p.m. - Panel Discussions:

Human Services Approach to Addressing the Needs of Marginalized Groups
Road to Recovery

3:45-4 p.m. - Wrap up and Adjourn

Guest Recommendations

Accommodations Near Waynesburg University Southpointe Campus

Restaurants Nearby

Toscana Brick Oven
1800 Main Street
Canonsburg, PA 15317
(724) 485-2026

Bubba’s Gourmet Burghers and Beers
114 Southpointe Blvd
Canonsburg, PA 15317
(724) 416-7119

Sarris Candies
511 Adams Ave
Canonsburg, PA 15317
(724) 745-4042

The Bar Association
26 N Jefferson Ave
Canonsburg, PA 15317
(724) 328-1293

Atria’s Restaurant
4059 Washington Rd
McMurray, PA 15317
(724) 942-1108

Master of Arts in Counseling

Waynesburg University's 60-credit Master of Arts in Counseling program prepares students with the academic requirements needed to become Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC). This program offers concentrations in Clinical Mental Health counseling and Addictions counseling, and is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs (CACREP).

Learn about our Master's program

Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision

Waynesburg University offers a 54-credit Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision program for students looking to work as counselor educators in colleges and universities, or as leaders in clinical mental health, addictions or school counseling. This program is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Programs (CACREP).

Learn about our Doctoral program

Certificate in Addictions Counseling

Waynesburg University offers a 12-credit, non-degree, post-baccalaureate Certificate in Addictions Counseling for individuals interested in becoming certified as an alcohol and drug counselor. This certificate is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

Learn about our Certificate

Certificate in Clinical Supervision

This 12-credit, non-degree, post-baccalaureate certificate is offered 100% online and can be successfully completed in as little as two semesters. Upon completion, licensed professionals will be well positioned to pursue the Center for Credentialing and Education Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS) credential and non-licensed professionals may qualify for the Pennsylvania Certification Board's Certified Clinical Supervision (CSC) credential.

Learn about our Certificate

Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program

The purpose of the BHWET Program for Professionals is to develop and expand experiential training opportunities, such as field placements and internships, to improve the sustainability of the behavioral health workforce. The BHWET program emphasizes relationships with community-based partners to increase access to quality behavioral health services in high need, high demand, and medically underserved areas. Special attention is given to vulnerable populations, such as children, adolescents and transitional-aged youth, who are at risk for behavioral health disorders as well as individuals with substance use disorders.

The Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training (BHWET) Program for Professionals is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $1,069,240 over a four-year period from 2021 to 2025 with 0% financed with non-governmental sources.