Mission Possible XXII: Challenges and Champions
Tuesday, March 7 – Wednesday, March 8, 2017
Brought to you by Burke, the Alzheimer’s Association, the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council, Texas AHEC East, Stephen F. Austin State University School of Social Work and DSHS Rusk State Hospital, Mission Possible will be held on March 8, 2017, from 8:00 am – 4:30 pm. This conference offers contact hours for nurses, counselors, social workers, LMFTs, community health workers, activity professionals and Public School administrators, counselors and teachers. Offered are 3 hours of Ethics for LPCs, LMFTs, and social workers.
There are five separate learning tracks:
- Mental Health and Nursing Professionals
- Youth and Schools
- Health and Wellness
- Elderly and Alzheimer’s
- Consumers and the general public
Conference pre-registration is:
- $60 for professionals seeking continuing education hours,
- $50 for sponsors members and the general public not in need of credit or contact hours
- $30 for students and consumers.
Registration information is found online at www.myburke.org/missionpossible
The Alzheimer’s Association invites all participants to a preconference on Tuesday, March 7 from 6-8 pm, “Living with Alzheimer’s: A Film Review and Panel Discussion.” Set in the near future, Robot and Frank tells the story of Frank, a retired burglar living alone with early stage dementia. His children, long distance caregivers, hire Frank a robot caretaker to help him. Using Robot as an assistant, Frank decides to go on another heist. A quiet comedy that raises profound moral questions, Robot and Frank will make you think in new ways about autonomy, family dynamics, caregiving, independence, and vulnerability.
Stay after the film for a talk back session with Ann Marie McDonald, MBA, MEd, and Julie Kutac, MA, PhD, both of the Alzheimer’s Association.
The conference will be kicked off in the morning with a Keynote Address from Paul McGaha, DO, MPH, of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler. His address will focus on “Health Challenges of East Texas and how we can Become Champions of Change.”
This year a Special Afternoon Keynote speaker will speak at Mission Possible. Kevin Hines, documentary filmmaker, and suicide prevention and mental health advocate who has reached millions with his story of an unlikely survival and his strong will to live. Two years after he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, he attempted to take his life by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge. Kevin’s will to live and stay mentally well has inspired people worldwide.
More about his amazing story can be found here: http://www.kevinhinesstory.com/bio/
Mission Possible will also recognize REAL Champions who have volunteered over the past year to share their struggle of strength, hope, and recovery with the East Texas community. They have done this through TV and newspaper interviews, which are then highlighted on Burke’s Facebook page. Eight champions will be presented with a gift of recognition and their story will be highlighted during the conference’s luncheon.
Breakout sessions throughout the day, featuring over twenty five professionals and educators will tackle subjects such as “Yoga and Mindfulness Based Interventions for Veterans”, “Effects of Trauma on Children and Adults”, “Creating Meaningful Activities for Persons with Dementia,” “Challenge to Choice: How Physical Activity can Transform Body and Mind” and “Dropout Prevention and Recovery.” Visit www.myburke.org/missionpossible to view the entire agenda for the day.
“Mission Possible in 2017 is not a year to miss,” says Conference Committee Member, Kinnie Reina, “from keynote speakers, to special recognition and a wide variety of session topics, this conference will leave you well informed and motivated in the areas of mental health, Alzheimer’s and community wellness. Please attend and bring a friend!”
Planning Organizations of Mission Possible include Burke, Texas AHEC East of the Piney Woods Region, the Alzheimer’s Association, the Texas Department of State Health Services, Rusk State Hospital, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council, and the following Stephen F. Austin State University Departments, the School of Social Work, the Richard and Lucille DeWitt School of Nursing, and the School of Psychology Program of the Human Services Department.
The conference is made possible by Event Sponsors: Ocean’s Behavioral Hospital Lufkin, Hospice in the Pines and Brentwood Hospital.
