By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Articulate why understanding stigma and compassionate harm reduction approaches are important in treatment access, retention, and improving recovery outcomes.
2. Articulate understanding of how harm reduction is a way to build resilience, safety, and redefine success in recovery.
3. Define the term co-occurring disorder
4. Describe one’s understanding of the pathways to mental health and substance use disorders and why they frequently co-occur.
5. Identify at least two common mental health disorders related to substance use.
6. Self-reflect on a case study discussion
7. Identify at least two compassionate harm reduction approaches for treatment using evidence-based strategies and resources.

Psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, licensed psychoanalysts, nurse practitioners and family and marriage/couple therapists and mental health counselors.

This seminar is appropriate for clinicians with all levels of experience.

Crystal Marr, LCSW-R, ACSW, CASAC-M is the Associate Vice President for Substance Use Services for the Sun River Health. She has worked for Sun River Health almost eight years and participates in the organizations Justice, Equity Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) committee and other quality management projects. Crystal has a background in mental health, substance use treatment, and child welfare. She holds a master’s degree in social work from Fordham University and a post-graduate certificate in military trauma from Adelphi University. In the late 90’s, she started her career in human services as an AmeriCorps Volunteer at a homeless shelter where she learned about the intersections of mental health and substance use disorders. This led to her to pursue a CASAC after she graduated with her master’s degree. Crystal became a Certified School Social Worker while working at the LaSalle School for 8 years. In 2014, Crystal was also the recipient of the Orange County JMHCA Distinguishing Service Award in Human Services and received the Genie awards in 2017 and 2019 for her program development, motivation, multitasking, and teamwork at Sun River Health. In 2021, she was awarded the Planetree Leadership Award from Sun River Health. In her spare time, Crystal serves on the Board of the NYS Society for Clinical Social Work-Mid Hudson Chapter. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and serves on the Board of the Wappingers Crew Club as VP of membership where her older son rows. She enjoys musical theater, karaoke, Zumba, sci-fi movies, visiting the ocean, and any books by Mitch Albom, Spencer Johnson, the Bible, or on women’s empowerment. Additionally, she has been married for 23 years and is the mother of two sons and a stepdaughter. Her family has two aquatic turtles, a Malta-poo puppy named Marshall and a little Bichon Frise named Lucas.

Contact Hours will be awarded once the entire course is completed, as evidenced by signing in and out and completing a course evaluation. Certificates will be emailed approximately ten business days after the completion of the course.

ACE welcomes participants with diverse abilities. Please contact Kristin or Debbie at info.acefoundation@gmail.com, at time of registration, to request accessibility accommodations. Accommodation requests are considered in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities ACT (ADA), Section 505 of the Rehabilitation ACT.

Cancellation Policy:

Cancellations made at least five days before the event will be fully refunded. For cancellation please call 1-800-288-4279, or email us at info.acefoundation@gmail.com.

Inclement Weather Policy:

Should Inclement weather occur, we will be notifying all registrants via the email by which the registrant signed up. Please be sure to check your email before you leave for the course.

• 3.0 Contact Hours will be awarded once the entire course is completed.
• All registrations must be submitted by the Wednesday prior to the program.
• Certificates will be emailed approximately ten business days after the completion of the course.
• For questions regarding disability access please contact Kristin or Debbie, at time of registration, so that we can see to it that arrangements are made to accommodate your special needs: info.acefoundation@gmail.com.
• For questions regarding course content, please contact Kristin or Debbie: info.acefoundation@gmail.com.
• In the event of any grievance please contact: director.acefoundation@gmail.com.