The University of Washington’s Center for Mental Health, Policy, and the Law is pleased to host a virtual speaker series on civil commitment. Civil commitment, or involuntary commitment, is a legal intervention by which a person with serious mental illness, or other criteria, may be ordered to a psychiatric hospital or receive supervised outpatient treatment for some period of time. Recent changes in the laws governing civil commitment across the country have fueled the longstanding debate about the role of civil commitment, understanding the balance between ensuring public welfare and protecting one’s civil liberties, and providing quality health care services within the mental health care continuum.

This series brings together an array of experts, including clinicians, legal professionals, educators, policymakers, and individuals with lived experience. The speakers will provide foundational as well as advanced content on civil commitment laws and processes, ethical considerations, and clinical practices for caring for persons with mental illness.

All are welcome to attend. The series is intended to be useful to both professional and community audiences.

Participants may attend one session or the entire series.

Please use the Registration link to read more information and to register.

In this workshop we will touch on:

Understanding key elements of the mental

health system, including hospitalization,

higher levels of care, the discharge process,

and outpatient services

Coping strategies to help lift the weight and

take better care of yourself

Learn productive ways to problem solve

barriers and communicate better

Tips and tricks for accessing community

resources and advocating for your loved one

About this event

• Event lasts 1 hour

Early intervention for those exhibiting signs of mental illness can mitigate or prevent adverse outcomes such as suicide and hospitalization. However, community-engaged and culturally responsive efforts to promote mental health and reduce behavioral health disparities are lacking. Mental Health Matters of Washington (MHMWA) works to address these disparities through culturally responsive peer support programs that destigmatize mental illness.

Sandra Huber and Jody Early, PhD, will present an overview of Mental Health Matters of Washington (MHMWA)’s program, including program design, theoretical approach and training model, trained peer support, and implementation strategies and outcomes. Challenges as well as promising practices for community mental health promotion will also be shared.

Jody Early, PhD, MS, is principal investigator and co-director of Mental Health Matters of WA. She is a professor in the School of Nursing and Health Studies at the University of Washington Bothell and also a Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES) and Certified Health Coach. Jody’s background in public health promotion and education spans nearly 30 years, and her research examines the bio-psycho-social, cultural, and systemic factors that influence individual and community health. As a practitioner, she applies evidence-based approaches and community-based participatory methods to work in partnership with communities and groups to co-design and evaluate culturally-based health programming and communication. She received the Community Engaged Scholar Award, University of Washington Bothell (2023), the Society for Public Health Education Service Award (SOPHE Trophy) (2021), and the Health Education Materials Award, American Public Health Association (2020).

Sandra Huber, Co-Director of Mental Health Matters of WA, was born and raised in Panama City, Panama, and came to the U.S. to study industrial engineering. After working as an engineer, she found her calling in social and humans services. Sandra has been a key player in the development of a Community Health Worker or Promotores de Salud program in Snohomish County. She has received awards from the WA State Public Association, and the 2015 Providence Institute Agency Change Maker Award. She formerly co-chaired the Community Health Board Coalition and was part of the Board of Directors for Leadership of Snohomish County. She currently serves on the board of Directors for MAS, Movimiento AfroLatino Seattle.

This event has been approved for 1 CEUs by the Washington Chapter, National Association of Social Workers (NASW) for Licensed Social Workers, Licensed Marriage & Family Therapists and Licensed Mental Health Counselors. Your Provider number is #1975-473

This event and the the '24-'25 webinar series is supported by the Washington State Department of Health. You can view the other installments of this series on our website.

NAMI Family-to-Family is a free, 8-session education program for family, friends, and significant others of adults with mental health conditions. NAMI Family-to-Family provides information about anxiety, depressive disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other mental health conditions. Other topics covered include communication, problem-solving, treatment, and recovery.

The course is designed to increase understanding and advocacy skills while helping participants maintain their well-being. It is taught by trained family members who have a loved one with a mental health condition. NAMI Family-to-Family is an evidence-based program. For information on the program's research base, visit nami.org/research.

“This course overall was the single most,

without a doubt, helpful and informative

thing ever offered in all my years searching

for answers...it has helped me to

understand better and communicate more

effectively with my brother.”

NAMI Sno-Isle is offering the free eight-week F2F class on Thursdays from 6:00 to 8:30 PM

starting January 16, 2025, in the Providence Regional Medical Office Building, Cascade Room,

1330 Rockefeller Ave., Everett, WA 98201.