OKC's Diversity Center of Oklahoma hosts educational symposium

Symposium Overview: Diversity Center of Oklahoma’s 3rd Annual Mental Health, Prevention & Education Symposium will address best practices for Strengthening Families of Gender Diverse and LGBTQ communities on June 15 & 16 at the 3rd Annual Mental Health, Education & Prevention Symposium.

Gender Diverse and LGBTQ families encounter unique challenges related to access and quality of equitable services to for the entire age spectrum, and healthcare, relationship issues, child rearing, discrimination and legal issues.

Service providers desire advanced and effective ways to strengthen families they serve. Gender Diverse and LGBTQ experts will provide best practice skills and knowledge to strengthen families.

One of the primary goals of the Diversity Center of Oklahoma (DCO) is to increase the number of mental health professionals better trained and experienced in providing quality treatment for gender diverse and LGBTQ populations through education. DCO is additionally committed to providing gender diverse / LGBTQ education, prevention and resources directly to the community.

This year’s symposium will explore various topics impacting gender diversity families and their communities; theories of mental distress and mental health disparity for populations and subpopulations through a series of presentations by national speakers, leading clinicians and professionals in the field. 

Upon completion of the symposium participants will increase their knowledge in:

Ø The perils of reparative therapy

Ø Gay affirmative therapeutic services

Ø Emotion focused therapy for LGBTQ couples

Ø Health disparities among the transgender community 

Ø Families and aging LGBTQ communities

Ø Transgender community and families

Ø Helping families support their LGBTQ Youth

Ø Competent and ethical counseling of LGBTQ ersons

DCO’s 3rd Annual Mental Health, Education & Prevention Symposium – “Strengthening Families” is privileged to partner with leading clinicians and professionals in the field to provide two full day of training with the option of continuing education credit.

Sponsorships:  Colleagues at OSU-Stillwater & Tulsa, Trans-Cendence International, Inc., Cedar Ridge Behavioral Health, UCO, Expressions Community Center, OKC Pride 

Symposium Objectives: The objective of the 2017 Diversity Center of Oklahoma Inc. Annual Mental Health, Education and Prevention Symposium is to develop and enhance professional skills and knowledge in prevention, recognition, assessment and treatment of mental health and better awareness of the larger system issues affecting the gender diverse and LGBTQ population.

Discussions will highlight emerging knowledge, best practices and innovative approaches to integrated care, with emphasis on increased access to appropriate high quality prevention, intervention, and supports that impact relationships, behavioral health, and spiritual well-being, and inclusive of special populations and cultural/ethnic diversity. Ethical considerations will also be addressed.

The 3rd Annual Mental Health Prevention & Education Symposium will be held in the Crowne Plaza Hotel. It is centrally located in Oklahoma City between N. May Avenue and Northwest Expressway. Attendees coming from out of state will receive a discount rate, please let them know you are attending the Diversity Center of Oklahoma’s 3rd Annual Symposium. If you decide to stay the night at the hotel you will receive free breakfast buffet in the morning.

The symposium will be located on the 1st floor of the hotel and the vendor area will be located downstairs in the lobby area outside of the large conference area, next to registration. We will have gender neutral restrooms available for our guests.

Symposium Registration/Vendors/Sponsorship: Register now while we have the Early Bird Special for attendees interested in CEU’s and general rates. We are offering a special location just for our vendors this year. Want to have your company or agency acknowledged at the symposium, check out our sponsorship opportunities. Register at www.diversitycenterofoklahoma.org. For information, email info@diversitycenterofoklahoma.org

The Gayly – June 9, 2017 @ 1:40 p.m.