Upcoming events
Beyond the Silence: Understanding Postpartum Psychosis in Black Communities (Live ONLINE)
Beyond the Silence: Understanding Postpartum Psychosis in Black Communities
Postpartum psychosis is not limited by race, color, creed, income, or social status, and the Black community is not exempt from experiencing this serious maternal mental health condition. This conversation will center the realities of Black mothers and families while emphasizing that postpartum psychosis is a medical emergency that can be treated with timely, informed, and compassionate care.
Attendees will hear from maternal mental health professionals, advocates, and individuals with lived experience as we explore recognition, treatment, recovery, family support, and the changes needed within our health care systems.
Medical Myth Busters: Debunking Race-Based Misconceptions in Healthcare (Live Online)
Medical Myth Busters: Debunking Race-Based Misconceptions in Healthcare (Live Online)
*Optional Q & A to follow from 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm (No CEs)
Medical MythBusters examines several long-standing medical myths related to race and their influence on healthcare practice. Although many of these beliefs were historically taught in medical education, current research demonstrates that race is a social construct rather than a biological determinant. This workshop explores the historical origins of race-based medical assumptions and reviews evidence that challenges these misconceptions. Participants will learn how race-based myths can affect clinical decision-making, patient trust, and health outcomes, while encouraging critical reflection on the importance of evidence-based and equitable approaches to care.
Learning Objectives:
Identify common race-based medical myths and misconceptions.
Explain how these myths have historically influenced medical practice and patient outcomes.
Apply evidence-based knowledge to challenge race-based assumptions in healthcare conversations.
Preparing for a Healthy Transition Back To School: Understanding Anxiety and Building Resilience
Learn how anxiety affects children and teens, discover practical strategies for supporting emotional well-being, and experience the calming power of mindfulness through music that you can incorporate into everyday life.
Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, 5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
955 Main St., Dozoretz Auditorium, 2nd Fl.
Buffalo, NY 14203
IN-PERSON ONLY, Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC), free street parking after 5pm
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5:00 pm - Check-in, light dinner served•
5:30 pm - Lecture and Q&A Session
Cultural Competence in Supervision - Live!
Cultural Competence in Supervision - Live!
Led by Dr. April Duncan, DSW!
Dr. April is a racial trauma expert and leader in her field in advocating for the mental health needs of Black children. Her book, “Black Students Matter: Play Therapy Techniques to Address Racial Trauma in Black Students” provides an innovative approach to address mental health issues in Black children through the use of play therapy. She also is an adjunct instructor in the online MSW program at Tulane University. With over ten years of clinical experience, Dr. April has worked collaboratively with various stakeholders in schools, the juvenile justice system and the child welfare system, to teach the importance of recognizing and addressing trauma in children from all backgrounds. Dr. April also serves on the advisory board for the World Association of Sand Therapy Professionals.
Supporting Students to Become Vape-Free
Join the New York State Quitline, partners from New York State's Tobacco Control Program, college campus professionals, and young adults who overcame vape product use for discussions about:
New types of vape products and potential health harms
Ways to create and/or enforce vape-free college campuses
Challenges and tips for young adults to wean off vape products
Free resources for college students to overcome nicotine addiction
4th Annual "I Love You Black Man" Event
I Love You Black Man is an intentionally curated gathering centered on Black men’s mental health. The evening includes community, recognition, a shared meal, and facilitated conversation.
HCOC Mental Health Corporation Gala
HCOC’s 2nd Annual Gala Honoring Mental Health Professionals of Color!
Friday, May 29
6 PM - 11 PM
Statler Buffalo
Buffalo, NY
Use the link below to learn more about the Honoring Clinicians of Color Gala and to purchase tickets!
Conversations That Matter: Motivational Interviewing For Suicide Prevention (3 CEUs)
Led by Hudson Valley Professional Development:
This 3-hour training provides clinicians with foundational skills in Motivational Interviewing (MI) to support individuals experiencing suicidal ideation. Participants will explore how MI principles can be applied to foster hope, strengthen a person's intrinsic motivation for change, and navigate ambivalence about living.
Jimmy Portner has been a Social Worker in mental health and substance use for 20 years, focusing on advancing Evidence-Based Practices. He is accomplished in Motivational Interviewing (MI), clinical settings, teaching, and research, bringing over a decade of leadership experience in the National MI VA program. A member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT), Jimmy has extensive expertise in the core components of MI, fidelity assessment, and effective delivery methods. Jimmy is also a certified trainer and provider of Radically Open Dialectical Behavior Therapy (RO-DBT), a treatment targeting emotional overcontrol. Since 2014, he has practiced and taught RO-DBT, specializing in its application to complex, treatment-resistant cases.
Menopause and the Buffalo Woman
An evening of honest dialogue on women's health in midlife. Acclaimed gynecologist and scientist Dr. Kemi Doll helps forge a path to understanding, healing and empowerment.
The Wellness Blueprint: A Practical Guide to Supporting Youth Mental Health
Join the NAACP Center for Health Equity and the NAACP Youth & College Division for a critical discussion on Youth Mental Health. The Wellness Blueprint is an engaging webinar designed for youth, educators, parents, community leaders, and advocates who serve on the front lines of support.
Trauma During Childbirth: Supporting Pregnant And Postpartum Clients (2 CEUs)
Information from Hudson Valley Professional Development:
This training is focused on understanding the intersection between maternal mental health and birth trauma. This training is, also, geared toward any provider wanting to increase their understanding of the intersection between maternal mental health and birth trauma. This course will provide a brief overview of common mental health concerns that present throughout the perinatal period –during pregnancy and postpartum. Special focus will be paid to prevalence, risk factors, and methods of detection for traumatic childbirth.
Dr. Rachel Diamond, PhD, LMFT, PMH-C is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) and certified in perinatal mental health (PMH-C) through Postpartum Support International. She maintains a private practice in Chicago, Rachel Diamond, PLLC, where she primarily works with individuals and couples presenting with issues related to pregnancy and adjusting to new parenthood. She is trained in EMDR specifically for the perinatal population and utilizes this in her treatment of reproductive traumas.
Reconstructing the Afrikan Village as an Ecosystem for Educating Afrikan/Black Youth
Reconstructing the Afrikan Village as an Ecosystem for Educating
Afrikan/Black Youth - Association of Black Psychologists and the Black Family Summit
Join us for these consciousness-raising virtual events focused on increasing awareness across the Afrikan/Black community of the
various effective strategies that we can utilize to ensure
that our children are receiving culturally-responsive education.
Kinship Care: It’s Time to Safeguard African American Family Legacies (1.5 CEUs)
Kinship Care: It’s Time to Safeguard African American Family Legacies
with Dr. Ramona Denby-Brinson, Ph.D., ACSW, LMSW
Fri., April 24 from 3 pm to 4:30 pm EDT
Univ. at Buffalo, 403 Hayes Hall, with Meet & Greet and light refreshments to follow
OR Live Online Webinar via Zoom
Grounded in personal narrative and over three decades of scholarship, this session explores the historical and contemporary landscape of the U.S. child welfare system, with a focus on kinship care and the experiences of African American and minoritized families. Drawing on storytelling, research evidence, policy analysis, and culturally responsive frameworks, participants will be invited to examine how past practices shape current social movements and to “Think Kin First.” The training highlights strategies for promoting legal, psychological, and cultural permanency while aligning research, policy, and practice to strengthen family well-being.
Racism & Grief: Considerations for Working with Black/African American Clients with Prolonged Grief
Racism & Grief: Considerations for Working with Black/African American Clients with Prolonged Grief
Presented by The Center for Prolonged Grief:
During this presentation, Dr. Willis will discuss how racism and historical trauma may impact the grief experience for Black/African Americans, and how to consider these factors when conceptualizing and treating PG with clients from this community. Using findings from a recent community-based study of grief in the Harlem, New York community, Dr. Willis will also discuss how COVID-19 loss has impacted the grief experience of Black Americans, and how these findings can provide insights on how to culturally tailor interventions for treating PG in diverse communities. Finally, Dr. Willis will discuss contemporary approaches to increasing outreach/dissemination of grief treatment resources within Black communities, and discuss recent psychosocial interventions for treating PGD in Black communities (e.g., digital interventions, group therapy interventions, etc.).
White Race Socialization and White Therapists: Treatment Considerations Surrounding Racial Traumas among BIPOC clients (3 CEs)
A training led by Daphne Fatter, Ph.D:
Multicultural guidelines and ethical standards dictate that White therapists examine their own racial identity, privilege, and fragility to better serve BIPOC clients. Dr. Fat- ter will review current trends in multicultural competency and discuss the clinical cost of the therapist being ‘colorblind’. This webinar will specifically focus on aspects of White supremacy culture, White privilege, White fragility, and Helms’ White racial identity model to help therapists self-assess their own White racial identity. Dr. Fatter will discuss clinical examples of ways ‘whiteness’ can show up relationally in clinical settings as well as skills needed to build racial stamina. In addition, Dr. Fatter will also describe examples of specific types of microaggressions that can dam- age the therapeutic relationship. Dr. Fatter will also discuss practical ways to bring up racial identity with all clients, practical ways to honor cultural strengths using a Commu-nity Cultural Wealth approach in therapy, and how to do a therapeutic repair when a relational rupture has occurred.
Training: Professionals who are Grieving
Instructor
Tiffani Dilworth, MA, LCPC
Miss Dilworth is a successful psychotherapist, author, and sought-after speaker on topics related to grief, PTSD, and sexual assault. Miss Dilworth earned her Master’s in Community Counseling from Oklahoma State University. She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor specializing in grief and trauma and a Fellow in Thanatology.
She has worked across the US with various organizations, schools, universities, and corporations to bring awareness to the grieving process and to teach countless people how to live alongside their grief. In addition to facilitating trainings for the United States Air Force Chaplain Team, Miss Dilworth maintains a private practice and provides professional training for clinicians in need of CEs.
Drawing on her rich clinical experience, Ms. Dilworth incorporates the most current information on the process of grieving with evidence-based and innovative treatment techniques that clinicians can immediately use in their practice. She’s the author of the books 11 Tools to Help Manage the Aftermath of Trauma and Types of Grief, and the host of Managing My Grief Podcast.
From Chatbots to Case Notes: What Every Clinician Should Know About Artificial Intelligence in Practice (3 CEs)
Training about the Use of AI in Practice!
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly entering the therapy world and reshaping how treatments are delivered, therapists’ workflow, and the clients’ use of chatbots and digital companions. This training helps clinicians understand what is already possible, what remains aspirational, and how to use AI responsibly and effectively in their own practice.
This virtual training will be led by Shiri Sharvit, Ph.D.
Building Trauma-Responsive Practices to Prenatal Substance Use for Family Court-Involved Families
STRONG STARTS TRAINING SERIES:
Building Trauma-Responsive Practices to Prenatal Substance Use for Family Court-Involved Families
Prenatal substance use remains a complex issue in Family Court and the child welfare system, shaped by overlapping factors such as substance use disorders (SUD), trauma exposure, mental health conditions, systemic inequities, and limited access to comprehensive care. Families affected by prenatal substance exposure are often involved in the family court system, where decisions can significantly influence maternal health, infant outcomes, and parent-child attachment development when there is a separation.
For a more in-depth discussion on prenatal substance use and best practices, please join SSCI on March 27th with Dr. Leah Habersham, MD, Director of The Bridge program Integrated OBGYN & Addiction Medicine.
Leah L. Habersham, MD, MBA, MLIS, MSCR, FACOG, FASAM is an Assistant Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, holding primary appointments in both the Departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences and Psychiatry.
58th Annual National Association of Black Social Workers Conference
Welcome to the 58th Annual NABSW Conference!
"We Are the Rhythm: Social Work through Resistance and Resilience”
This year’s conference will be in Detroit, Michigan!
Transracial Adoption Readiness: An Identity Needs Hierarchy
By Hudson Valley Professional Development
Join Dr. Chaitra Wirta-Leiker in a training that will outline the Hierarchy of Racial and Cultural Identity Needs of Transracial Youth, a framework for understanding and defining the best ways to assess prospective caregiver readiness to parent transracially in a manner that communicates and centers the needs of transracial adoptees of color. General content areas to be assessed and specific interview questions for prospective parents will be explored.
3-2-1 Latched! Breastfeeding Workshop
This fun and interactive class is designed for expectant parents who want to learn more about breastfeeding in a supportive, hands-on environment.
During this in-person workshop, we will cover:
· How to breastfeed comfortably and confidently
· Different breastfeeding positions
· Different latch techniques
· Live, hands-on demonstrations
· Interactive activities and games
✨ Light refreshments will be provided
Black Fathers and the Family Court System
This online family conversation will explore the experiences of Black fathers navigating the family court system.
This family conversation will explore the experiences of Black fathers navigating the family court system, highlighting systemic inequities, while offering practical strategies, insights, and solutions for creating more just outcomes for fathers, families, and children. Panelists will share expertise, lived experiences, and evidence-based perspectives to illuminate both challenges and opportunities for reform
Coping with Fertility-Related Grief and Loss: A Relational Approach
Join Dr. Shannique Richards for Coping with Fertility-Related Grief and Loss: A Relational Approach.
This is an interactive synchronous distance learning event. This event will be held on Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 12:00 PM EST.
General registration fee: $37.00. Student/Trainee registertaion fee: $15.00.
Registration deadline is January 29, 2026 at 9am.
Grief Treatment Research Study
Do you know parental suicide bereaved families who could use help with prolonged grief? They may be eligible to participate in a treatment development research study.
Collaborative Research Between Columbia University & University of Pittsburgh
The research team is testing a new treatment approach to help families with children ages 8-14 who lost a parent to suicide. Families where either a parent, a child or both are struggling with persistent intense grief may be eligible to participate.
Eligible families will receive 16 sessions of a family-focused prolonged grief treatment. All families will participate in regular, separate study assessment visits. Compensation is provided for these visits.
All study assessments and treatment visits are virtual.
If you know someone who may be eligible, please share this information with them.
Building Cultural Inclusivity in the Play Therapy Room
Join Dr. Aliya Subhit, PhD, MA, LMFT, for a live, interactive webinar designed to strengthen multicultural competency and anti-oppressive practice within the play therapy room.
Date: Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Time: 6:00 PM – 9:15 PM EST
Format: Live Interactive Webinar
CE Credit: 3 APT CE Hours
A GATHERING OF HOPE, JUSTICE, AND UNITY - MLK PROGRAM 2026
Monday, January 19, 2026
6:00 PM 8:00 PM
Asbury Hall
341 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, NY, 14202United States
Mindfulness for All — Introduction to Mindfulness
What to expect:
Brief overview of mindfulness and its benefits in everyday life
Three guided practices
Short reflections on how cultural context and identity shape attention and stress
Practical tips to incorporate short practices into busy days
Space for shared reflection and questions
Who this is for:
People curious about mindfulness
Beginners who prefer culturally aware instruction
Anyone seeking simple, effective tools for stress relief and focus
From Rupture to Repair: Using Anger as a Pathway to Deeper Connections
Presented by Joel Kouame, LCSW, MBA, CAMS-II
Anger is often seen as destructive in relationships, but it is actually a powerful signal of unmet needs and relational ruptures. This webinar will explore anger through the lens of attachment theory, neurobiology, and conflict resolution, providing clinicians with tools to help clients navigate anger constructively. Participants will learn how early attachment wounds shape adult anger responses, why anger can feel threatening, and how to reframe anger as an opportunity for relational repair. Using evidence-based strategies from CBT, somatic therapy, and the Gottman Method, clinicians will gain practical skills to help clients manage anger, repair ruptures, and foster deeper emotional connections. Through engaging lectures, real-life case analyses, and interactive discussions, this webinar will equip clinicians with actionable techniques to transform anger from a source of conflict into a pathway for connection and healing.
Learning Objectives:
As a result of attending this course, learners will be able to:
Define anger from an adaptive and attachment-based perspective, highlighting its evolutionary and relational functions.
Explain the connection between early attachment wounds and adult anger patterns, describing the neurobiological mechanisms behind anger and threat perception.
Analyze different perspectives on anger expression, comparing adaptive and maladaptive patterns while identifying underlying attachment dynamics.
Evaluate and implement practical strategies to help clients manage anger, repair relational ruptures, and foster emotional connection.
NYMHCA Members Discounted Registration: $60
Regular Registration: $75
NYMHCA Student Members Registration: Free
Africans for Mental Health - QPR Training
Free Online QPR Suicide Prevention Training!
Be A 1-Year QPR-Trained Gatekeeper | Maryland-Based
QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) is a nationally recognized suicide prevention training designed to teach individuals how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help.
By the end of the trainings, 455 participants will be certified as QPR Gatekeepers, equipped with the skills to potentially save a life.
Format: Online 2-Hour, Instructor-Led, Interactive Training
Cost: Free
Our Maryland Partner: Sheppard Pratt
Training Dates and Times for Each Cohort:
Cohort #12: Wednesday, November 19, 2025 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. EST | 35 Open Slots
Registration Opens: October 9, 2025 | Closes: November 12, 2025 (or when full)
Cohort #13: Friday, December 19, 2025 | 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. EST | 35 Open Slots
Registration Opens: November 8, 2025 | Closes: December 12, 2025 (or when full)
Sign up here, Click on the Cohort OR on the flyer! Maximum Spots: 35
L.E.T.S. (listening, empathy, trust, support) Save Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention for Black and African American Communities
L.E.T.S. (listening, empathy, trust, support) Save Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention for Black and African American Communities is a presentation created by and for Black people, designed to reduce cultural stigma, foster conversations about mental health, and raise awareness of suicide prevention for individuals who identify as Black or African American. The program is grounded in research and delivered by trained presenters from the Black and African American community.
Participants will:
Learn the scope of suicide among the Black and African American population
Understand the racial and systemic factors that impact suicide in the Black and African American
Identify suicide risk and protective factors for Black and African American communities
Recognize warning signs of suicide
Gain confidence in talking to someone in suicidal distress
Learn how to connect someone with help
Registration is required to receive the Zoom Link.
Location: Zoom
Time: 6:00 pm
Trainer Name: Donna Bell
Contact Information: Pat (pwhite1220@gmail.com)
Empowering Black Providers: Your Health, Your Power, Your Peace
Empowering Black Providers: Your Health, Your Power, Your Peace
Africans for Mental Health - MH First Aid Training
Free Adult Mental Health First Aid (Multiple Cohorts) - Online!
Be A 3-Year Certified Adult Mental Health Aider | Maryland-BAsed
This evidence-based training teaches participants how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges in adults.
Our goal is to train 390 participants will receive a 3-year Mental Health First Aider certification upon completion.
Format:
2 hours of self-paced/pre-work online learning. We require at least 80 percent of the cohort to complete their prework for the training to proceed.
6 hours of live, instructor-led training over two days (3-hour sessions)
Participants must have a working camera and microphone and are expected to remain on-camera for the entire course, except during scheduled breaks.
What You’ll Learn:
How to recognize and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health issues
Ways to support adults in distress and connect them to appropriate resources
Strategies to build confidence in approaching difficult conversations with empathy and care
Cost: Free
Our Maryland Partner: Sheppard Pratt
Upcoming Training Dates and Times for Each Cohort:
Cohort #12: Thursday, November 13 and Friday, November 14, 2025 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. EST | Registration Period: September 10, 2025 - November 2, 2025. Pre-Work due November 4, 2025
Cohort #13: Wednesday, December 3 and Thursday, December 4, 2025 from 12 p.m. – 3 p.m. EST | Registration Period: September 10, 2025 - November 21, 2025. Pre-Work due November 24, 2025
Sign up here, Click on the Cohort OR on the flyer! Maximum Spots: 30
NOTE: At least 80% of the cohort must complete their prework for the training to proceed. With a cohort size of 30, this means at least 24 participants need to complete their prework by designated deadline. If the minimum completion rate is not achieved, the training will be canceled or rescheduled.
Participants who do not complete prework assignments will be unenrolled from the training session.