The opioid epidemic continues to claim far too many lives across the state of Massachusetts and the country. Health care and social service providers have been called upon to challenge traditional orientations to addiction, deconstruct stigma, and create innovative models for intervention as a means to become more adequately equipped to respond to those struggling with the disease. This work shop will offer an orientation to the integration of theory, practice, and support for those who are committed to decreasing barriers to much needed treatment and support. Issues of substance use disorder, trauma informed care, and harm reduction will be reviewed, as well as the facilitation of a collaborative learning session in which clinicians are engaged in identifying possible innovations to take to their current practice models.
Following this training, workshop participants will be able to:
This workshop will benefit social workers, mental health professionals, clinicians, educators, counselors and paraprofessionals. This format includes lecture and discussion.
Billie Starks, MSW, LICSW is a graduate of Smith College School for Social Work , and has been delighted to work with Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program for six years years. She joined Wheelock as a full-time faculty member in September 2017, and taught courses in the MSW and BSW programs that included generalist clinical practice, social work theory, addictions in health care settings, and the dynamics of oppression and privilege. After Wheelock’s closure in May of 2018, Billie returned to BHCHP part time as a behavioral health clinician specializing in the treatment of trauma and substance use disorder, and is also serving as a project manager for programmatic implementation. Billie sustains her work with long distance running, meditation, and long walks with her Great Dane puppy, Magnus.