post conference report€¦ · 2019 atlantic mental wellness and addictions training conference -...

Post Conference Report

2019 Atlantic Mental Wellness and Addictions Training Conference - Final Report

M Carroll Consulting (MCC) was proud to organize the 2019 Atlantic Mental Wellness

and Addictions Training Conference from March 12-14 2019 in Moncton, NB.

The purpose of this report is to outline the planning process for the event, identify attendees (delegates,

presenters, Elders), and outline the presentations and workshops offered at the conference. Evaluation

information is also provided and displayed graphically based on the feedback received from attendees

alongside comments regarding conference highlights and areas for improvement. Takeaways based

on feedback will also be identified and incorporated into planning to further improve future events

where applicable.

Thank you,

Evan Carroll

President, M Carroll Consulting

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction Page 02

Background Page 03

Planning and Execution Page 04

Attendees Page 07

Evaluations Page 11

Summary and Conclusion Page 19

Conference Agenda Page 20

Introduction


The 2019 Atlantic Mental Wellness and Addictions Training Conference was presented by the Atlantic

Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat (APC). In past years, single-day training sessions were

hosted by APC; however, it was decided that a format similar to a more conventional 2-3 day conference

would be employed for 2019.

The conference was held between March 12-14 2019 at the Crowne Plaza Downtown Moncton, in Moncton NB.

In total, 86 delegates attended from across the Atlantic area, including Health Directors and heath centre

workers, treatment centre directors and workers, community nurses, organizational leaders, and more. Those in

attendance were offered 12 presentations, panels, and workshops on topics ranging from suicide prevention and

life promotion to motivational interviewing. Full presentation and workshop lists are noted in the agenda found

at the end of this report

The conference also qualified as a CCPC Global accredited course worth ten hours.

This conference was organized by M Carroll Consulting on behalf of, and in partnership with, the Atlantic Policy

Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat.

Background


Conference planning commenced on February 4, 2019. The conference name was discussed and agreed upon after which subsequent branding was developed and approved, and a preliminary agenda was produced.

APC staff and the Conference Planning Committee were actively engaged to solicit suggestions for presenters

and delegates. The planning committee was regularly engaged via conference calls and group emails and

routinely provided guidance and suggestions.

Presenter lists were shared with the planning committee on an iterative basis for suggestions and approvals

throughout the planning process.

MCC staff set up conference materials on March 11 with registration beginning at 11:30am the following day.

APC

The Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat (APC) is a policy research organization that

analyzes and develops culturally relevant alternatives to federal policies that impact on the Mi’kmaq, Maliseet,

Passamaquoddy and Innu communities and people. In APC’s Health Department, we work with First Nations

and Inuit Health Branch Atlantic region (FNIHB), Atlantic First Nations communities and organizations to both

ensure culturally appropriate health care services and to close the gap in health status between First Nations

communities and Canadians.

The APC Director of Health, Jarvis Googoo, led the APC staff in administering contracts with MCC while

Thomas Hill, Mental Wellness Project Manager, led the planning and execution of the event for APC alongside

the MCC team.

HEALTH CONFERENCE PLANNING COMMITTEE

The planning committee for this year’s conference consisted of the following persons:

• Jarvis Googoo Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat

• Thomas Hill Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat

• Wanda Ralph Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat

• Bert Milberg Indigenous Services Canada

• Elaine Allison Wagmatcook Health

• Barbara Broom Indigenous Service Canada

Planning and Execution


• Shannon Doubleday Indigenous Services Canada

• Paula McNally Wolastoqewiyik Healing Lodge

• Jennifer MacDonald Waycobah Health

• Sarah Johnson Union of Nova Scotia Indians

• Tammy Arsenault Lennox Island

• Theresa Morris Eagle’s Nest Recovery House

The planning committee was directly involved in developing the conference theme and approving pertinent

conference materials. They participated in the identification and solicitation of delegates and presenters.

Committee members were continually engaged throughout the planning process and regularly provided valuable

advice and information despite their respective professional requirements.

MCC

M Carroll Consulting is a business consulting company based out of Sydney, NS. MCC provided management,

organizations, administration, logistics, and marketing for the conference.

They confirmed venue booking and suitability, marketed the event, solicited attendance, coordinated presenters

and Elders, and managed the logistics pre-conference and on-site.

MCC staff and personnel responsible for the planning and execution of the conference were:

• Evan Carroll

• Mira Howards

• Candice Gottschall

• Amelia Howards

Additional key persons who contributed significantly to the event were:

• Chief Alan Polchies Jr. Emcee

• William Nevin Ceremony and Prayer

• Joey Peter Paul Drum-Making Cultural Workshop

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES Roles and responsibilities during the planning, execution, and follow-up of the conference are outlined in the RACI

chart below. The parties who will be responsible to conduct the work, those who are accountable for the work,

those who will be consulted on the work, and those who will be informed of the work are outlined for each main

task across the phases.


EVAN CANDICE MIRA AMELIA APC

TASK

Phase 1: Planning

Project Management Plan A/R C C I C

Branding & Marketing A R R I C

Event & Activities Coordination A R R I C

Conference Materials A C R I C

Registration & Data Collection A R C I C

Phase 2: Execution

On-Site Project Management A/R C C C I

Registration A R I R I

On-Site Logistics & Coordination A R I R I

On-Site Liaison A R I I I

Phase 3: Follow-Up

Client Reports A/R C C C C

Sign-Off R A

R = Responsible A = Accountable C = Consulted I = Informed

VENUE The 2019 Atlantic Mental Wellness and Addictions Training Conference was held at the Crowne Plaza Downtown

Moncton in Moncton, NB. Presentations and workshops were held in the Ballroom which was partitioned into

three sections for concurrent breakout sessions. Nutrition breaks and lunch were also delivered in the Ballroom,

as was the evening drum-making activity during the evening of the first day.

Primary accommodations were at the Crowne Plaza Downtown Moncton.

The overall layout at the venue was highly conducive to the event and the Crowne Plaza has hosted numerous

conferences and events for APC in the past. The physical venue and staff are well-suited to host such conferences

and helped contribute to the overall success of the event.

Audiovisual support for the conference was supplied by Sonic Image Audiovisual under the supervision and

direction of Philip Gallant.


The conference saw 86 delegates, and 18 presenters and workshop leaders attend. The Conference Planning Committee, APC staff, MCC personnel, and emcee, were also present for all or part of the event.

Attendees

PRESENTERS

Organization/Community First Name Last Name

Wagmatcook Health Centre Elaine Allison

St. Mary’s Chris Brooks

IWK Health Centre Glenda Carson

Paul Burke Training & Consulting Group Mary Cripton

Elsipogtog Kaila de Boer

Membertou Wasuek Googoo

Membertou Ryan Gould

Ingram Counselling James Ingram

Direction 180 Paula Martin

Indigenous Services Canada Bert MIllberg

Elsipogtog Harrison Milliea

Indian Brook Donna Morris

Membertou Blair Paul

Truro Francis Perry

Elsipogtog Joey Peter Paul

St. Mary’s Chief Alan Polchies Jr.

Oyster Pond Shannon Taylor


DELEGATES

Organization/Community First Name Last Name

Sheshatshui Iris Allen

Sheshatshui Felicia Allingham

Wagmatcook Elaine Allison

Elsipogtog Brian J Augustine

Elsipogtog Donavon Augustine

Sipeknekatik Patricia Augustine

Elsipogtog Christian Augustine

Esgenoopetitj Leo Bartibogue

We’koqma’q Stuart Basque

Tobique Della Bernard

Eskasoni Leta Bernard

St. Mary’s Melanie Berube

Lennox Island Stacey Bishop

Gesgapegiag Sandra Boisvert

Metepenagiag Anita Boyle

Goose Bay Nympha Byrne

Eel Ground Wendy Chadwick

Pictou Landing Sarah Clark

Elsipogtog Marlon Copage

Esgenoopetitj Rick Dedam

Tobique Shawn Deveau

Sipekne’katik Stephanie Doucet

Lennox Island Alan Francis

Esgenoopetitj Dalton Francis

Tobique Keisha Francis

Elsipogtog Marion Francis

Paqtnkek Tiana Fusco

Esgenoopetitj Delores Ginnish Vautour

Millbrook Peter Gloade

We’koqma’q Natalie Googoo

Membertou Wasuek Googoo

Truro Matt Gough

Eel Ground Paige Hambrookstorey

Fort Folly Michaela Hunter

Miawpukek Howard Jeddore

Bouctouche Lorraine Joseph


Listuguj Lynn Labillois

Eel Ground Anne Marie Larry

Pictou Landing Emma Larson-Ure

Halifax Ryan Lazo

We’koqma’q Jennifer Macdonald

Eel Ground Patricia MacDonald

Confederacy of Mainland Mi`kmaq Katie MacEachern

Wagmatcook Mike Macinnis

Truro Katelynn Macleod

Eel Ground Farrah MacMillan

Vitalité Health Network Joanna Martin

We’koqma’q Rodney Martin

Millbrook Corrina Milliea

Elsipogtog Derika Milliea

Elsipogtog Michael Milliea

Elsipogtog Oasoeg Milliea

Fort Folly Karrie Miner

Wolastoqewiyik Healing Lodge Jerich Morey

Elsipogtog William Nevin

Tobique Leonard Nicholas

Mushuau Innu Katie Pasteen

Eel Ground Audie Patles

Eskasoni Darlene Patles

Membertou Blair Paul

Eskasoni Jeannine Paul

Elsipogtog Joeseph Peter Paul

Mushuau Innu Christine Poker

Woodstock Chris Polchies

Pictou Landing Gordie Prosper

We’koqma’q Madonna Prosper

Elsipogtog Angeline Purcell

Tobique Alison Dawn Sappier

Lennox Island Marilyn Sark

Tobique Peter Saulis

Mount Stewart Tim Sock

Kingsclear Rena Solomon

Kingsclear Torey Solomon

Moncton Rachel Stevenson

Esgenoopetitj Bobby Sylliboy

Eskasoni Norman Sylliboy


Paqtnkek Michael Taylor

Lennox Island Jean Tuplin

Listuguj Dean Vicaire

Metepenagiag Betty Ward

Eel River Bar Dwayne Ward

Metepenagiag Roman Ward

Membertou Lawrence Wells Sr.

St. Mary’s Katrina Withrow

Eskasoni Nelson (Inkin) Young

Membertou Richard Young

STAFF & EVENT LEADERS

Conference Roll First Name Last Name

Photographer Leelynn Bardsley

Staff Evan Carroll

Staff Candice Gottschall

Staff Catherine Hart

Staff Thomas Hill

Staff Amelia Howards

Staff Mira Howards

Staff Jenna Marr

Elder William Nevin

Emcee Chief Alan Polchies Jr.


PLEASE RATE YOUR LEVEL OF SATISFACTION

Registration

Evaluations

85% Excellent / 15% Good / 0% Fair / 0% Poor / 0% N/A

Excellent Good Fair Poor N/A

Presenters


Variety of Presentation Topics


Nutrition Breaks


Attendees were solicited for feedback ranging from the event organization to presentations, and

included areas where delegates, presenters, and exhibitors could provide additional comments

regarding what they saw as event highlights and areas for improvement, along with prompts to

suggest potential learning or training topics for future training conferences.


Venue


Event Organization


Networking Opportunities


Lunch


Accommodations



presentation

Suicide Intervention & Life Promotion

59% Excellent / 32% Good / 6% Fair / 3% Poor

presentation

Cannabis


presentation

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder


concurrent session

Naloxone Spray Overview & Use


concurrent session Shed Program


concurrent session

Regional Health Survey Results


concurrent session Methadone & Suboxone: Fundamentals



concurrent session

Screening Brief Intervention & Referral to Treatment 21% Excellent / 58% Good / 21% Fair / 0% Poor

concurrent session

The Link Between Hepatitis C & Addiction


presentation

Methadone & Suboxone: Transitioning from Treatment Centres 33% Excellent / 50% Good / 13% Fair / 4% Poor

presentation

Men’s Services Panel50% Excellent / 50% Good / 0% Fair / 0% Poor

presentation

Motivational Interviewing



WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING BEST DESCRIBED YOUR ROLE?

79% Delegate / 6% Presenter / 15% Other

Delegate Presenter Other

HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS CONFERENCE? (Option to select more than one)

6% Social Media / 48% Friend / 42% Email / 12% Other

Social Media Friend/Colleague Email Other

SUGGESTED TOPICS FOR FUTURE CONFERENCES

Dealing with people with disabilities and addictions

Suicide intervention training

Rehabilitation for correctional centres

Traditional healing practices - an overview and resources

Noel Milliea

Medicine wheel teachings (Noel Milliea)


Self care for clients

Kairos blanket exercise

Indigenizing mental health and addictions and the health care system

Intervention practices, treatment, counseling

More Inuit cultural representation

Self-care and boundaries. Medicine wheel teachings (Noel Milliea)

Youth mental health and addictions

Topics on anxiety and self-care and self-help

Mental health illnesses, medicine wheel teachings (Noel Milliea)

Cannabis and pregnancy, opiate tapering and withdrawal

Outreach

People stories - individuals, the families, their survival and deep challenges

Have actual methadone suboxone clients speak of their experience

Coordinating access to services in First Nations communities, harm reduction

Trauma work, intergenerational impacts, traditional knowledge keepers, Indigenous healing, decolonizing wellness and living with and in complementary of western medicine

Compassion fatigue, caregiver support

Violence against women initiatives

SUMMARYMany suggestions for future content centred around the incorporation of more traditional aspects

(eg. Medicine Wheel teachings). More anecdotal/experiential content was also a common note for future

events both in the overall feedback and session-specific notes.


CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

Drum making class

Meet and greet. I met new friends from other First Nations, always nice to share and that included starting at noon and ending at noon

Drum making, social networking

Good variety of presentations and the drum making

Drum making during the evening was fantastic!

Hand drum making

Men’s panel

Drum making

Loved the drum making

I really liked that it was both a conference and training in one

Francis Perry’s presentation was probably one of the best presentations I have ever had the honour of listening to. Great job.

Methadone/suboxone information was excellent. Evening drum making! Loved it!

The singing was great. The drum making and discussion from Joey Peter Paul was spot on and would’ve been a great presentation on it’s own

Networking with our First Nations communities and drum making

Networking, Q&A

Overall I had a great experience. Thanks!

I also enjoyed the presentation on motivational interviewing

Very well organized.

Thank you so much for having this training conference. I look forward to my learning journey in order to

provide support and comfort to my native and non-native partners


SUMMARYThe new conference/training session format was noted as a positive point by several respondents. Joey

Peter Paul’s drum-making workshop on the evening of the 12th was also very well-received and added a

component of cultural teaching and networking for those who attended. Francis Perry and Paula Martin’s

session(s) were also noted as event highlights for several delegates.

TAKEAWAYSThe conference/training session format should be strongly considered as the format for future training

events. Social and/or cultural activities outside of conference hours continues to be a highlight and

should remain an aspect of future events, where possible.

SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT

More hands on activities, breaking the ice activities

Hours for certificate didn’t seem to add up

Have a sign off on subjects that we attended

I would remove the male and female panels I felt that they both ended up just being an introduction to

whoever was sitting there and people grew restless after a while and left

Have a dance on the other night and keep the craft making on the other night

SUMMARYMinimal suggestions for improvement were received. Those which were provided in general summaries

and session-specific feedback focused largely on accreditation hours. Isolated comments on individual

sessions remain but no themes among the negative points/suggestions for improvement could be

identified for specific sessions.

TAKEAWAYSAccreditation was clearly a positive aspect of the event though some delegates found the qualifying

hours to be confusing or inaccurate. Communication by event organizers in advance of the conference

may help to alleviate this or at least bridge the topic in advance of the event itself.


The 2019 Atlantic Mental Wellness and Addictions Training Conference was well-received by both

delegates and presenters/workshop leaders. Presenters were predominantly positively-received, as were

those charged with keeping the event progressing and adding cultural value such as Chief Alan Polchies Jr

and Joey Peter Paul.

The new format of the event as a combined conference/training session over multiple days received very positive

feedback and, if at all possible, should continue for future training events.

Planning was greatly assisted by the active and regular engagement of the Conference Planning Committee.

Presentations and workshops spanned a wide range of topics which were chosen for their training value and

relevance to present-day requirements in the fields of mental wellness and addictions. Motivational interviewing,

men’s services, and opioid recovery were among the focal topics presented.

The venue was well-suited for the conference and venue staff ensured that all requirements were met or

exceeded.

Summary and Conclusion


Conference Agenda

Conference AgendaMarch 12-14, 2019 Crowne Plaza • Moncton, New Brunswick


WelcomeOn behalf of the 2019 Conference Planning Committee,

I wish to welcome you to our Atlantic Mental Wellness and

Addictions Training Conference, taking place at the Crowne

Plaza on traditional unceded Mi’kmaw Territory.

This training conference will feature relevant and important topics for our

communities, such as motivational interviewing, life promotion, cannabis, and

opioid recovery, to name just a few. You will receive current education and

training methods from professionals in their fields and gain insight through

our presenters’ lessons learned along the way. I encourage you to attend and

participate in whatever presentations and workshops that most interests you.

This event will help further training and knowledge for health service providers

across the Atlantic First Nations communities and qualifies as a Canadian Council

of Professional Certification (CCPC) Global Accredited course.

We hope you find this event productive and encourage you to provide your

feedback on your experience by completing the evaluation forms you will

receive to help us continue to meet the needs of our communities.

Once again, welcome to the Atlantic Mental Wellness

and Addictions Training Conference.

Wela’lin/Woliwon,

Jarvis GoogooDirector of HealthAtlantic Policy Congress of

First Nations Chiefs Secretariat


TUESDAY, MARCH 12

11:30 Registration Foyer

1:30-2:15Opening Remarks & PrayerWilliam NevinChief Polchies Jr.

Ballroom

2:15-3:30

Presentation Suicide Intervention and Life PromotionHarrison MillieaBlair Paul

Ballroom

3:30-3:50 Nutrition Break

3:55-5:00

Presentation Cannabis: What does it Mean for Treatment Centres and Workplace Policies?James Ingram

Ballroom

6:30

Networking ActivityDrum MakingJoin instructor Joey Peter Paul for an optional evening of drum making. Space is limited - please sign up at the registration table.

Ballroom

Daily Sign-inDelegates are required to sign in daily to ensure travel

claims can be properly and quickly processed.


WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13


9:00-9:30Opening Remarks & PrayerWilliam NevinChief Polchies Jr.

Ballroom

9:30-10:30

Presentation Screening Brief Intervention and Referral to TreatmentGlenda Carson

Ballroom


ConcurrentBreakout Sessions

10:55-12:00

BreakoutNaloxone Spray Overview and UsePaula Martin

Ballroom A

BreakoutShed ProgramKaila de Boer (Distance)

Ballroom B

BreakoutRegional Health Survey ResultsWasuek Googoo

Ballroom C

12:00-1:00 Lunch

ConcurrentBreakout Sessions

1:00-2:00

BREAKOUT Methadone and Suboxone: Fundamentals of the Substances’ Clinical UsesPaula Martin

Ballroom A

BREAKOUT Fetal Alcohol Spectrum DisorderFrancis Perry

Ballroom B

BREAKOUT The Link Between Hepatitis C and AddictionShannon Taylor

Ballroom C



2:25-3:40

PresentationMethadone and Suboxone: Transitioning from Treatment Centres to CommunityPaula Martin

Ballroom

3:45-5:15

PanelMen’s ServicesRyan GouldBert MilbergChris BrooksChief Polchies Jr.Donna Morris

Ballroom

THURSDAY, MARCH 14


9:00-10:15

Presentation A Brief Overview of Motivational Interviewing SkillsMary Cripton

Ballroom


10:45-11:45

Presentation continued A Brief Overview of Motivational Interviewing SkillsMary Cripton

Ballroom

11:45-12:30 Closing Remarks & Prayer Ballroom

12:30 Boxed Lunch


Notes

#APCwellness

Delegates are responsible for their own for breakfast. The hotel restaurant opens for breakfast at 6:00am and in-room dining is available 24 hours a day.


Thank you for attending the 2019 Atlantic Mental Wellness &

Addictions Training Conference!

Your suggestions and comments are important to the organizers of this event. Please take a moment after the event to fill out your

evaluation. All evaluation submissions will be entered to win a prize.

SURVEYMONKEY.COM/R/ATLANTICMENTALWELLNESS

Use the conference hashtag #APCwellness to post about the event on social media!


EVAN CARROLL

Owner, M. Carroll Consulting

(902) 483-4462 / [email protected]

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