Thursday | 10/10/2024

**All Courses will be held in Lake Vermillion/Nokomis, unless otherwise noted**

"Stop Pathologizing Me: Normal vs Abnormal Psychological Responses to Jail" | 8:00 - 10:00 AM

Objectives include:

  • Review how the definition of mental health has shifted and its impact on pathology.

  • Establish three skills to diagnostically differentiate between normal and abnormal reactions to incarceration.

  • List intervention skills related to the concepts of Compassionate Accountability

Presenter:

Thad Shunkwiler is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Science at Minnesota State University, Mankato. In addition to his academic work, he is a licensed behavioral health provider with over a decade of experience in treating people with mental health and substance use disorders in forensic, correctional, and hospital-based settings. Professor Shunkwiler’s academic and clinical accolades include being named a Presidential Teaching Scholar, the 2017 Mental Health Professional of the Year by Advanced Correctional Healthcare, and one of seventeen healthcare professionals in the country to be named a Fellow of the National Rural Health Association. Having presented at international, national, and statewide conferences, Professor Shunkwiler is a recognized expert on understanding mental health etiology, prevention, and treatment.

"Moud in Jails: A Physician with an Opioid Use Disorder Shares His Perspective" | 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Objectives:

· Describe the basics of how and why buprenorphine and naltrexone work.

· Explain the rationale behind providing MOUD in jails.

Presenter:

Dr. Scott Abrams is the medical director for CentraCare’s Coordinated and Correctional Medicine Program which provides medical care for those incarcerated in three local county jails and which coordinates follow up care for those patients in CentraCare’s Coordinated Care Clinic. Due to his own personal experience with opioid addiction, his career has led him into addiction medicine over the last 10 years, and more recently into correctional medicine. Board certified in both Family Medicine and Addiction Medicine, he is passionate about helping the addicted, incarcerated, and underserved find recovery and healthy living. In his current role in correctional medicine, he’s written CentraCare’s policy on Medication Assisted Treatment in jail, which directs care for patients while they’re in jail and after they’re released.

"HIV in Minnesota: An Overview for Nurses in Correctional Settings" | 1:00 - 2:00 PM

Objectives:

  • Describe the current state of HIV in Minnesota, including outbreaks in Duluth, Hennepin & Ramsey Counties

  • Explain HIV Testing Recommendations, Methods, Results, and Review Treatment Guidelines for Prevention and Treatment of HIV

  • Describe CDC Recommendations for Correctional and Detention Settings

  • Identify Barriers and Challenges related to medication access

  • List Considerations for release planning including community resources for inmates

  • List resources for improving Nursing Clinical Knowledge and Clinical Care for persons at risk for or living with HIV.

Presenter:

Jean Larson, MS, APRN, PMHNP-BC, is passionate about public health, prevention, and patient-centered care. She has more than 30 years of experience working in public health at both state and local levels, including correctional health. She recently worked as a psychiatric nurse practitioner, caring for patients at the state mental health hospital before returning to public health to work as a Nurse Specialist in HIV for the Minnesota Department of Health. This role has been a great opportunity to blend past experiences in public health, mental health, nursing education, and consultation with community partners.

"Department of Corrections Intake Process" | 2:00 - 3:00 PM

Objectives:

  • Describe general intake process for Department of Corrections

  • List issues with transfer process to and from DOC

  • Review general information about the Department of Corrections

Presenter:

April Bienusa, RN is in her 9th year at the Minnesota Department of Corrections, and in the Director role for approximately the last four years. Prior to the Director role, April was a nursing supervisor at the Department of Corrections. As the Director of health services, she oversees the medical clinic and ensures that the health and wellness of the incarcerated folks is being met. As the states only male intake facility, the St. Cloud location currently processes about 400 incarcerated person each month, with an additional 400 incarcerated persons being transferred to other facilities across the state.

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