11th ANNUAL AFRICAN AMERICAN MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING AND FORUM

ST. PETERSBURG, FL (August 17, 2011) - The St. Petersburg Weed and Seed Program and the African American Mental Health Initiative are presenting the 11th Annual Community Mental Health Training and Forum in the African American Community August 19 and 20. The theme of the two-day training and forum is "African American Families Overcoming Barriers to Achieve Success".
 
Training for professionals will be held on Friday, August 19, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the St. Petersburg College Allstate Center, 3200 34th St. S. The fee for Friday's training is $35 per person and offers four CEU's (Continuing Education Units) for Clinical Social Work Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, Health Care, Mental Health and Substance Abuse Counselors. Training Certificates will be given for other mental health professionals and educators. Clinical Social Work Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapist and Mental Health and Substance Abuse Counselors must provide a copy of a license.
 
The Plenary Speaker will be Dr. Dora Mays, Amaysing Services, Inc., who will present "African American Families Overcoming Barriers to Achieve Success." The trainer is Dr. Arlinda Amos, Ombudsman for the Children's Board of Hillsborough County. Dr. Amos' morning session will be "Systems of Care Values & Principles" and the afternoon session will be "The Wraparound Process: Helping Families Define Their Needs."
 
On Saturday, August 20, the annual community forum will be held at Fairmount Park Elementary School, 575 41st St. S, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Registration starts at 9 a.m. There will be a panelist discussion on "African American Families Overcoming Barriers to Achieve Success."
 
Randy Lewis, Lewis Maxwell Training Consultants will be the luncheon speaker. His presentation will be "Xbox, Hip Hop and Dreadlocks: Reconnecting the Generations." The Saturday forum is FREE and open to the public. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.
 
The annual training and forum is sponsored by the city of St. Petersburg Weed and Seed programs. Co-sponsors include the African American Mental Health Initiative, Operation PAR, Inc., Suncoast Centers, West Care, and Churches United for a Healthy Congregation. For more information, contact Janis Ford at 727-892-5087.