2019 Annual WATSA Conference

Friday March 1st 1:15PM - 5:30PM

Thomas Graves, Ph.D., LPC.

Brain Impairment and Illegal Sexual Behavior.

Summary

Intellectual and developmental disability, brain injury, and mental health problems are overrepresented in offender populations, complicating assessment, treatment, and supervision efforts.  In this session, we will identify how compromised brain function affects the individual’s development and can contribute to sexual offending behaviors. We will explore specialized risk and needs assessments, and review specific strategies to more effectively treat, supervise, and support such individuals. We will recognize the sometimes conflicting viewpoints and goals of clinicians, criminal justice, supporting agencies, families, and the individuals themselves, and the value of these perspectives in risk management and reduction. Attendees will gain an improved ability to recognize impairments in those you serve, the extent to which these impairments directly or indirectly contribute to his offending, and options for crafting your response.

Saturday March 2nd 9:00AM - 5:30PM

Jill S. Levenson, Ph.D., LCSW.

Trauma-Informed Practice in Treatment Programs for Sexual Offending.

Summary

Research clearly indicates that as the number of adverse childhood experiences (ACES) increases, the risk of a wide range of health, mental health, and behavioral problems in adulthood also increases in a robust and cumulative fashion. Trauma-informed practitioners recognize the role of early adversity in the development of sexually abusive and criminal behavior. Maladaptive coping and thinking that result from child maltreatment and family dysfunction can distort one’s view of self, others, and the world. By exploring and understanding addiction, violence, and criminal behavior through the lens of early trauma, clinicians can infuse trauma-informed practices into existing evidence-based cognitive behavioral interventions.

Objectives

• Become informed about cross-disciplinary research describing the impact of early childhood trauma on cognitive, social, emotional, and behavioral development, including criminality and sexual deviance.
• Define SAMSHA principles of trauma-informed care and components of trauma-informed practices.
• Conceptualize SOTX goals and dynamic risk factors through the lens of trauma.
• Describe a new strengths-based relational approach in the context of risk-needs-responsivity principles of correctional rehabilitation. 
• Focus on risk reduction through improvements in functioning related to accountability, self-regulation, empathy, relationship skills and cognitive schema

Sunday March 3rd 9:00AM - Noon

Solving Ethical Problems in Sex Offender Evaluation, Treatment, and Management.

Panel Members include: Michael O’Connell, Ph.D., MSW; Thomas M. Graves, Ph.D., LPC; Megan Carter, Psy. D., ABPP, and Amy Muth, Attorney at Law.

SPEAKER BIOS

WATSA prefers that you register and pay on-line.   We have provided a copy of the REGISTRATION FORM if you want to register by mail or fax and then pay by check.  If you want to register  using the paper form and pay with a credit card please contact Maureen Saylor for details regarding how to do this.

Registration Fees Include:  Admission to all sessions; access to all handouts; dinner on Friday night; lunch on Saturday and a Continental Breakfast on Saturday & Sunday, as well as the opportunity to network with colleagues! Coffee, tea & other beverages will be provided for scheduled breaks for all conference attendees.

Accommodations:

SUNCADIA RESORT: The reserved room block is full. The Best Western- Snowcap Lodge in Cle Elum (1-800-562-2582) may have rooms available.

You are responsible for obtaining your own room registration.  Call as soon as possible, there are a limited number of rooms available at Suncadia Resort.   

Call the reservation number (866-904-6300) during business hours:

Mon – Fri            8am – 6pm

Sat – Sun           9am – 5pm

If you call outside of the business hours you may not be able to book with the special rate. Be sure to identify you are reserving for the WATSA conference.  (Please call us if you have problems obtaining a room.)

Room Rates: 

Cancellation Policy: 

There will be a $50.00 fee charged for each cancellation. There will be no refunds after February 18, 2019 or for “no shows”.  Substitutions will be allowed.

Want to Register as a Group?  

Single agencies registering three or more participants will receive a $10.00 per person discount. All group registrants must submit paper registration forms and make a payment in the same envelope (or in one electronic payment) and  provide registration forms together to be eligible for this group discount.  Please use a separate  registration form for each person.

WATSA is continuing to be green this year, and will make conference handouts available for download from our website. Check back at the website approximately 1-2  weeks prior to the conference.

Have more questions? Contact our Conference Chair:

Maureen Saylor, RNMA 

3516 So. 47th. St., Suite 201

Tacoma WA. 98409

Phone: (253) 475-0326 Cell:  (253) 312-3961

Fax:     (253) 475-0328

Email:   msaylor@msn.com