Conference Information

Dear Colleague,

The 2024 STAR-Center Conference will be offered virtually once again this year.    

The STAR-Center Conference will be offered via live streaming using Zoom.  This will take place on May 10, 2024 from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.  

The complete program, along with registration is available on the STAR-Center Website at www.starcenter.pitt.edu.   

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Complete Conference Program 

Friday, May 10, 2024

8:30-3:30 p.m.

(Sign into meeting: 8:15 a.m.)

 

Course Directors

David A. Brent, M.D., Director, STAR-Center

Paula S. McCommons, Ed.D., Director, STAR-Center Outreach

 

Description

STAR-Center is a suicide prevention program for teens and young children within the UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital, Department of Psychiatry. From its inception in 1986, the program has been primarily funded through an appropriation from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to the University of Pittsburgh.

STAR-Center is a program that combines clinical and outreach services designed to combat the problem of child and adolescent suicide. We provide outpatient assessment and treatment for depressed and anxious children and teens. We also offer acute treatment to depressed and suicidal teens via our Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP).

Our annual conferences strive to disseminate what we have learned about best practice clinical care into practical guidelines for educational and community settings. STAR Center is devoted to providing training opportunities for students and psychiatric residents as well as contributing to the future development of research designed to study the pressing issues related to child and adolescent suicide.

 

Target Audience

This program is appropriate for clinical and educational personnel.

 

Course Objectives

At the completion of this conference, participants should be able to:

1.   Define important domains of social media use to consider in teens’ mental health

2.   Discuss the risks and benefits of social media related to adolescents’ suicidality

3.   Identify evidence-based strategies for addressing social media use with teens to promote mental health

4.   Describe how the escalation cycle hinders crisis communication

5.   Describe strategies to de-escalate tensions at each stage of the cycle

6.   Find evidence-based resources to support crisis communications

 

Cost

Registration Fee - $40 
UPMC/University of Pittsburgh Employee Registration Fee - $20 

The registration fee includes continuing education credits. Additional certificates can be purchased for $10 by contacting Nancy Mundy (mundnl@upmc.edu).  

 

PLEASE NOTE:  PowerPoints will be made available electronically a few days prior to the conference.  To print copies of the presentations, please visit the STAR-Center Website – www.starcenter.pitt.edu  or go to https://www.oerp.pitt.edu/conference-materials/ for additional information.

For additional information regarding presenters or presentations, please go to www.starcenter.pitt.edu, or contact Jamey Covaleski @ covaleskijj@upmc.edu.

 

REGISTRATION IS OPEN 

 

CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS

Continuing Education Credit is available for this program for Psychologists, Counselors, Licensed/Clinical Social Workers, Licensed Professional Counselors, National Board Certified Counselors, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists:  LSW/LCSW/LPC/LMFT, PA Educators, and other professionals.  Please click here for detailed information about Continuing Education Credits.

 

VIEW COMPLETE CONFERENCE PROGRAM