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Workshops
Workshop Series Title: Healing for the Soul of the Community
Office of Community and Faith Engagement (OCFE)
Faith-based Faith and Mental Wellness 2023 Series
Support the community by attending this free series.
When individuals and families experience trauma, mental health struggles or other needs, they’ll often turn to faith leaders for support. This free workshop series features collaborative discussion groups and speakers to give faith leaders more tools to serve their communities.
Dates and Topics
June 6 - The Paradigm Shift: A Different Approach to Supporting Mental Wellness (Part 1)
June 15 - Exploring Solutions: Combatting Community Violence, A Conversation with Faith and Community Leaders
June 27 – How to Better Serve Vets
August 10 - The Paradigm Shift: A Different Approach to Mental Wellness (Part 2) *In-person
August 15 - Eldercare - Caring for Seniors within the Community
August 24 - Active Shooter: Securing Places of Worship
Virtual Workshop Series
The Paradigm Shift: A different Approach to Mental Wellness (Part 1)
June 6th (10:00 AM ET / 9:00 AM CT) (1.5 hours)
Speaker: Meredith Reese, LPC
This informational forum seeks to reveal different methods to address people - ensuring that they feel seen and heard. All of us can experience times of feeling unheard, ignored, and misunderstood, which can lead to internal distress, mental pain, and anguish. This educational approach helps identify hidden causes of mental duress. The focus is on understanding the source of thought processes and knowing what appropriate questions, and when to ask them, to get the best results. This information can be lifechanging for every community! Register now!
Exploring Solutions: Combatting Community Violence, A Conversation with Faith and Community Leaders
June 15th (10:00 AM ET / 9:00 AM CT) (1.5 hours)
Speaker: MDHHS Office of Community and Faith Engagement
This conversation will consist of both faith and community leaders discussing the on-going concern of community violence! It seeks to explore solutions and methods that are currently occurring within various communities to minimize this alarming problem. This discussion is also to identify and understand the why, and more importantly, ways to prevent violence and provide safer communities. MDHHS Director, Elizabeth Hertel, will give a brief presentation on new strategies and funding support for communities combatting violence.
How to Better Serve Vets
June 27th (10:00 AM ET / 9:00 AM CT) (1.5 hours)
Speaker: Marc Houck
Veteran Success Stories:
Silver Star - Nate Cropsey, Director of Veteran Support Programs
Strategy for Effective Living Ministry – Rev. Dr. Rodney N. Tolbert, Sr. Ph.D., CEO/Founder
Community Rebuilders – Vickie Squires, Director of Training and Development
Veterans, active-duty service members, and their families confide in trusted community members like faith leaders to heal from the wounds of military service. Having a supportive network, like community ministries and partnerships, can drastically improve the quality of life for Veterans and their loved ones. Faith leaders who attend this workshop will leave energized and empowered as they gain additional tools and resources to increase their effectiveness in meeting the needs of Veterans.
As a bonus, you’ll also hear from other faith leaders and community partners whose groundbreaking work has led to successful outcomes for many of our warriors.
The Paradigm Shift: A different Approach to Mental Wellness (Part 2)
In-person only workshop. The event is free and will be hosted at The Bavarian Inn and Lodge, One Covered Bridge Lane, Frankenmuth, MI. Free continental breakfast and lunch is included. Registration is REQUIRED.
August 10th (8:30 AM - 3:00 PM) (6.5 hours)
Speaker: Meredith Reese
A continuation of our June 6th workshop, this in-person event will further explore how asking the right questions can open the door for healing and resilience amongst those we serve.
Eldercare - Caring for Seniors within the Community
August 15th (10:00 AM ET / 9:00 AM CT) (1.5 hours)
Speaker: Sophia Hines
This workshop is poised to provide resources and support options for community and faith leaders who provide programs for senior citizens within their communities and congregations. Senior citizens are the backbone of each community. Some take care of grandchildren, foster other children and the list goes on. How can they better be supported? What resources are available to assist them. Register for this workshop to receive additional information on how to better connect with seniors and get connected to available resources for them. It will also take a closer look at Elder Abuse and how to get help if there is suspect of Elder Abuse.
Active Shooter: Securing Places of Worship
August 24th (10:00 AM ET / 9:00 AM CT) (1.5 hours)
Speaker: Michigan State Police
With Active Shooter incidents on the rise, this is a timely workshop to provide places of worship and other community centers with this power-packed educational format. The times that we are living in now require that we All learn to be vigilant and prepared for the possibility of these type of events occurring. This event is hosted by State of Michigan Troopers who know firsthand how to provide not only preventative measures, but also active solutions. Register Today!
Speaker Bios
Meredith Reese, Chief Integrated Behavioral Health Officer
Vista Maria
Meredith Reese, LPC is the Chief Integrated Behavioral Health Officer at Vista Maria. She is a featured speaker, and trainer relating to human trafficking, and trauma. She is an active member and Board Member of the Michigan Human Trafficking Taskforce and raises awareness to stand against human trafficking through community advocacy and presentations. She is the former recipient of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services –Best Practice Award for her work and dedication to the anti-trafficking movement.
MDHHS Office of Community and Faith Engagement
The Office of Community and Faith Engagement (OCFE) promotes collaboration between government, community organizations, and faith leaders to improve the quality of life for Michigan residents, with specific efforts to inform organizations of federal/state resources and grants, and also to convene community and faith leaders to support program areas that directly impact Michigan’s most vulnerable adults, children, and families.
Marc Houck
Integrated Care Program Manager, VA Wyoming (MI) CBOC
Dr. Marc Houck is an Army Veteran (Iraq, ’03-’04) and graduate of Calvin College and Rosemead School of Psychology, Biola University. He’s a clinical psychologist and Program Manager with the Department of Veterans Affairs, and he maintains a small private practice in Holland, MI. Dr. Houck resides in Holland with his wife of 24 years, two kids, and two dogs. In his spare time he enjoys exercise, travel, and time with family and friends.
Sophia Hines
Health Promotion and Active Aging Section Manager
Sophia Hines has been employed with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for 23 years, primarily in the Public Health Administration. She currently serves as the manager of the Health Promotion and Active Aging Section within the Bureau of Aging, Community Living, and Supports. In this role, Sophia oversees a range of health promotion programs for older adults, including Michigan’s Age-Friendly Initiative, Direct Care Workforce initiatives, dementia programs, Evidenced-Based Disease Prevention Programs, nutrition programs, and Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act; and the State Health Insurance Assistance Program. Sophia graduated from The University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Public Health.