LOSS Team Conference 2022

2022 LOSS Conference Planning Committee

THANK YOU!

Thank you to the members of the planning committee for sharing their time and talents to make this year’s conference a success.

• Don Belau Nebraska LOSS Team

• Dr. Frank Campbell National Suicidology Training Center

• Dottie Davis Davis Corporate Training, Inc.

• Jeff Helsmuth Parkview Hospital

• Sheena Linville

Office of Mayor Joe HogsettCity of Indianapolis

• Heather Miller The School Care Team

• Mel Shade Allen County LOSS Team

• Carole Terkula

The Lutheran Foundation

• Mariaelena Trejo Northwest Indiana Suicide Prevention Council

• Jacob Trezak Geminus

• Libni Trostel Purdue University Fort Wayne

• Kimberly Wagner Purdue University Fort Wayne

• Laura White

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

• Amy Zell Ohio LOSS Team Network

Purdue University Fort Wayne Human Services Departmentstaff and students

2022 National LOSS Team Conference

Welcome to the 2022 National LOSS Team Conference!

The Indiana Suicide Prevention Coalition, in partnership with the School of Education at Purdue University Fort Wayne, is excited to welcome you to the 2022 National LOSS Team Conference. This year’s theme is Together We Can ~ Juntos Podemos.

Dr. Edwin Shneidman’s concept of “postvention as prevention” has governed Dr. Frank Campbell’s work with suicide survivors since 1986. Dr. Campbell envisioned a LOSS Team, a team of trained survivors who would go to the scenes of suicides to disseminate information about resources and be the installation of hope for the newly bereaved. The Active Postvention Model concept involves a team who goes to the scene of a suicide and provides support and referrals for those bereaved by the suicide. The goal has been to shorten the elapsed time between the death and survivors finding the resources they feel will help them cope with this devastating loss. The Active Postvention Model has shown to have a positive impact on both the team members (most often bereaved individuals who have received help themselves and now provide the installation of hope to the newly bereaved) as well as to the newly bereaved.

The statewide Indiana LOSS Team Network, as well as other LOSS Teams throughout the country, are joining us for this important conference.

Welcome to our city and Purdue University Fort Wayne!

DAY 1 - MONDAY, OCTOBER 17

8:00 - 8:15am

INTERNATIONAL BALLROOM

8:15 - 9:30am

INTERNATIONAL BALLROOM

Welcome / Proclamation

CONFERENCE

9:30 - 10:00am

WALB HALLWAYS

Breakfast / Keynote

It Takes a Village to Raise a Child … and a Child to Teach a Village: The Lessons Learned from the Suicide of Jamal Clay – presented by Rafiah Maxie, LSCW, ACSW

Break / Exhibitor Marketplace

10:00 - 11:15am Breakout Sessions

11:15 - 11:30am

WALB HALLWAYS

Break / Exhibitor Marketplace 11:30am – 1:00pm

INTERNATIONAL BALLROOM

Lunch / Keynote

Fruits of Trauma: Post-traumatic Growth Following Suicide Loss – presented by Dr. Melinda Moore

1:30 - 2:45pm Breakout Sessions

2:45 - 3:15pm

WALB HALLWAYS

3:15 - 4:45pm

INTERNATIONAL BALLROOM

5:30 - 8:30pm

PICKUP AT HOLIDAY INN ENTRANCE

Break / Exhibitor Marketplace

LOSS Survivor Panel

Trolley tour and selection of dining options in downtown Fort Wayne - Pick ups and drop offs every 30 minutes at a designated location

October 17, 2022 – Day 1

CLINICIAN & MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL TRACK

ACE Interface (The Importance of Adverse Childhood Experiences and How We Build Resilience)

Janet Schnell

10:00 - 11:15 a.m. — Walb G-08

Gain insight into how trauma affects the brain and body and how the ACE study changed our understanding of childhood trauma. You will learn how to help individuals practice self-regulation and build resilience.

FAITH BASED TRACK

Faith Leader on Scene Immediately Following a Suicide: The Do’s and Don’ts

Pastor Daniel Coffey

10:00 - 11:15 a.m. — Walb 114

Learn what to anticipate, how to offer support, and be able to identify with whom to interact to accomplish needs.

FIRST RESPONDER & EDUCATOR TRACK

Decreasing Mental Health Stigma in Under-Invested Communities

Lorenzo Lewis

10:00 - 11:15 a.m. — Walb 222

This presentation will center on trauma-informed communities of color and ways to decrease mental health stigma in these communities. Poverty will also be addressed as well as how it relates to generational trauma.

LOSS TEAMS TRACK

Foundations of Volunteer Retention

Tonie S. Long & Billie Jo Horner

10:00 - 11:15 a.m. — Walb G-21

Discussion will be centered around ways to retain volunteers. Example methods include encouraging volunteer self-care and compassion, active role matching, volunteer appreciation and engagement.

*Attendance in each session qualifies for 1.25 continuing education hours.

SURVIVORS TRACK

Know the Proper Language to Use Around a LOSS Survivor

Mel Shade

10:00 - 11:15 a.m. — Walb 224

The words you choose matter. This presentation will help you remove the wrong words from your vocabulary, offer suggestions on how best to respond to rude or hurtful comments, and learn how to recognize risk factors and reach out.

VETERANS TRACK

The Indiana Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and their Families

Dennis Wimer

10:00 - 11:15 a.m. — Walb 226

The goal of the Governor’s Challenge is to convene a state-wide team of leaders to develop and implement plans to prevent suicide among service members, veterans, and their families. Stakeholders across both military and civilian sectors must work together to implement a core set of best and evidencebased policies and practices.

October 17, 2022 – Day 1 Afternoon Sessions (1:30 – 2:45 p.m.)

CLINICIAN & MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL TRACK

Understanding the Intersection of Racism and Suicide Risk

Janel

Cubbage, MPH, MS, LCPC

1:30 – 2:45 p.m. — Walb G-08

Discuss the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide, the ways in which institutional/ structural racism contributes to suicide risk, and learn to differentiate between structural, interpersonal, and internalized racism.

FAITH BASED TRACK

How to Lead a Suicide Funeral While Also Practicing Self-Care

Pastor Richard Hartman

1:30 – 2:45 p.m. — Walb 114

Stigmatism is real. Pastor Richard Hartman will ask participants to consider how they are dealing with their own fears and anxieties and how they set priorities.

FIRST RESPONDER & EDUCATOR TRACK

Suicide & Mental Health Protocols in Schools

Heather Miller & Dottie Davis

1:30 – 2:45 p.m. — Walb 222

Discover the benefits that preparedness provides, learn the importance of assessing current state, receive an overview of how to develop a customized plan, and learn the importance of a wellness response team.

LOSS TEAMS TRACK

From a Coroner’s Perspective

Leslie Cook, RN, MDI, SANE-A, SANE-P

1:30 – 2:45 p.m. — Walb G-21

Participants will learn the role of the Indiana Coroner and gain an understanding of the death scene. Discover the effectiveness of tools and training that are available.

SURVIVORS TRACK

Suicide: Same Problem, Different Effect

Jonathon Wattley

1:30 – 2:45 p.m. — Walb 224

Suicide is a tragedy that hits cultures differently. Gain insight on the mental health crisis connected to suicide and help to create a dialogue that breaks stigmas.

VETERANS TRACK

Ask the Question: Identifying and Understanding the MilitaryConnected Population

Sylvia Maixner

1:30 – 2:45 p.m. — Walb 226

Discuss the importance of and methods for identifying SMFV, suicide prevention training for SMFV, and ways to connect SMFV to available resources.

October

– Day 2 Morning Sessions*

CLINICIAN & MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL TRACK

Alternatives to Suicide

Rachelle Ketron, BS, OBHP

10:00 - 11:15 a.m. — Walb G-08

Discuss alternative ways to encourage others when holding conversations about suicide, how to create a safe space for taboo topics, and build mutuality and connection.

FAITH BASED TRACK

From Grief to Glory: The Journey of African American Mental Health

Pastor Anthony Payton

10:00 - 11:15 a.m. — Walb 114

Lean into the shifting narrative concerning mental health and African Americans. Participants will learn how to leverage Faith for holistic mental health outcomes and learn how to be the voices crying in the wilderness.

FIRST RESPONDER & EDUCATOR TRACK

Understanding the Intersection of Racism and Suicide Risk

Janel Cubbage, MPH, MS, LCPC

10:00 - 11:15 a.m. — Walb 222

Discuss the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide, the ways in which institutional/ structural racism contributes to suicide risk, and learn to differentiate between structural, interpersonal, and internalized racism.

LOSS TEAMS TRACK

LOSS Teams 101: What are they, why have one, where do I begin?

Denise Meine-Graham

10:00 - 11:15 a.m. — Walb G-21

One of the most important roles an effective LOSS Team Leader plays is demonstrating the “why” of LOSS Teams, while inviting others to join in to support loss survivors. Participants will receive specific ideas around cultivating and nurturing partnerships throughout their community.

*Attendance in each session qualifies for 1.25 continuing education hours.

SURVIVORS TRACK

Postvention Care: Supporting LOSS Survivors

Jennifer Barnes & Brad Oliver

10:00 - 11:15 a.m. — Walb 224

Examine the concept of postvention care, explore postvention resources and supports, and evaluate the differences between empathy and sympathy.

VETERANS TRACK

Veterans Survival Panel

10:00 - 11:15 a.m. — Walb 226

Veterans will share their experiences with suicidal thoughts and ideation while in uniform and in civilian clothes while also addressing suicide loss.

October 18, 2022 – Day 2 Afternoon Sessions (2:00 – 3:15 p.m.)

CLINICIAN & MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL TRACK

Bienestar Sin Fronteras - Wellness Without Borders

Alice Jordan-Miles & Emily Bayer

2:00 - 3:15 p.m. — Walb G-08

Discover ways to encourage and normalize healthy help-seeking behaviors, identify and minimize the disparities of mental health in Latino communities, and recognize the importance of identifying trusted partners in the community in order to change the cultural lens of how Latinos view mental health.

FAITH BASED TRACK

How to Prepare a Funeral Sermon and How to Handle Eulogies/Memorials

Glen Bloomstrom

2:00 - 3:15 p.m. — Walb 114

Learn why faith leaders are essential, describe barriers to their engagement, and explain why they need to know postvention resources.

FIRST RESPONDER & EDUCATOR TRACK

After a Suicide: Resources for the Newly Bereaved

Colleen Carpenter

2:00 - 3:15 p.m. — Walb 222

Discuss the need for simple, easy-to-access information for survivors immediately following their loss as well as the types of information survivors find helpful. Take away resources and ideas for how to get helpful information into the hands of survivors quickly.

LOSS TEAMS TRACK

What Does a Typical LOSS Call Look Like?

Dr. Frank Campbell

2:00 - 3:15 p.m. — Walb G-21

Identify the process and rhythms of a LOSS call, share trusted resources a loss survivor can utilize, and explain the training a LOSS team member needs.

SURVIVORS TRACK

QPR Gatekeeper Training

Jeff Helsmuth & Amy Zell

2:00 - 3:15 p.m. — Walb 224

Discuss how to reduce suicides, ways to prompt comfortability while talking about suicide, and raise awareness of the signs of suicide.

VETERANS TRACK

Introducing VA Suicide Prevention 2.0: Community-Based Interventions for Veteran Suicide Prevention

Jeremy D’Alessio

2:00 - 3:15 p.m. — Walb 226

Review VA Suicide Prevention 2.0. Learn about a community engagement and partnership program and share how to get involved with the VA suicide prevention program.

October 18, 2022 – Day 2 Afternoon Sessions

(3:30 – 4:45 p.m.)

CLINICIAN & MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL TRACK

Evidence-based Safety Planning for Suicide Prevention

Esther Wilcox & Siquilla Liebetrau

3:30 – 4:45 p.m. — Walb G-08

Learn to improve safety plans, how to embrace safety planning, and identify opportunities for further training.

FAITH BASED TRACK

How to Implement the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale in Your Congregation

Diane Martin, DPT

3:30 – 4:45 p.m. — Walb 114

Discussion will include a brief overview of the CSSRS screening tool noting the suicide risk level, creating a plan of action based on their level of risk, and creating a bridge to get them assistance. Difficulties of implementation will also be discussed with the need for perseverance and working to reduce any stigma that may exist.

FIRST RESPONDER & EDUCATOR TRACK Sources of Strength

Tina Woolridge & Shane Presley

3:30 – 4:45 p.m. — Walb 222

Engage with the sources of strength model to highlight data showing school-wide impact and determine if a school/community is ready to implement sources of strength.

LOSS TEAMS TRACK

LOSS Team Financial Sustainability: Steps to Winning Support Within Your Community

Denise Meine-Graham

3:30 – 4:45 p.m. — Walb G-21

Gather ideas on how to create enthusiasm and engage loss survivors in fundraising efforts. Participants will also hear ideas on how to share compelling metrics.

SURVIVORS TRACK

Navigating the New

Rachelle Ketron, BS, OBHP

3:30 – 4:45 p.m. — Walb 224

Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago. The path to healing is not a solo venture. Learn how to give yourself grace and space.

VETERANS TRACK

Assisting Veterans and Military-Connected Populations Through ArtsBased Wellness: Creative Arts for Vets

Lauren Daughterty & Todd Burkhardt

3:30 – 4:45 p.m. — Walb 226

Gain insight about CAV, how to adapt existing programs to fit the diverse needs of veteran audiences, and methods to use CAV to develop partnerships and networks.

Keynote Speakers

Leslie Weirich

Leslie was born and raised in Fort Wayne and went on to study Journalism at Indiana University. Her curious nature along with a strong sense of adventure took her around the country for 20 years until she returned to her home to be closer to family.

Her career has spanned over 30 years in sales and marketing from New York to North Carolina and then on to Nashville before she returned home in 2003. She won numerous sales awards including the three-time President’s Club winner as an Executive Recruiter in Clinical Trials within the pharmaceutical industry. Some of her largest clients included Bristol Myers Squibb, Johnson and Johnson, and Park-Davis.

Those sales accomplishments didn’t mean a thing when her doorbell rang at 2:30 a.m. on September 10th, 2016. That was the moment she was told her 20-year-old son Austin had taken his life. Leslie said, “The ringing of that doorbell changed my life forever.” Over the past five years, she has dedicated her life to speaking throughout the nation on Suicide Prevention.

Her first keynote talk in January of 2019 was for Crosswinds Counseling. She shared her personal story of loss and was able to help raise $249K to put licensed clinical therapists in Indiana schools.

Just this past year, she was invited to speak at Fort Bliss Army Base in El Paso, Texas. She spoke to 4,400 soldiers in four days and received dozens of messages from the chaplains about lives that were saved by her story.

Leslie is a member of the Elkhart County Suicide Prevention Coalition as well as certified in Mental Health Youth First Aid. She’s also a Provisional Trainer in The Sources of Strength Suicide Prevention Program. She joined Oaklawn Community Mental Health as the first Suicide Prevention Specialist in Elkhart and St. Joseph Counties. Over the past year, she has been implementing The Sources of Strength Program in middle and high schools throughout those counties.

Although Leslie has been speaking all over the nation in the past few years, she will still tell you that she’s more of a storyteller than a public speaker. She holds nothing back when she shares her story. Her vulnerable speaking style has impacted thousands of teens and adolescents over the past five years.

“Sharing my story to save young lives is what gets me up and going every single day.”

Silouan Green

Silouan graduated from Vanderbilt University with a BS in Mathematics and then accepted a commission in the United States Marine Corps. After being disability discharged from the Marines due to a jet crash, he began a 30,000-mile motorcycle journey to heal that ended when he stopped to publish what became an internationally distributed, award-winning outdoors magazine, Bearfoot Magazine - Journal of Northern California Outdoors. He then developed The Ladder UPP life skills program which has been used world-wide by our military, law enforcement, veterans, first responders, and many others to process and overcome the trials and transitions of life and service. He has also published two books, ‘Sycamore Hill’ and ‘Who Am I?’.

Silouan is an instructor and traveling lecturer on PTSD, leadership, and peer support for the Public Agency Training Council, the largest public training safety agency in the world for law enforcement and first responders. He has taught and spoken to a wide variety of organizations and groups including: National Park Service, Department of Homeland Security, National Association of Hostage Negotiators, Willow Creek Community Church, Walter Reed Medical Center, Fort Bragg, the University of California, the University of Wisconsin, Indiana University, Purdue University, Fort Campbell, Camp LeJeune, the American Red Cross, the Marine Corps League, the Indiana Department of Mental Health, Mental Health America, the National Association of Mental Illness, the Veterans Administration, the National Guard, hundreds of police and sheriff’s departments, countless conventions and many other mental health and community organizations across the country.

Rafiah Maxie, LSCW, ACSW

Rafiah is a mother, advocate, licensed clinical social worker for the Department of Veteran Affairs, and the Founder of Soul Survivors of Chicago, NFP.

On May 27, 2020 her 19-year-old son committed suicide in her home. She felt compelled to continue his legacy and share his story for others impacted by suicide and trauma in the African-American community.

Her work with Soul Survivors of Chicago centers around suicide prevention and the promotion of mental health and wellness. She stands and fights for suicide prevention, stronger education regarding mental health, and supporting families impacted by trauma, loss, and gun violence. She produced the 2021 documentary entitled ‘We Cry Your Tears: The Jamal Clay Story’ and the documentary ‘Makes Me Wanna Holla - Healing from Loss, Learning from Tragedy, and Finding Recovery’.

Dr. Melinda Moore

Melinda is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Eastern Kentucky University. She is in private practice in Lexington, Kentucky and routinely trains clinicians in the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS). Dr. Moore published The Suicide Funeral: Honoring their Memory, Comforting their Survivors and is awaiting the publication of After the Suicide Funeral: Wisdom on the Path to Posttraumatic Growth (Wipf & Stock) with her co-author Rabbi Daniel Roberts. Her suicide bereavement research with an emphasis on Posttraumatic Growth is a direct outgrowth of her own experiences as a suicide loss survivor.

Speakers

Jennifer Barnes

Jennifer currently teaches in grades 6-12 on The School Care Team educating youth on various SEL life skills such as boundaries in relationships, stereotyping, suicide prevention, and respecting self and others. This team works alongside schools to nurture cultures of care by encouraging teachers and supporting student well-being through responsive training and strategic coaching.

She provides teachers education and support, suicide prevention, intervention and postvention trainings and supports, facilitating QPR, WRAP, Wellness Recovery Action Planning and other various emotional regulation-based curriculum programs for youth and adults.

Her postvention work includes involvement with Stop Suicide of Allen County, as well as Purdue Fort Wayne’s programs that are creating a LOSS team in Allen County. Jennifer is also the head facilitator for a local suicide survivor loss support group called We the Living.

Emily Bayer

Emily is a Fort Wayne native, mother of a young child, and a licensed clinical social worker. She graduated with a master’s degree in social work from Tulane University and has been working with children, teens, adults and families in Fort Wayne since 2013. She has worked in private and community clinical settings to facilitate mental health assessment and counseling to treat a variety of issues

To treat trauma more effectively, she has received advanced training in EMDR, Internal Family Systems modalities. She is passionate about increasing access to affordable and culturally competent mental health services in Northeast Indiana. Emily believes that each client is the expert regarding their inner experience and those healing modalities are most effective when they include physical and spiritual components as well as the clients’ inner healing wisdom. She is passionate about challenging systems of oppression and believes that healing work goes hand in hand with social justice and community care work.

Glen Bloomstrom

Since 2012, Glen has served as the Director of Faith Community Engagement at LivingWorks Education where he partners with clergy, faith leaders, seminaries, denominations, faith communities, Department of Defense, and veterans’ groups to prevent suicide through education and intervention training.

Glen has developed and facilitated a suicide prevention training for Navy chaplaincy personnel worldwide, as well as a post-graduate certificate course focused on PTSD, moral injury, and suicide intervention for chaplains. He has also been a plenary speaker at the American Association of Suicidology annual conference and the Utah Suicide Prevention Coalition. Currently he is developing an online suicide prevention training program entitled LivingWorks Faith, for clergy and faith leaders to deepen knowledge and strengthen confidence in helping those experiencing suicidal behaviors.

Todd Burkhardt

Todd is the Director of Campus Partnerships for the Center for Rural Engagement, facilitating work with faculty, staff, and students that connects Indiana University’s resources to improve well-being in rural Indiana. Todd served over 27 years in the U.S. Army as an enlisted soldier and active-duty infantry officer with deployments to Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, and Latvia. Todd holds a doctoral degree in philosophy.

Colleen Carpenter

Colleen holds a MPH from UNC at Chapel Hill. She helps organizations and communities strengthen their capacity to prevent and respond to suicide through the provision of best practice and evidence-based training and resources. She also co-facilitates the Stop Suicide Northeast Indiana coalition, serves as Board President of the Indiana Suicide Prevention Network, and is a member of the Indiana Suicide Prevention Coalition, and participate in numerous mental health, suicide prevention, and community development committees, including her local system of care and state 988 Coalition.

Daniel Coffey

Daniel, MDiv, CDC is the Department Staff Chaplain for the Indiana State Police. He began his chaplaincy career with the Fort Wayne Police Department serving as the Chaplain Coordinator. Since 2006, he has served the Indiana State Police as the full time Department Staff Chaplain. In this capacity, he manages the following three programs: the ISP Volunteer Chaplain program comprised of approximately 50 volunteer district chaplains; the ISP Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team; and the ISP Employee Assistance Program. He is a certified instructor by the Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board and is an approved instructor for the International Conference of Police Chaplains (ICPC). Daniel is also the recipient of many recognitions and awards for his work.

Leslie Cook, RN, MDI, SANE-A, SANE-P

For 28 years Leslie has been a registered nurse providing direct patient care to hundreds of patients with a variety of illnesses and injury. In 1995, she expanded her expertise to include education in forensics, specifically providing medical forensic examinations to adults and adolescents who reported sexual assault with additional education and training to provide services to pediatric patients. She is also heavily involved in local community efforts, providing consultation and education on a variety of issues related to sexual violence, interpersonal violence, human trafficking and response teams. She also works in the clinical setting providing preceptorship to new forensic nursesand is board certified to provide medical forensic examinations to men, women and children through the forensic nursing certification board. Since1998, she has served as the elected Coroner or Deputy Coroner of Adams County, Indiana. Her passion is to provide exceptional trauma-informed patient care and referral to those affected by violence.

Janel Cubbage, MPH, MS, LCPC

Janel currently serves as the Strategic Partnerships and Equity Program Manager at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions. She began her career providing case management and care coordination to adjudicated youth where she encountered firsthand the deleterious effects of gun violence. She transitioned to a career as a suicidologist where she gained experience managing prevention programs for the military.

Janel also works as a licensed trauma therapist, specializing in providing therapy for minoritized communities. She is passionate about healing racial trauma and actively working for racial and social justice. Janel is a recent Fellow of the Bloomberg American Health Initiative and earned her MPH at the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in 2022. She also holds a Master of Science in clinical mental health counseling from McDaniel College.

Janel has also helped transform the state crisis hotline by standardizing reporting to better identify consumer needs. She led the partnership project with 211 Maryland to introduce a three-digit crisis hotline phone number along with chat and text services. Janel manages departments that focus on suicide prevention and leads the Maryland’s Suicide Prevention and Early Intervention Network (MD-SPIN). Janel was recently appointed as the Chair for the Governor’s Commission on Suicide Prevention.

Lauren Daughterty

Lauren is the arts-based Wellness Experiences Manager and art therapist at the Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University, Bloomington. In her work, clients view and talk about works of art in conjunction with artmaking to promote health and well-being in individuals of all ages. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in painting and psychology from Ball State University and her Master of Arts in art therapy from Herron School of Art + Design at IUPUI.

Jeremy D’Alessio

Jeremy is a licensed clinical social worker from Jesse Brown VA Hospital in Chicago and earned his Masters of Social Work at the University of Illinois. Jeremy started his career at the VA as a HUD-VASH Case Manager for Health Care for the Homeless Veterans program. Since 2020, he has served as the Community Engagement and Partnerships Coordinator within the Suicide Prevention Program and has been active in joining community coalitions, as well as the Indiana Governors Challenge to end Veteran suicide. He has a passion for partnering with community organizations to ensure Veterans receive quality care in the communities where they work, live, and thrive.

Dottie Davis

Dottie began her career in law enforcement with the Fort Wayne Police Department where she served for nearly 32 years. She implemented the Crisis Intervention Team with the FWPD to better serve individuals in a mental health crisis with dignity and respect. Due to this work, she has received several awards from the National Alliance on Mental Illness. She was also instrumental in bringing the Lethality Assessment Program to the agency to assist first responders in determining whether a victim of domestic violence was at risk of homicide.

After retiring, Dottie served as the Director of Security for Fort Wayne Community Schools, the largest school corporation in the State of Indiana with over 30,000 students and nearly 5,000 employees. During that time, she developed and implemented safety protocols for 63 buildings, which included emergency plans utilizing plain talk, mass push notifications, and creating a visitor/vendor/volunteer management system that was installed in all schools within the district to identify sex offenders and excluded parties. She has presented at several conferences on school safety throughout the country.

Richard Hartman

Richard is the Pastor of Epiphany Lutheran Church, the Lead Chaplain with the Fort Wayne Police Department, the Executive Secretary of the International Conference of Police Chaplains, and VP of the Board of DirectorsStrength for Service.

Jeff Helsmuth

Jeff spent 32 years in EMS as a Paramedic/Supervisor for Parkview LaGrange EMS. He is recently retired from being a paramedic, but still actively takes runs. He has been in the LaGrange County Coroner’s office for eighteen years as either the Elected Official, Chief Deputy or Deputy Coroner. Jeff lost his son to suicide in September 2015 when he started his journey with suicide prevention. Jeff began leading efforts to improve suicide awareness and prevention in his four-county area. He is a certified QPR trainer and has trained groups of all sizes at schools, businesses, police and fire departments, and churches. He likes that the training can be tailored for specific groups.

Janet Schnell

Janet is a suicide loss survivor and licensed clinical social worker. She currently works with CareATC serving the needs of employees in a commercial furnishings company. She specializes in suicide prevention, intervention, and after a suicide occurs; depression; anxiety; and substance abuse. She helped to start one of the first LOSS Teams in Dubois County, Indiana. Janet is a suicide prevention instructor for QPR, a suicide prevention/intervention

trainer for ACEs, Talk Saves Lives!, and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST). She is a founding member of the Retrospective Fatality Analysis - Consultants (RFA-C). The protocol is an investigative and research instrument with the goal to inform suicide prevention by using the stories of those who died by suicide. Janet is a public speaker sharing her experience as a suicide loss survivor and becoming a social worker after her brothers death.

Billie Jo Horner

BJ has been working in the mental health field facilitating prevention programs in the in the four-county area for 9 years. She is an Ohio Certified Prevention Specialist with Maumee Valley Guidance Center, serves as a member of the Four County Suicide Prevention Coalition, and is a founding member of the Four County LOSS Team. BJ also facilitates the Signs of Suicide Program to area schools, educating over 3,500 students last school year on how to recognize and respond to a peer in crisis. Her work with the Mental Health First Aid program was featured nationally on CNN, having trained over 2,000 people throughout her community. In 2020, she received the Advocate of the Year Award from The Ohio Association of County Behavioral Health Authorities for her exemplary work in mental health and suicide awareness and prevention.

Alice Jordan-Miles

Alice received her undergraduate and master’s degrees from Indiana University (IU) Bloomington. She currently wears numerous hats at PFW and in life: part-time faculty in the Human Services Department advising and mentoring first-generation, minority students; Director of the Behavioral Health and Family Studies Institute; Project Director of the Indiana Suicide Prevention Coalition; Director of Bienestar Sin Fronteras (Wellness Without Borders); Director of the Indiana Statewide LOSS (Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors) Teams Network; Chair of the Equity and Inclusion Committee with the American Association of Suicidology; and past chair of the Indiana State Suicide Prevention Advisory Council. Alice is a state suicide prevention specialist where she travels the state to provide trainings and consultation in suicide prevention, intervention and postvention, Mental Health First Aid, and Cultural Competency and Mental Health; and a master trainer for the QPR (Question Persuade Refer) Institute.

Rachelle Ketron

Rachelle is a graduate of Northern Kentucky University with a bachelor’s degree in Counseling and Human Services and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Walden University. She has been involved in mental health services for over a decade and has developed a quite diverse background. Rachelle serves as the Coordinator of Development, Training, and Community Outreach for Community Mental Health Center Intensive Family Services Program. She has worked in residential addiction recovery, human trafficking victim services, and is trained as a hospital runner rape victim advocate. Rachelle is a certified QPR Trainer, Certified Alternatives to Suicide facilitator, the founder of a non-profit suicide prevention organization Doit4Meryl, as well as an advisor for a student-led LGBTQ+ youth support group in her community.

Lorenzo P. Lewis

Lorenzo is a social entrepreneur, professional speaker, and founder of The Confess Project, an initiative that centers on mental health and wellness for young men of color. Born in jail to an incarcerated mother, Lorenzo struggled with depression, anxiety, and anger throughout his youth. At 17, after almost reentering the system of mass incarceration he had come from, he began his journey to wellness. In 2019 he received the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Multicultural Outreach Award and the American Psychiatric Association Award for Advancing Minority Mental Health, and was a finalist for the Little Rock Regional Chamber Small Business Owner 30 & Under of the Year Award. Lorenzo has appeared in O Magazine as one of eleven 2020 Health Heroes, Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation, Watch The Yard, and more. The Confess Project was recently listed by Fast Company as a Top 10 Most Innovative Health Company. Since May 2016, The Confess Project has reached over 1 million individuals in 40 cities.

Siquilla Liebetrau

Siquilla is the Vice President of Clinical Services and a licensed Clinical Psychologist at Bowen Center. She completed her undergraduate studies in psychology at DePaul University in Chicago and her graduate studies at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in Chicago. Siquilla has dedicated her training and career to serving in community mental health and is passionate about serving those in greatest need of care and support. She was trained as a generalist, engaging in therapeutic care and psychological testing services with all ages, and across a broad spectrum of diagnoses. Areas of special interest include trauma, integrating behavioral health into primary care, and suicide prevention. In her current role, she oversees all clinical practice at Bowen Center, ensuring patients receive quality, evidencebased, patient-directed treatment in the format and setting that meets the patient’s needs best.

Tonie S. Long

Tonie attended Ohio State University, ultimately completing a Master of Education degree in Guidance and Counseling at the University of Toledo. She has been serving the mental health needs of the fourcounty area for more than 32 years and is currently employed as the Director of Quality Improvement with the Four County ADAMhs Board. Tonie maintains a passion for individual and community mental wellness and expresses that passion through her leadership in local suicide prevention and postvention efforts. She has been a member of the Four County LOSS Team since 2015 and has served as Team Coordinator for the past 6 years. Tonie is also an active member of the Four County Suicide Prevention Coalition and served as coalition chair for several years.

Sylvia Maixner

Sylvia currently serves as the Indiana State Coordinator for Building Healthy Military Communities, a multi-year pilot initiative that aims to better understand unique challenges faced by geographically dispersed Service members and their families that may impact their readiness, resiliency, and well-being. She is a military brat, with her father serving in the Air Force, and grew up on military bases across the world. She holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice and an M.B.A. in Project Management, and has built her career working for non-profits and governmental departments. Her professional expertise includes community outreach, project management, and community capacity building.

Diane Martin, DPT

Diane has developed an awareness to see people in all aspects of their being: physical, emotional, mental, psychological, and spiritual to find total wellness. As a physical therapist of over 40 years treating patients with complex pain/injuries, she found herself often listening to their feelings of inadequacy, frustration, lost hope, and depression. When she faced her own injuries/illnesses in mid-life, she was led to study Mind Body medicine, Tai Chi, receive professional counseling, and experience a spiritual transformation. In 2015 she became a mental health advocate for the Celebrate Recovery program and was part of a team that started the Mental Wellness Ministry at The Chapel in Fort Wayne. Diane is also on the Stop Suicide Coalition of NE Indiana helping to raise awareness, break stigma, and strive to create a suicide safe community.

Denise Meine-Graham

Denise has more than 35 years of leadership experience as a corporate executive and as the founder of LOSS Community Services in Columbus, Ohio. LOSS Community Services supported over 5,000 suicide loss survivors through 2021 under her leadership. She is currently a contractor supporting other communities as they launch and enhance their suicide postvention programs.

Denise is a certified thanatologist, has completed Dr. Alan Wolfelt’s Death and Grief Studies Certification, is a Psychological Autopsy Investigator, and is trained in suicide prevention programs.

Denise’s son, Drey, was her pride and joy. He took his life when he was only 19 years old in 2012. Drey was a warm, fun-loving, ornery kid who had friends and family who loved and still love him.

Heather Miller

Heather is a licensed teacher and a business leader dedicated to serving children and adolescents, especially children who have experienced trauma. She is a survivor of childhood sexual assault and is dedicated to sharing the importance of integrating trauma-informed practices in all environments that serve children. As a classroom teacher, she emphasized self-determination and led her students to be critical thinkers and problem-solvers. She created a classroom that was safe, predictable, and encouraged students to take risks and experiment with self-expression. She is the founder and CEO of the nonprofit training and education group called The School Care Team. Her team provides suicide prevention, mental health promotion, and trauma-informed education for children, adolescents, and adults.

Brad Oliver

Brad serves as Clinical Associate Professor of Educational Leadership in the School of Education at Purdue University Fort Wayne. He is a former elementary school teacher, principal, and central office administrator with fifteen years of service. Brad has been teaching graduate education courses since 2008 and specializes in the areas of educational leadership, educational policy, and curriculum & instruction. He is a past, gubernatorial-appointed member of the Indiana Professional Standards Advisory Board and the Indiana State Board of Education, and currently serves as a nationally certified Lead Evaluator for Cognia (formerly AdvancED) in their Measured Progress growth platform for schools. His scholarly interests involve researching and designing innovative solutions to systemic issues in K-12 education. Brad’s most recent endeavors include the creation of the EVOLVE Evaluation System for virtual learning environments and the Thriving Schools executive leadership program for school administrators.

Anthony Payton

Anthony has served as Senior Pastor of Come As You Are Community Church in Fort Wayne for over twentyfive years. He is also a published author and has been named Pastor of The Year by The Martin Luther King Jr. Club of Fort Wayne. He became the first African American President of the Indiana Southern Baptist Pastors’ Conference. Pastor Payton travels the world sharing his passion for the good news of Christ and has been committed to helping plant churches in Brazil and across the U.S. He speaks very candidly of a former life of addiction, and of His deliverance.

Shane Presley

Shane is a Program Manager for The School Care Team and is a certified instructor in Sources of Strength, QPR, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), and Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP). Shane has served in the non-profit sector for the last eight years, with three of those years dedicated to mental health initiatives in local organizations and schools. He is also a 3rd-year master’s student at Purdue Fort Wayne in the Mental Health Counseling Program.

Scott Ralya

Scott has been a member of the suicide prevention team at VA Northern Indiana healthcare system for over four years. Prior to accepting his current position as Community Engagment and Partnership Coordinator, Scott was was a Suicide Prevention Specialist at the VA.

As a SPS, he case managed veterans at high risk for suicide. He helped implement the Suicide Prevention in the Emergency Department program (SPED) at VA Northern Indiana as well as the Caring Contacts program. He also provided support and consultation to providers at the VA who work with suicidal veterans. Scott has an MSW from the University of Michigan.

Rachel Reed

Rachel has a BS in Educational Studies (K-8) and currently serves as the Chief Program Officer and Prevention Specialist at Mental Health America of West Central Indiana. She assists with coordination of the Lost and Found Suicide Prevention Coalition of the Wabash Valley and LOSS team. She is a QPR trainer and a facilitator for Alternatives to Suicide and youth prevention programs.

Mel Shade

Mel recently retired after over 20 years in corporate compliance. She is a suicide loss survivor of over 8 years after losing her youngest son to suicide in 2014 at the age of 27. His death turned her family’s world upside down. Soon after, she knew she needed to do something to help others, but had no idea where to go or what to do. She began educating herself by attending various trainings and talks about suicide loss and prevention. She now, along with her husband Mike, facilitates a support group for Suicide Loss Survivors called ‘Finding Hope’ in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She is also the Indiana coordinator of AFSP ‘Healing Conversations’ program and is a Co-Leader for the Allen County LOSS Team currently in development.

Jonathon Wattley

Jonathon is the founder and President/CEO of Building

A Stronger Family, Inc. - a ministry he launched in 2015 after the tragic suicide of his 15-year-old granddaughter. Since then, he has made it his mission to help individuals and families become the best versions of themselves. He focuses on mental emotional healing and helping individuals and families overcome and process all forms of trauma. Jonathon is a champion of the underdog and a highly active community leader. He serves on several community boards, including the YMCA and Courageous Healing mental health agency. His desire is to help strengthen communities by strengthening the individuals and families that make up the community.

Esther Wilcox

Esther is a licensed marriage and family therapist, and Interim Clinical Director at Bowen Center. She has an invested interest in preparing clinicians to work with at-risk individuals and families in our local communities, while also preserving good self-care. Esther graduated from Purdue Fort Wayne in 2018 and continues to value ongoing growth and education as a part of helping others.

Dennis Wimer

Dennis serves Indiana veterans as the Director of the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs. After graduating from Purdue University, Dennis started his career in the United States Air Force as a C-141B Starlifter Navigator. Dennis served in the Air Force for nine years.

Dennis has worked in multiple sectors of the economy, small private businesses, large public enterprise, nonprofit, government and higher education. He brings a servant’s mindset to his work and is excited to serve, support, and advocate for the Indiana veteran community.

Tina Woolridge

Tina is Senior Director of Research and Development for the School Care Team. She is a Sources of Strength statewide director, certified Restorative Practitioner, and she holds a professional-level Child and Youth Care certification. Tina earned her undergraduate degree from Ball State University and her graduate degree from Spring Arbor University.

Amy Zell

After losing her 16 year old son, Tyler, to suicide in 2009, Amy developed a passion around suicide prevention and awareness. As former co-chair of the Youngstown Out of the Darkness inaugural walk, Amy began providing programming in other Ohio areas for both the AFSP’s More than Sad initiative and observation of the International Survivor of Suicide Loss Day. Amy is a certified QPR Trainer, a psychological autopsy investigator, has her master’s degree in Library and Information Science and a Death and Grief Studies certification. Her second passion is in the field of library and community makerspaces, believing that utilizing Maker Empowerment Theory Method can assist in changing how we perceive the world.

Amy’s previous employment includes serving as a teen librarian, working with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disability’s through Goodwill for workforce development, and digital skills training. Amy joined LOSS Community Services in 2020.

Sponsors

THANK YOU

As chair of the amazing LOSS Team Conference this year, I want to take this opportunity to personally thank each and every one of you for attending.

This conference has been a dream of mine for 15 yearsnot only to host the National LOSS Team Conference, but to start a statewide LOSS Team Network here in Indiana. Due to a grant awarded sevevral years ago to the Indiana Department of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA), various suicide prevention, intervention and postvention programs have been developed across the state, including but not limited to, the first-ever statewide Indiana LOSS Team Network. Over a five year period, 27 LOSS Teams will be started to provide immediate postvention services to families to allow them to start healing immediately and give permission for families and loved ones to talk about their experience. Hosting this conference is a great way to kick off this initiative.

Lastly, I would like to thank all of our speakers and sponsors for making this conference possible. And more importantly, thank YOU for attending! I look forward to seeing you all again in Ohio - the host of the 2023 National LOSS Team Conference.

TOGETHER WE CAN ~ JUNTOS PODEMOS

Alice Jordan-Miles