As the number of individuals who are challenged by substance use and mental health continue to be on the rise, we are at a crossroads when it comes to the care of women and their children. While the number of programs who offer specific services to women and their children are increasing across the state, there continues to be need for more gender-responsive programming in substance use and mental health programs to address the unique needs of women and their children. This challenge is even more significant in rural communities where there are significant barriers to service accessibility. This workshop will lean into specific challenges as they relate to women impacted by both substance use and mental health concerns and the impact on children in their care.

Presenter: Dr. Delores Blackwell, LCSW, is a multijurisdictional licensed clinical social worker. She has held numerous administrative and clinical positions within both the addictions and mental health disciplines. She is an adjunct professor at both Touro College and Hunter College Silberman Schools of Social Work. In conjunction with her numerous roles, she also conducts and develops trainings for mental health and addictions professionals in both direct practice and leadership positions. She is currently a Research Project Manager at the New York State Psychiatric Institute at Columbia University Medical Center, where she works with the Opioid Response Network and Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Center within the Northeast and Caribbean (HHS Region 2).