CT4A Policy Institute
CT4A EXCLUSIVE WORKSHOP ADD-ON
Explore the world of policy as you develop your skills in this half-day event with an interactive panel discussion followed by a skill-based workshop.
- Network with policy experts from diverse backgrounds
- Learn from each other
- Gain an understanding of various policy approaches to advocacy
- Experience drafting policy products
| Policy Institute | Aug. 31 or earlier | Sept. 1 or later |
|---|---|---|
| Workshop Ticket Only | $150 | $175 |
| Workshop Ticket with Symposium Registration | $75 | $100 |
Invited Panel: Toward Mental Wellness: The Role of Policy
Silicia is the Director of Health Policy at Waxman Strategies, where she works with organizations on health equity-based policies. She is also a board member of the Global Alliance for Behavioral Health and Social Justice and of the Mental Health Section of the American Public Health Association. In her roles, she works on projects to increase access to mental health services, improve reproductive health in the U.S., and policies to make health care more affordable. Silicia previously worked for the CDC Foundation and is the former executive director of United Against Inequities in Disease, a nonprofit organization where she helped to develop sustainable community projects with university chapters around the nation to reduce health disparities voiced by the impacted communities. Through her advocacy work, she has educated communities and policymakers on the need for increased use of harm-reduction strategies for people with substance use disorders, improving our health care system to be inclusive of mental health, and addressing maternal mortality for Black women.
Kevin is a founding partner at firm HeflerLichtenberg in Chicago and concentrates his practice on guardianship and probate, elder law, mental health and risk management, and child welfare and adoptions. He is regularly appointed as Guardian ad litem (“GAL”) and counsel for respondents in guardianship proceedings before the probate court. He is also a member of DCFS’ Statewide Adoption Attorney panel.
Kevin is an active member of the legal community, volunteering his time to multiple legal service agencies that assist individuals of low-income.
He served as Chair for the Chicago Bar Association’s Committee on Elder and Disability Law last year. He participates in the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services CVLS) pro bono program and serves on the Illinois State Bar Association Standing Committee on Judicial Evaluations for Cook County. He previously served on the Misericordia Emerging Leaders Board.
Dr. Matthews has engaged in cancer prevention and control research for twenty-five years with various underserved populations, including sexual and gender minorities. Primary research areas have included cancer survivorship, cancer screening, and the development of cancer risk reduction interventions. They have served as the principal investigator of six NIH-funded research including conducting one of the first randomized clinical trials of a culturally targeted smoking cessation treatment for LGBTQ+ adults who smoke. Dr. Matthews’ dedication to research excellence is reflected in their extensive publication record, with more than 190 peer-reviewed articles. They also contributed to three Institute of Medicine Reports related to cancer and LGBTQ health. Dr. Matthews has been a visiting research scholar in Japan, Thailand, and Malawi.
Panelist
Matt Richards, LCSW, MDiv
Deputy Commissioner of Behavioral Health, Chicago Department of Public Health
Matt is the City of Chicago’s lead subject matter expert on behavioral health. He is responsible for the city’s five mental health centers, 911 mental health and substance use response teams, behavioral health diversion programs, and all funded programs in mental health, substance use, community violence prevention and healthcare for the homeless at Chicago Department of Public Health.
Matt has led on the development and implementation of the Framework for Mental Health Equity which has increased the City’s mental health budget by 7-fold since 2019, increased patients served from 3,500 in 2019 to almost 75,000 in 2022, and led to the integration of mental health professionals into the 911 response system for the first time in city history through the Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement (CARE) program. Matt has particular interests in crisis response, integrated care, the treatment of serious mental illness and co-occurring disorders, substance use disorder treatment, diversion/deflection, evidence-based practice, religion and public health, and the role of local health departments in coordinating behavioral health systems of care.
Coming Together For Action (CT4A) is an interdisciplinary symposium on behavioral health, social justice, and healthier communities.
With a theme of Toward Mental Wellness, our 2024 symposium furthers our call to action in addressing individuals, families, and communities in local, national, and global contexts through an interdisciplinary lens.
CT4A brings together individuals with backgrounds in psychology, psychiatry, social work, nursing, law, planning, education, international community development, political science, technology, economics, and more. Our attendees include early and mid-career professionals, teens, college students, retirees, and people of all kinds with valuable lived experience at the intersections of health, justice, and communities.