Ethics in Rural Minnesota
&
Overwhelmed and Overworked: Identifying Issues and Increasing Resilience in Rural Mental Health Practice

check-in 8:30-9:00 a.m.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Imholte Hall Room 109, University of Minnesota, Morris
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Morning Topic - "Ethics in Rural Minnesota"
Life can be challenging for health and human service professionals in rural areas and small towns, where most people know each other and interact in a variety of settings. It is easier for people receiving social, mental, or health services to remain anonymous in metropolitan areas. But in rural areas and small towns, issues of confidentiality, multiple relationships, and other ethical dilemmas can often be at the forefront of client/practitioner interactions. In this workshop, Janet Schank will describe the unique components of ethics in rural and small-town settings. She will also present typical scenarios and strategies for maintaining privacy and dignity for clients, practitioners, their families, and other members of the community.

Goals and Objectives
1. Identify areas of potential ethical conflict for rural and small-community mental health providers, such as: overlapping relationships, limited resources and limits of competence, community expectations, values differences, inter-agency issues, isolation, lack of privacy for clients
2. Identify key factors in decision-making regarding ethical conflicts
3. Identify decision-making models to minimize risk and enhance ethical practice
4. Identify steps to minimize practice risk
5. Identify advantages of small-community practice

Afternoon Topic - "Overwhelmed and Overworked: Identifying Issues and Increasing Resilience in Rural Mental Health Practice"
Human service professionals in rural areas face unique issues, including diminished funding and referral resources. The demands of being a “known entity” within the community put additional stress on mental health professionals as they strive to balance their own needs and those of their family with the needs of their community. This presentation will identify the issues and offer strategies to cope with burnout and build resilience in rural mental health practice.

Goals and Objectives
1. Recognize the unique issues in rural areas that contribute to stress and burnout for mental health providers
2. Recognize risk factors and signs of burnout in rural mental health practice
3. Learn how to increase emotional resilience
4. Identify strategies to decrease stress and prevent burnout

Presenter
Janet A. Schank, PhD, is a licensed psychologist in Minnesota and has been a member and chair of the Minnesota Psychological Association Ethics Committee. Her professional publications and presentations in Minnesota, other states, and nationally have focused on ethical practice in psychology. She has co-authored the book, Ethical Practice in Small Communities: Challenges and Rewards for Psychologists, published in 2006 by the American Psychological Association.

Dr. Schank has directed and coordinated mental health services in several settings, including a liberal arts college, a community mental health agency, and a large suburban school district. She maintains an independent therapy and consulting practice in the Minneapolis - St. Paul area. She has consulted and presented over the past 20 years on ethical issues in psychology, small community practice, dual relationships, and professional boundaries. Dr. Schank is a native of rural Nebraska.

Cost
$80 includes 6.0 CEUs from the Minnesota Board of Social Work, lunch and refreshments

Registration Information
Register online:
http://www.morris.umn.edu/cerp/conferences/human_services/form.html
(mail your check to the address below)

OR

Download the registration form, complete it and mail or fax it to:

Continuing Education, Regional Programs and Summer Session
225 Community Services Building
600 E. 4th St.
Morris, MN 56267

Registration Deadline:
Tuesday, October 16

If you need special accommodations, please contact us.

For more registration information, contact:
Jean Sasek - Continuing Education, UMM
320.589.6450 or 800.842.0030, sasekj@morris.umn.edu

For more information on Human Services Programming at UMM:
Karen Ellis - Continuing Education, UMM
320.589.6463 or 800.842.0030, elliskj@morris.umn.edu