Barbara Schneider Foundation Conference

The Barbara Schneider Foundation works to eliminate the criminalization and abusive treatment of people with mental illness by improving public safety and mental health systems through proactive training and public education. The foundation was formed in 2000 after the tragic and unnecessary death of Barbara Schneider at the hands of a police officer during a mental health crisis call.

St. Joan of Arc Church was fortunate to host a Barbara Schneider Foundation’s morning training session with a group of Minneapolis police officers back on October 11, 2005, at which Dr. Fred Frese, highly respected and much-loved national leader, was the keynote speaker. We heard from a panel of community leaders and learned about the work of the Barbara Schneider Foundation. Mark Anderson, Executive Director and Lynda Cannova, Development Coordinator, have spoken at a Mental Illness Ministry meeting to explain the Crisis Intervention Team Training (CIT) and answer our questions. SJA’s Mental Illness Ministry understands the importance of The Barbara Schneider Foundation to Minnesota. The foundation also offers training for faith communities to help staffs learn appropriate and effective responses to individuals struggling with mental illness. We hope someday that our staff will request such training.

On Monday, February 26th, about 200 people gathered at the Minneapolis Convention Center for the 2nd Minnesota CIT Conference, sponsored by the Barbara Schneider Foundation. Fellow parishioner Francis Mark and I were among that lucky 200. The keynote speaker, Joel A. Dvoskin, Ph.D, Forensic Psychology, U of Arizona College of Medicine, captured everyone’s attention with his practical approach, stories of experience and great sense of humor. We needed about three hours with Joel A. Dvoskin.

One point of emphasis Dvoskin had for professionals was; ask questions. Ask questions of people with mental illness when there is no crisis; ask what helps calm them, makes them feel safe when they are in crisis. Ask questions to learn positive things about people; first of all to respect people, but also to have information that will be helpful in times of crisis. Some practical advice he offered was: Don’t just focus on what “is wrong” with people, but consider their strengths; compliment them on achievements and surviving as long as they have. He reminded providers and medical personnel to read clients’ charts, which could contain some valuable information to help in working with clients. These points sounds so simple; it’s how we relate to all people, but somehow this can get lost in settings with people with mental illness. Dvoskin was very respectful to law enforcement, first responders in understanding the stress level in crisis situations as well as the possible dangers. CIT training is important to the safety of first responders, to people in crisis and to others involved.

Nine repeated breakout sessions were offered on Mental Health and Homeless, Returning Veterans, County Corrections, Consumer Panel, Care and Recovery, Schools, Court Panel, CIT/Police Officers, and Cultural Competence. The choices were impressive. The only problem was the lack of time.

Francis and I liked the networking. We would have liked more speaker handouts, more diversity among attendees and a much closer holding to the schedule. This is only the second such conference and suggestions will be studied. Our dream is that someday the BS Foundation will be large enough to offer a two-day conference.

Mary Paradis is a long time member of St. Joan of Arc with her husband, Claude. Mary is currently the co-chair of the Mental Illness Ministry. Mary can be reached at claudemaryparadis@comcast.net.

We agree this was an outstanding conference and are looking forward to next year’s. We would encourage all of you to attend because The Barbara Schneider Foundation’s work is important in helping all of Minnesota become a more humane, compassionate place in which to live. We can help by our presence and our financial donations. Anyone who can’t attend can sponsor a member of MIM.

The Barbara Schneider Foundation and the University of St. Thomas, are sponsoring a Public Policy Conference, $25 and open to all, on Friday, March 30; Transforming the Mental Health System. The conference information states: Everyone should be prepared with the knowledge and resources to handle effectively situations involving someone who may have a mental illness. I highly recommend this conference. For more information on the conference visit http://www.stthomas.edu/education/events/mentalhealth/. For information on the Barbara Schneider Foundation, visit www.thebarbaraschneiderfoundation.org.