This webinar presents a comprehensive and multidisciplinary perspective of the current understanding of schizophrenia and it reviews effective community-based interventions. Dr. Kisthardt draws on his many years of experience as an inpatient and outpatient clinician, researcher, behavioral health trainer and Consultant and Professor, to share practice examples that illustrate key concepts and approaches. He also shares personal experiences of being a family member. Dr. Kisthardt brings a human dimension by sharing original poetry and music inspired by qualitative interviews with people with the lived experience of enduring behavioral health challenges.

LECTURE OBJECTIVES

Participants will be able to

1. Discuss the social, psychological, behavioral, cognitive, and physical implications involved in living with schizophrenia
2. Define the Coordinated Specialty Care Approach and emerging principles of “Patient-Centric” (Person-Centered) community-based interventions
3. Review the factors identified by current research that support, promote, and sustain recovery, social integration, wellness and improved quality of life for people living with Schizophrenia

PRESENTER

Dr. Walter Kisthardt is a Professor of Social Work at the MSW program at Park University. He is one of the original conceptual framers of the Strengths Perspective in Social Work Practice and the Strengths Model of Case Management. He also serves as the Director of the Center for Research and Training in Integrated Behavioral Health at Park. He has provided training and technical assistance for many programs throughout Missouri, Kansas, and 43 states and four countries. In Kansas City, he provided training and evaluation for the FUTURES welfare reform project and the United Way, Greater Kansas City Community Foundation Homelessness Project in the 90’s. Dr. Kisthardt has also provided training for Ryan White case managers. He is currently collaborating with Truman Behavioral Health on a project to provide training in Strengths-Based, Person-Centered practice for persons with the lived experience of mental illness and co-occurring disorders who will assume roles as Peer Mentors. Those who have attended Dr. Kisthardt’s presentations have reported being validated in their work, being challenged to constantly strive to challenge themselves and their organizations to become ever-more creative and individualized in their collaboration and partnership with service participants, and to integrate humor, joy and hope into their holistic interventions. His BA is in Sociology and Social Work from Elizabethtown College, Pa. His MSW is from the University of Hawaii, and his Ph.D. in Social Work is from the University of Kansas.