Provider Development Trainings
Integral Mental Health Skills for Serving LGBTQIATS+ Youth
Date and Time:
Thursday, September 17, 2026 | 9:30–11:30 a.m. CT | Virtual
About the Training:
LGBTQIATS+ youth are currently living in a state of severe cultural violence, with a drastic increase in mental health symptoms and suicidality. These threats caused by the global political climate make informed, empowering mental healthcare for LGBTQIATS+ youth more critical than ever. In this training, attendees will learn foundational language, cultural competency, tools for macro and micro practice, and how to be a stronger ally.
Registration Fees:
Professional: Early Bird (through August 14): $35 | Beginning August 15: $50
Student: Early Bird (through August 14): $25 | Beginning August 15: $40
Continuing Education Information:
Continuing education approval through the Minnesota Board of Social Work is currently pending.
Trainer: JAC Stringer, MSW, LICSW
JAC Stringer, MSW, LGSW (he/him) is a trans, genderqueer, disabled radical activist, educator, and social worker specializing in the transgender and the larger LGBTQIATS+ community, most specifically LGBTQIATS+ youth. He has been serving these communities for over twenty years with a work history that spans community organizing, clinical social work, education, healthcare advocacy, and artistic activism. JAC’s discourse on the unique needs of LGBTQIATS+ people and his ongoing dedication to advancing transgender wellness have led to his being considered a multidimensional expert in human services and mental health. He is highly acclaimed for his work building transgender resources from the ground up and for his workshops on socially just transgender and LGBTQIATS+ activism, anti-violence and trauma work, disability / accessibility issues, and trans artistry. He is a therapist for trans youth and young adults, for whom he provides mental health counseling as well as assistance with accessing health care, housing, employment, education, and public assistance. He also works with parents and families to help them better understand and support their LGBTQIATS+ loved ones. In his free time, JAC volunteers with the Teen TIGERRS Trans Youth Group and facilitates a professional support group for transgender health and wellness providers. JAC’s deepest passion lies in generating unity, action, and empowerment through social justice, education, art, and many other forms of revolution.
Who Should Attend:
This training is designed for social workers, mental health professionals, school social workers and counselors, marriage and family therapists, psychologists, addiction counselors, case managers, and students pursuing careers in mental health, social work, psychology, counseling, marriage and family therapy, or addiction counseling.
Lunch & Learn: Understanding the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act
Date and Time:
Friday, October 2, 2026 12:00-1:00 pm | Virtual
About the Training:
The Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA) was designed to help ensure that mental health and substance use disorder benefits are covered comparably to medical and surgical benefits. But what does mental health parity actually mean in practice?
Join us for a one-hour Lunch & Learn exploring the basics of MHPAEA, how parity requirements affect access to mental health and substance use disorder services, common insurance and coverage challenges, and what mental health professionals should know when supporting and advocating for clients.
This session will break down a complex federal law into practical, understandable information that professionals can apply in their everyday work.
Registration Fees - Pay What You Can:
$10 – Accessible Rate
$15 – Standard Rate
$20 – Supporter Rate
Continuing Education Information:
Continuing education approval through the Minnesota Board of Social Work is currently pending.
Trainers:
Holly Walters earned her Master of Arts in Addiction Counseling and a post-master’s certificate in Mental Health from the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies and a Master of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. She is currently pursuing a Master in the Study of Law at Hamline University.
In addition to her clinical work, Holly spent three years working as an insurance social worker, providing firsthand experience navigating insurance systems, coverage requirements, and barriers to accessing care. Holly is the Founder and CEO of The Healing Project of MN and is a certified Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) therapist in Minnesota.
Heidi Schulke earned her Master of Social Work from Augsburg University and is currently pursuing her Master of Business Administration at Augsburg University. She has more than 12 years of experience in social work, supporting individuals and families through crises, systems advocacy, and navigating complex service systems.
During her graduate internship with The Healing Project of MN, Heidi studied the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act and its implications for mental health care and access. Her professional experience includes trauma-informed care, systems advocacy, and helping individuals navigate barriers to services.
Who Should Attend
Mental health professionals, social workers, counselors, therapists, psychologists, alcohol and drug counselors, case managers, students, and other helping professionals.