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March 20 @ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Cost: $5.00
presents:
Paths to Clarity:
Tools for Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia, and Schizoaffective Disorder
via Webinar
Date & Time: Friday, March 20, 2026 | 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Location: Webinar via Zoom
Cost: $5
This program is funded by a generous grant from the Staunton Farm Foundation.
What to Expect
This training focuses on three diagnoses classified as Serious Mental Illnesses (SMIs): Bipolar I Disorder, Schizophrenia, and Schizoaffective Disorder. Participants will review key diagnostic criteria, common diagnostic challenges, and symptom presentations associated with each condition, with particular attention to symptoms and behaviors that may increase risk for individuals living with these disorders.
Given the high prevalence of trauma within this population, the training will also examine common trauma experiences and introduce trauma-informed care approaches that support safety, stability, and engagement.
Effective management of SMIs requires a comprehensive, coordinated approach. This training will explore treatment strategies across four core areas: medication management, therapeutic interventions, behavioral strategies, and psychosocial supports. Participants will also examine interventions tailored to specific symptoms and behavior patterns associated with each of the three targeted diagnoses.
Objectives
- Identify three common symptoms associated with the targeted Serious Mental Illnesses (SMIs) and explain how these symptoms may escalate into severe or high-risk behaviors.
- Describe three diagnostic challenges specific to schizoaffective disorder.
- Identify three trauma-informed approaches and describe common trauma experiences among individuals with these diagnoses.
- Identify one evidence-based intervention within each of the following categories: medication management, therapeutic approaches, behavioral interventions, and psychosocial supports.
Facilitator
Erin Edwards is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) with a Master’s degree in Psychology. She currently works for Penn State College of Medicine/Hershey Medical Center within the Division of Autism in the Department of Psychiatry. Erin has partnered with PennCares Support Services for many years, developing and delivering trainings that focus on older adults and behavioral health topics. She has extensive experience working with children diagnosed with autism and other mental health conditions across various service settings, including specialized education programs, home and community-based BHRS services, intensive family-based mental health services, and outpatient care. In addition to her work with children, Erin has supported adults with autism and co-occurring mental health diagnoses in community, home, and workplace environments. Her areas of expertise also include hoarding behaviors, anxiety, depression, and suicide-related concerns. In her supervisory roles, Erin has provided a wide range of trainings to direct care staff, emphasizing practical intervention strategies and approaches to reduce caregiver frustration and fatigue.
Continuing Education Units (CEUs)
- Social Work: 3.0 CEUs (No Additional Cost)
- Nursing: 3.0 CEUs – Pending Approval (No Additional Cost)
Social Work: “NASW-PA Chapter is a co-sponsor of this workshop. 3.0 CEUs will be awarded for completion of this course. NASW has been designated as a pre-approved provider of professional continuing education for social workers (Section 47.36), Marriage and Family Therapist (Section 48.36) and Professional Counselors (Section 49.36) by the PA State Board of Social Workers, Marriage & Family Therapists and Professional Counselors.”
Nursing: Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing is approved with distinction as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by Pennsylvania State Nurses Association Approver Unit, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Pending approval, participants with a valid RN license that attend the entire Nursing Continuing Professional Development program (NCPD), can earn 3.0 contact hours.; partial contact hours are not awarded.
Questions?
Contact Allison Fisher at trainings@penncares.org.
PennCares Cancellation Policy
- PennCares Support Services reserves the right to cancel an event due to low enrollment or other circumstances which would make the event non-viable.
- PennCares reserves the right to substitute course instructors as necessary.
- If PennCares cancels an event, registrants will be offered a full refund.
Postponement: Should circumstances arise that result in the postponement of an event, registrants will have the option to either receive a full refund or transfer registration to the same event at the new, future date.
Substitutions and Transfers: We understand that circumstances may occur to prevent you from attending a training. If you find that you are unable to attend one of PennCares’ trainings, you have several options:
- Send a substitute: Substitutions are accepted as long as a written request is received. Substitutions may be made without penalty provided the original registrant contacts PennCares at trainings@penncares.org to request this change.
- Transfer to another course: Transfers are accepted up to the day of the event as long as a written request is received. In the event the registrant cannot attend a scheduled course for which he or she is enrolled, registration can be transferred to another course.
- Refund of monies: Requests for refunds must be made in writing and received by the training refund deadline stated on the training registration form. (See below for cancellation policy).
Registration Cancellation by Participant
- Unless specifically stated on registration materials, the deadline to request a refund for your registration is 5 business days before the event.
- Registration cancellations requested prior to the deadline will be eligible to receive a refund less a 5% administration fee. *
- Cancellations received less than 5 business days before the event will not be eligible for a refund and will be billed for the total cost.
- Registered no-shows are not eligible for a refund and will be billed the total cost.
- Cancellations will be accepted via e-mail to trainings@penncares.org and must be received by the stated cancellation deadline.
- All refund requests must be made by the attendee/payee.
- Refund requests must include the name of the attendee, the training date, and payment method.
These above policies apply to all PennCares trainings unless otherwise noted in the corresponding event materials. Please read all individual event information thoroughly.