Please visit 2026 Indiana Mental Health Summit — Great KIDS Make Great COMMUNITIES to view conference session descriptions.

Join us for the 3rd Annual Indiana Mental Health Summit featuring Zak Williams, mental health advocate and son of the beloved Robin Williams.

This year’s Mental Health Summit brings together professionals, advocates, faith leaders, educators, and community members who share a common purpose: to better understand today’s mental health challenges and work collaboratively toward meaningful, practical solutions. Through engaging workshops, insightful panel discussions, and intentional networking opportunities, participants will explore innovative approaches, share best practices, and build connections that extend far beyond the conference walls.

Whether you are on the front lines of care, supporting others in your community, or passionate about being part of the solution, this event offers inspiration, education, and connection—grounded in compassion and action.

Come learn. Come connect. Come be part of the reason change happens.

#BETHEREASON

*Invoice (pay by check) option is available to agencies & organizations wanting to use a PO for their staff.

Location: ACPL - Main Library
Registration: FREE
Two (2) CEUs offered to participants.

Gain a clear understanding of human trafficking in Indiana and its impact on youth. This session equips service providers and educators to recognize the risk factors that increase vulnerability, as well as the red flags that may signal a trafficking situation. Participants will explore why many victims do not self-identify or seek help and will learn practical techniques for assessing potential trafficking cases. The training also covers how to identify trafficked youth, tips for effective reporting, and guidance for connecting survivors with critical resources and services.

Two (2) CEUs will be offered to participants who attend this session and complete the training evaluation.

Location: Metea County Park, 8401 Union Chapel Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46
Registration: $15 per session
Three (3) CEUs offered to participants. Lunch will be provided.

Our fast-paced autopilot world is stressful with multiple competing, complex, global, and conflicting demands. Many of us often feel like we are on autopilot.  The Pause of Wonder & Awe can be a portal for Mindful Compassionate Self-Care. This mental health mini series invites you to join others desiring intentional practice time to RESET through the lens of beauty, gratitude, meditation, and compassion. Together we will explore various techniques that allow us to reset out hearts and minds. Each session will include guided meditation practices, group discussion and activities centered around fostering growth, resiliency, and overall wellbeing.

Although all three sessions are designed to complement each other, if you are unable to attend one of the sessions, do not let that be a barrier to your joining in the series. Each session limited to 60 participants.

Location: Metea County Park, 8401 Union Chapel Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46
Registration: $15 per session
Three (3) CEUs offered to participants. Lunch will be provided.

Our fast-paced autopilot world is stressful with multiple competing, complex, global, and conflicting demands. Many of us often feel like we are on autopilot.  The Pause of Wonder & Awe can be a portal for Mindful Compassionate Self-Care. This mental health mini series invites you to join others desiring intentional practice time to RESET through the lens of beauty, gratitude, meditation, and compassion. Together we will explore various techniques that allow us to reset out hearts and minds. Each session will include guided meditation practices, group discussion and activities centered around fostering growth, resiliency, and overall wellbeing.

Although all three sessions are designed to complement each other, if you are unable to attend one of the sessions, do not let that be a barrier to your joining in the series. Each session limited to 60 participants.

Location: Metea County Park, 8401 Union Chapel Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46
Registration: $15 per session OR $40 for the series
Three (3) CEUs offered to participants. Lunch will be provided.

Our fast-paced autopilot world is stressful with multiple competing, complex, global, and conflicting demands. Many of us often feel like we are on autopilot.  The Pause of Wonder & Awe can be a portal for Mindful Compassionate Self-Care. This mental health mini series invites you to join others desiring intentional practice time to RESET through the lens of beauty, gratitude, meditation, and compassion. Together we will explore various techniques that allow us to reset out hearts and minds. Each session will include guided meditation practices, group discussion and activities centered around fostering growth, resiliency, and overall wellbeing.

Although all three sessions are designed to complement each other, if you are unable to attend one of the sessions, do not let that be a barrier to your joining in the series. Each session limited to 60 participants.

Location: Purdue Fort Wayne, International Ballroom A
Registration: Free
Two (2) CEUs offered to participants.

With more teens and young adults dying by suicide in Indiana than the national average, leaders must be aware of the importance of engaging today's youth on the topic of death by suicide. Join us for this important interactive workshop as we hear stories, statistics, and encouraging solutions on how we can engage this devastating topic in Northeast Indiana.

Two (2) CEUs will be offered to participants who attend this session.
Lunch provided!

Location: Virtual (with RemedyLIVE)
Registration: $10
Two (2) CEUs offered to participants.
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

This interactive training is designed to equip professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to create affirming, inclusive environments for LGBTQ+ youth. Participants will explore foundational concepts related to sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression (SOGIE), while gaining insight into the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ youth, including discrimination, trauma, and intersectional barriers. Through guided reflection and practical tools, attendees will learn to foster safe spaces, communicate with cultural competence, and strengthen their role as allies. The session will also highlight key resources and referral options to help connect youth with critical support in mental health, housing, education, and beyond.

Registration: FREE
Three (3) CEUs offered to participants.

The When, What, Why & How Behind Primary Child Abuse Prevention
This presentation introduces Prevent Child Abuse Indiana as an organization, their goals and history, specializations, and important statistics about child abuse and prevention. It highlights and explains why collaboration is essential for primary child abuse prevention.

Resilience
This film presentation reveals how toxic stress can trigger hormones that wreak havoc on the brains and bodies of children, putting them at a greater risk for disease, homelessness, prison time and early death. Also learn how these risk factors can be diminished through science, therapy, resilience, and other protective factors. (Must be 18 years old or older to attend.) Followed up with 30 minute group discussion.

Three (3) CEUs will be provided to participants who attend this training/documentary and complete an evaluation. Lunch provided!

Registration: FREE
Two (2) CEUs offered to participants.

Presented by Jeremy Greenlee (Program Director, Indiana Trafficking Victims Assistance Program) & Kristen Lewis (Task Force Officer with the FBI)

As a result of increased social medica usage among youth, previous human trafficking recruitment techniques have shifted online, exploiting vulnerabilities in youth, and making virtual exploitation a new reality.  This training will delve into the complex usage of technology to gain an understanding of how traffickers leverage online platforms, social media, and communications to recruit, control, and exploit their victims.  This training will equip participants with the knowledge, skills and resources needed to navigate the digital landscape safely to learn how to respond, report and contribute to the prevention of human trafficking in the digital age.   

Location: Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (NIIC)
Registration: $40 (includes book, assessment code & lunch)
Three (3) CEUs offered to participants.

Every person has unique talents and gifts. Exploring those talents and learning how to invest in them to create strengths can be an invaluable practice. We will utilize the CliftonStrengths Online Talent Assessment to learn about the positive traits that come most naturally to each of us. Additionally, we'll discuss how to focus on those areas of gifting in order to develop a reliable set of strengths that will lead to success and fulfillment in all areas of life. Participants can expect to come away with practical tools to support their professional and personal goals. A copy of StengthsFinder 2.0 including an assessment code will be provided to all participants. This assessment should be completed prior to workshop attendance. (Books can be picked up at Northeast Indiana Innovation Center)

Three (3) CEUs will be provided to participants who complete the workshop evaluation. $40 registration fee includes book, assessment code & lunch.

Location: Northeast Indiana Innovation Center (NIIC)
Registration: $40 (includes lunch)
Space is limited to 40 people.
Two (2) CEUs offered to participants.

This interactive workshop builds on the foundation of the morning session (Supporting Every Voice: A Discussion on Adaptive Communication), offering a closer look at specific robust AAC programs. Participants will learn how to quickly understand and navigate these programs while gaining practical tools to support and teach AAC use in diverse settings, including classrooms, therapy sessions, community programs, and at home. We’ll explore strategies that are adaptable and overlap across environments, ensuring everyone leaves with actionable takeaways. Whether you're new to AAC or looking to refine your approach, this session will provide the skills and confidence for you to empower every communicator, no matter where they are.  

Learning Objectives:

1.  Participants will be able to identify at least 2 features in communication apps designed to support communication partners.

2.  Participants will be able to apply 3 strategies in their setting to promote AAC use effectively.

3.  Participants will be able to create activities tailored to the specific needs of AAC users.

4. Participants will be able to identify at least 3 key areas of communicative function to focus on when working with AAC users.

This workshop is limited to 40 participants. $40 workshop registration fee (includes lunch & materials).

Location: NIIC
Registration: FREE
Two (2) CEUs offered to participants.

Adaptive Communication can take many forms, and this session will focus on Augmentative Alternative Communication (AAC), which provides individuals access to robust vocabulary for meaningful interaction with the world around them. Difficulty with spoken communication can lead to frustration, isolation, and increased behaviors, but there are clear steps you can take to make a difference. In this session, we’ll explore what AAC is, how it works, who it is appropriate for (and how to tell) and how you can support individuals by bringing these strategies into your home, office, or community. Together, we can help every voice be heard! 

Learning Objectives: 

- Participants will be able to identify at least 3 types of AAC and understand who they’re appropriate for. 

- Participants will be able to recognize signs that someone could benefit from AAC. 

- Participants will be able to identify at least 3 robust AAC communication programs. 

- Participants will be able to outline 2 immediate next steps if they think someone could benefit from AAC. 

Location: Virtual
Registration: $5
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Two (2) CEUs offered to participants.

Join Amanda Miller (Executive Director) and Jessica Gervais (Training Coordinator) along with Dr. Katie Herron in an interactive conversation around the importance of understanding developmental milestones when interacting with young children. Dr. Herron will offer concrete examples and resources and consider how milestones should be part of a larger early detection system. In particular, social-emotional milestones play an important role in supporting early childhood mental health. This session will define early childhood mental health while interacting with participants to identify concrete ways to help young children in feeling safe enough to learn and explore their emotions, the emotions of others, and their environment.

Location: Main Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne IN 46802
Registration: FREE
Two (2) CEUs offered to participants

Did you ever think that one, tiny word could change your perspective--and maybe even your life? In Embracing the Power of And, we will explore the small & mighty word "and" as it relates to multiple areas of mental and emotional health. Those in leadership and helping professions are so often carrying heavy emotional and mental loads. Leaning into the power of "and" offers a hopeful perspective that will not only be personally enriching, but professionally empowering in the important work of service to others and our community. We will challenge binary thinking, create space for transformation of internal monologues, and begin to embrace the multitudes within. Come explore the power of "and."

Location: Main Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne IN 46802
Registration: FREE
Two (2) CEUs offered to participants.

Join us for this 2 hour training event where we will discuss the widespread impact of trauma, explore paths for recovery, and recognize the signs and symptoms of trauma. Participants will get the opportunity to discuss how to integrate knowledge about trauma into their daily practices. Finally, participants will discuss their own self-care plan as a way to limit the impact of vicarious trauma.

Location: USF North Campus Gymnasium
Registration: FREE
Two (2) CEUs offered to participants.

Secondary trauma is a type of emotional pain that can affect individuals who work closely with those who have experienced trauma (overwhelming life experiences). This trauma can have a profound impact on caregivers, teachers, social workers and other helping professionals. This training aims to provide an understanding of secondary trauma and its effects, including burnout, compassion fatigue, and vicarious trauma. It will also offer practical strategies for preventing and managing the effects of secondary trauma, including self-care techniques, organizational support, and building resilience. By gaining a deeper understanding of secondary trauma and its impact, attendees will be better equipped to support themselves and others in their work.

Location: Virtual
Registration: FREE
Two (2) CEUs offered to participants.

Diet culture’s pervasive influence on today’s youth is undeniable, shaping their beliefs about food and bodies. This discussion will explore the connection between mainstream concepts of health and the rise of disordered eating, eating disorders, and body image struggles. We’ll examine how diet culture infiltrates nearly every aspect of daily life and explore the physical and psychological toll it takes on developing identities. Attendees will gain insight into the truth about diet culture and learn practical strategies to foster resilience in children, supporting balanced relationships with food and their bodies.

Location: USF North Campus
Registration: FREE
Two (2) CEUs will be offered to attendees who complete the training evaluation.

Join us along with Jeremy Greenlee (Program Director, ITVAP) and Detective Sarah Schmieman (Fort Wayne Police Dept) to learn more about risk factors leading to digital exploitation and human trafficking. As a result of increased social media usage among youth, previous human trafficking recruitment techniques have shifted online, exploiting vulnerabilities in youth, and making virtual exploitation a new reality. This training will delve into the complex usage of technology to gain an understanding of how traffickers leverage online platforms, social media, and communications to recruit, control, and exploit their victims.  This training will equip participants with the knowledge, skills and resources needed to navigate the digital landscape safely to learn how to respond, report and contribute to the prevention of human trafficking in the digital age.  

Location: Main Library
Registration: FREE
One (1) CEU offered to participants.

In partnership with Everyone Home, join us along with Cameron Shackleford to learn more on providing client-centered services beyond the barriers often encountered when working with individuals in needs of services.

Location: Northeast Indiana Innovation Center
Registration: FREE
Two (2) CEUs offered to participants.

We invite you to join us for this professional development training on the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) and the impact of unmet social needs on health outcomes.  During this 2 hour session, we will define social determinants of health, explore social and economic community data, identify local health disparities and inequities, and discuss ways to mitigate the impact of unmet social needs on the health of individuals locally.  We will explore how healthcare organizations are addressing SDOH at the patient and community level and review methods of screening for and addressing unmet social needs in the patients/clients you serve.  Understanding the impact of the social determinants of health on children and families locally is critical as we work together to promote the physical and mental health of our community.  

About the Speaker
Dr. Sarah GiaQuinta, MD, MPH is the Senior Vice President of Community Health and Equity for Parkview Health, where she has worked for five years.  Always a champion for underserved populations, Dr. GiaQuinta has spent most of her career working in healthcare quality improvement, population health, and community health.  With experience in both private and public health institutions, Dr. GiaQuinta has worked with closely with physicians, nurses, and community organizations to promote the health of vulnerable populations.  She is passionate about the impact of social factors on the health on pediatric and adult health outcomes and the critical role health systems play in promoting health equity.   

In her current role, Dr. GiaQuinta leads teams dedicated to community health outreach and programming, community benefit, language services, and is responsible for Parkview’s health equity strategy.

Location: Main Library
Registration: FREE
Two (2) CEUs offered to participants.

Description
LGBTQ+ youth experience a much higher risk of housing instability and homelessness than their peers. Once they are experiencing homelessness, they often face additional hardships because of stigma and discrimination. Studies show that across the country, 40% of youth facing homelessness identify as LGBTQ+, compared to just 7% of all youth. Join us to gain a better understanding as to how we can address the barriers and challenges this population often faces when searching for safe, reliable housing and learn more about local efforts and resources here in our community.

Learning Objectives

• Gain insight into housing disparities for LGBTQ+ community

• Learn best practice guidelines and identify gaps in local service delivery

• Learn local programming efforts

We invite you to join us for this Youth Mental Health Task Force initiative where we will spend the day exploring the current state of mental health in our youth and how we can help promote and encourage positive wellbeing in our community! This event is sponsored by Parkview Health, Great KIDS, RemedyLIVE, Bowen Center and Purdue Fort Wayne.

Up to four (4) CEUs available to participants.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Location: Main Library, 900 Library Plaza, Fort Wayne IN 46802
Registration: FREE
Two (2) CEUs offered to participants. 

Substance Use, Trauma and Homelessness: Tools for Prevention & Support with Toni Lovell (MSW, LCSW, Lutheran Social Services) and Nate Moellering (Vice President, Fort Wayne Recovery) 

Substance misuse and abuse wreak havoc on individuals, families, and communities, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake. At the individual level, substance abuse often leads to physical and mental health issues, strained relationships, and diminished quality of life. Families bear the burden of watching their loved ones struggle, facing emotional turmoil, financial strain, and fractured relational dynamics. Communities suffer from increased crime rates, healthcare costs, and loss of productivity. Moreover, trauma, whether from childhood experiences or adult life events, frequently underlies substance abuse disorders, serving as a coping mechanism for pain and distress. This cycle can spiral further, with substance abuse contributing to homelessness, exacerbating vulnerability, and perpetuating the cycle of trauma and addiction. Addressing substance misuse and its consequences must involve comprehensive strategies that encompass prevention, treatment, and support, recognizing the interconnectedness of individual struggles with broader societal issues.

Please join us for this professional development training (followed by a Question and Answer session) about the MBF Child Safety Matters®! This is a great opportunity to become educated and empowered about some very real, very concerning issues faced by all children today, including bullying, cyberbullying, all types of child abuse, digital abuse, and other digital dangers. During the presentation, you will learn how being proactive and using a primary prevention program is beneficial not only to students, but to their families, our school, and the community as well.

Morning Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the need for child abuse prevention education.

• Discuss the impact of ACES on youth.

• Understand the research and evidence behind the MBF Child Safety Curriculum

• Review the basics of the MBF Child Safety Curriculum

• For each of the following: child abuse, bullying & cyberbullying, digital safety & citizenship, develop an understanding of what children are taught and how you can support victimized youth

• Review the reporting process for each type of victimization

Afternoon Learning Objectives:

• Define human trafficking

• Outline key components of the Actions, Means & Purpose (AMP) model

• Identify youth populations most vulnerable to human trafficking

• List common red flags and risk factors for human trafficking

• Know what to do after identifying a suspected victim of trafficking or sexual exploitation

There (3) CEUs will be offered to participants who attend this session and complete the training evaluation.

This is a Virtual Event.
Cost: $5

In this round-table discussion, we will examine stressors and triggers and unravel the complicated layers of adolescent anxiety, shedding light on its biological and environmental roots. Practical steps will be outlined for youth & teens to nurture their emotional well-being, alongside guidance for caregivers and educators to foster supportive atmospheres. By fostering open communication and facilitating access to resources, we aim to cultivate a community that prioritizes mental health awareness, empowering youth & teens to flourish in the face of adversity.

Learning Objectives:

• Understanding the Factors Contributing to Youth Anxiety

• Developing Coping Strategies and Resilience in Youth

• Enhancing Support Systems and Communication Channels

Learn about the five social-emotional factors that can lead to unwanted behaviors in school-age children. This session will discuss the five social-emotional factors of attention, protection, control and justice and how they impact school-age children. Learners will reflect upon their responses to challenging behaviors and discover strategies that can be applied.

Learning Objectives:

1.Identify the social‐emotional factors that may impact unwanted behaviors.
2. Apply a problem‐solving approach to address unwanted behaviors.
3. Use techniques to reduce feeling frustrated and overwhelmed by unwanted behaviors.

Cost: $40

Allen County Public Library
900 Library Plaza
Fort Wayne, IN 46802

With so much happening in the world around them, our school-age children may have had more mental & emotional stress than ever before. This workshop will give out-of-school time providers the opportunity to collaborate on the topic of resiliency in school-age children and learn strategies that are currently being used to promote facing life's challenges with confidence.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify the steps to help children reframe the perception of failure.
2. Apply strategies to help school-age children develop resilience.
3. Apply strategies to help school-age children develop a growth mindset

Two (2) CEUs will be offered to participants