The month of May marks Mental Health Awareness Month.  To commemorate this special month, United Way of Broward County’s Commission on Behavioral Health & Drug Prevention, in collaboration with the Broward Behavioral Health Coalition, Florida Department of Children and Families, and Signature Grand will present the 8th Annual Behavioral Health Conference: The Power of Prevention on Tuesday, May 9 and Wednesday, May 10, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Signature Grand.

The organizations are pleased to announce their keynote speakers and the featured presentations that will take place over the course of the two-day conference.

Keynote speakers include:

• Dr. Stephanie S. Covington (May 9^th Morning Keynote), an internationally recognized clinician, organizational consultant, lecturer, author, and a pioneer in the field of addiction and trauma. Dr. Covington will speak on the trauma and addiction connection. There will also be a special workshop to follow on the topic of Gender Matters which highlights the specific needs of gender-based trauma interventions.
• Yolo Akili Robinson (May 9^th Lunch Keynote), a non-binary award-winning writer, healing justice worker, yogi, and the founder and Executive Director of BEAM (Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective) will conduct an important presentation on how nonprofits can transform their services to be healing centered and reimagine mental health.
• M. Abeo (May 10^th Morning Keynote), a mental health advocate, podcast host, producer and Photographer, and the creator of the Faces of Fortitude movement, will hold a critical session discussing how to unearth our trauma and the importance of suicide prevention and postvention.

Featured presenters include:

• Robin Hart (May 9^th) will present Purposeful Conversations About Substance Use
• Dr. Tisa McGhee (May 9^th) will present Health Equity Train the Trainer Program: Launch Day
• Dr. Que English (May 9^th) will offer a Teen Toolkit during the presentation of Life or Death – The Crisis Teens Are Facing: National Launch of the Teen Toolkit
• Moderator: Sue Gallagher along with Panelists: Dawn Bishop, Hiba Azeem Anjum, Alison Kasowitz, and Renzo Torrenga (May 10^th) will hold a Community Participatory Action Research panel discussion.

Behavioral health professionals are encouraged to attend to hear from renowned psychologists, professors, trauma and grief specialists, leading diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) experts, and prevention specialists who will provide crucial continuing education. Registration is $95 (until March 31, 2023) per person. Starting April 1, registration is $120 per person. Registration includes breakfast, lunch, valuable networking, and free parking. To register for this event, please visit UnitedWayBroward.org/BHC2023.