The 2021 Mental Health and Substance Use Recovery Training Conference will be October 27-29, 2021 and will be held virtually via Zoom.

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UWSP) and the conference planning committee are accepting proposals for 90-minute workshops.

Proposals that demonstrate evidence-based practices, promote strength-based approaches, include the voice of lived experience, address diverse populations, enhance skills, support recovery, and energize participants are encouraged. Proposals are due Friday, February 26, 2021.

UWSP Continuing Education staff and the conference planning committee review all proposals. Selection criteria includes:

• Demand for the topic
  
• Presenter(s) experience and qualifications
  
• Demonstration of diverse perspective or application
  
• Alignment with conference objectives as stated above
  
• Achieving balanced recovery-oriented content related to mental health and/or substance use prevention, treatment, and wellness
  
• History of the topic at the conference including frequency of similar offerings
  
• Previous conference evaluation feedback (if applicable)
  

Preference may be given to proposals on topics that have not been presented at recent conferences.  Please consider how your workshop proposal will work when presented virtually.

The Mental Health and Substance Use Recovery Training Conference is committed to equity and inclusion. UWSP and the planning committee recognizes that people come from different contexts and circumstances. This means that on a structural level, some individuals have fewer barriers preventing them from speaking at events like conferences—and some individuals have significantly more. These systemic barriers are often a function of geographical and racial background, class, gender, and ability. The barriers themselves could be financial, physical, geographical, or social. Each presenter is initially offered the same compensation, complimentary conference registration and one night of lodging, however individual requests for additional compensation to alleviate financial barriers are welcome. Indicate your compensation need later in this proposal.

Selected workshop presenters will be notified by email no later than Friday, April 30, 2021. 

A limited number of scholarships for consumers of mental health and substance use recovery services will be available for the 16th Annual Mental Health and Substance Use Recovery Training Conference. Other factors taken into consideration are past conference attendance and/or previously awarded scholarships.

The scholarship application deadline for the 2020 conference has passed.  Applicants were notified of their award status on Monday, September 21.  Scholarship recipients will be emailed instructions with additional registration information.  Applicants that have been denied scholarships still have time to register for the conference at the Early Bird rate.

Scholarship applicants submitting their registration forms in advance will not receive special considerations.

To become a vital contributor to this important conference, contact Susan Barrett at sbarrett@uwsp.edu.

*Virtual exhibit booth content due no later than Wednesday, October 20, 2020. For additional information, please contact uwspce-conf@uwsp.edu.  

The 16th Annual Mental Health and Substance Use Recovery Training Conference reserves the right to deny sponsorship, exhibit booth content, Virtual Goodie Bag content, and/or donations for any company, organization, or individual it deems unsuitable for the conference.