OUR 2023 Keynote Speaker
Dr. Jessica Weiss-Ford, LCSW, CCTP
SunPoint Counseling / Millersville University
Dr. Jessica Weiss-Ford, LCSW, CCTP
SunPoint Counseling / Millersville University
Dr. Jessica Weiss-Ford, LCSW, CCTP has been in the field for approximately 25 years. She is a licensed outpatient therapist at SunPoint Counseling and adjunct professor at Millersville University in their School of Social Work program. Dr. Weiss-Ford previously was a school based outpatient therapist for 12 years with T.W. Ponessa. She is also co-chair of the Positive Change Conference with Compass Mark. Dr. Weiss-Ford also worked with Lancaster Children and Youth for 7 ½ years investigating neglect and abuse cases and systemic issues related to such dynamics with children and families. Some of the systemic issues were food insecurity and other socioeconomic difficulties, drug and alcohol issues, and mental health issues. Importance of fostering resiliency and meaningful connections for children and families was apparent in combating difficult dynamics they were facing. Her therapy space welcomes people of all genders, sexualities, cultures, religions, and diverse relationships arrangements utilizing strengths based, non-judgmental therapist who walks with her clients to meet their goals. Dr. Weiss-Ford formulates clinical interventions that are relevant to each of her client’s needs in all their life domains. The first words that Dr. Weiss-Ford’s clients use to describe her are: genuine, caring, hopeful, thoughtful, and realistic with a thoughtful treatment planning approach.
Dr. Weiss-Ford is most proud and grateful of being able to walk alongside the journeys of both clients and her interns in their respective lives. With over two decades of clinical experience, Dr. Weiss-Ford formerly was the Coordinator of the Graduate Internship Program at a local counseling center, along with currently serving as an experienced Field Instructor and Social Work Graduate Adjunct Professor at Millersville University. She has presented trainings on working with our LGBTQ+ populations and trauma-informed approach with real world expectations in clinical agencies and within Millersville University. Her clinical roles are diverse including: licensure supervision, school based counseling, outpatient mental health, and providing case consultation on LGBTQ+ and sexual therapy cases. Dr. Weiss-Ford earned her PhD in Human Sexuality from Widener University, where her dissertation addressed the sexuality needs for individuals with ID/DD through an exploratory qualitative study interviewing the individuals directly regarding perception of needs.
Dr. Weiss-Ford has extensive advanced trauma counseling training, including EMDR Trauma Therapy, and Mindfulness Certification Training which aid her in helping heal her clients from difficult events in their pasts. Further, she has maintained her Certified Clinical Trauma Professional certification. Dr. Weiss-Ford also has ensured to have advanced trainings emphasizing better enhance cultural competency and diversity needs, including the intersectionality of our identities and our lived experiences that form our identities. She keeps these aspects in mind while working with clients in her therapy room. A book that impacts her clinical practice is “How to be Antiracist” by Ibram X Kendri. His discussion on how we need to deconstruct oppressive dynamics within our lives, including the language and every day interactions with one another inspired Dr. Weiss-Ford to continue to do better in examining implicit biases and the evaluative work herself and clinicians need to engage in to improve understanding of lived experiences for all. Dr. Weiss-Ford embraces a narrative therapist approach with a feminine twist, which aligns with Ibram’s book’s philosophy. In relation to creating our own narratives, to quote Brene Brown, “When we deny the story, it defines us. When we own the story, we can write a brave new ending.”
While either providing advocacy, support or treatment via therapeutic interventions, organizations, or policies, it is important to value the multidimensional aspects of an individual’s identity (intersectionality). This presentation will examine ways to acknowledge and celebrate individual’s intersectionality including visible and non-visible identities. It allows open and honest communication and interactions on behalf for ourselves and others. Biases based on focusing on only certain aspects of individuals and groups must be closely examined to ensure genuine and helpful connections with holistic, supportive actions following. This presentation will discuss the social constructs and expectations that are internalized to create narratives that are productive for growth in diversity, equity and inclusion for everyone and all their parts.
THE 2023 Event Speakers
Dr. Mitch Crawford
WellSpan Health
Dr. Mitch Crawford
WellSpan Health
Dr. Mitchell Crawford serves as the Director of Addiction Services for WellSpan Health as well as the Medical Director for the Specialized Treatment and Recovery Team at WellSpan. He completed his psychiatry residency training at Harvard and focused his training on the treatment of addictions. He is board certified in both psychiatry and addiction medicine, and teaches both at numerous medical schools and residency programs. Dr. Crawford is also an assistant professor of psychiatry at the Drexel University College of Medicine. He has published journal articles, a book chapter, held leadership positions, given numerous grand rounds and presented at various levels of meetings, including at the national level, on topics in the field of addictions.
Cathy Bollinger
York County Community Foundation
Cathy Bollinger
York County Community Foundation
With 35 years’ experience as a strategic thinker and innovative problem-solver in both for profit and non-profit settings, Cathy works with community stakeholders to improve how people perceive and experience aging in York county.
Driven by her desire to eliminate ageism and provide everyone with the resources they need to have the best life possible as they grow older, she develops strategies to help older adults live more easily in their homes and communities. Cathy also leads grantmaking from CCF’s Hahn Home Fund for programs that serve people age 50 and older and oversees York County’s AgeFriendly Action and Evaluation Plan within AARP’s Network of Age-Friendly States and
Communities.
Cathy has presented at national aging conferences and webinars, appeared on regional radio and television shows, and contributed articles to regional publications. At the invitation of Chairman Susan Collins and Ranking Member Robert Casey, she was one of four witnesses selected to present testimony at the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging in May 2017.
Cathy serves on the Pennsylvania AARP Executive Council and is a member of Grantmakers in Aging and the American Society on Aging.
Melvin Frye, MSW
Hempfield School District
Melvin Frye, MSW
Hempfield School District
Melvin A. Frye Jr. is a school Social Worker/Home and School Visitor with Hempfield School District in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He served as an adjunct instructor at Harrisburg Area Community College – York and Lancaster Campuses for 15 years. For five years, Mr. Frye has provided group treatment to adult and juvenile sexual offenders and to men convicted of domestic violence-related offenses. His teaching and research interests are in the areas of sociology, education, deviance, criminal justice, and human sexuality. Mr. Frye received his BA from Franklin and Marshall College, his MSW from Temple University, M. Ed. from Widener University, Home and School Visitor certification from Temple University, and Principal Certification from Shippensburg University. He is currently a doctoral student at Widener University in Human Sexuality Education with a focus on Black masculinity. In addition, Mr. Frye is a Licensed Social Worker in the state of Pennsylvania. Prior to working for the Hempfield School District, Mr. Frye worked for Lincoln Intermediate Unit #12; he was employed by both Juvenile and Adult Probation in York and Lancaster Counties for eight years.
MK Strohman, MSW, LSW, HSV
1
MK C. Strohman, MSW, LSW, SSW, HSV, is a Licensed Social Worker and Certified School Social Worker and Home and School Visitor at an educational agency in Pennsylvania. They completed their master’s degree in Social Work at Millersville University, and received their Home and School Visitor Certification from Widener University. Their professional experience has been primarily focused on urban school social work with students who have complex behavioral, familial, and academic needs. They have previously worked within the School Districts of Philadelphia and Lancaster. For the last 6 years they have worked at Lancaster Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13 with transitional age students with special needs working to secure employment upon graduation.
Additionally, MK works as an independent consultant around diversity, equity, and inclusion, specifically
as it relates to LGBTQIA+ youth. MK provides trainings and consultation to a variety of professionals
across multiple fields to promote the mental and physical wellness of LGBTQIA+ youth. As a relentless
social justice advocate and openly transgender professional, MK is visibly and vocally involved in
advocacy work prioritizing the needs of all marginalized communities, centering their collective
liberation. MK’s direct work with students and families, their continuous activism, along with their
professional and personal experiences, has made them a known resource in the surrounding
community. By making sure professionals and community members are equipped with the information and education necessary to uplift, support, and affirm— MK hopes all LGBTQIA+ youth will see and feel it is possible to grow up and live a happy, healthy, successful life as a queer adult.
Dr. Cherise Hamblin
Founder and President, Patients R Waiting
Dr. Cherise Hamblin
Founder and President, Patients R Waiting
Dr. Cherise Hamblin was born and raised in the Bronx, NY. She attended Bronx High School of Science and attended at Franklin & Marshall College. During her F&M years she was active on campus, serving as Black Student Union Vice President, Admission office intern for Minority Recruitment, playing rugby and studying abroad in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Dr. Hamblin graduated from F&M in 2003 with a double major in Biology & Spanish. She went on to medical school Northwestern University and completed her training in Obstetrics & Gynecology in Phoenix, AZ. Dr. Hamblin is passionate about working with the next generation of physicians and since her return to Lancaster she has worked with advisors, students and community organizers on various mentoring and exposure programs.
She is the founder and president of Patients R Waiting, a non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating health disparities by increasing diversity in medicine. She is a full time, board certified OBGYN. She enjoys doing surgery, delivering babies and caring for women of all ages. When she is not working, she enjoys family life with her husband, daughter and son.
Anna M. Deraco, PA-C
Physician's Assitant, Family First Health
Anna M. Deraco, PA-C
Physician's Assitant, Family First Health
Anna Deraco received her Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland, and her Master of Arts in Theology & Ethics from Duke University. She received her Bachelor of Science in the Physician Assistant Program from Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona.
Anna was born and raised in Lebanon and is honored to serve her community.
Session: Cultural and Linguistic Competence in Healthcare