The Elder Education Institute (EEI) at Sound Generations offers educational curricula that addresses the ever evolving concerns and needs of older adults. Formerly known as the Geriatric Mental Health Program, EEI is in the process of expansion and growth to better serve the needs of both professionals, the community and our elders. While our programs have historically been geared toward licensed clinicians and service professionals who work with older adults, we are in process to provide ever increasing course offerings and events to include people who are or have older adults in their lives and seek a deeper understanding of their unique concerns.

EEI will continue to provide outstanding CEU granting workshops for licensed professionals and other professional service providers. Sound Generations recognizes that maintaining good mental health is a vital part of the aging process and practitioners and service providers need to keep abreast of trends and treatment in this field. We want to ensure service providers have access to this valuable information for years to come so that strong mental health is prioritized among our aging population.

Our professional level workshops are 3-6 hours in duration and are generally held monthly via Zoom. We offer licensed mental health professionals Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in the geriatric mental health field, approved by the WMHCA. We also welcome anyone who works with older adults professionally to join us to learn from experts in the field of Geriatric Mental Health.

As the Institute continues to evolve, we will be offering courses that are community oriented and welcome suggestions, collaborations and outreach opportunities that will help us achieve our goal to provide a great depth and breadth of topics of guidance. We are excited at this new threshold and look forward to creating an educational forum where professionals and the public find the training and information needed to address the special needs of our elders so they may age with caring support and dignity.

The Elder Education Institute is designed and managed by Education Specialist, Alison Laird Craig. Jams Stuivenga, MSW, LSWAIC acts as an advisory colleague on the professional mental health portion of the program.  Alison can be reached at alisonc@soundgenerations.org if you have questions, suggestions, or would like to teach a workshop.

Previous workshops have focused on Dementia/Delirium- Diagnosis and Treatment, Long Term Care Planning, Enhancing Dementia Personhood Through the Arts, Elder Law and Pharmacology, Caregivers of Older Adults- Conflict and Cooperation, Elder Abuse and Neglect, Suicide Prevention, Loneliness And Social Isolation in Older Adults and more.

Upcoming Workshops

Older Adult Veterans: Who Are They and How Can We Help Them?
With Kris Frederickson, MSW, LICSW – 4 CEUs
Wednesday, October 25, 9am-1:30pm PDT

As WWII Veterans are now living their last years, Vietnam Veterans are aging into senior care and Veterans of more recent conflicts are learning to live with their military related health and mental health challenges, it is important for all those in the helping roles to understand the context of Veterans’ needs, the systems involved in their care and how to help them access all the care, benefits and resources they need. This workshop will provide training in how to best address older veterans’ specific needs and provide resources to help you best assist them.
 In this workshop you will learn:

• Explore the resources and services available to Veterans or all conflicts.
• Investigate why suicide rates are high in the Veteran population and what help is available.
• Explore how generational context can inform practice with Veterans.
• Understand Service Connected disability Compensation and Non-Service Connected Pension eligibility.
• Understand the difference between the Veterans Health Administration,  Veterans Benefits Administrations and Veterans Cemetery Administration.
• Understand the evidence-based treatments offered for PTSD at the VA and is the community.

Kris Fredrickson, MSW, LICSW   is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker in practice at the Puget Sound VA Medical Center in the Geriatric Research, Education & Clinical Center and Geriatric Primary Care Services. She holds an MSW and a Certificate in Geriatric Mental Health from University of WA. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor at the UW School of Social Work.  She has worked for 20 years at the VA providing assessment, education, care coordination and caregiver coaching & support around issues pertaining to Neurocognitive Disorders, geriatric health/mental health conditions and social determinants of health. Clinical work history includes inpatient & outpatient psychiatry services, community mental health with those living with chronic mental disorders, homelessness and substance use, diagnosis & assessment and King County jail liaison.  She is an active educator supervising social work interns from several universities, providing classes and guest lectures on geriatric topics including Elder Abuse & Neglect, Dementia, Delirium & Depression, PTSD & Aging, and understanding  Advanced Care Planning and how to conduct difficult discussions.  
 
4 Continuing Education credits for social workers, mental health clinicians and marriage and family counselors.  Case managers and other service providers are also welcome to attend.

9AM – 1:30 PM PDT  Wednesday, October 25, 2023. The workshop begins promptly at 9am, includes breaks and a  lunch break. This class will be taught over Zoom.  Workshop information and Zoom link will be sent out 1 week beforehand. Please make sure to save the link.

COST : $125 Registration for this workshop will close on Monday, October 23, 2023. Register early!

PLEASE NOTE : For those of you with special payment arrangements or organizational group discounts, please contact Alison at alisonc@soundgenerations.org to register.

Law & Ethics of Mandatory Reporting and Client Lethality When Working with Older Adults

with Eric Strom, JD, PHD, LMHC – 3 CEUs

Wednesday, November 15, 9am-12pm PDT

For many clinicians, patient lethality and mandatory reporting are some of the most difficult topics to navigate.  This can be especially true when working with older client populations.  In this workshop we will examine the applicable Washington State and Federal laws regarding confidentiality, mandatory reporting obligations with a specific focus on how these rules apply to behavioral health settings when working with older adult client populations.  We will also discuss the boundaries and standards of clinician liability for client harm to self or others as defined in Washington State case law. 

Participants will gain increased ability to implement strategies to minimize risk and to limit liability to best support their clients and patients. This course is intended to meet ethics CE requirements. 

In this workshop you will learn:

• To identify and apply legal guidelines regarding vulnerable adult mandatory reporting obligations
• To identify and apply legal standards regarding clinician duty to avoid harm 
• Learn to understand and describe the three factor model of suicidality
• How to create and evaluate strategies to meet legal, ethical, and clinical standards to maximizing client/patient support

Eric Ström, JD, PHD, LMHC is an attorney and Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Seattle, Washington. As an attorney, Eric provides legal counsel, consultation, and guidance to mental health professionals. Eric’s clinical practice is focused on providing counseling services to combat veterans and those in other high-stress professions.  Eric currently serves on the American Mental Health Counselors Association Ethics Committee, and is the ethics advisor for the Washington Mental Health Counselors Association.  Eric has taught a range of courses in counseling and professional ethics at a variety of graduate and undergraduate programs.

Eric earned a PhD in Counseling at Oregon State University, graduated cum laude from Wayne State University School of Law in Detroit Michigan, earned a Master of Arts Degree in Counseling Psychology from the Northwest School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University Seattle, attended the Hague Academy of International Law in the Hague Netherlands, and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Linguistics from the University of Michigan. 

Winter 2024 Workshops

• January 17th, 2023 – Working with Grief and Loss in Older Adults with Kristen Baber – 6 CEUs