Texas Alliance of Information and Referral Systems
Annual Training and Education Conference
October 14-16, 2014
Pearl South Padre
310 Padre Blvd.
South Padre Island, TX 78597
Phone: (956) 761-6551
2014 Conference Program
Welcome!
On behalf of the Texas Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (TAIRS) Board of Directors,
welcome to the 2014 TAIRS Annual Training Conference.
We hope you enjoy the variety of professional workshops offered
to increase your personal and professional knowledge.
Special Thanks to our Conference Partner
Registration Information Desk
The registration and information desk will be staffed as follows:
Monday, October 13 — 2:00 to 5:00 PM
Tuesday, October 14 — 7:30 to 11:30 AM and 1:00 to 5:00 PM
Wednesday, October 15 — 7:30 to 12:00 PM and 1:30 to 5:00 PM
Thursday, October 16 — 8:00 to 11:00 AM
Conference Attire:
Business casual and casual dress will be appropriate throughout the conference.
Bring a sweater or jacket to accommodate meeting room temperature.
Nametags:
Nametags indicate paid registrants and should be worn at all times.
Your nametag is your admission to meals, workshops and special events.
Nametags will be provided upon check-in at the registration table.
Thank you to our lanyard sponsor TDPS, Texas Dept. of Emergency Management.
Conference Schedule at a Glance
Monday, October 13, 2014
12:00 – 6:00 PM..................................................................................................... Exhibitor Set-up
2:00 – 5:00 PM............................................................................................................... Registration
6:00 – 8:00 PM............................................... TAIRS Board Meeting – Executive Boardroom
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
8:00 – 9:00 AM.....................................................................WELCOME, KEYNOTE SPEAKER
9:15 – 10:30 AM............................................................................ General Workshop Sessions I
10:45 AM – 12:00 PM................................................................. General Workshop Sessions II
12:05 - 1:00 PM........... TAIRS ANNUAL MEETING & SERVICE AWARDS LUNCHEON
1:15 – 2:45 PM..............................................................................General Workshop Session III
2:50 – 3:10 PM................................................................... Service Break and Vendor Visitation
3:15 – 4:45 PM............................................................................General Workshop Sessions IV
5:30 – 7:00 PM.........................................................................TAIRS WELCOME RECEPTION
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
7:45 – 8:45 AM ................................................................... BREAKFAST, KEYNOTE SPEAKER
9:00 – 10:30 AM........................................................................... General Workshop Sessions V
10:45 AM – 12:00 PM................................................................ General Workshop Sessions VI
12:00 – 1:30 PM ..............................................................................................Lunch on your own
1:45 – 3:15 PM........................................................................... General Workshop Sessions VII
2:00 – 4:00 PM...............................................................................................................AIRS Testing
5:30 – 7:30 PM............................................ DINNER, LUAU BUFFET & ENTERTAINMENT
Thursday, October 16, 2014
7:30 – 8:30 AM............................................................................................. Continental Breakfast
9:00 – 10:30 AM........................................................................General Workshop Sessions VIII
9:00 – 11:00 AM.............................................................................................................AIRS Testing
CONFERENCE
ROOMS
FLOOR PLAN
Thank You to Our Meal Sponsor
Thank You to Our Conference Bag Sponsor
Please take a moment to visit our vendors.
Conference Schedule & Sessions
Monday, October 13, 2014
12:00 – 6:00 PM..................................................................................................................... Exhibitor Set-up, Pre-Function Area
2:00 – 5:00 PM............................................................................................................................... Registration, Pre-Function Area
6:00 – 8:00 PM..................................................................................................................... TAIRS Board Meeting – Boardroom
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
8:00 – 9:00 AM.......................................................................................................................................... WELCOME BREAKFAST
Official Welcome, Cesar Cantor, South Padre Island CVB Advisory Board Chairman
Keynote Speaker: Peter Harrell, Jr, BA, Vistelar and HarrellCommunications LLC
Verbal Defense & Influence “Effective Communication in the Midst of Stress”
Verbal Defense & Influence is a methodology for controlling, resolving and even preventing conflict from occurring in any
professional or personal environment. Structured around the Five Maxims of Human Interaction, the approach taken by Verbal
Defense & Influence is to recognize and address the underlying factors that lead to conflict instead of simply attempting to
deal with the situation after it has already become a problem.
9:15 – 10:15 AM................................................................................................................................. General Workshop Sessions I
Digging for Answers About the Value & Benefits of TAIRS/AIRS Membership — David Jobe, LMSW, CIRS
United Way of Greater Houston This workshop will provide an overview of TAIRS/AIRS activities and highlights the
many useful tools and services available to members including demonstration of the online AIRS Networker. Do you… like
to make a difference? ...enjoy sharing your ideas? This will be a chance to find out how to get involved with the TAIRS/AIRS
committees. — SAND DUNES A
“Connecting with Colonia Residents: The Underserved and Hard to Reach Populations Along the TexasMexico Border Through Partnerships & Collaborations” — Norma Cavazos, JD, BA, Texas Health &
Human Services, Office of Border Affairs This is an overview of the Texas HHSC Office of Border Affairs, and its
success in connecting with colonia residents, the underserved and hard to reach populations. — SAND DUNES B
Managing in Tough Times — Ricardo Steele, BA, CIRS; Thanh Nguyen, BS, United Way of Greater Houston
Our team can let us down – they fail to achieve their goals, miss deadlines,“bend” the rules, or initiate conflicts.Addressing these
issues are some of the most difficult conversations to have in the workplace.This workshop will show how supervisors respond
to these challenges in a way that improves results, develops employees and enhances performance. — SAND DUNES C
Is Your Community Healthy? Linking Health & Community With Your Local I&R — Ray Thompson-MBA,
VisionLink Powered by VisionLink, HealthLink 211 connects hospitals with their local community I&R services to link
patients with basic community services that in conjunction with appropriate medical care are essential to better health
outcomes. — SAND DUNES D
10:45 AM – 12:00 PM......................................................................................................................General Workshop Sessions II
Dealing with Difficult Callers — Missee Mora, AA, AS, CIRS, United Way of Brazos Valley This workshop will
help participants with those unavoidable “difficult callers.” We all get them, now here’s how to handle them. — SAND DUNES A
APS 101 — Gustavo Salinas, BA, Texas Department of Family & Protective Services, Adult Protective
Services Participants will learn how to define abuse, neglect and financial exploitation by examining various cases and
demonstrate various types of emotional, verbal, physical abuse or financial exploitation. Learn what red flags to look out for
and what to do when there is suspected abuse of adult persons with disabilities and elders. — SAND DUNES B
Managing Your Online Presence — Adam Teer BS, CIRS, CIRS-A, CRS-Hopkins County Community Action
Network This course, for beginners and intermediates, will help the learner evaluate and improve their agency’s current
online presence. Learn the difference between online content that you can control versus content you cannot control.
Explore tools for building a professional website. — SAND DUNES C
Texas Veterans Commission: The State Appointed Advocate for Veterans — Aaron Smith, BA, Texas Veterans
Commission An overview of the Texas Veterans Commission and the programs available to Texas Veterans. Interactive and
informative, learn about Federal, State, and local Veteran benefits. — SAND DUNES D
12:00 - 1:05 PM............................ TAIRS ANNUAL MEETING & SERVICE AWARDS LUNCHEON — BLUE MARLIN
PRESENTATION OF I&R SERVICE AWARDS INCLUDING
CLAIRE ROTHMEYER DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
Tuesday, October 14, 2014 (Cont’d)
1:15 – 2:45 PM.................................................................................................................................. General Workshop Session III
Verbal Defense & Influence “Effective Communication in the Midst of Stress” — Peter Harrell, Jr., BA,
Vistelar and HarrellCommunications LLC Verbal Defense & Influence is a methodology for controlling, resolving and
preventing conflict from occurring in any professional or personal environment. Structured around the Five Maxims of Human
Interaction, participants will learn to recognize and address the underlying factors that lead to conflict. — SAND DUNES A
The ABCs of I&R Part I — Kay Parker, LCDC, United Way of Brazos Valley The ABCs of I&R will assist participants in understanding the Basic Principles of I&R, the AIRS Standards and their Purpose, and Steps in Facilitating a Call.
Participant interaction, sharing, and discussion will be encouraged. — SAND DUNES B
HHSC Community Partner Program: Creating New Access Points to “Your Texas Benefits” — Elaine
Hernandez, MEd, MPH, Baylor University Texas Hunger Initiative This workshop will provide an overview
of the Community Partner Recruitment Initiative, providing information on becoming an HHSC Community Partner and a
Certified YTB Navigator. — SAND DUNES C
Community Resources, Unmet Needs, and a Plan for Moving Forward — Erin Shilcutt, BA, CRS, CIRS,
United Way of Abilene 2-1-1 Texas A Call for Help Course will analyze the resources listed in your database to
find gaps and develop reports that can be used for system advocacy. Your agency has a resource database and cannot always
provide referrals (a.k.a. unmet needs). Learn ways to enhance the first to minimize the second. — SAND DUNES D
2:50 – 3:10 PM........................................................... SERVICE BREAK & VENDOR VISITATION, PRE-FUNCTION AREA
3:15 – 4:45 PM................................................................................................................................ General Workshop Sessions IV
Verbal Defense & Influence “Effective Communication in the Midst of Stress” Part II — Peter Harrell, Jr.,
BA, Vistelar & HarrellCommunications LLC Continuation of Verbal Defense & Influence training. — SAND DUNES A
The ABCs of I&R Part II — Kay Parker, LCDC, United Way of Brazos Valley Continuation of ABCs of I&R
training. — SAND DUNES B
Dealing with Vicarious Trauma in the Helping Profession — Marisa Ugalde LMSW, CCTP, Hope Family
Health Center This workshop will introduce the key role we play in addressing our vulnerability to vicarious trauma.
Through interactive activities, participants will learn how to identify strategies for reducing the risk of vicarious trauma and
promote self-care. —
SAND DUNES C
Public Health and Medical Disaster Response — Jeff Hoogheem, BS, Texas Department of State Health
Services Learn about the disaster response activities of the Texas Dept. of State Health Services (DSHS) including evacuation,
sheltering, and re-population of people with medical needs. Attendees will also learn about Federal Assets and DSHS deployable
teams, supply caches, equipment, and contingency contracts related to disaster response. — SAND DUNES D
5:30 – 7:00 PM..................................................................................................WELCOME RECEPTION, OUTDOOR PATIO
Mix and mingle beachside as you enjoy a complimentary one-hour Margarita Reception with tasty appetizers.
Guest tickets can be purchased at registration desk.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
7:45 – 8:45 AM.................................................................................................................... BREAKFAST & KEYNOTE SPEAKER
“SPEAK YOUR MIND TEXAS” CAMPAIGN — Ross Robinson, MBA, MA, Texas Dept. of State Health Services
The keynote will provide a description of the “Speak Your Mind Texas” campaign, an effort by the Texas Department of State
Health Services (DSHS) to spark community dialogue about mental health and substance abuse, remove the stigma often associated with mental illness, and explore the steps that families, schools and communities can take to improve mental health.
The value of I&R partnerships will be highlighted.
9:00 – 10:30 AM................................................................................................................................General Workshop Sessions V
Leading the Charge: Texas State Advocacy — Perry Jefferies, AA, Retired Army First Sergeant, TexVet
Initiative Are you ready to ask for state support? Learn how to present your case and get what you want from the Texas
Legislature. — SAND DUNES A
Psychological First Aid, Part I — Bruce Wilson, RN, PhD-South Texas Chapter American Red Cross
Participants will learn to define and practice the principles of Psychological First Aid by recognizing disaster-related stress in
self, co-workers or clients. Understand appropriate referrals and how to obtain mental health support. — SAND DUNES B
Marketing Your Resource Database Via Multiple Websites & Mobile Apps — Deb Petty, Bowman Systems
LLC Have you ever thought of offering multiple websites and mobile apps? This session will explore the various reasons you
might want to do that by becoming a “reseller” of your own I&R/A resource data. — SAND DUNES C
Understanding Substance Abuse through Statistics — Daniel Rodriguez, BSW & Violeta Davila, MA,
Behavioral Health Solutions of So. TX Overview of OSAR (Outreach, Screening, Assessment & Referral) and PRC
Region 11 (Prevention Resource Center.) Participants will learn how important statistics can help related to substance abuse.
10:45 am – 12:00 PM......................................................................................................................General Workshop Sessions VI
Tips and Tricks of Community Colloboration — Lynn Jackson, CIRS, United Way of Abilene 2-1-1 Texas
A Call for Help Learn how to cultivate and enhance community relationships by working together to realize shared goals.
By sharing knowledge, resources and creativity we all can achieve more. — SAND DUNES A
Psychological First Aid Part II — Bruce Wilson, RN, PhD-South Texas Chapter American Red Cross
Continuation of Psychological First Aid training. — SAND DUNES B
Quality Assurance and Call Specialist Performance Evaluation — Sandra Ray, BS, MA, CIRS, United Way
of Greater Houston United Way of Greater Houston developed performance expectations, self-assessments and an
evaluation form for I&R specialists that matches compliance with current AIRS standards. AIRS recognized, United Way’s
specialist performance evaluation form, is a best practice for the field. — SAND DUNES C
Huh?...Resources for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing — Sonia Qunitero, SLP & Cristina Munoz, BS,
Communication Axess Ability Group CAAG South Texas Join us to learn about the resources available for Deaf and
Hard of Hearing consumers, how to identify caller’s needs, and learn about statewide services. — SAND DUNES D
12:00 – 1:30 PM.....................................................................................................................................LUNCH ON YOUR OWN
Nobody goes hungry on South Padre Island with offerings ranging from burgers to Mexican, Italian and fresh seafood.
Hop on the free Wave Shuttle and explore SPI.
1:45 – 3:15 PM................................................................................................................................General Workshop Sessions VII
History of Disabilities in Texas — Maria Cordero, Parent/Advocate, Partners Resource Network Advocate
will provide participants with the history of our State’s understanding of and response to disabilities over the years and
overview of the National impact of IDEA to date. — SAND DUNES A
Crisis 101— Sandra Ray, BS, MA, CIRS, United Way of Greater Houston The course is intended as an overview
of basic crisis intervention theory and skills and integration with the AIRS Crisis Intervention Standard. Participants will gain
an understanding of current issues, interventions and procedures. — SAND DUNES B
Identification of the Impaired Professional and the Effects on The Work Place — Frank Valley, MAC,
CCJS, LCDC- Starlite Recovery Center Learn the identification of and the warning signs of a substance abusing impaired
employee, its costs to society, and information on Interventions and various treatment options available. — SAND DUNES C
Affordable Care Act 101 — Dora Correa, Get Covered America & Jose M. Medrano, BA, Enroll America
Presentation will review the basic essential information of the Affordable Healthcare Act explaining how the Marketplace
works. It will include the process, eligibility and resources available to the consumer. — SAND DUNES D
2:00 – 4:00 PM.....................................................................................................AIRS CERTIFICATION TESTING, Blue Marlin
5:30 – 7:30 PM....................................................................................................DINNER & EVENING EVENT, Outdoor Patio
E Hula Mai will take you on a captivating journey through Polynesia.An exciting evening of tropical entertainment begins with South
Texas Luau Dinner Buffet. Authentic dance numbers and costumes bring deeper knowledge and history into the heart of hula.
Thursday, October 16, 2014
9:00 – 11:00 AM..............................................................................................AIRS CERTIFICATION TESTING, White Marlin
9:00 – 10:30 AM............................................................................................................................ General Workshop Sessions VIII
Swimming to the first Sandbar: Building Successful IR&A Partnerships — Patricia Bordie, MPA, Texas
Department of Aging and Disability Service; Ryan Ward, MSW CRS-HHSC /2-1-1 Texas Information &
Referral Network; Beth Noah, LMSW, and Matthew Weaver, PhD, CIRS Area Agency on Aging Tarrant Co.
Strong partnerships between local Aging and Disability Resource Centers and Area Information Centers are essential to
providing a true “No Wrong Door” system of access. Come learn about enhancing streamlined, person-centered information
and referral services with new state level initiatives and successful local “best practice” models for outreach and referral
management. — SAND DUNES A
Region One Early Childhood Intervention Program — Norma Jean Guerrero, LBSW-IPR, EIS, Region One
Education Service Center Overview of ECI services and the benefits to families served including the cost to families
within service region. Learn how ECI program is staffed with a multi-disciplinary team including Case Managers, Speech
Language Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, and Physical Therapists. — SAND DUNES B
Empathy Going Beyond the ABCs of I&R — Sandra Ray, BS, MA, CIRS, United Way of Greater Houston
Empathy is a critical component of building caller rapport, yet it is a concept with different definitions depending on the nature
of a program’s work. Empathy is a skill, not an in-born trait. Specialists will be able to better incorporate empathetic statements
and actions in future interactions with callers. — SAND DUNES C
CIRS, CRS, CIRS-A Exams
AIRS offers the only performance based internationally recognized certification program for professionals in the field of
I&R. Exams for certified information and referral specialists, certified resource specialists, and certified information and
referral specialists – aging will be given on Wednesday, October 15th from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM and/or Thursday, October
16th from 9:00AM to 11:00AM. Only those who have pre-applied and been approved by AIRS are eligible to test. Test
proctors will verify AIRS acceptance on site. Testing is free for those who have fully registered and paid to attend the
conference. Otherwise, there is a $25.00 fee payable to TAIRS due at the registration table prior to exam time.
CEUs (Continuing Education Units)
CEUs for social workers as outlined in the Texas Administrative Code, Title 22, Part XXXIV, Chapter 781, Subchapter
E is granted through the Community Council of Greater Dallas. Participants who paid the processing fee prior to the
conference are to complete their Training Conference CEUs form (in folder) and submit to a volunteer at the registration
table by the end of the conference along with an evaluation form, evaluating the conference as a whole. CCGD will mail
approved CEUs form following the conference. Participants may use the Training Conference CEU Form to record their
AIRS certification hours.
AIRS Training Hours
According to the AIRS website, 10 hours of training within the last two years are required for recertification. I&R specific
training includes any material specific to your job in I&R that enhances your skills and knowledge of I&R. If you need a form
for an AIRS certification, please notify the volunteer at the registration desk. Participants are responsible for record-keeping.
Many Thanks to Our Wonderful Volunteers and Sponsors
North Texas Area United Way
United Way of the Brazos Valley
United Way for Greater Austin
United Way of Greater Houston
Please Visit Our Exhibitors
Starlite
Adult Protective Services
COAST Program – Texas Department of Insurance
HHSC Community Partner Program
HHSC Office of Border Affairs
TDPS – Texas Division of Emergency Management
Texas Dept. of Aging & Disability, Access & Intake
Texas Dept. of Aging & Disability, State Office
Texas Dept. of Family & Protective Services
Texas Dept. of Rehabilitative Services,
Division of Blind Services (DBS)
Texas Department of Housing & Community Affairs
Texas Veterans Commission
Texas Youth & Runaway Hotline
US Small Business Administration