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2026 Conference Agenda

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DAY ONE

Thursday, Oct. 8 - Morning Sessions:

Speaker

Maria Case is a visionary entrepreneur, mental health advocate, and community leader dedicated to creating meaningful support for people facing life’s challenges. A longtime NAMI supporter, Maria and her family have benefited from NAMI’s programs and services and have contributed their time and talents to its mission.

After experiencing an ectopic pregnancy in 2019 followed by severe depression, Maria experienced firsthand the importance of compassionate support during difficult times. Inspired by her parents’ lifelong commitment to helping others—including supporting her mother through schizophrenia—Maria founded Kompashion to help people feel less alone during their darkest moments. She believes people often care deeply but simply need guidance on how to be there for one another.

Dan Gillison is chief executive officer of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization, serving more than 650 communities across the country. A nationally recognized mental health advocate and nonprofit leader, Dan brings more than 30 years of leadership experience across the nonprofit, public, and private sectors, along with a deep passion for mental health advocacy fueled by lived experience with mental illness and its impact on families. Since joining NAMI in 2020, Dan has led the organization through a period of significant growth and expanded impact. Under his leadership, NAMI has received two transformative unrestricted gifts from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, helping accelerate the organization’s mission and long-term impact. NAMI also published two You Are Not Alone books—one focused on helping individuals navigate their own mental health journey and another designed to support parents and caregivers navigating their child’s mental health. Dan is a sought-after speaker and thought leader on mental health, workplace wellbeing, health equity, and the future of mental health care. He serves on the National Institute of Mental Health’s National Advisory Mental Health Council, the lululemon Global Wellbeing Advisory Board, and the National Health Council Board of Directors. Prior to joining NAMI, Dan served as executive director of the American Psychiatric Association Foundation and held leadership positions with the National Association of Counties, Xerox, Nextel, and Sprint.

After experiencing an ectopic pregnancy in 2019 followed by severe depression, Maria experienced firsthand the importance of compassionate support during difficult times. Inspired by her parents’ lifelong commitment to helping others—including supporting her mother through schizophrenia—Maria founded Kompashion to help people feel less alone during their darkest moments. She believes people often care deeply but simply need guidance on how to be there for one another.

Session Description (9:00-10:20 a.m.)

Land Acknowledgement and Cultural Performance – RedBoys Productions (Dance Performers: Ba’ac Garcia, Nanabah Kadenehii). RedBoys Productions is a Native American Family Dance Group based out of Orange County, California. The Dance Group is led by Ba’ac Garcia, a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation.

Welcome – Maria Case, Founder & CEO, Kompashion, Mistress of Ceremonies
Remarks – Steve Pitman, President, NAMI Orange County
Annual State of the Community Report Video
CEO Remarks – Jessica Wilson, MPA/HS, CEO, NAMI California
Keynote – Dan H. Gillison, Jr., CEO, NAMI
Interactive Activities – NAMI CA Youth Leadership Council Members

Speaker

Dr. Elizabeth English is a behavioral health professional with extensive experience supporting adolescents, adults, and families navigating trauma, mental health challenges, and other life stressors. Her diverse clinical background includes work in schools, psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment, and PHP/IOP settings, as well as experience directing behavioral health programs. She is trained in crisis intervention, CBT, DBT, suicide prevention, and TF-CBT, among other areas. Drawing on her clinical experience, Dr. English is passionate about helping individuals recognize the impact of compassion fatigue, develop healthy coping strategies, and create sustainable practices that support their well-being while caring for others.

Session Description (10:30-11:30 a.m.)

This session will examine the relationship between burnout, compassion fatigue, and compassion satisfaction, highlighting common symptoms, contributing workplace factors, and their impact on mental health practitioners. Attendees will be introduced to evidence-informed strategies for recognizing early warning signs and implementing practical approaches to support resilience, professional sustainability, and overall wellness. By increasing awareness and providing actionable tools, this presentation aims to help mental health professionals maintain both personal well-being and effectiveness in their clinical roles.

Speaker

Apurva Bhatt, M.D., is a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist and Clinical Assistant Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine. She specializes in early psychosis evaluation and treatment and serves as Director of the Child INSPIRE clinic, providing care through Stanford’s early psychosis and Coordinated Specialty Care programs. Dr. Bhatt also contributes to early psychosis program development statewide and nationally and holds leadership roles with the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. In addition, she serves as a school psychiatrist and provides clinical consultation and supervision to school mental health programs. Her research interests include Asian American and South Asian youth mental health and youth suicide prevention. Dr. Bhatt is passionate about teaching and mentoring students and trainees.

Nuriya (Nuri) Hefron, MS, OTR/L (she/her), is a licensed occupational therapist with expertise in early psychosis care and program development. As Program Manager for INSPIRE 360, she focuses on integrating psychosocial interventions and lived experience into research and service delivery while promoting holistic, recovery-oriented approaches. Nuri is passionate about improving access to affirming, culturally responsive mental health services, particularly for historically underserved communities. She values interdisciplinary collaboration and meaningful community engagement and believes mental health care should meet people where they are, honoring their stories, values, and goals for recovery.

Mary Pacheco (she/her) supports INSPIRE 360 participants as they take steps towards school, work, or whatever comes next. She believes in meeting people where they are, walking alongside them through uncertainty, and celebrating progress in all forms. With a background in community psychology, crisis support, and trauma-informed care, Mary focuses on helping people reconnect with their strengths, navigate systems, and build lives that feel meaningful to them. She firmly believes that the smallest changes often lead to the biggest transformations. In her free time, Mary loves reading, seeing movies in the theater, and practicing Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Natalie Rutherford is a Peer Support Specialist with the Inspire 360 program for participants experiencing early psychosis. As a peer support specialist, Natalie uses her lived experience navigating mental health challenges to connect with others from a place of empathy, trust, and mutual understanding. Natalie’s background is in youth development, caregiving, and community-based support. Her journey through recovery has shaped her commitment to creating safe and judgement free spaces where individuals feel free to express themselves and their struggles openly. Outside of her role, Natalie enjoys one of her many hobbies including sewing, crochet, hiking, or listening to music.

Session Description (10:30-11:30 a.m.)​

Many people who develop schizophrenia spectrum disorders experience early symptoms during adolescence, often while still in school. When these early signs go unrecognized or unsupported, young people may experience worsening symptoms, school disruption, and crisis-driven entry into care. Early identification and intervention can significantly improve outcomes — but only when families, schools, and community mental health systems work together. This interactive panel introduces Coordinated Specialty Care (CSC) for early psychosis, an evidence-based, team-based model that supports recovery through psychiatry, therapy, supported education and employment, peer support, and family services. Panelists from Stanford’s INSPIRE360 program — including a peer support specialist with lived experience of psychosis, a supported education and employment specialist, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, and clinic program manager — will share practical, real-world perspectives on how early psychosis can present, how to respond with hope rather than fear, and how collaboration across systems can change a young person’s trajectory.

Speaker

Rimal Bera, MD is Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California, Irvine, where he has served on the faculty since 1991. His clinical specialties include adult psychiatry, with a focus on schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and memory disorders, as well as mental health policy. Dr. Bera serves as Medical Director for Universal Care Behavioral Health and the John Henry Foundation, a specialized center for the treatment of schizophrenia. He has participated as a principal or co-investigator in more than 180 clinical trials and has lectured extensively on major mental illnesses and their treatment in the United States and internationally.

TBD

Session Description (10:30-11:30 a.m.)​

Navigating your own healthcare journey or supporting loved ones through theirs can feel overwhelming, especially when faced with a new diagnosis or trying to manage treatment plans. Hear from doctors who have guidance to share that will help empower participants to more easily access care and resources they need and the support they deserve.

Speaker

Session Description (10:30-11:30 a.m.)​

While serious mental health conditions can affect everyone, the onset and expression of these disorders can differ, particularly among women. This session offers participants an opportunity to gain insight about why understanding women’s mental health requires a holistic approach that considers both biological and socio-environmental influences.

Speakers

Dr. Robert M. McCarron is a board-certified UCI Health psychiatrist. He completed a dual residency in internal medicine and psychiatry at Rush University. He further advanced his expertise through a two-year fellowship in integrative medicine at the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine. McCarron has held numerous leadership roles in medical education, including serving for many years as a residency director for both psychiatry and internal medicine. He is the Founding Director of the Train New Trainers (TNT) Primary Care Fellowships at the University of California, Irvine—one-year programs designed to equip primary care providers with core competencies in adult psychiatry, pediatric psychiatry and substance use disorder behavioral health. He currently serves as the Vice-President of the NAMI CA Board of Directors.

Dr. Gemma D. Espejo is a board-certified UCI Health psychiatrist.
 
She earned her medical degree at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. She completed a residency in psychiatry at Washington University’s Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo., followed by a fellowship in public psychiatry at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine and NYU Langone Health in New York City.

Session Description (10:30 - 11:30 a.m.)

Get real answers to your health questions in this open, interactive Q&A session with an expert physician. Bring your curiosities and concerns for a candid discussion about serious mental health conditions. This is a unique opportunity to hear from our subject matter experts and for audience members to receive information that is accurate and practical.

Thursday, Oct. 8 - Afternoon Sessions:

Speakers

Session Description (12:50-1:50 p.m.)

Get real answers to your health questions in this open, interactive Q&A session with an expert physician. Bring your curiosities and concerns for a candid discussion about serious mental heath conditions. This is a unique opportunity to hear from our subject matter experts and for audience members to receive information that is accurate and practical.

Speaker

Monique C. Castro, M.S., LMFT, is a citizen of the Navajo Nation and the Founder and CEO of Indigenous Circle of Wellness, a Native-owned group private practice dedicated to the healing of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Her work weaves together clinical expertise, Indigenous wisdom, and community-centered care, grounded in the belief that true wellness is inseparable from culture, connection, and ancestral knowledge. Through her practice and her coaching and consulting work, Monique creates spaces where healing is reclaimed as a collective, intergenerational act.

Session Description (12:50-1:50 p.m.)

For Native peoples, healing has never been about treating one thing at a time. Our ancestors understood grief, trauma, physical health, spiritual disconnection, community, and relationship to the land as deeply interconnected. While Western systems are only beginning to recognize and integrate many of these principles, Indigenous peoples have long understood the power of cultural, spiritual, and community-based healing. This workshop explores how Native communities, healers, practitioners, tribes, and organizations are reclaiming and revitalizing traditional approaches alongside modern clinical practices, not simply adapting Indigenous healing to Western systems. Drawing on clinical practice and lived experience alongside Native communities, we’ll share examples from Indigenous Circle of Wellness and other Native-led organizations, highlighting how culturally grounded approaches are strengthening resilience, families, and communities for generations to come.

Speaker

Session Description (12:50-1:50 p.m.)

Join CARE Court experts as they discuss CARE implementation and how family members can best approach the CARE process to get support for their loved one.

Speaker

A Los Angeles-based artist, musician and mental health educator, Oshri loves to create work that aids individuals and communities in our collective healing journeys. He is a children’s book author and illustrator, having created and co-created more than 35 books and counting that touch on mental health, mindfulness, inter-being, and consciousness for all ages. Oshri is the School Program Coordinator for NAMI Westside Los Angeles. In that position, he has led the ongoing development of the NAMI Westside Los Angeles Children’s Mental Health Toolbox, a mental health resource for elementary school-aged children; as well as being the author of the NAMI Westside Los Angeles Trifold Library, a collection of mental health resources for diverse circumstances and communities. Oshri studied psychology and management at Duke University, and is also certified in mediation and dialogue facilitation, and yoga instruction.

Session Description (2:00-3:00 p.m.)

We are living in uncharted and unpredictable times as a society, with respect to mental health. Our children have been under-resourced, and the gap is increasing with the rapid rate of release of new technologies and platforms. In this vein, participants will be guided to open up, explore, and to exercise their own creative wheelhouses, as a means of personal processing and healing, and also as a way of practicing feeling empowered to develop new and impactful materials to share with their community, and its youth, in particular. We will practice moving through the processes (and meet the objectives) of, 1) identifying a specific community challenge; 2) creatively and sensitively crafting words and images that could be used as conversation-starters to help youth in their community explore and address the challenge; 3) sharing their creativity with other program participants in order to gather feedback as well as to develop confidence in putting creativity out there.

Speaker

Dr. Black discovered through faith and hope a peace and happiness that is possible in the midst of it all. She is a military veteran who retired after serving 21 years in the United States Navy. During her time in the military, Dr. Black earned a Doctorate in Education Counseling Psychology. Her work in educational training, stress management, and drug and alcohol education led her to research alcohol and substance use among adolescents. Dr. Black is also an author and poet. Her presentation today is based on her book, “The Invisible Wounds of Stress: Inside and Out.” She currently serves as the President of NAMI Western Riverside.

Session Description (12:50-1:50 p.m.)

Stress affects everyone, yet its deepest impacts are often invisible. Whether caused by trauma, caregiving, military service, work, or life’s daily challenges, chronic stress can quietly influence our mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. Drawing on experience as a military veteran, author, and mental health advocate, this session explores the concept of “invisible wounds” and how they shape our lives in ways we may not immediately recognize. Participants will gain practical strategies for identifying the signs of unhealthy stress, understanding its effects on the mind and body, and developing healthy approaches to resilience, healing, and overall well-being. This engaging session offers valuable insights for anyone seeking to better understand themselves or support others on the path toward recovery and wellness.

Speakers

Thomas Okamoto, M.D., serves as Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the UC Irvine School of Medicine, and is a member of the Board of Directors of NAMI California.

Session Description (2:00-3:00 p.m.)

What is anxiety—and when does it become more than everyday worry? Join a physician for an engaging conversation about anxiety, including common symptoms, treatment options, and ways caregivers and individuals can better understand and manage the challenges it can bring. Bring your questions for an open and informative Q&A.

Speakers

Session Description (12:50-1:50 p.m.)

Una conversación honesta y significativa donde una familia comparte su experiencia personal con la salud mental, ofreciendo esperanza, aprendizajes y perspectivas sobre el camino hacia la recuperación.

Speakers

Session Description (12:50-1:50 p.m.)

Experiencia en trabajo colaborativo con expertos nacionales e internacionales en psiquiatría y neurología.

Speakers

Session Description (2:00-3:00 p.m.)

This session will highlight how students are leading change across multiple levels, from hosting campus-wide mental health advocacy events to delivering classroom lessons in elementary and middle schools. A key focus will be our “Mental Health Buddy Boxes,” thoughtfully designed toolkits created by JGHS NAMI high school students and distributed to younger students to promote emotional regulation, coping strategies, and help-seeking behaviors.

Speakers

Ann Marie Council spent 25 years as a Deputy City Attorney for the City of San Diego, where her work included criminal prosecution, gun violence prevention, civil representation, and probate conservatorships. Her later work focused on people with serious mental health conditions who repeatedly entered emergency rooms and the criminal legal system without receiving sustained treatment. She developed and led the City Attorney’s LIFT Program, bringing together emergency medical services, law enforcement, homeless outreach teams, and nonprofit providers to connect people with complex behavioral health needs to appropriate legal and community-based resources. Ann Marie has also contributed to California mental health and public safety policy and legislation and has presented to organizations including the League of California Cities and the FBI National Academy. At Quarter Turn Strategies, she translates complex mental health law into practical guidance for policymakers, local governments, first responders, and other professionals serving people in crisis. She earned her JD, magna cum laude, from California Western School of Law and her BA in Sociology from UC San Diego.

Aaron Meyer, M.D. is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego and serves as the first Behavioral Health Officer for the City of San Diego. In this role, he collaborates with San Diego Fire-Rescue, the Homeless Strategies and Solutions Department, Police Department, and Office of the City Attorney to improve care for individuals who frequently utilize emergency services and connect them with services appropriate to their needs. Dr. Meyer is also involved in community outreach addressing substance use disorders and homelessness and serves as Vice-Chair of the California State Association of Psychiatrists’ Government Affairs Committee. He has played a key role in legislative advocacy, including efforts supporting Senate Bill 43, which significantly changed California’s grave disability criteria for individuals with serious mental health conditions.

Session Description (2:00-3:00 p.m.)

SB 43 expanded the definition of grave disability to include severe substance use disorder, but the system hasn’t meaningfully changed. The core problem is not eligibility, but access to higher levels of care beyond the Emergency Department. For individuals who are chronically gravely disabled, families and first responders remain trapped in a cycle from the street, to the ED, to jail. Without a clear path to meaningful care, the cycle is painful and ceaseless. This presentation explains how the LPS continuum of care actually functions and why so many cases stall. Most importantly, we will examine a largely forgotten access pathway, Welfare and Institutions Code section 5200, and how its use could be a game changer for the future of care for California’s most seriously mentally ill.

Speaker

Community Education Director Erika Leonard has 31 years of experience teaching social-emotional safety skills with and for people of all ages, abilities, and life situations as a leader on the Kidpower International team.

Session Description (2:00-3:00 p.m.)

In this interactive, experiential workshop, caregivers will learn practical strategies they can use right away to protect their emotional, mental, and physical wellbeing.

Speaker

Mila is an Associate Principal with BA and helps to lead the firm’s Irvine office. She is highly client-focused, with strong conceptual and technical skills and a record of success in exceptional client management and project execution. Her expertise in healthcare design spans the full spectrum of healthcare services. From ground up medical campuses, outpatient and inpatient clinics, medical property retrofits, and behavioral health projects to senior care and skilled nursing facilities, Mila has dedicated her career to help her clients deliver holistic healthcare environments.

Darci Hernandez is a Principal with Boulder Associates and leads the firm’s Southern California region. Her forward-thinking planning and design ability, coupled with client service focused on responsiveness and accountability, has resulted in her becoming a trusted advisor to clients such as Hoag, Providence, and UCLA, among others. Darci understands the business drivers of healthcare and is committed to the concept of healthcare as a holistic, whole-person endeavor, believing that design solutions, whether through facilities or operations, need to drive towards that outcome. Darci leads Boulder Associates’ Behavioral Health Community of Practice. She is passionate about how behavioral health care is delivered and integrated into our healthcare system. Her work with clients like Be Well and RUHS is changing how behavioral facilities are perceived. Darci joined BA in 2002 and holds a Bachelor of Architecture with a Minor in Urban Planning from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

A stickler for constructability, Kellen is happiest when designs translate into the field seamlessly—the sign of a skilled designer. Kellen was drawn to a career in architecture because it requires problem solving as well as transforming raw design into reality. With an interest in building technology, process management, and sustainable design, he is motivated to work on healthcare projects because of the positive impact the environments have on patients and staff. His portfolio comprises healthcare centers for residential treatment, substance abuse, eating disorders, and wellness, for which he has been Project Manager and Project Architect. He has been with BA since 2011 and holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Colorado, Denver.

Session Description (3:00-4:00 p.m.)

The implementation of BHCIP funding in California for the construction and expansion of facilities treating mental health and substance use disorders has changed the landscape of behavioral healthcare. In partnership with the RUHS Behavioral Health team, we will explore the design and development of the first-of-its-kind RUHS Wellness Village and outline how its innovative, person-centered approach intentionally co-locates the continuum of behavioral health, substance use disorder, and physical health services within an integrated campus environment. We will review the challenges posed by a fragmented healthcare system, as well as explore the ecosystem of care and how this design reduces barriers to access, improves care coordination, and creates a seamless pathway from crisis to stabilization, recovery, and long-term wellness. Embracing the power of community and nature, we will discuss how leveraging outdoor spaces and campus amenities to support the integration of health and wellness leads to more member engagement and healthier outcomes.

Speakers

Ziva: Hello! My name is Ziva Chan and I am a senior at Glen A. Wilson High School. This marks my second year in NAMI, which I became active in due to my passion for psychology and creating a space where individuals are not afraid to nurture their own wellbeing. I am also highly involved in art and media production, which I combine to promote the mental health resources available to our school’s community. I am excited to share my perspective on youth mental health and how our student-led approach has encouraged self-growth and mental health awareness.

Sean: Hello everyone! My name is Sean Gapuzan and I’m Glen A. Wilson NAMI’s PR this year! I am looking forward to leading our chapter’s media team, as well as preparing for our 3rd annual school wide mental health assembly! I am interested in pursuing a field in business management and I love using my voice as a platform to share my passions with the world around me.
 
Evelyn: Hello! My name is Evelyn Huang. I am a member of Glen A. Wilson High School’s NAMI club and am currently a sophomore going into junior year. In NAMI, I hope to spread more awareness about mental health, especially regarding our current youth, as mental health is seen very differently throughout recent generations. I aim to also achieve this at this conference program and am so thankful for the opportunity to be able to present this current issue.
 
Marin: Hello everyone! My name is Marin Rezko and I am the current president of our NAMI On Campus chapter at Glen A Wilson High School. I’ve been involved with NAMI for four years now, and I am also a part of Red Cross and HOSA Future Health Professionals on our campus. I’m dedicated to raising awareness for mental health, especially through the lens of youth issues. I hope to pursue a career in neuroscience, and this passion has led me to NAMI. Working with an amazing student led team has allowed us to achieve a long lasting impact within our community, and I am so excited to share our experience.

Session Description (3:05-4:05 p.m.)

Gain firsthand insight into how high school students are creating more open, supportive conversations about mental health on campus. Led by student members of a NAMI On Campus club, this interactive workshop features a mask-making activity that encourages reflection on identity, emotional expression, and mental health stigma. Presenters will share their lived experiences, demonstrate strategies for engaging peers, and highlight how their student-led media team uses social media and schoolwide initiatives to promote awareness and connection. Attendees will receive practical tools, discussion prompts, and ideas for creating inclusive mental health spaces and student-led outreach efforts that can be adapted to their own school communities.

Speakers

Session Description (3:00-3:50 p.m.)

Conversación facilitada sobre las barreras, la cultura, el estigma y posibles soluciones. Un espacio seguro, respetuoso y sin juicios para compartir experiencias, fomentar la comprensión y normalizar las conversaciones sobre la salud mental.

Speakers

Erik Nasarenko is the elected District Attorney of Ventura County, California’s 13th largest county. In this capacity, he started the County’s first-ever Mental Health Unit in the DA’s office, which consists of four dedicated prosecutors who assist with civil commitments and mental health diversion cases. Prior to becoming District Attorney, he served as a trial prosecutor for 13 years. He was also elected twice to the Ventura City Council and served two years as mayor. He is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine, and Loyola Law School. Erik serves as 1st Vice President of the NAMI California Board of Directors.

Session Description (3:05-4:05 p.m.)

When a behavioral health emergency happens, who is responsible for keeping everyone safe? This session examines how law enforcement, first responders, bystanders, and communities can work together to create safer, more effective responses.

Session Description (4:05-5:30 p.m.)

Join fellow attendees on the Veranda for networking and a cultural presentation, Lluvia de Estrellas. Anfitriona: Egle Cisneros

Session Description (4:50-5:50 p.m.)

NAMI Family Support Group is a peer-led support group for any adult with a loved one who has experienced symptoms of a mental health condition. Gain insight from the challenges and successes of others facing similar experiences. Facilitators: Elaine Huber and Steve McNally, NAMI Orange County. Room: Redondo

Session Description (4:50-5:50 p.m.)

El Grupo de Apoyo Familiar de NAMI es un grupo de apoyo dirigido por pares para adultos con un ser querido que ha experimentado síntomas de una enfermedad mental. Conozca los desafíos y éxitos de otras personas que enfrentan experiencias similares. Facilitadores: Aracely García y Linda Espinoza, NAMI San Francisco. Sala: Sunset

Thursday, Oct. 8 - Evening Sessions:

Session Description (6:45-8:15 p.m.)

Filmmaker and former punk artist Mabel Valdiviezo reunites with her family in Peru after 16 years of silence, confronting haunting childhood memories, her youth in war-torn Peru, and her past as an undocumented immigrant artist and stripper in the United States.

Q&A On-Stage Facilitator

Tricia Creason-Valencia is a dynamic force in the world of filmmaking, education & community building. Through the art of storytelling, Tricia weaves her own raw narrative of mothering, making movies, resilience and rediscovery. She believes, deep in her soul, that truth-telling fosters empathy and connection, serving as a catalyst for social change.As an Emmy-Nominated Director/Producer, Motivational Speaker and Co-Founder of PowerHouse, a podcast & media production studio and event space for women+ creatives in Downtown San Jose, Tricia pioneers the way for women, people of color and youth to amplify their voices and claim their power through creative expression. Her documentary films have won numerous awards, including “Best Documentary” for Stable Life at the prestigious Cinequest Film Festival, and have inspired dialogue and action through screenings at film festivals and on public television nationally. Tricia is a 2026 Creative Ambassador for the City of San José; she is producing a city-wide, multi-media project titled “I am/We Are: Our Stories Connect Us”.

Speaker

Mabel Valdiviezo is an award-winning Latine filmmaker, editor, and multidisciplinary artist whose work explores migration, gender, social, and environmental equality. Her credits include Following Pal (editor); Carlos Baron, Poeta Pan, PBS/KQED (director/producer); Soledad Is Gone Forever (director/producer); Sands of Silence, PBS World (associate producer); and River Webs, PBS (editor). Valdiviezo’s feature documentary Prodigal Daughter garnered a Cinema Tropical Best Latinx USA nomination, won Best Documentary at the Arizona International Film Festival, and received nominations at New Filmmakers New Fest and APRECI (Peru). Valdiviezo is an alumna of the Sundance Producers Conference, the Gotham Documentary Lab, IDA, BAVC, and NALIP.

Session Description (8:15-8:45 p.m.)

Join film director Mabel Valdiviezo for a post-screening conversation moderated by Tricia Creason-Valencia.
DAY TWO

Friday, Oct. 9 - Morning Sessions:

Speaker

Gary Tsai, M.D., is a physician executive board certified in psychiatry and addiction medicine. He is Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of Telecare Corporation, where he provides leadership for clinical strategy, quality, innovation, and medical affairs. His work focuses on advancing person-centered, recovery-oriented care for individuals with complex behavioral health needs, improving outcomes, and strengthening the behavioral health workforce.

Dr. Tsai most recently served as Director of Substance Abuse Prevention and Control within the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, where he led more than 600 staff and oversaw a $760 million annual budget supporting substance use prevention, harm reduction, treatment, and recovery services for Los Angeles County’s 10 million residents.

Dr. Tsai serves as a Governor-appointed Commissioner on the Behavioral Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, a member of the NAMI California Board of Directors, and a member of the California Health and Human Services Agency Behavioral Health Task Force.

As the son of a mother with schizophrenia, Dr. Tsai has experienced firsthand the stigma surrounding serious mental illness and is passionate about improving behavioral health systems and services. He is also the founder of Forgotten Films and author of Against All Odds: A Practical Guide to Successfully Navigate Psychosis and Behavioral Health Systems.

Session Description (11:40 a.m.-12:40 p.m.)​

Welcome and Day 1 Recap – Maria Case, Founder & CEO, Kompashion, Mistress of Ceremonies
Remarks – Dr. Robert McCarron, Vice President, NAMI California Board of Directors
Keynote Presentation – Dr. Gary Tsai, Sr. VP & Chief Medical Officer, Telecare Corporation, NAMI CA Board Member

Speakers

A feature documentary film about the tragedy, crisis and chaos of severe mental illness in America – and a burgeoning national crusade to do something about it.

Session Description (10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) – AMC Orange 30 (Off-Site)

A feature documentary film about the tragedy, crisis and chaos of severe mental illness in America – and a burgeoning national crusade to do something about it. Q&A to follow the screening.

This screening will be held across the street at AMC Orange 30 Theatre. Please meet conference staff in the lobby of Hotel FERA Anaheim at the conclusion of the General Session to depart to the theatre as a group.

Speaker

Ellen Cookman started Cookman Law in 2015 to help families of all shapes and sizes plan for the future and utilize available resources. Ellen is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law from the California State Bar Board of Legal Specialization. She received her J.D. from UC Berkeley School of Law and her LL.M. in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate from Golden Gate University. Ellen lives in East Palo Alto with her husband, two middle school boys (her older son has high-functioning autism), a husky mix named Rosie, and a kitty named Skittles.

Session Description (10:30-11:30 a.m.)

This presentation explores practical planning strategies for families supporting a child or other loved one with mental health challenges. We will discuss how to maximize quality of life, preserve independence, and protect vulnerable loved ones through thoughtful legal and financial planning. Key topics include special needs trusts, public benefits, supported decision‑making, and how to designate trusted “surrogate financial parents” and future caregivers.

Speaker

Brandi Alden is a nationally recognized public speaker and licensed Brain Health Trainer with a passion for advocacy. As Head of Event Organization and Outreach for the National PANDAS/PANS Youth Alliance, she works to amplify the voices of patients and families nationwide, drawing from her 11-year journey with the condition. With a dynamic background in performing arts, Brandi uses her platform of over 7 million followers to raise awareness and inspire action.

Cat Doherty is a passionate advocate, storyteller, and founding member of the National PANDAS/PANS Youth Alliance. After surviving PANS and years of misdiagnosis, she now uses her voice to raise awareness, build community, and push for better treatment access. Cat believes that no one should have to fight alone to be heard or to heal.

Dr. Zoe Gillispie is a licensed clinical psychologist in Redwood City, California, with over 20 years of experience supporting children, teens, and adults. She specializes in the intersection of medicine and psychiatry, with extensive experience in neuropsychological assessment, chronic pain, and psychotherapy, including DBT and social skills groups. Dr. Gillispie first encountered PANS/PANDAS in 2006 and now brings her expertise to help families navigate these complex neuroimmune conditions.

Nash Matson is a freshman at Claremont McKenna College studying Integrated Science and Economics. As someone who personally experienced PANDAS, Nash’s advocacy is grounded in lived experience navigating severe neuropsychiatric illness and recovery. His journey inspired a passion for improving awareness, research, and compassionate care for children and families affected by neuroimmune and mental health conditions. Through storytelling, advocacy, and healthcare-innovation, Nash works to reduce stigma, bridge science and lived experience, and empower young people to share their voices while advancing understanding of complex brain-immune disorders.

Session Description (10:30-11:30 a.m.)

This workshop shines a light on the frequently overlooked disorders that cause a sudden onset of psychiatric symptoms/conditions such as OCD, ADHD, depression, anxiety, paranoia, psychosis, suicidal ideation, developmental regression, aggression, anorexia, and more. Not only that, but these conditions, if not treated promptly, can escalate into other debilitating symptoms such as tics, seizures, sleep disturbances, loss of motor control, and fatigue. These conditions are known as PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) and PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcal Infections). The workshop explores how the way the medical field is divided is causing issues for patients, why you should know about PANS/PANDAS, and how we can create a better environment for neuroimmune conditions to be recognized.

Speakers

Henna has served as the Senior Vice President, Strategic Partnerships at Advantage Healthcare Services since 2025. In this role, she is focused on community-based behavioral health care coordination and data-driven patient outreach. She has been engaged in diverse positions within the healthcare workforce at the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, Blue Shield of California, and COPE Health Solutions. She earned a dual Master of Public Policy (MPP) and Master of Public Health (MPH) from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Session Description (11:40 a.m.-12:40 p.m.)

For individuals living with serious mental illness, disruptions in housing, insurance, medication access, and other life circumstances can quickly threaten stability and continuity of care. This panel will explore an innovative community-embedded model that brings behavioral health pharmacists and Community Health Liaisons together to address these challenges where they occur—in homes, shelters, treatment programs, and other community settings. By combining clinical medication expertise with trusted, relationship-based support, this approach helps remove barriers to care, strengthen treatment continuity, and support individuals in remaining engaged in their treatment and recovery.

Speaker

Brianna is a military spouse and volunteer with NAMI Monterey County. She studied psychology during her undergraduate studies, which fueled her passion in mental health advocacy and education. As a military spouse, she has seen firsthand both stateside and overseas how deep the stigma surrounding mental health runs and the unique challenges that families in this community face. 

Session Description (11:40 a.m.-12:40 p.m.)

What happens to the families and caregivers who stand beside military service members through the challenges of service, deployment, transition, and recovery? Presented from the caregiver perspective, this workshop offers an honest look at the experiences of those supporting a loved one through mental health challenges while navigating the unique demands of military life. Speakers will share personal insights into the challenges, resilience, and lessons learned along their caregiving journeys, while exploring the importance of family support, communication, self-care, and connection to behavioral health resources. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the often-unseen impact of mental health challenges on military families and practical strategies for supporting both caregivers and the service members they love.

Speaker

Shannon is the oldest of the Two Daughters, and currently lives in Sacramento, California, where she works in social services policy. She received her B.Sc. in Honors Environmental Science from the University of British Columbia and her Master of Environmental Management from Yale. In her free time, Shannon enjoys hiking, cooking, making cakes, going out for cocktails with her fiancé, Spencer, and snuggling with her cat Sherlock.

Session Description (11:40 a.m.-12:40 p.m.)

This session shares lessons learned from the first three years of facilitating monthly peer grief support groups for young adults (ages 18–39) following the death of a parent or parental figure. Grounded in the real-world experience of building this program from the ground up, attendees will explore the importance of age- and loss-specific grief spaces, the value of a more informal support environment, and how peer support can serve as a bridge to further mental health care. Presented by Shannon Bell, Founder and Executive Director of Two Daughters Foundation, who launched the organization after losing her own mother in young adulthood.

Speaker

Lea Nagy is the current president for NAMI Humboldt and has taught for College of the Redwoods for many years, as well as taught special education in Southern Humboldt School District. Lea does various trainings in Humboldt County for community organizations which raise mental health awareness. Lea is a steering committee member for Humboldt’s CIT program. Lea regularly presents in the Humboldt community on topics concerning mental health, substance abuse, the unhoused, and children’s mental health. Lea has been a family liaison for Humboldt County Behavioral Health for over 25 years and currently presides over a family advisory board to give input to Behavioral Health and the community.

Session Description (11:40 a.m.-12:40 p.m.)

What changes when families have a voice in how communities respond to behavioral health crises? This workshop explores the powerful role families can play in Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) programs, from shaping training to strengthening crisis response and policy. Drawing on Humboldt County’s rural CIT experience, participants will hear personal stories and practical lessons on building stronger partnerships with families.

Friday, Oct. 9 - Afternoon Sessions:

Speaker

David Salinas, MPH, (él/he/him) is a Senior Associate at the California Institute for Behavioral Health Solutions (CIBHS). Mr. Salinas leads the planning and implementation of CIBHS’ quality improvement and racial equity projects. He has over 25 years of experience addressing public health disparities through an intersectional approach to achieve health and racial equity among impacted populations. His clinical and social research experience includes HIV prevention, treatment, and care; sexual health education in schools; mental health and substance misuse service’s needs; and evaluation of behavioral health services gaps.

Phanit Dy (he/him/his) is a Director at the California Institute for Behavioral Health Solutions (CIBHS). In this role, Phanit is supporting the implementation, spread, scale, and sustainability of community and culturally based behavioral health practices that improves access and outcomes for different populations. Phanit also supports organizations to adopt a self-directed quality improvement tool that facilitates organizational change to address structural racism in community behavioral health through an Anti-Racism, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion perspective. Previously, Phanit has spent his career supporting California community health centers, including federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, and tribal health programs, with integrating behavioral health into primary care, and SAMHSA-funded Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics in California. Phanit graduated from the California State University, Sacramento with a Bachelors of Science in Health Science and a concentration in Health Care Administration.

Ryan Mertz, PsyD (he/him) is a Senior Associate at the California Institute for Behavioral Health Solutions (CIBHS) with a professional background spanning clinical practice, school-based behavioral health and youth-serving systems. Prior to his systems-level work, Ryan held roles in community mental health, intensive outpatient care, and educational settings, supporting children, youth and families through evidence-based and skills-based interventions. Drawing on this practice experience, he has spent over two years supporting grantees within California’s Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) where he coordinates implementation support and training and technical assistance. He serves as lead for CYBHI’s Community of Practice workshops where sessions are shaped by grantee feedback and focused on the topics grantees are most eager to explore.

Session Description (1:30-2:30 p.m.)

Many organizations express a commitment for youth voice, yet young people are often invited to give input without real influence. This session will highlight learnings from the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI) Community Defined Evidence Based Practice (CDEPs) grant program, focusing on how organizations are designing, implementing and providing culturally grounded behavioral health practices that are designed by the community to advance equity and improve access for historically underserved communities. This session will also provide a background of what CDEPs are and how they are designed with and for the community, including co-production strategies and an equity framework embedded within the grant program. Presenters will share examples of CDEPs across diverse populations, discuss strategies for documenting outcomes while honoring cultural integrity, and explore how partnerships with counties and state agencies can support spread and sustainability.

Speaker

Dr. Vijayaraghavan is a practicing general internist and a researcher in tobacco control with a focus on populations experiencing homelessness. She is the Director of the UCSF Smoking Cessation Leadership Center, a Center focused on eliminating disparities in tobacco use prevalence among behavioral health populations. Through her work, she has intervened at the individual, community, health systems and policy levels to help increase access to cessation services. Her intervention research, funded by the NCI, TRDRP, NIMHD, and SFCAN, stems from collaborations with community-based organizations and healthcare systems. She has collaborated with homeless shelters and supportive housing to implement interventions to increase access to smoking cessation services and smoke-free policies for people who have experienced homelessness. She co-directs a NIDA-funded postdoctoral training program at the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, focused on tobacco and substance use related research. Dr. Vijayaraghavan received her Bachelor’s in Science from Brown University, her medical degree from Boston University School of Medicine. She completed an internal medicine residency at Columbia University Medical Center, a primary care research fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco, and a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, San Diego.

Session Description (1:30-2:30 p.m.)

People living with serious mental illness experience disproportionately high rates of tobacco use and tobacco-related health disparities. In this session, participants will explore the impact of nicotine use on health and recovery and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities for addressing tobacco use as part of whole-person behavioral health care. Drawing on current research and evidence-based approaches, the session will highlight strategies to improve access to tobacco treatment and cessation support.

Speaker

Merlot Ghadoushi (she/her) is a 20-year-old from Los Angeles, California, double majoring in Psychology and Anthropology on a pre-medical track. Her mental health advocacy is shaped by lived experience, curiosity, and a commitment to improving care for young people and families. She serves on the UCLA Psychiatric Patient and Family Advisory Council and founded a free dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills group, while also creating Unmasked Authenticity, a platform for vulnerability and advocacy. Her writing explores resilience, identity, and healing, and her dedication to service has been recognized with the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award. Through her work with NAMI Next Gen, Merlot is committed to building youth-led spaces that promote honesty, access, connection, and meaningful change.

Session Description (1:30-2:30 p.m.)

People deserve to be seen as more than a diagnosis, a crisis, or the hardest moment of their life. This session is an honest conversation about BPD, DBT, emotional intensity, and what it means to support someone before they reach a crisis. Rooted in Unmasked Authenticity, the session looks beyond labels and asks what might actually be happening underneath.

Speaker

Cami Nelsen is the Executive Director and founder of The RecoverED Project, a California-based nonprofit led by young adults to support individuals in eating disorder recovery and raise awareness nationwide. Cami founded the organization at age 17 following her own recovery and continues to lead its mission of fostering a positive, connected recovery community. She is also a member of NAMI California’s Youth Leadership Council and has advocated for mental health and eating disorder awareness through national forums, including a Congressional briefing in Washington, D.C. Cami was the 2023–2024 recipient of the Calhope Courage Award and has been featured in Dove’s Self-Esteem Campaign and Cost of Beauty campaign. Through her leadership and advocacy, she is committed to creating greater connection, awareness, and support for young people navigating mental health and recovery.

Eden Hadar is student at Stanford University pursuing a BS in Symbolic Systems and an MS in Community Health & Prevention Research. Outside of academics, she is the Treasurer for the RecoverED Project, a fully youth-led nonprofit dedicated to raising awareness about eating disorders and promoting recovery. Her interest in this work is deeply rooted in a commitment to improving access to mental health resources and supporting young people in navigating their own recovery journeys. In her free time, Eden enjoys traveling, doing pilates, trying new matcha spots, and playing board games.

Session Description (1:30-2:30 p.m.)

Caregivers and loved ones are often an essential part of eating disorder recovery, yet they may find themselves navigating unfamiliar challenges. This session will provide an overview of eating disorders and explore the role of caregivers in recovery. Presenters will also examine the emotional demands of caregiving and strategies for recognizing and preventing burnout.

Speaker

Session Description (2:30-3:00 p.m.)

Join us in the Grand Ballroom to close out the 2026 NAMI California Annual Conference.

NAMI CA Office Closure

NAMI California will be closed
December 22–January 2.
We will return on January 5.

NAMI HelpLine is available M-F 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET.
Connect by phone 800-950-6264 or text “Helpline” to 62640, or chat.

In a crisis, call or text 988.

Thank you for your understanding.