The NYS Office of Mental Health (OMH) and Hunter College are sponsoring “Gender Matters,” a conference to raise awareness about trauma and its impact on girls and young women, as well as gender responsive programs and treatment. The conference will be from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., on Tuesday, October 10, 2017, at the Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, East 68th Street, between Lexington and Park Avenues in Manhattan. Check-in will start at 8:15 a.m.

OMH Commissioner Dr. Ann Sullivan said, “Research shows that traumatic stress affects the brains of girls and young women differently than boys, and the objective of the conference is to raise awareness about the unique characteristics of trauma experienced by adolescent girls. Awareness of these issues can lead to positive changes that improve outcomes and quality of life for girls and young women.”

This event will bring together leaders from state and city government, hospitals, mental health providers, community organizations, and others to explore these issues. Joining OMH and Hunter College will be representatives from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services, Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services, Department of Health; and from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Administration for Children’s Services, Department of Probation, Law Department, Department of Youth and Community Development, and the New York State Permanent Judicial Commission on Justice for Children.

“Today we face a nearly constant barrage of traumatic news – from natural disasters, to geopolitical confrontations, police shootings, and gang violence,” said conference organizer Nancy Hollander, Psy.D, Project Director for Youth and Intensive Services at OMH’s New York City Field Office. “Girls and young women in such situations often touch all systems – including mental health, child welfare, juvenile justice, substance use treatment, and education, which is why we have assembled such a wide array of thought leaders for this conference.”

Conference speakers, include:

• Keynote speaker: Stephanie Covington – a recognized clinician, author, organizational consultant, lecturer, and pioneer in the field of women's issues, addiction, and recovery;
• Jennifer Raab, President of Hunter College;
• Dr. Ann Sullivan, Commissioner, NYS Office of Mental Health;
• Tammy Sneed, Director of Gender Responsive Adolescent Services, Tri-Chair of Human Anti-Trafficking Response Team (HART), State of Connecticut;
• Lilliam Barrios-Paoli, Ph.D., Senior Advisor to the President of Hunter College with a focus on special projects and community partnerships. Former Chair Health + Hospitals Board, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services;
• Monique Collier Nickles, MD, Chief of the Pediatric and Adolescent Ambulatory Care Practice at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center;
• Christina Coiro Powell, Senior Director at The Fund for NYC Health + Hospitals, the philanthropic arm of NYC Health + Hospitals (H+H), the city’s public hospital system;
• Joshua Berezin, MD, NYC Field Office, Clinical Director, NYS Office of Mental Health;
• Shabnam Javdani, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Applied Psychology, NYU, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development;
• Rosa Gil, DSW, Chief Executive Officer, Communilife;
• Verena Salvi, LCSW, Adjunct Professor at Columbia University School of Social Work.

 The New York State Office of Mental Health promotes the mental health and well-being of all New Yorkers. Our mission is to facilitate recovery for young to older adults receiving treatment for serious mental illness, to support children and families in their social and emotional development and early identification and treatment of serious emotional disturbances, and to improve the capacity of communities across New York to achieve these goals.

Hunter College, located in the heart of Manhattan, is the largest college in the City University of New York (CUNY) system. Founded in 1870 as a women's teacher training college, Hunter cultivated diversity from its very beginning, accepting all women, irrespective of race, ethnicity, or religion. Hunter continues to be known for the diversity of its student body, reflecting the population of New York City itself. Most Hunter students are the first in their families to attend college and many go on to top professional and graduate programs, winning Fulbright scholarships, Mellon fellowships, National Institutes of Health grants, and other competitive honors. More than 23,000 students currently attend Hunter, pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees in more than 170 areas of study. The 1,700 full- and part-time members of Hunter's faculty are unparalleled. They receive prestigious national grants, contribute to the world's leading academic journals, and play major roles in cutting-edge research. They are fighting cancer, formulating public policy, expanding our culture, enhancing technology, and more.