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This free series offers you an opportunity to review the our modules and webshop and to explore ways to incorporate them into your educational curriculum.

Click on the + icon to read more about each offering.

June 30-July 7: Intro to Assessment and Screener: (Presenter: Dr. Deb Guthmann)

Welcome to the “Introduction to Interpreting Assessments and Screeners in Addiction and/or mental health settings” module. This training aims to introduce instructors to materials they may use in their work.

The resources were developed for a course designed to deepen an interpreter’s knowledge of assessments and screeners used in addiction and/or mental health settings. It covers a wide range of topics to assist in the development of best practices in this area.

You will be participating in this course for one week, and during that time, you will have the opportunity to experience some of the content and see how materials are presented in ASL and English.

As part of this program, we will have a 1 to 1.5 hour zoom meeting on July 7th at 3:00 PST/5:00 CST/ 6:00 EST, to discuss feedback or answer questions from your experience when participating in the class.

This module was created in collaboration with many experts in the field including; Dr. Deb Guthmann, Dr. Makoto Ikegami, Dr. Natasha Kordus and Ms. Karran Larson

July 14-21: BHI Webshop Series (Presenter: Paula MacDonald)

We offered a total of 6 webshops. We put all six webshops in one course for this exploration series. Below are details about each webshop.

Specialized Interpreting: Mental Health

Mental health issues arise in all aspects of a person’s life: employment, education, recreation, medical etc. Often interpreters fail to recognize that they are in fact already working in mental health settings. This webshop guides you in assessing if mental health interpreting is within your scope of practice and connects you with a plethora of educational opportunities to start building your skills for working in mental health settings. This webshop: Defines mental health and mental illness. Describes the varied settings within mental health interpreting specialization, including: inpatient, outpatient, peer-led, day programs, private clinician offices, clinic settings, and emergency rooms. Provides an introduction to available resources and training to learn more.

Specialized Interpreting: Addiction Recovery

There is a shortage of interpreters trained and qualified to work in addiction recovery settings. This webshop will introduce information about addiction, recovery settings, and the journey of recovery in the Deaf community to help interpreters decide if this specialty is a good fit for them. Then, interpreters will learn about resources to help them continue their education to become qualified. This webshop: Defines addiction. Describes the varied settings within addiction including detox, inpatient treatment, outpatient, treatment, half-way houses, and peer-support groups. Provides an introduction to available resources and training to learn more. There is a shortage of qualified interpreters working in addiction settings.

Intersectionality in Behavioral health Interpreting

Cultural competencies are essential when interpreting between people of varying cultures. It is important to recognize how cultural differences impact the interpreting needs. This webshop was designed with Najma Johnson. It provides an overview of structures of oppression and privilege using the theory of kyriarchy. It also discusses intersectionality in the Deaf, DeafBlind, and hard of hearing communities. This webshop: Defines structures of oppression and privilege. Uses case studies to illustrate how a person’s lived experience can impact how they interact with mental health systems. Provides tools to help interpreters develop cultural competencies.

Intro to Deaf/Hearing Teams in BHI

One major difference between healthcare interpreting and behavioral health interpreting is that healthcare work assesses the structures of a person’s body, but behavioral health work assesses what is happening in the brain based on language and behavior. It is critical to have the ability to recognize if a person’s language is impacted by behavioral health factors, or factors unique to being deaf. That’s where certified Deaf interpreter (CDI) and certified hearing interpreter (CHI) teams are crucial for good service to consumers. Teaming successfully in complex situations can be difficult. This webshop discusses why and how we advocate for CDI/CHI teams, then discusses suggestions for effective teaming strategies with the core principles of respect, relationship, trust, and communication. This webshop: Identifies why we should advocate for CDI/CHI teams Suggests language for requesting a team Offers suggestions for pre/during/post discussions Provides role plays that illustrate the pre/post discussion plans Suggests further training and resources

Specialized Interpreting: Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault

Interpreting in domestic violence and sexual assault (DVSA) settings requires specialty knowledge and skills to be qualified to do this work. The information in this webshop, developed in collaboration with Deaf-centered DVSA service providers, will help you determine if this work is right for you now or in the future. This webshop: Need for qualified interpreters for DVSA work Background knowledge about DVSA causes and impact DVSA settings you may find yourself in Information about trauma-informed care Strategies for self-care Narratives from survivors and interpreters that can inform our practice, and A pathway to training to develop skills that will help you build your skills in this specialty

Behavioral Health Interpreting: Trauma-Informed Approach

Deaf, DeafBlind and hard of hearing communities experience trauma at higher rates than hearing individuals. They also face additional barriers to accessing behavioral health services. This webshop will give you tools to start becoming a trauma-informed practitioner, covering: The symptoms of trauma and impact of trauma on functioning. Prevalence of trauma in the Deaf, DeafBlind and hard of hearing communities. Interpreter role in treatment and vicarious trauma. Trauma-informed approach when working with clients.

July 21-28: Introduction to Mental Health Interpreting: But I Don’t Do Mental Health! (Presenter: Paula Macdonald)
Have you ever thought to yourself, “But I don’t do mental health!”?Although you may not think of yourself as a mental health interpreter, mental health issues arise in all aspects of people’s lives. Regardless of the settings where you currently work, this training will open your eyes to the ways mental health interpreting may show up in your current work and present opportunities for more training.
July 28-August 4: Introduction to Psychopharmacology (Presenter: Paula Macdonald)
For interpreters, being able to understand the effects prescription drugs have the on mood, sensation, thinking, and behavior of our clients is critical.This module, designed with Daniel Lundberg, will focus on the three pillars of psychopharmacology: symptoms, medications, and side effects, and discuss how each may impact our work as interpreters. Psychiatric medications can come up in a variety of settings, including annual medical appointments, psychiatric medication check up, nurse visits in educational settings, and more.
August 4-11: Introduction to Assessment and Screener: Mental Health and Suicide (Presenter: Dr. Deb Guthmann)
This course offering is designed for ASL/English interpreters to help them become more familiar with the screening and assessment process as well issues to consider when interpreting mental health, substance abuse and suicide screeners. This course includes tools often used when working with individuals in mental health settings.
August 11-18: Introduction to Addiction Recovery Interpreting (Presenter: Paula Macdonald)
Are you interested in doing ASL interpreting work in addiction and recovery settings, but want more foundation before you start? Have you been in this setting but are ready to deepen your knowledge to be more effective in the work?This module was designed with contributions from Keven Poore, Dr. Deb Guthmann, and Arlyn Anderson, and covers a wide range of topics to help you start developing best practices in this area.
August 18-25: Introduction to Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence Interpreting (Presenter: Paula Macdonald)
There is a huge need for trained interpreters in domestic violence and sexual violence (DVSV) settings. Having training can mean the difference between making a survivor feel empowered or retraumatized. Working successfully in this niche requires specialty knowledge and skills to be successful.
August 25-Sept 1: Dear White Interpreters: Perspectives from Deaf Interpreters of Color (Presenters: Dr. Suzette Garay and Christopher Robinson)
While the interpreting profession is currently made up of predominantly white people, Deaf communities are increasingly populated by People of Color(PoC). This module shares and explores the insights from 11 Deaf interpreters of color. They explore a variety of questions that provide insight for White interpreters, both Deaf and hearing. Additionally, they share advice for fellow interpreters of color. Through these discussions, participants reflect and consider how to be more effective while interpreting in communities with Deaf People of Color. As well, participants discuss interpreting in complex settings such as those impacted by issues of intersectionality, racial identity, and behavioral health. Participants will expand their options for interpreting more effectively with a variety of individuals.
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