Webinar Description

One hour

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, our nation has experienced an increase in mental health issues including anxiety, depression, post-tramatic stress disorder and substance abuse.  Despite the significant decline in alcohol sales at bars and restaurants, alcohol sales have increased through mail order accounts, therefore increasing accessibility for addicts.  Addiction is considered a disease of isolation, therefore we have witnessed an increase in substance use.  Individuals in recovery are also at risk due to the social distancing recommendations to slow the spread of COVID-19, which limits access to their sober communities.  Experts are predicting that 75,000 Americans could die as a result of misusing alcohol or other mind altering substances and suicide, as a result of COVID-19.  Telehealth services have become essential in order to provide treatment to those considered the most vulnerable.  The aims of this webinar are to identify the behavioral health impact of COVID-19, review the benefits and challenges of using telehealth platforms, identify federal and state policy changes that have occurred to allow for more accessibility to treatment services, and overview general considerations for implementing telehealth services to meet the unique needs of addicts during this unprecedented time.

Presenters

Natalie Randolph

Natalie Randolph

Natalie Randolph, DBH, LCSW completed her BSW from Northern Arizona University in 2000, while her MSW was obtained from Arizona State University in 2005. In 2016, Ms Randolph completed her Doctorate in Behavioral Health from Arizona State University. She is also a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Dr. Randolph has served in private, non-profit, and government agencies for the past 20 years; individual, family, group, leadership and consultation work was demonstrated within these roles. Despite, the variety of roles Dr. Randolph has assumed, she developed an area of specialty in the field of substance abuse through her various roles working with: families and adolescents involved in the child welfare system, collaborating discharges with patients on an adult psychiatric unit, providing consultation services with behavioral health staff on a remote reservation combating severe substance abuse issues, and serving as a school social worker in an alternative school setting. She has collaborated with NAU for over a decade to oversee internships for BSW students, in addition to serving as an adjunct professor for the BSW Department. As of August 2017, Dr. Randolph assumed the role of an Assistant Clinical Professor for the BSW Program. The subsequent year, Dr. Randolph aided with the development and implementation of NAU’s MSW Program. Dr. Randolph also serves a therapist at Back2Basics, a private residential substance abuse agency providing psycho-education, individual, group, and family therapy. Dr. Randolph also engages in community service work through her role as a board member at Cummings Graduate Institute.
Curtis Randolph

Curtis Randolph

Curtis Randolph, PhD completed his BS from Juniata College in 1992 in Psychology and Communications, he completed his M. Ed in from Northern Arizona University (NAU) in 1993, his MA in Community Counseling from NAU in 1996 and his PhD in Counseling Psychology, also from NAU, in 2010. Dr. Randolph currently practices as an LPC in the state of Arizona. Dr. Randolph has practiced in Northern Arizona for 25+ years 20 of those years have been in non-profit community agencies. Five of these years was spent on the reservation where he grew up serving Hopi High School students and doing mental health consulting to 18 different Navajo Head Starts. Dr. Randolph has spent the last 5 years at Native Americans for Community Action, Inc in Flagstaff, AZ as their Director of Behavioral Health. Dr. Randolph has specialized with adolescents most of his career and worked closely with marginalized and under-served youth in Northern Arizona.

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Webinar Recording

    • Watch the webinar replay here
  • 2

    Resources

    • Webinar Slide Deck
    • Resources and References