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AI Basics for Public Health

During this webinar we will discuss common concerns and controversies about how artificial intelligence (AI) will impact our climate, culture, and the future of public health.

Artificial intelligence (AI) seems to be everywhere. But how much do you really know about generative AI? We will provide an accessible, beginner-level overview of basic machine learning principles, which serve as the foundation for large language models such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT. By developing a better understanding of how machine learning works, you will be more prepared to use, evaluate, and plan for disruptions and opportunities created by AI.

Learning Objectives: 

Following this session, participants will be able to:

1. Understand basic principles of machine learning and generative AI
2. Become familiar with common critiques of AI and their origins, including issues related to privacy, bias, and the environmental impact of AI

3. Learn proper use cases for generative AI within the public health field

4. Understand the principles of human-centered AI and explore how AI implementation can recenter humans in public health

   
   

Speakers 

Dr. Claire Han

Dr. Han is passionate about using quantitative and qualitative methods to inform public policy decisions. She received her Ph.D. in Education from Johns Hopkins University where she specialized in applied statistics, including standard regression methods in addition to causal inference methods, social network analysis, and meta-analysis. During her time as a Senior Researcher at American Institutes for Research, Dr. Han developed a toolkit for integrating AI into meta-analyses and systematic reviews. Dr. Han has extensive experience developing and facilitating workshops, and is passionate about mentorship in the field of AI.

Heather Duncan, MPH, PhD

Dr. Duncan received her Ph.D. in English from SUNY Buffalo and has served as faculty at various institutions of higher learning, where she taught research writing, literature, and media studies. After over a decade of teaching and scholarship in the humanities, she transitioned to a career in public health. She received her MPH in 2024 from SUNY Albany and is now pursuing a Ph.D. in epidemiology, where her doctoral work focuses on building AI agents for local health departments. Dr. Duncan is a strong advocate for making science more accessible and improving the strategic communications of public health organizations. She is also co-owner of M&D Science Consulting and Communications, where she specializes in science and medical communications, data analysis and interpretation for the health sciences, and public health education.

Co-occurring Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders in Youth

This webinar is part of the NYSPHA Mental Health Webinar Series sponsored by The JED Foundation, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - Capital Region Chapter, the University of Albany College of Integrated Health Sciences, and the New York State Office of Mental Health.

This session will provide prevention professionals and caring adults with essential knowledge about the intersection of mental health and substance use in adolescents. It will highlight current trends in student mental health and substance use, associated academic and social risks, and practical strategies and key resources to support young people during this critical life period. Participants will walk away with a better understanding of the bi-directional relationship between substance use and mental health issues, will be provided with supportive resources for the youth and families they work with, as well as learn of opportunities for further training and professional development in this area.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Understand how the relationship between youth substance use and mental health is bidirectional, how each increases the risk of the other, how common risk and protective factors predict the onset of each.

2. Explain the importance of addressing co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders (COD) in primary prevention for teens and their adult supports.

3. gain a deeper appreciation for the value of an integrated co-occurring system of care approach that spans prevention, early intervention, and evidence-based treatment models.

About the Speaker

Cori Hammond, MPH is the Director of Prevention Services at Partnership to End Addiction. She currently works with partners in New Jersey, Arizona, Oregon, and elsewhere to bring evidence-based services and resources to public school students, caregivers, and school faculty. Prior to her work with the prevention team, Cori was a part of Partnership’s Science & Technology of Early Prevention (STEP) research team, studying innovative substance use screening and brief intervention tools for pregnant and postpartum populations. Cori received her Bachelor of Science in Public Health degree from Tulane University and her Master of Public Health from New York University.

Thank you to our Mental Health Webinar Series sponsors:

                                  

988 in New York State

This webinar is part of the NYSPHA Mental Health Webinar Series sponsored by The JED Foundation, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - Capital Region Chapter, the University of Albany College of Integrated Health Sciences, and the New York State Office of Mental Health.

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, officially launched across the nation in July 2022. The 988 Lifeline offers an accessible means of communication for the millions experiencing emotional distress while de-stigmatizing seeking mental health support. Since the launch, New York State has become a national leader in coordinated comprehensive crisis response services. The 988 Lifeline is free, confidential, and available 24/7 to connect with trained crisis counselors through call, chat, and text.

During this panel, attendees will learn more about 988 and how this vital resource can be used to support the communities you serve. The panel is comprised of experts representing the three unique perspectives on 988; National, State, and Local affiliation. First, Shye Louis, Assistant Vice President – Clinical Standards, Training & Practices Division of Vibrant Emotional Health, the national administrator of 988, will provide an overview of 988 and its connection to public health. Then, Shokri Enbawe, New York State Office of Mental Health 988 Program Lead, will describe the promotion and implementation of 988 in New York State, including how to access state-specific promotional materials. Lastly, Response Crisis Center of Suffolk County, one of the NYS’s fourteen 988 Contact Centers, will share its experience supporting individuals who contact 988.

Learning Objectives: 

Following this presentation, participants will be able to:

1. Describe the purpose of 988 and how it can be used for emotional support

2. Explain how 988 is implemented in contact centers in New York State

3. Identify at least one way to integrate 988 into existing work processes

About the Speaker

Meryl Cassidy, LMSW, ACSW

Meryl Cassidy is Executive Director of Response Crisis Center, the Co-Chair of the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Long Island, and an Assistant Professor at Suffolk County Community College in the Human Services Program. She has been a professional social worker for over 35 years and has worked in a variety of settings and with diverse populations. For the past 17 years of her career, she has focused primarily on crisis intervention and suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. In addition to managing the operations of Suffolk County’s only 24/7 crisis center devoted to suicide prevention, she provides professional trainings for human service professionals and community members on a broad range of topics, including crisis theory, communication and listening skills, suicide risk assessment and safety planning as well as being a certified ASIST trainer, Sources of Strength Trainer, and Lifeline's Postvention Trainer. She is co-chair of the Mental Health Subcommittee for the Division of Community Mental Hygiene, and a Board Member of NASCOD (National Association of Crisis Organization Directors). In 2015, she received the Excellence in Suicide Prevention Award from the Suicide Prevention Center of New York State, and in 2016 she received the "Making the Mission" award from NASCOD.

Lorraine Peragallo

Lorraine Peragallo is the Assistant Executive Director of Response Crisis Center in 2011. Lorraine joined Response as a volunteer crisis counselor in pursuit of meaningful work after retiring from a Regional Director position with Wachovia Bank. Over the course of 15 years, she held the positions of Counselor, Trainer, Community Educator, Director of Community Education, Director of Operations, and currently serves as the Associate Executive Director. Lorraine is a certified safeTALK and ASIST suicide prevention/suicide intervention trainer.

Shokri Enbawe, LCSW

Shokri Enbawe, LCSW, is the 988 Program Lead for the Bureau of Crisis, Emergency, and Stabilization Initiatives (CESI) at the New York State (NYS) Office of Mental Health (OMH). He has been with OMH since November 2021, initially joining the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, Treatment, and Care Coordination before transitioning to the CESI Team. Shokri’s first experience in the mental health field was as a hotline crisis counselor providing emotional support and de-escalation. From that experience, he has gone on to hold a variety of roles within the public mental health system, including leading psychiatric rehabilitation groups in PROS programs, individual and group therapy in Article 31 Clinics, conducting psychiatric assessments in emergency rooms, and assisting in coverage of crisis diversion programs and inpatient psychiatry. His passion for improving the mental health system comes from his eclectic experiences, which have allowed for a seasoned understanding of the current mental health system in NYS.

Thank you to our Mental Health Webinar Series sponsors: