2026 ACA 156th Congress of Correction Pittsburgh_Program Book

• Evaluate the program’s impact by reviewing first-year outcomes and the use of a data dashboard to monitor benchmarks and timeframes. Moderator: Brandi Harrison , Project Manager, Office of Community Justice and Safety, Allegheny County Department of Human Services, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Speakers: Brandi Harrison , Project Manager, Office of Community Justice and Safety, Allegheny County Department of Human Services, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Renee Madden , Program Manager, Mobile Competency Restoration and Support Team, Centurion, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Colleen Sypolt , Deputy Director, Pretrial Services, Fifth Judicial District Pennsylvania Courts, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Understanding the Drivers of Self-Injury: Effective Interventions for Complex Self-Injurious Behavior [CME|CEU|CERP] Room: 321 Primary Community of Focus: Behavioral Health Overview: Every minute, somewhere in the world, a person intentionally harms their own body—not to die, but to quiet unbearable emotions, regain control, or survive overwhelming psychological pain. Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), often referred to as self-injurious behavior (SIB), has shifted from a hidden, stigmatized act to a rapidly growing global public health crisis. NSSI/SIB is an increasingly prevalent behavioral health concern, particularly among adolescents and high-risk populations. It is associated with complex interactions among psychiatric disorders, emotional dysregulation, neurobiological factors, and psychosocial stressors such as trauma and chronic invalidation. Importantly, NSSI is one of the strongest predictors of future suicidal behavior and contributes to increased healthcare utilization and system burden, particularly in correctional settings.

This workshop will examine the underlying drivers, patterns, and clinical presentations of complex SIB and review common challenges in diagnosis and management. Participants will explore evidence-based psychotherapeutic and pharmacologic approaches, with a focus on practical, trauma-informed strategies to reduce harm, improve clinical outcomes, and mitigate suicide risk. Learning Objectives: • Analyze psychiatric, neurobiological, and psychosocial factors associated with self-injurious behavior (SIB), including common comorbid conditions. • Examine underlying mechanisms of SIB, including emotional regulation, pain-offset relief, and environmental influences, and their implications for clinical assessment. • Apply evidence-based psychotherapeutic and pharmacologic interventions for complex SIB to improve patient safety and reduce risk of escalation to suicidality. Moderator: Michael Rayel , Regional Medical Director, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center — Managed Care, Lubbock, Texas Speakers: Michael Rayel , Regional Medical Director, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center — Managed Care, Lubbock, Texas; Manish Aligeti , Clinical Director, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center — Managed Care, Lubbock, Texas; Ricky Burrescia , Physician Assistant, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center — Managed Care, Lubbock, Texas

WORKSHOPS

Sunday, Aug. 2 ▼ 8 a.m.–12 p.m.

ACA 156 th Congress of Correction | Pittsburgh — 165