2026 ACA Winter Conference Long Beach CA_Program Book

THURSDAY, FEB. 5

1–2:30 P.M.

E. Williams , Ph.D., Senior Vice President of Behavioral Health, VitalCore Health Strategies, Ridgeland, Mississippi From Literacy to Leadership: A Reading to Write Implementation Journey Room 101 B TRACK: Education Overview: This workshop examines the implementation and operational goals of a transformative initiative focused on integrating reading standards into adult basic education instruction. Participants will learn how the Office of Correctional Education achieved teacher adoption in 2024-25 and is pursuing a 75% target for 2025-26. The presentation emphasizes practical operations strategies, including multi-modal training delivery, systematic performance tracking and academic coaching. Attendees will gain evidence-based instructional approaches for helping students determine implicit meanings and cite textual evidence, with direct applications to prison and community corrections education programs. Speakers: Oscar Medina , Supervisor of Correctional Education Programs at California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Elk Grove, California; Carlos Rodriguez , Information Technology Lead, CASAS, San Diego, California Building the Next Generation of Correctional Workforce Leaders: A Call for National Collaboration Room 102 A TRACK: Recruitment & Retention Overview: With correctional facilities nationwide facing growing challenges in recruitment and retention, the need for innovative and competitive human resource strategies is more urgent than ever. Join leaders from the Tennessee Department of Corrections human resources division as they reveal how their agency is transforming its HR practices to meet modern staffing and development goals. Beyond sharing their successfully

Psychotropic Medications and Psychotherapies for Serious Mental Illnesses: A Review for All Correctional Staff [ Ψ CE|CME|CE|CERP] Room: 103 A Primary Community of Focus: Adult Corrections Overview: Over the past several years, almost all carceral settings have seen increases in individuals with mental health diagnoses, some quite severe. Many of these individuals are provided with cognitive-behavioral therapeutic interventions and/or prescribed psychotropic medications and may complain to staff about interventions used in the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders. Additionally, the various types of medications used to treat disorders of mood, psychosis, anxiety and substance use and their recognizable side effects will be discussed. The targeted audience will be new career psychiatric providers, primary care providers, nurses, behavioral health professionals, security and administration. Learning Objectives: • Describe medication mechanisms of action and potential side effects in the treatment of serious mental illness, to include antidepressants, anti-psychotics and mood stabilizers. • Explain three types of medicines used in the treatment of substance use disorders, specifically, opiate use disorders. • Describe the use of cognitive behavioral therapy, with or without medication for the treatment of mood and anxiety disorders. Moderator: Deborah G. Schult , Ph.D., Deputy Chief of Behavioral Health, VitalCore Health Strategies, Topeka, Kansas Speakers: Jerome F. Greenfield , M.D., Deputy Chief Officer of Psychiatry, VitalCore Health Strategies, Topeka, Kansas; Bryman side effects. This educational workshop will outline different cognitive behavioral

WORKSHOPS

Thursday, Feb. 5 ▼ 1–2:30 p.m.

ACA 2026 Winter Conference | Long Beach, CA — 75