Speakers

Jim Meldrum
Jim Meldrum
He, Him, His
Optum of Idaho
Clinical Quality Analyst Senior
Jim is a certified alcohol and drug counselor (CADC). Jim’s passion draws to developing, improving and establishing good practices for individuals whose substance use has resulted in significant legal consequences. Over the last 20 plus years, he has worked in the provider network as a treatment supervisor, facilitated groups for aftercare and was part of the initial 19-2524 code (substance use assessment and treatment related) implementation. In 2020, Jim, as part of a proactive team, quickly established a statewide system for both Telebehavioral health groups and also assessment practices. His investment in assuring clients’ were not left on their own to navigate such a dramatic experience continued to push Idaho Department of Correction in telebehavioral health utilization.

A common statement you will hear from Jim is: “this isn’t about us, you, or me and our comfort zones, this is about improving, adapting, problem solving, and most importantly, about care and concern for others. It’s also about showing and modeling our ability to handle stressful situations and when life will throw you a curve ball.” In addition, Jim has been an advocate for his fellow counselors because he encourages all counselors to learn about substance use disorder symptoms and care, as it can sometimes be the most important focal point in a person’s treatment. . His phrase “SUD informed care” raises awareness for all to see the critical role in treatment.
Finding your Cheese in a Virtual World. Let's talk about Groups
Finding your Cheese in a Virtual World. Let's talk about Groups (Virtual)


Keith Orchard
Keith Orchard
He, Him, His
Coeur d'Alene Public Schools
Mental Health Coordinator
From a wide range of positions, Keith has anchored his professional services to supporting the families, organizations and systems that care for our community’s children. A licensed clinical social worker, Keith serves as the mental health coordinator for Coeur d’Alene Public Schools. He was formerly an environmental educator in the Peace Corps, wilderness therapy guide, senior clinician at Idaho Youth Ranch, clinical supervisor of the Family Advocate program at the Marine Corps Base in Hawai’i and a classroom teacher in Redmond, Washington.
Keith presents all over the country on topics that affect youth, teachers and parents. As a clinical therapist and educator, Keith knows how to make professional development and adult learning interesting, relevant and impactful.
Engaging Parents and Families in Your Practice
Engaging Parents and Families in Your Practice (Virtual)


Angie Radford
Angie Radford
She, Her, Hers
Optum
I obtained my master’s degree in social work from Walla Walla college in 2006 and pursued my clinical hours and obtained my license as a licensed clinical social worker in 2010. I have worked in the mental health field in Idaho for 18 years. Working as a bachelor level social worker, I was able gain experience working in a residential SUDs facility, provided psychosocial rehabilitation services (now known as CBRS) and worked as a developmental specialist. Upon receiving my master’s degree in social work, I started working in a community mental health agency gaining experience in completing assessments and providing therapy. Following that, I began working for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare in 2007, working in Region 7 as a clinician in children’s mental health. In this role, I completed court-ordered assessments and treatment plans for children and adolescents, completed referrals for State Hospital South, was a designated examiner and served as member of the Juvenile Mental Health Court team.

In 2014, I began working for Optum Idaho as a sr. clinical quality analyst for Regions 6 and 7. In my role as a sr. clinical quality analyst, I audited outpatient groups and solo providers who serve the Medicaid population. Through the audit process, I review policies, procedures, HR files and member files to ensure providers are meeting documentation standards of care they are providing. My passion for behavioral health services and for our members care has led to an enjoyment of educating and supporting both providers and colleagues in the importance of why documentation is so critical to the overall treatment and members' care. I currently am a sr. manager of commercial audits for UnitedHealthcare and Optum. I have been very lucky to work with wonderful providers in Idaho.
Documentation Throughout the Treatment Process
Documentation Throughout the Treatment Process (Virtual)


Divina Ramos
Divina Ramos
She, Her, Hers
Optum Idaho
Divina Ramos is a licensed professional clinical counselor and the care advocate manager for Optum Idaho. Divina has worked with Optum Idaho since 2016, accounting for most of her ten years working with Optum and UnitedHealth Group. Her work with Optum has focused on utilization management and care coordination. Divina also has 10 years of direct clinical experience in inpatient, residential, therapeutic foster care and outpatient care, implementing motivational interviewing. Divina earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, and her master’s in counseling psychology from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon. Divina resides in Las Cruces, New Mexico, with her boyfriend and their five dogs. She enjoys road-tripping, hiking with the dogs, cooking and gardening.
Prior Authorization 101
Prior Authorization 101 (Virtual)


Brian Rood
Dr. Brian Rood
He, Him, His
Optum
Dr. Brian Rood is a clinical psychologist and public health practitioner. He has worked previously in academia as a psychology professor and in healthcare as a behavioral health clinician and training supervisor to physicians on behavioral medicine. He has over 15 years of research experience specific to LGBTQIA+ health and has published extensively in scientific journals. Currently, he is a senior director at Optum and leads Optum Behavioral Health Solution’s clinical implementations. His work and professional interests center largely on mental health, medical behavioral integration and health equity.
LGBTQIA+ Panel Serving Adults & Youth
LGBTQIA+ Panel Serving Adults & Youth (Virtual)


Julie Schmidt
Julie Schmidt
She, Her, Hers
St. Luke’s
Julie Schmidt graduated with a Master of Social Work from Northwest Nazarene University in 2006 and became a licensed clinical social worker in 2010. She is a certified clinical supervisor for the state of Idaho. Julie has worked in medical and educational settings and has spent the last 17 years providing individual and group psychotherapy in mental health settings in Canyon County. Currently, she is employed as a pediatric mental health therapist for St. Luke’s and works within a pediatric rehabilitation team. Between her clinical experience, as well as being a mom to two sons, she believes that parents are a child’s most important therapeutic resource and is dedicated to joining and supporting families.
Importance of Family Engagement in Behavioral Health Care Panel
Importance of Family Engagement in Behavioral Health Care Panel (Virtual)


Scott Sells
Dr. Scott Sells
Family Trauma Institute
Owner
Dr. Scott Sells, creator of the Family Systems Trauma (FST) model, has been training professionals and serving children and adolescents with severe emotional and behavioral problems for over 20 years. He specializes in working with impossible or stuck cases whose families have not been successful with other counselors.

Scott received his Doctorates in Marriage and Family Therapy and Social Work from Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. Scott was a former professor of social work at Savannah State University in Savannah, Georgia, and associate professor at UNLV in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is the developer of the Parenting with Love and Limits® evidence-based treatment model, which is used throughout the United States and Europe.

Scott is the author of three best-selling books: Treating the Traumatized Child: A Step-by-Step Family Systems Approach (Springer, 2017), Parenting Your Out-of- Control Teenager: 7 Steps to Reestablish Authority and Reclaim Love (St. Martin’s Press, 2001) and Treating the Tough Adolescent: A Family-Based, Step-by-Step Guide (Guilford, 1998).
You Had Me at Hello – Parenting with Love & Limits Family Engagement Techniques
You Had Me at Hello – Parenting with Love & Limits Family Engagement Techniques (Virtual)


Kim Stanger
Kim Stanger
He, Him, His
Holland & Hart LLP
Partner
Kim C. Stanger is a partner in the Boise, Idaho office of Holland & Hart LLP and the chair of the firm’s Health Law Group. Kim helps clients navigate the complex state and federal regulations governing the healthcare industry, including healthcare reform, fraud and abuse laws, HIPAA, EMTALA, Medicare/Medicaid regulations, licensing requirements, compliance, administrative proceedings and litigation.

He was named the Best Lawyers® 2021 Health Care Law “Lawyer of the Year" in Boise. He is also listed as a Mountain States Super Lawyer and in Best Lawyers in America® for Health Care Law. He also has been a Top Author in Healthcare in the JD Supra Readers’ Choice Awards and has received a Merit Award from St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center. He is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association, the American Bar Association Health Law Section and past president of the Idaho Bar Association Health Law Section. Kim is a frequent and popular speaker at industry events and meetings, including those sponsored by hospital, medical and long-term care associations.
Ethics: Hot Legal Issues for Mental Health Providers: Consent, Confidentiality, Boundaries and New Laws
Ethics: Hot Legal Issues for Mental Health Providers: Consent, Confidentiality, Boundaries and New Laws (Virtual)


Jacob White
Dr. Jacob White
Cottonwood Creek Behavioral Hospital
Dr. Jacob White is from Middleton, Idaho (fifth-generation Idahoan) and received his medical training at Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences in Washington state. Dr. White was trained in psychiatry through the University of Arizona College of Medicine. He then underwent two years of specialized training for care of young patients through the Harvard Medical School pediatric psychiatry fellowship at the world-class Boston Children’s Hospital.

While his persistent interest is in improving access to quality care for rural families, having worked with many severely impacted patients who showed only minimal improvement with medications, Dr. White was eager to push for the establishment of a formal ECT service. Dr. White was a member of the founding team of Cottonwood Creek ECT service and one of the primary providers of ECT.
Modern ECT: Advances, Perceptions and Reason for Hope
Modern ECT: Advances, Perceptions and Reason for Hope (Virtual)


Julie Wittman
Dr. Julie Wittman
She, Her, Hers
Valley Applied Behavior Analysis,LLC
Julie Wittman joined the field of Autism in 2014 when her daughter was diagnosed. Since that time, she has gone back to school to get a Master in Special Education from the University of Idaho and then pursued her board certification as a behavior analyst (BCBA) taking coursework at the University of Washington. Julie's work is currently providing ABA therapy to young children with Autism. She is a certified therapist with the RUBI Parent Training for Disruptive Behavior and provides parent training to families in Northern Idaho.

Julie's passion is for early behavior intervention, non-verbal learners, Assistive and Augmentative Communication and parent training. Prior to joining the field of Autism, Julie worked in animal science and has her Doctorate in Animal Physiology. She has experience working for several animal nutrition and pharmaceutical companies, specializing in dairy cattle. Julie and her family live in the Lewiston, Idaho area.
Importance of Family Engagement in Behavioral Health Care Panel
Importance of Family Engagement in Behavioral Health Care Panel (Virtual)