ORLANDO, Fla. – More than 1,000 mental health and substance abuse experts and advocates will gather in Orlando when the 3rd joint annual conference of the Florida Council for Community Mental Health (FCCMH) and the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association (FADAA) convenes August 8 at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort.

Attendees will have an opportunity to gain knowledge and discuss a broad spectrum of behavioral health issues ranging from health care reform and other emerging mental health and substance abuse topics to evidence-based practices and integrated health care services at the largest behavioral health conference in Florida.

The program will open with keynote speaker Charles W. Hoge, MD, colonel, U.S. Army (Retired), a nationally known expert on physiological reactions to war, as well as treatment strategies for war-related conditions. His expertise spans psychiatry, trauma, public health, health policy and infectious diseases.

“We are delighted to have Col. Hoge speak at this year’s conference. Through his sincere passion and renowned expertise, he has accomplished so much for mental health initiatives,” said Bob Sharpe, president and CEO of FCCMH.  “His presentation will certainly be a memorable and rewarding addition to our collection of workshops and sessions.”

Other major workshops and plenary sessions include:

  •  “The Addicted Brain,” by Mark Gold, MD, renowned professor, Dizney Eminent Scholar, University of Florida College of Medicine Distinguished Alumni Professor for 2011-2013, and chairman of the Department of Psychiatry;
  • “Transforming Stigma into Strength,” by Mike Veny, owner and founder of FastDrumSkills.Com, MusicLessonBusiness.Com and SupportMusicEducation.Com; and
  • “Issues and an Uncertain Future,” by Vernon K. Smith, Ph.D., managing principal with Health Management Associates.

This year’s conference, which runs Aug. 8-10, is sponsored by The Florida Department of Children and Families Substance Abuse Mental Health Program Office, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Florida Insurance Trust, Netsmart, BayCare, Bridges of America, Hyperion Billing Solutions, United Behavioral Health, WellCare Health Plans, ACTS/ThermoFisher Scientific, FADAA and FCCMH.

For more information about the annual conference or to register, go to http://www.fadaa-fccmhannualconference.org/.

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About FCCMH 

FCCMH is a statewide association of 63 community-based mental health and substance abuse agencies that provide comprehensive services to adults and children throughout Florida. For more information about FCCMH, go to www.fccmh.org.

About FADAA

FADAA is a non-profit membership association representing more than 100 of Florida’s premier community-based substance abuse and co-occurring treatment and prevention agencies, managing entities, community anti-drug coalitions and more than 3,000 individual members. For more information about FADAA, go to www.fadaa.org.