Description

Upon completion of this conference, participants will be able to:

1. Identify and describe the key strengths of the Appalachian culture.
2. Identify culturally responsive strategies to engage Appalachian families.
3. Understand the role of family therapy in the treatment of adolescent substance use.

Presenter Bio

Kristen Boyce holds a Master of Social Work from West Virginia University and is a Doctor of Social Work candidate through the University of Kentucky. She has over 10 years of experience providing direct clinical services to children and adolescents in West Virginia. Early in her career, she developed a passion for working with youth who have experienced adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) through her work at the Monongalia County Child Advocacy Center.

Ms. Boyce currently serves as clinical social work faculty at Healthy Minds Chestnut Ridge, where she continues to provide direct clinical care to adolescents and their families. Her clinical focus includes the treatment of adolescent substance use, mood disorders, and trauma related to ACEs. Her research interests center on interventions for adolescent substance use and mood disorders, with a particular emphasis on understanding Appalachian culture and leveraging regional strengths to inform effective treatment approaches.

Ms. Boyce is the co-author of Dialectical Behavior and Social Rhythm Therapy for Comorbid Bipolar Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder. She has presented internationally on DBSRT and is currently completing a doctoral capstone focused on culturally responsive treatment for adolescent substance use in Appalachia.

Delivery Method: Live Interactive Training via Zoom Video Conferencing

Credit Hours: 1.0 (ACE)

Target Audience: This conference is intended for social workers and students.

Accreditation: University of Kentucky College of Social Work, Provider # 1377, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 9/29/25-9/29/28. Social workers participating in this conference will receive up to 15 general continuing education credits.

Claiming CE Credit: Instructions for claiming CE credit will be disseminated at the beginning of each session.

Questions: If you have any questions regarding CE credit or to report a grievance, please contact Christina Krantz at Christina.Krantz@uky.edu. For technical assistance, please contact lmshelp@uky.edu.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in these presentations are those of the individual presenters and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or positions of the University of Kentucky or the College of Social Work. The inclusion of any topics, perspectives, or discussions is intended for academic engagement and does not constitute endorsement by the institution.