Cosponsored by UNLV Child School Refusal and Anxiety Disorders Clinic
Selective Mutism Association Annual Conference
October 12 and 13, 2019
Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel
3400 Paradise Road
Las Vegas, NV 89122
The Selective Mutism Association is proud to offer our annual conference this year in Las Vegas, NV! This year’s Selective Mutism Conference will be co-sponsored by University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Child School Refusal and Anxiety Disorders Clinic. The conference will be a one- and a half day conference and will be held on October 12 and 13, 2019 at the conference facilities at the Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel. It will be a wonderful time of gathering for the selective mutism community to learn the latest in evidence-based information, support one another and connect with both parents and professionals!
Keynote Address
How the Science of Parenting Leads to Effective New Treatment for Childhood Anxiety Disorders, Eli Lebowitz, Ph.D.
Anxiety disorders are exceedingly prevalent in children and adolescents. Anxious children rely heavily on their parents for help in coping with anxiety and parents frequently become entangled in their children’s symptoms through the process of family accommodation. This talk will review cutting-edge research on neurobiological systems that drive these patterns of interactions between parents and anxious children, including the chemistry and circuitry of the brain. The talk will introduce SPACE, a novel and efficacious parent-based treatment for childhood anxiety disorders focused on reducing accommodation and increasing supportive responses to childhood anxiety symptoms. The talk will briefly review the principles and components of the SPACE treatment using clinical vignettes to illustrate the therapeutic process and will present data from clinical trials of SPACE demonstrating its efficacy.
Biography
Professor Lebowitz studies and treats childhood and adolescent anxiety at the Yale School of Medicine, Child Study Center, where he directs the Program for Anxiety Disorders. His research focuses on the development, neurobiology, and treatment of anxiety and related disorders, with special emphasis on family dynamics and the role of parents in these disorders. Dr. Lebowitz is the lead investigator on multiple funded research projects, and is the author of research papers, books and chapters on childhood and adolescent anxiety. Dr. Lebowitz’ work has been recognized by private and public organizations including the Brain and Behavior Foundation, the National Institute of Mental Health and The National Center for Advancing Translational Science. He is also the father of three great boys.
Conference Offers Professional and Parent/Family Track
The conference will offer presentations for both professionals and parents/family, but any person can attend any session that interests them. All registrants will attend the keynote address, then will have a choice of different presentations to attend. In addition to these sessions, we will offer an Expert Q&A panel and a Hear Our Voices panel where people talk about their lives and recovery from SM. There will be opportunities for parents and professionals to meet and visit, a bookstore that provides the latest in Selective Mutism resources, and a silent auction where proceeds will go towards helping the Selective Mutism Association continue to educate and connect individuals impacted by SM.
Kids’ Camp
For an additional registration fee, parents may choose to have their child attend a Kids’ Camp that is a safe place where children can go to play games, do crafts and participate in other activities. This camp will be provided by people who are trained with selective mutism, but please note this kids’ camp does NOT offer any treatment. Children participating in the Kids’ Camp must be potty trained. On site Kids’ Camp registrations will not be permitted the day of the conference. You must register by Wednesday, October 2nd to be included in Kids’ Camp.
Continuing Education
Please stay tuned for further information on Continuing Education updates. We are in the approval process for American Psychological Association CEUs. Information will continue to be added to this website as it becomes available.
Selective Mutism Association Outstanding Research Award
The Selective Mutism Association (SMA) is pleased to invite students to apply to our new student poster awards. The Selective Mutism Outstanding Research Award and the Thomas J. Kehle Award were created to highlight excellent student work that contributes to selective mutism research and to alleviate some of the costs to present at the SMA national conference. Two awardees will receive $500 each and will be recognized at the national conference and in the newsletter. To qualify, applicants must submit their poster to the SMA national conference; attend the SMA national conference; and be a current undergraduate or graduate student at the time of the conference.
To apply, submit the following:
1. Poster abstract that was submitted to the SMA national conference, should not exceed 500 words;
2. Curriculum vitae;
3. Bio to be included in the newsletter, should not exceed 150 words;
4. Headshot or picture to be included in the newsletter.
All applications for the Selective Mutism Association Outstanding Research Award must be received by May 24, 2019 at midnight PST. Application materials should be submitted using the following form https://forms.gle/CgHCnmVVTCAC7Zfq6. If you have questions about eligibility, application materials, or any other parts of the process please e-mail info@selectivemutism.org.
Location
Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel
3400 Paradise Road
Las Vegas, NV 89122
702.784.5700
Conference Prices
| Type | Early Bird | After Sept 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Individual SMA Member Discount (Non Professional) | $195 | $215 |
| Individual Non SMA Member(Non Professional) | $230 | $250 |
| SMA Professional Member Discount | $225 | $245 |
| Professional Non SMA Member | $260 | $280 |
| Couple SMA Member Discount | $320 | $340 |
| Couple Non SMA Member | $375 | $395 |
| Student | $90 | $100 |
Canceled reservations will be accepted until October 7th and are subject to a $35.00 service fee. No refunds for canceled reservations after October 7th.
| Kids’ Camp | Max Limit | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Kids’ Camp – Both Days We will have a separate room for kids that need childcare. Minimum age for kids camp is 3 years old and potty trained. |
6 | $110 |
| Kids’ camp – Saturday We will have a separate room for kids that need childcare. Minimum age for kids camp is 3 years old and potty trained. |
6 | $70 |
| Kids’ Camp – Sunday We will have a separate room for kids that need childcare. Minimum age for kids camp is 3 years old and potty trained. |
6 | $40 |
| Kids’ Camp Lunch – Saturday only Saturday only. |
6 | $12.50 |
Happy Hour on Saturday, October 12
Directly after the conference session ends on Saturday, we will have a connection happy hour and a poster session. This will be a fantastic time to connect with other parents and professionals at the conference. Also, many poster presenters would like to share their work with you! Please join us–we want to meet and visit! There will be light snacks and tea/lemonade/water provided, and there will be a cash bar with adult beverages available for purchase.
Hotel Options
We encourage you to make your hotel reservations as early as possible in order to get the lowest rates and best availability. Las Vegas is a very busy city in the Fall, and room rates will rise as the conference date approaches. There are many hotels in downtown Las Vegas. Many hotels offer public transport from local airports and taxis/uber are always an option to avoid car rental and parking fees.
More Information
Please check back for further information regarding our call for papers, conference and registration information. It will be added as soon as it comes available.
Email conference inquires to Lisa Kovac at info@selectivemutism.org.
