Workshop:  

Fentanyl, Vaping, and New Age Drugs: What You Need to Know

Description:  

Substance use trends are changing rapidly, bringing new and serious risks. From fentanyl contamination to vaping and emerging synthetic drugs, today’s landscape requires greater awareness and informed response. This session will highlight current trends, warning signs, and the connection between substance use and mental health, equipping participants with practical strategies to support individuals and communities.

Bio:

Omari Thomas Mitchell, a native of North Carolina, obtained his Master's Degree in Clinical Counseling and Addictions from East Carolina University.

Mr. Mitchell is a devoted Addictions Counselor possessing over eight years of experience, with a specialization in substance use and dual diagnosis disorders. He currently holds the position of Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist on the JCDSS Clinical Team. Where he has spent the majority of his professional career. Prior to this Mr. Mitchell has worked in the judicial system alongside Probation and Parole Officers through the statewide TASC program and also served as a member of the DHHS DWI provider auditing team.  Mr. Mitchell believes his  most notable accomplishment is his contribution to developing client-focused, evidence-based treatment plans to assist the individuals and Families of Johnston County in achieving their substance use treatment goals and reunification. 

Workshop:  

Beyond the Diagnosis: Autism, Mental Health, and Building a Regulation-Ready Community 

Description:  

Autism is more than a diagnosis — it shapes a child’s emotional world. In this powerful session, Tanya Smith shares how anxiety, trauma, and regulation challenges often intersect with autism, and why early understanding can prevent long-term mental health struggles. Together, we’ll explore how communities can move from misunderstanding to support — creating spaces where autistic children and their families feel seen, safe, and supported.

Bio:

Tanya Smith serves as the Regional Outreach Representative for Lighthouse Autism Center in North Carolina, where she builds partnerships with providers, schools, and community organizations to expand access to early autism diagnosis and intervention. She has supported the launch of multiple centers across the state. As a parent of a child on the autism spectrum, Tanya brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her advocacy for early, regulation-informed care. 

Workshop:  

Reigniting the Passion: Strategies to Avoid Burnout 

Description:  

Burnout is often described as a loss of energy, idealism, and purpose. It is closely tied to environmental conditions and the stressors and demands those conditions impose. This workshop invites participants to define burnout, understand how it develops, and explore practical strategies to prevent and mitigate its impact.

Bio:

Parent Educator and Trainer, brings 20+ years of experience working with children and families, with a focus on fathers, in varied settings - foster care, residential care, prisons, schools, and churches. He is creative and passionate about developing and delivering training for professionals and families, with a special focus on fatherhood and father engagement. He is certified as a Caring for Our Own facilitator, is certified in the 24/7 Dad curriculum through the National Fatherhood Initiative, and is a certified Nonviolent Crisis Intervention Instructor through the Crisis Prevention Institute. Walter has also completed Train-the-Trainer courses for the Resource Parent Curriculum: Caring for Children Who Have Experienced Trauma and ARC: Attachment, Regulation and Competency, and is certified in multiple levels of Triple P. Walter received his Bachelor’s degree from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, is a husband and father of three adult children, and currently resides in Greensboro.