Presented by Northern Area Health Education Center 

Dementia Reality is a virtual reality training that teaches empathy and understanding for persons with dementia. NAHEC staff will lead trainees through a brief lecture covering a  person-centered approach to caring for people with dementia. Trainees then experience first-person VR simulations that shadow a caregiver and then view the same scenario from the perspective of an individual with dementia. The approach takes “personhood” to a deeper level, showing trainees how providing intentional support that respects each person’s core aspects leads to more meaningful care. 

Room 204

Presented by Northern Area Health Education Center 

This is a classroom-based simulation that explores how to recognize patterns of violence in teenage relationships. Participants learn to identify harmful patterns and intervention strategies that support young people. They walk through the stories of six teens experiencing violence, making decisions about their paths. This training provides a deeper look at dating violence through the lens of the social determinants of health. 

Room 202, Fireside Lounge

Presented by Garden Share

Food insecurity in St. Lawrence County is increasing, impacting people throughout our area. Through this interactive session, GardenShare staff will challenge participants to think about what their neighbors may be experiencing and how the realities of life can create increased difficulties with accessing food.

Carlene Doane, GardenShare Executive Director, is passionate about promoting a local food system. GardenShare focuses on programs through education, awareness of programs for low-moderate income families. Carlene has over 16 years experience at the organization and is excited to be celebrating GardenShare’s 30th anniversary. She has close oversight and operations at GardenShare. She has worked with many volunteers that have participated on

committee and board members, students, and community individuals. A long-time resident of St. Lawrence County, Carlene has family roots in the area. She volunteers with the different local, regional, state food focus organizations.

Jackie Card, GardenShare Community Engagement, is a SUNY Potsdam graduate that decided to make the North Country home. She is passionate about food access, supporting her local community, and helping people become aware of how they can make healthier choices in their everyday lives.

Room 203

Presented by  St. Lawrence County  Public Health Department

What if staying healthy this season didn’t have to feel like a chore?  In this interactive session, students will explore the Humans Don’t Hibernate campaign through fun challenges, games, and real-life scenarios focused on nutrition, physical activity, and mental well-being.  Students will discover simple, realistic ways to take care of themselves, try something new, and build healthy habits that fit into everyday life.

Jena Sloan is the Public Health Educator with the St. Lawrence County Public Health Department, where she has worked in community health for the past three years.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in Health and Fitness Promotion and an associate’s degree in Applied Science as a Physical Therapist Assistant.  Prior to her public health work, Jena spent seven years working as a Physical Therapist Assistant, helping individuals improve their health and quality of life through rehabilitation and movement.  As a lifelong resident of St. Lawrence County, she is passionate about developing community-drien wellness initiatives that support healthier, more connected communities. 

Room 205

Presented by the PEACE Coalition

Have you ever wondered what it takes to make a community healthier? In this session, participants will step into the role of public health professionals and work together to solve real-world community challenges. Through an interactive game, they will learn how public health organizations build partnerships, secure grant funding, use data to identify community needs, and address the five Social Determinants of Health. Along the way, participants will discover how collaboration, prevention, and community engagement help create positive change and improve health outcomes for everyone. This fun, hands-on session offers an engaging introduction to the field of public health and the many ways professionals work behind the scenes to strengthen communities.

Shelbie Alguire, CRPA, is a SUNY Potsdam alumna who earned her Bachelor of Science degrees in Biology and Public Health in 2024 and is currently pursuing her Master of Public Health (MPH). A lifelong resident of St. Lawrence County, she is passionate about improving community health and giving back to the community that helped shape her personal and professional journey. Shelbie serves as the Coalition Coordinator for the PEACE Coalition at Seaway Valley Prevention Council, where she collaborates with community partners to advance prevention, education, and health promotion initiatives throughout the county. In addition, she has presented at national conferences, sharing her work in prevention and public health, and remains dedicated to strengthening the health and well-being of communities across St. Lawrence County.

Room TBD

Presented by Joelle Monaco, MBA

Burnout isn't a personal failing, and it isn't the price of caring about your work. It's a signal that something in how we work needs to change. Across public health and mission-driven organizations, people are carrying heavy loads, and the toll shows up in our energy, our teams, and the communities we serve.

This interactive session is for people at every level who are ready to name what's happening, take care of themselves in ways that last, and help shape a healthier workplace. We'll go beyond quick fixes and "just take a self-care day" advice to look honestly at what drains us, what restores us, and what each of us can do within our own sphere of influence.

Participants will:

• Understand what burnout is, what it isn't, and how it shows up for individuals and teams

• Practice stress-reduction tools that fit into a real workday

• Identify practical steps to create change and keep it going, for themselves and the people around them

Joelle Monaco, MBA, currently sits on the Board of Directors for the New York State Public Health Association. Joelle received her MBA and BS in Psychology with a minor in Education from the University at Albany, New York.

Microsoft Team

Link will be provided upon registration for the session

Presented by Andréa Sonenberg, PhD, CNM-BC, FNYAM, FAAN, FNAP

“Mothers on the Margins: Tackling Maternal Health Care Inequities in Rural America”

examines the persistent disparities experienced by pregnant and postpartum individuals

living in rural communities, with particular attention to maternity care deserts. The

presentation defines maternity care deserts and explores four key factors that influence

maternal health in these settings, including geographic isolation, limited health care

workforce capacity, inadequate infrastructure and transportation, and socioeconomic and

systemic barriers.

Learners will examine how reduced access to prenatal, obstetric, postpartum, and mental

health services affects physical health, pregnancy-related outcomes, and psychological

well-being. The presentation will also introduce essential health care system components

for evaluating access, including availability, affordability, accessibility, quality, continuity,

and coordination of care.

Finally, the presentation will highlight two successful models of maternal health care

delivery that have improved physical and mental health outcomes in underserved rural

communities. Using these models as a foundation, learners will identify actionable

strategies to expand maternal health access in rural areas of New York State, strengthen

care coordination, and mitigate the risks associated with maternity care deserts.

Andréa Sonenberg, PhD, CNM-BC, FNYAM, FAAN, FNAP is a Clinical Professor in the School of Nursing at Columbis University, Professor Emeritus at Pace UIniversity and a member of the NYS Public Health Assocation Baord where she chairs the Maternal and Child Health Committee.

Microsoft Team

Link will be provided upon registration for the session