"Addressing Mental Health and Neurocognitive Dysfunction in Chronic Homelessness"

Event Date

Location
1130 K Street, Room LL3 and by Zoom webinar
Professor Elizabeth Twamley from UC San Diego

Mental and cognitive health are paramount for sustaining income and independent functioning. This presentation will describe the types, rates, and implications of cognitive and psychiatric impairment in adults who are chronically homeless. Multiple risk factors for cognitive and psychiatric impairment in this population will be discussed (e.g., neurodevelopmental disorders, brain injuries, trauma, stress, serious mental illness, alcohol/substance use, and medical conditions). Recommendations will be outlined for identifying cognitive and psychiatric impairment in homeless services to secure income and reduce homelessness.

Twamley Photo

Dr. Elizabeth Twamley is a neuropsychologist and a Professor of Psychiatry at UC San Diego. Dr. Twamley has a dual appointment with the VA San Diego Healthcare System, where she is a VA Rehabilitation Research and Development Research Career Scientist and the Director of the Clinical Research Unit of the Center of Excellence for Stress and Mental Health. Dr. Twamley’s research has focused on cognitive training and other interventions to improve real world functioning for individuals with severe mental illnesses, traumatic brain injuries, and other cognitive impairments. Dr. Twamley has developed and evaluated Compensatory Cognitive Training (CCT) and Cognitive Symptom Management and Rehabilitation Therapy (CogSMART) with funding from NIH, VA, DoD, NSF, BBRF/NARSAD, and UC San Diego grants. These treatment manuals and other clinical materials are available at no charge on her website, www.cogsmart.com. Dr. Twamley recently completed a clinical trial of CCT for Veterans who were homeless/at-risk and receiving residential mental healthcare. Dr. Twamley’s clinical work involves assessment of cognitive impairments at a homeless shelter medical clinic, and she has published research on cognitive impairments in adults who are homeless.

*This talk will be given as a webinar as well as a limited in-person option.  The link will be provided on Tuesday, January 17th to those that have registered by 5:00pm on Monday, January 16th.*

Please click here for a print friendly flyer.

Please click here to view the PowerPoint presentation.

Please click here for the Policy Brief.

TO REGISTER FOR THE ZOOM WEBINAR, PLEASE CLICK HERE.

TO ATTEND IN PERSON, PLEASE CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.