Facilitated Peer Support

WRCAC/NCA Mental Health Peer Consultation Forums

Dates: Thursday, October 22, 2026; Thursday, December 10 2026

Format: Virtual

Description

The Western Regional Children’s Advocacy Center (WRCAC) and the National Children’s Alliance (NCA) host quarterly Zoom-based peer consultation forums to provide CAC mental health clinicians across the country with the opportunity to connect with one another, share resources, and seek guidance on issues of importance. Clinical experts from the National Children’s Alliance and Western Regional Children’s Advocacy Centers are available to answer practice-related questions during the forums.

Each forum starts in a large-group format, and then participants are placed in Zoom breakout rooms of five to six to allow for small group discussions and resource sharing. Participants are encouraged to bring case examples to share in small groups and solicit feedback from peers. At the end, participants are brought back together in one large group for a Q&A with the clinical experts.

Targeted Audience

Mental health clinicians and clinical supervisors serving CAC children and families. CAC clinicians serving rural and frontier communities are strongly encouraged to participate. Participation is open to eligible clinicians and clinical supervisors throughout the US.

Facilitators

- - Liz Filas, WRCAC Mental Health Specialist
  - National Children’s Alliance

Learning Objectives

As a result of this forum, participants will:

1. Gain resources from other clinicians to support their work with children and families
2. Receive informal peer consultation around clinical issues of importance
3. Have the opportunity to share with other clinicians best practices and therapeutic modalities

Schedule

Each session is 1.5 hours long. Participation in all sessions is not required. The upcoming peer consultation forums are scheduled as follows:

Thursday, October 22, 2026 | Sharing the Toolkit: Tools for Engaging Youth in Therapy

- - 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. HST (Hawaii)
  - 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. AKDT (Alaska)
  - 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. PDT/MST (Pacific/Mountain Standard)
  - 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. MDT (Mountain)
  - 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. CDT (Central)
  - 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. EDT (Eastern)

Thursday, December 10, 2026 | Guide to Meeting the Mental Health Standard

- - 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. HST (Hawaii)
  - 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. AKST (Alaska)
  - 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. PST (Pacific)
  - 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. MST (Mountain)
  - 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. CST (Central)
  - 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. EST (Eastern)

How to Register

Join our mailing list to be notified via email when registration opens. Registration for each forum will open separately, 3 weeks before the date.

Questions?

Contact Liz Filas at efilas@rchsd.org.

How you can prepare:

Make sure you have high-speed internet access, a computer or laptop, speakers, a microphone (or a headset), and a web camera. To best facilitate peer conversations, we ask that you keep your camera turned on whenever possible.
To honor the confidentiality of other discussion group attendees, we ask that you participate in a private space or use headphones to limit the broadcast of the discussion.
Prepare your thoughts and comments about the identified topic.
Review the agreements below.

Agreements

Be brief – Investing less time in the back story allows us more time for discussion.
Be mindful of your airtime – Allow everyone to add to the discussion or ask questions.
Be confidential – What is shared here stays here.
Be curious – Use those learner questions – open-ended, open-minded questions that promote discoveries, understanding, and solutions. Start with phrases like “what if….”, “what else….”

Certificate of Attendance

To receive your Certificate of Attendance, you must be present for both the presentation and the Q&A session. The certificate will be provided once you submit your session evaluation, which will be available only at the end of the Q&A.