Kara M. Grafft, Director of Quality and Training, Foundation 2 Crisis Services

Katie Curtis, Chief Development Officer, Foundation 2 Crisis Services

The stress cycle refers to the physiological, emotional, and behavioral processes that occur when a person experiences stress, particularly how the body responds to and manages that stress over time. Stress is a natural response to perceived threats or challenges, but when the stress cycle is not effectively managed, it can lead to negative health outcomes. Understanding the stress cycle can help individuals break the cycle of chronic stress and develop healthier coping mechanisms.

Learning Objective #1

Identify the Components of the Stress Cycle: Understand the physiological, emotional, and behavioral processes involved in the body's response to stress and recognize how these elements interact during periods of stress.

Learning Objective #2

Analyze the Impact of Chronic Stress: Explore the consequences of an unmanaged stress cycle on physical and mental health, emphasizing the importance of breaking the cycle to prevent negative health outcomes.

Learning Objective #3

Develop Strategies for Healthy Stress Management: Learn and practice effective coping mechanisms to manage and disrupt the stress cycle, promoting resilience and overall well-being.

Sydney Marshman, CEO & Occupational Therapist, Happy at Home Consulting LLC

Madison Osbern, Occupational Therapy Student, Drake University

Fostering a Caregiver Inclusive Workplace" delves into lessons learned from implementing education programs tailored to support employees who care for older adults. This presentation highlights the unique challenges faced by employee caregivers and demonstrates how targeted education initiatives can enhance their ability to balance caregiving responsibilities with workplace demands. Attendees will learn about effective program design, strategies for engaging caregivers, and the measurable impact of these

initiatives on employee well-being and workplace culture. Discover how fostering caregiver education promotes inclusion, improves retention, and supports the overall health of both employees and their loved ones.

Learning Objective #1

Identify key challenges faced by employees who are caregivers for older adults and their impact on workplace productivity and well- being.

Learning Objective #2

Describe effective strategies for designing and implementing educational programs to support employee caregivers.

Learning Objective #3

Evaluate the outcomes of caregiver education programs and their influence on employee retention, satisfaction, and workplace culture.

Sara Bradshaw, Vice President, Employee Benefits/Shareholder, Holmes Murphy

Keith Duncan, Employee Benefits Consultant, Holmes Murphy

This presentation explores the future of diabetes and weight management, highlighting key advancements that are shaping the landscape of treatment and care. We begin by discussing the latest trends in diabetes management, focusing on innovations like continuous glucose monitoring, insulin pumps, and personalized medicine, which are revolutionizing how diabetes is controlled. The session also delves into the critical link between weight management and diabetes outcomes, examining how strategies such as lifestyle interventions, medical weight loss treatments, and pharmacotherapy can improve glycemic control and reduce complications.

Further, we highlight cutting-edge medications, which are showing promise in addressing both obesity and diabetes.

Finally, we explore the growing role of technology in the management of diabetes and weight, from wearable devices to mobile apps and telehealth, and discuss how these tools are empowering both patients and healthcare providers to make more informed, real-time decisions.

By the end of the presentation, attendees will have a deeper understanding of these emerging trends and how they are paving the way for a more integrated and personalized approach to develop an all-encompassing wellbeing program.

Learning Objective #1

Understand emerging trends in diabetes treatment – Participants will be able to identify key advancements in diabetes management, such as the role of continuous glucose monitoring, insulin technology, and personalized medicine.

Learning Objective #2

Explore the impact of weight management on diabetes outcomes – Attendees will gain insights into how weight management strategies, including lifestyle interventions and pharmacotherapy, can improve diabetes control and reduce the risk of complications.

Learning Objective #3

Examine Data to Drive Program Decisions: Decision makers will better understand how to collect and analyze data to gain insights into employee health trends and program effectiveness.

Learning Objective #4

Navigating You to the Best Wellbeing Solution For Your Employees: Discuss strategies for helping employees make informed healthcare decisions, including how to access appropriate resources and support systems.

Hayl Bergeland, Youth Suicide Prevention Grant Coordinator, Employee and Family Resources

This presentation explores suicide prevention through a health equity lens, focusing on understanding the complex, multifaceted aspects of suicide risk and the social determinants of mental health that contribute to disparities in suicide outcomes. Attendees will gain insights into how factors such as socioeconomic status, race, culture, social environment, and access to healthcare interact to impact and influence suicide risk and prevention efforts.

Participants will learn about suicide as a public health issue and the importance of integrating health equity principles into suicide prevention strategies, with an emphasis on how targeted interventions reduce disparities and provide more effective care to at-risk populations.
The presentation will cover key areas such as:

Suicide Risk Screening: Best practices for identifying individuals at risk for suicide, with a focus on culturally sensitive approaches and tools.

Social Determinants of Mental Health: Examining the structural factors—such as poverty, education, housing, and employment—that impact mental and social health and increase suicide risk.

Equity-Based Prevention Efforts: How organizations and individuals can develop and implement programs that reduce barriers to care and promote access to resources for vulnerable populations.

Community and Systemic Interventions: The role of community-based organizations, healthcare systems, and policymakers in addressing suicide prevention from a health equity standpoint.

Learning Objective #1

Identify the Social Determinants of Mental Health: Participants will be able to recognize how factors such as socioeconomic status, race, culture, and access to healthcare impact suicide risk and contribute to disparities in health outcomes.

Learning Objective #2

Apply Health Equity Principles in Suicide Prevention: Attendees will gain the skills to integrate health equity principles into suicide prevention strategies, ensuring that interventions are inclusive, equitable, accessible, and effective for at-risk populations.

Learning Objective #3

Implement Best Practices for Suicide Risk Screening and Prevention: Participants will learn evidence-based methods for suicide risk screening and prevention, with a focus on community-driven solutions that address barriers to care and support.