August 25, 2026
SIU to host inaugural Southern Illinois Behavioral Health Summit Sept. 24-25
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Southern Illinois University Carbondale will bring together behavioral health professionals, educators, health care providers and other experts for the first Southern Illinois Behavioral Health Summit, Sept. 24-25.
The two-day, in-person continuing education event will connect nationally recognized experts with professionals from across the region working in social work, counseling, nursing, medicine, education, addiction treatment and related fields. Participants can earn up to nine continuing education units. The summit will be in the SIU Student Center.
“Due to the tremendous lack of behavioral health resources in the southern part of the state, it is vital that providers know about the services offered and work collaboratively to achieve the best patient outcomes,” said Joseph J. Harper, an associate lecturer in the social work program in the School of Human Sciences. “I hope that by spotlighting our current services and providing updates on best practices we can continue to build upon the service base and offer state-of-the-art treatment in the region.”
Media availability
Reporters, photographers and news media are invited to attend the inaugural Southern Illinois Behavioral Health Summit, Sept. 24-25, at the SIU Student Center. For more information or to arrange for interviews, contact Joseph J. Harper, an associate lecturer in the School of Human Sciences at 618-954-8825 or joseph.harper@siu.edu.
The summit will offer opportunities to learn about emerging practices, exchange ideas and build professional connections across disciplines. Featured topics will include innovations in treatment, trauma-informed care, mental-health-crisis management, peer services in behavioral health, cultural competency, ethical challenges and strategies for preventing professional burnout. There will also be opportunities to network with colleagues, presenters and behavioral health leaders throughout the summit.
Interdisciplinary focus
Harper said there is “a significant movement” in the behavioral health field toward interdisciplinary collaboration, “which we seek to encourage by including multiple disciplines.”
“It has become increasingly important that we consider input from multiple disciplines to address the needs of complex client situations,” he said. “Being able to address multiple client concerns in one visit greatly increases the likelihood of optimal patient outcomes.”
Nationally recognized presenters
On Sept. 24, Joseph T. Monahan, founder of the Chicago-based Monahan Law Group, LLC, will serve as the summit’s keynote presenter. Monahan, who trained as a social worker before becoming an attorney, has spent decades working on legal issues affecting social workers, behavioral health organizations and their clients. His firm represents numerous hospitals, outpatient mental health clinics, child welfare agencies and social workers throughout Illinois.
On Sept. 25, Onoriode “Dr. Ono” Evwaraye, a licensed therapist and mental health advocate based in Atlanta, is the featured presenter. Evwaraye has more than 20 years of experience in mental health and higher education and has worked with diverse populations in a variety of settings. His areas of expertise include Black mental health, relationships and male and masculinity concerns.
The summit includes multiple breakout sessions highlighting behavioral health research, evidence-based practices and issues affecting professionals and communities. Breakfast and lunch are included with admission.
Two days of learning and networking
Programming begins at 8:45 a.m. both days with check-in, continental breakfast and vendor visits.
The Sept. 24 program includes two keynote sessions with Monahan, breakout sessions, before ending with a networking reception. The Sept. 25 program will feature Evwaraye along with three rounds of breakout sessions and additional opportunities to visit exhibitors and connect with other participants.
Registration underway
Registration is $160 for the full two-day summit, with an $80 one-day registration option; students pay $30 for the summit. Online registration and additional conference information, including the complete schedule, is available through the summit website. Questions about registration may be directed to Harper at joseph.harper@siu.edu.
The Southern Illinois Behavioral Health Summit is coordinated through SIU Events and Outreach. Harper added that Preferra Insurance Company, an insurance company that provides liability insurance for social workers, contributed funding helping to establish the conference.
(Editors note: Onoriode Evwaraye is pronounced Oh-No-De-Oh-Day Eh-wah-rah-ye)