Voices of a Generation: Equity, Access, and Innovation in Youth Mental Health

CRITICAL ISSUES IN CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH CONFERENCE 2026 

Presents:

Voices of a Generation: Equity, Access,

and Innovation in Youth Mental Health

Friday, May 8, 2026

Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies

University of San Diego

5555 Marian Way, San Diego, CA 92110

A Hybrid Event

The 11th annual CICAMH conference, themed “Voices of a Generation: Equity, Access, and Innovation in Youth Mental Health”, will explore how today’s providers can amplify youth voices while advancing equitable and innovative approaches to care. This year’s theme emphasizes the importance of listening to the lived experiences of young people, promoting inclusive access to services, and reimagining systems that support youth mental health and well-being. The conference will include two keynote presentations and six breakout presentations designed to inspire practical, forward-thinking strategies for providers. Keynotes will focus on addressing burnout within systems of care and organizations, and the evolving intersection between artificial intelligence and mental health practice. Breakout presentations will dive deeper into real-world applications of the theme, including brief solution-focused therapy, supporting youth experiencing suicidality through motivational interviewing to build hope and connection, navigating the middle school years and strengthening parent–youth relationships during this transition, supporting LGBTQ+ youth mental health amidst changing policy landscapes, and a DBT-focused session tailored for children, youth, and families. By centering equity, access, and innovation, this year’s CICAMH conference aims to equip attendees with evidence-based tools and renewed inspiration to foster resilience, inclusion, and healing within youth and their communities.  

Special Thanks to our Collaborators

 County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency, Behavioral Health Services

University of San Diego & Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science

San Diego Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Course Directors and Chairs

Charmi Patel Rao, MD, DFAACAP, Medical Director, Vista Hill Foundation

Carrie Jackson, PhD, Licensed Child Psychologist

Conference Managers

Vanessa Pulido, LMFT, San Diego ACAP

Tami Magaro, San Diego ACAP

2026 Committee Members

Alexis Arias, LMFT, Clinical Director of Children, Youth, and Family Services at CRF

Neha Bahadur, MD, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

Mark Chenven, MD, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, former Executive Medical Director for Vista Hill

Willard Connor, MD, Assistant Professor, UCSD Department of Psychiatry

Pradeep Gidwani, MD, MPH, FAAP, Medical Director, Healthy Development Services, American Academy of Pediatrics, California Chapter 3

Divya Krishnamoorthy, MD, FAPA, President, San Diego Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Katie Lais, DNP, PMHNP-BC, Program Coordinator and Clinical Associate Professor, Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, USD

Kelly McCullough, LCSW, Director, La Jolla Therapy Center

Edith Mohler, Administrative Analyst, County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency

Melanie Morones, MFT, ATR, ECMHS, Early Childhood Mental Health Senior Clinical Program Manager, YMCA San Diego

Aisha Pope, LCSW, Chief Programs Officer, San Diego Center for Children

Jeffrey Rowe, MD, DFAACAP, SDACAP, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

Charlie Benjamin Warter, PsyD, CEO & Co-Founder, Protected Roots Integrative Treatment Center

Katherine Williams, PhD, Child and Adolescent Psychologist, Clinical Professor, Psychiatry, UCSD

Featured Speakers

Sponsors

Gold

The County of San Diego’s Behavioral Health Services (BHS) department provides mental health and substance use disorder services to over 111,000 San Diego County residents of all ages. Services are provided through 9 county-operated programs, over 300 contracts, and 800 individual fee-for-service providers. BHS offers services across the lifespan through coordinated systems of care and embraces Live Well San Diego, the County’s over-arching vision for a region that is building better health, living safely, and thriving.

The University of San Diego's Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science (HSON) is a community of progressive scholars and practitioners in an intellectually rigorous, research-intensive environment. Driven by compassion with action, the HSON will actively support your personal and professional growth. Whether you are interested in beginning your career in healthcare or elevating your nursing career to the next level, the HSON will ensure you graduate ready to provide optimal care in service to the community. We prepare the next generation of nurse scientists, leaders, advanced clinicians, and informaticists to meet humanity's most urgent needs — with compassion and with intellectual rigor.

The mission of the San Diego Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry is to promote the healthy development of children, adolescents, and families through advocacy and education, and to meet the professional needs of child and adolescent psychiatrists in our community.

Silver

The most trusted intensive outpatient clinic in the U.S. Life-changing treatment from home Individually designed care plans Industry-leading outcomes

To enhance and improve the quality of life for families and individuals of all ages by providing an array of mental / behavioral health, educational and social services in a fiscally responsible manner.

At the Y, families enjoy activities together and as individuals, which provides opportunities to grow relationships, explore interests and build healthy habits.

Solving the most important metric in healthcare - Parent Confidence - by empowering parents with a 24/7 Parent Coach-in-your-Pocket, proactively guiding parents through every step of the parenting journey and improving outcomes in development, mental, nutritional and physical health.

On the surface, ROWI is clinician-owned and family-centered, offering IOP, PHP, family therapy, and parent support in small-group settings with high staff-to-child ratios. Dig deeper and you’ll find evidence-based therapies that develop creative, physical, and social skills, helping young people and families build resilience and thrive for a lifetime.

OCD Anxiety Centers exemplify the highest standards in mental health care. Our commitment ensures effective, high-quality treatment for OCD, anxiety, and related diagnoses. Discover the impact of our accredited care on your path to recovery.

Helping create a healthier world. Together, we can build a better healthcare system. For this generation and for the next.

Highest Quality Teen & Adolescent Treatment Centers for Mental Health & Addiction. Supporting Teens and Families with Compassion and Expertise Since 2014. We are a clinician-led organization, and our team of experts are empowered to create individualized treatment plans that deploy a variety of therapies to bring your teen and family to a place where you can thrive together.

UC San Diego Health Eating Disorders Center for Treatment and Research (UCSDH EDC) is a university-based, non-profit, Center of Excellence that serves as an international leader in research, treatment, and teaching. Our mission is to improve the lives of sufferers and their families—both at our facilities and around the world—through the creation, dissemination, and practice of cost-effective, evidence-based treatment.