The Importance of Connection with Terri Keener

Terri Keener, Behavioral Health Coordinator from the Vegas Strong Resiliency Center joined me for an important conversation about the importance of connection for victims and survivors of mass violence. “Healing does not happen in isolation.”

Terri Keener, LCSW, LSCSW
Behavioral Health Coordinator, Division of Child and Family Services
Vegas Strong Resiliency Center

I graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a Master of Science in Social Work and I am professionally licensed as a clinical social worker in Kansas and Nevada.

I am a member of the 2021 cohort of the Jameson Fellowship.

My professional experience includes:
•More than 30 years of experience working with trauma and special needs populations in various communities and settings including child welfare, education, and community based mental health.
•Direct services, supervision, management, consultation, team development, training, program development, grant writing and management, quality assurance, provider vetting, collaborative projects, outreach and media relations.
•Since June 2018, serve as the Behavioral Health Coordinator at the Vegas Strong Resiliency Center, learning about the behavioral health needs of those impacted by mass violence and developing and establishing programming to meet those needs.

Relevant Training:
•EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
•EMDR – Recent Event Protocol
•Member EMDR Trauma Resource Network for Southern Nevada
•Critical Incident Stress Management (Group and Individual)
•NOVA Crisis Response Team Training (National Organization of Victim Assistance)
•Employee Trauma Intervention Program (E-TIP)
•Trauma Recovery Yoga
•Field Based Consultant, Inclusive Network of Kansas, KU Graduate School of Education
•Conference Presentations including:
oImpact of childhood trauma on parenting (National Association of Case Management)
oFacilitating Child and Family Teams (NV Statewide Differential Response Conference)
oSchool-Based Programs and Partnerships (KS Mental Health Services Conference)
oDisaster Behavioral Health (Minnesota Regional Conference)
oUNR Public Health Perspectives Webinar – Impact of Mass Violence
•Strategic Management and Planning Facilitator
•Clark County Leadership Academy
•Georgetown University Leadership Academy

Relevant Accomplishments:
•Establishment of a Peer Support program and Critical Incident Teams for Clark County Department of Family Services
•Vetting and matching of providers for survivors of mass violence in multiple states and Canada
•Implementation of Peer Support groups through NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
•Coordination of volunteer emotional support providers for mass violence anniversary and special events
•Establishment of a network of local and out of area mental health and supportive services providers for those impacted by mass violence and trauma
•Media appearances and development of press release and social media and educational material as Behavioral Health Coordinator at Vegas Strong Resiliency Center
•Organization of various training and information session opportunities for those impacted by mass violence, including responder peer support teams.