Critical Issues in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Conference
(CICAMH)
This Year’s Theme:
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
The CICAMH Conference began in 2014 and is dedicated to equipping providers with practical, evidence-based strategies that support the mental well-being of children and adolescents. Designed to foster resilience and strengthen connections within families and communities, the conference highlights innovative approaches to improving outcomes for youth across diverse care settings.
The program features keynote presentations and multiple breakout sessions led by experts in the field, offering insights into emerging research, effective therapeutic interventions, and collaborative care practices. Areas of focus include relationship-building through strengths-based approaches, enhancing caregiver engagement, and exploring creative and technology-informed methods to support mental health.
By bringing together professionals committed to advancing youth mental health, the CICAMH Conference aims to inspire hope, healing, and resilience, empowering providers to better serve young people and their families.
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
Special Thanks to our 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-BC, ECMHS, Senior Clinical Program Manager, YMCA of San Diego County
- 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
Brent Crandal, PhD
Kymberly Garrett, MBA
Jessica Jackson, PhD
Willough Jenkins, BScPharm, MD, FRCPC
Esther Krohner, LMFT
Jeff Rowe, MD
Jessica Silsby, PsyD
Sarah Mugford, LPCC
Stefanie Sugar, PsyD
Sponsors
Gold Exhibitor
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 Exhibitor
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.
We provide personalized telehealth solutions to help patients, anytime and anywhere.
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.