Advocacy begins with each of us individually, and we have the capacity to impact the culture around us. Maria and Kristy will be addressing what it really means to be an advocate, how to recognize and respond to the needs of others, the meaning behind behavior of populations we serve, and how to positively impact your practice settings to embrace this culture.
8:30 - 9:00 am - Networking
9:00 - 10:00 am - Presentation and Q&A
This is a one hour CEU for social workers and counselors.
About the Presenters
Kristy Matheson, BA, LSW, CDP
Kristy L. Matheson graduated from Wright State University in 1998 with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Social Work. She obtained her Ohio Social Work License in 1998 as well. In her nearly 20 years as a Social Worker, Kristy has positioned herself as an advocate and resource for families and professionals. Kristy has worked in the field of health care for 12 years, and has held positions in a variety of settings to include: hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and hospice. While holding these positions, Kristy has continued to educate herself on the issues effecting the elderly population and the family members who are caring for them.
Kristy is a Certified Dementia Practitioner, and is State of Ohio Social Work Provider for Continuing Professional Education. She has written and trained seminars on topics relating to many different subjects. Kristy leads care giver support groups in different health care locations, and she asked to help train staff members in various locations on issues surrounding Customer Service, Emotional Intelligence, Grief and Loss and Alzheimer’s and Dementia. For the past 11 years, Kristy has had the privilege of working in hospice care and is currently with Affinity Care of Ohio. Kristy lives in Germantown, OH with her husband and three children.
Maria (Martini) Deneau
Born and raised on the west side of Cincinnati! I didn’t stay there, however- I have lived in Miami/ Ft. Lauderdale, Dallas TX, Ft. Hood, TX, Minneapolis, MN, Southwest Michigan and now am back in Cincy.
My Mom suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and I got involved with The Alzheimer’s Association as a public policy advocate in 3 districts between MI and OH, serving as ambassador in Michigan. My curiosity and passion for the toll that dementia takes on the patient and their family (including my own) steered me into long-term care, home health and hospice and now I have landed at The Alois Alzheimer Center as Director of Admissions & Marketing. I am also involved in The Women’s Alzheimer’s Movement, a non-profit started by Maria Shriver and contribute curated articles on occasion, and also serve as one of her ambassadors.
I have a 20 year old son who gives me panic attacks every time he puts his skis on and I love to watch him pursue his dreams in Michigan and out west. I am an avid fan geek of all things “great white shark”, and go cage diving every year at Guadalupe Island which is 260 miles off the coast of Baja, Mexico to experience these creatures in their natural habitat.
I now live with my partner and boyfriend Al in Eden Park and love to hike!
