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This version of NSU News has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of NSU News, visit news.nova.edu.
This version of SharkBytes has been archived as of February 28, 2019. To search through archived articles, visit nova.edu/search. To access the new version of SharkBytes, visit sharkbytes.nova.edu.
NSU Hosts Inaugural Broward County Hoarding Task Force Workshop
The Broward County Hoarding Task Force recently held its first interprofessional workshop at the Health Professions Division on NSU’s main campus. The event, which was sponsored by NSU’s Center for Psychological Studies and College of Health Care Sciences, drew nearly 100 people in attendance.
The Broward Hoarding Task Force was formed in April 2010 and is chaired by Michelle Gagnon Blodgett, Psy.D., Department of Geriatrics in the College of Osteopathic Medicine and Center for Psychological Studies. The Task Force is comprised of members from Nova Southeastern University (COM-Geriatrics, Occupational Therapy, Center for Psychological Studies), Barry University, Broward County Animal Care, Broward County Elderly and Veteran Services, Broward Housing Authority, Broward Sheriff Office, Dept. of Children and Families’ Adult Protective Services, Mental Health Association of South Florida, Rebuilding Together, and the University of Miami.
Presenters included NSU Occupational Therapy faculty (Rachelle Dorne and Max Ito), University of Miami psychologist and compulsive hoarding expert (Kiara Timpano), Aging and Disability Resource Center nurse (Gail Norton-Gannotta, LPN CMC), and Department of Children and Families Adult Protective Services Division attorney (Jean Costas, Esq.).
Participants were given an in-depth description of compulsive hoardings, an overview of the Broward Task Force and intraprofessional, multi-stakeholder approaches to this problem, information about the gold standard in working with hoarding patients, including psychological approaches, assessment strategies and safety issues, and legal, ethical and code issues regarding hoarding.
The workshop concluded with a round table panel discussion, represented by the aforementioned presenters along with Jed Siev, NSU psychologist (Center for Psychological Studies).
For more information about the Broward County Hoarding Task Force, click here.