We are updating our policy and protocol manual for 2025, which will be coming out soon. You may view our 2024 policies – HERE (2024 POLICY & PROTOCOLS) – as it will give you a good idea of our position on a variety of matters to include disclosures, the grievance process, awarding of certificates, and our liability statement.

When you register for our 2025 event (in-person or virtually) you will be agreeing to the terms outlined in our 2025 protocols.

2024 POLICY HIGHLIGHTS

1.1 Conference Registration & Continuing Education Hours

1.1.1: The first step toward noting attendance at all or a portion of the conference requires attendees to sign-in at our registration location. Registration will be done electronically with conference staff being able to sign in attendees using mobile devices. Registration staff will have information pertaining to the day each attendee has signed up to attend. Registration staff will formally sign in each attendee electronically (via mobile device or scanning an attendee ticket). This will serve as the attendee’s official signature. Attendees will be provided with conference information to include a detailed schedule, evaluation forms, and any other subsequent handouts/materials. (Note: We will provide written signature sign-ins for specific professional designations when it is required by the continuing ed approval organizations we have chosen to use.)

1.1.2: NBCC Sign-In Information: The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) requires attendees to sign-in to each session in oder to receive credit hours. We will have NBCC sign-in tables at specific high traffic areas at the venue to obtain your signatures for each session. You MUST sign in for each session to obtain NBCC credits.

1.1.3 PhD/PysD contact hour into: Psychologists are required to check in at the beginning of each day and check out when they leave for the day. These check-in and check-out times will determine the number of contact hours you will be approved for credits. We send this information to MUSC, which manages our continuing education hours for psychologists. They will contact you with a quiz for the conference along with their own evaluation that you must complete before obtaining your CE certificates.

1.1.4: Participants will be recognized as having completed a session or sessions when they complete online or hand written evaluation forms specific to the sessions they attended. They must complete the evaluations in order to receive a Certificate of Completion, which, in most cases, will be emailed to them.

1.1.5: Certificates of Completion will denote the specific credits for each individual based on the number of sessions that individual attended.

1.1.6: Attendees may only receive their Certificate of Completion after a session is completed. Certificates will not be awarded when an individual has attended only a portion of a session.

 

1.2 Conference Grievance Process

1.2.1: The Lowcountry Mental Health Conference is fully committed to conducting all activities in strict conformance with the Ethical Principles of our accrediting bodies that allow us to award continuing education credits. These include The National Board for Certified Counselors, The South Carolina Department of Mental Health’s Center for Evaluation, Training, & Research, the South Carolina Nurses Association, and The Medical University of South Carolina.

1.2.2: The Lowcountry Mental Health Conference will comply with all legal and ethical responsibilities to be non-discriminatory in promotional activities, program content and in the treatment of program participants. The monitoring and assessment of compliance with these standards will be the responsibility of the Conference Director in consultation with the members of the Conference Planning Committee.

1.2.3: While The Lowcountry Mental Health Conference goes to great lengths to assure fair treatment for all participants and attempts to anticipate problems, there will be occasional issues, which come to the attention of the conference staff which require intervention and/or action on the part of the conference staff. This procedural description serves as a guideline for handling such grievances.

When a participant, either orally or in written format, files a grievance and expects action on the complaint, the following actions will be taken.

1) If the grievance concerns a speaker, the content presented by the speaker, or the style of presentation, the individual filing the grievance will be asked to put his/her comments in written format. The Conference Director will then pass on the comments to the speaker, assuring the confidentiality of the grieved individual.

2) If the grievance concerns a presentation offering, its content, level of presentation, or the facilities in which the presentation was offered, the conference director will mediate and will be the final arbitrator. If the participant requests action, the conference director will:
a. provide a credit for a subsequent year’s workshop or
b. provide a partial or full refund of the workshop fee.

Actions 2a and 2b will require a written note, documenting the grievance, for record keeping purposes. The note need not be signed by the grieved individual.

3) If the grievance concerns The Lowcountry Mental Health Conference CE program, in a specific regard, the Conference Director will attempt to arbitrate unless it is determined that the issue at hand is with the specific accrediting body or professional association. In those instances, the Conference Director will refer the grieved individual to that specific entity and will provide the appropriate contacts.

 

1.5 Recording & Pictures

1.5.1 The Lowcountry Mental Health Conference, its contractors, and attending news media may be photographing or videotaping sessions and events at the meeting. By attending The Lowcountry Mental Health Conference, attendees acknowledge these activities and agree to allow their image to be used by The Lowcountry Mental Health Conference in association publications, on the Lowcountry Mental Health Conference website, and in marketing and promotional materials. Attendees at The Lowcountry Mental Health Conference waive all claims against The Lowcountry Mental Health Conference for any liability resulting from these uses.

 

1.6 Health & Safety

1.6.1: Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the focus at the Lowcountry Mental Health Conference has been the health and safety of our attendees, partners, staff, and communities. Vaccinations have reduced many of the COVID-19 guidelines/mandates regarding face masks, social distancing, and travel. In many states and cities, guidelines/mandates have been completely eliminated.
As the Lowcountry Mental Health Conference moves forward with producing live meetings and conferences, we will continue to monitor the continually evolving guidance released by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as all federal, state, and local government mandates, to provide an environment that is as safe as possible for all event participants.
By participating in person, I agree to follow the conference’s health and safety policies as mandated by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the federal, state, and local government.

 

1.8 Liability Statement

1.8.1: I agree and acknowledge that I am undertaking participation in the Lowcountry Mental Health Conference events and activities as my own free and intentional act, and I am fully aware that possible physical injury might occur to me as a result of my participation in these events. I give this acknowledgment freely and knowingly and that I am, as a result, able to participate in the Lowcountry Mental Health Conference events, and I do hereby assume responsibility for my own well-being and safety. The Lowcountry Mental Health Conference plans to take photographs and video material at Lowcountry Mental Health Conference events and reproduce them in the Lowcountry Mental Health Conference educational, news, or promotional material, whether in print, electronic, or other media, including the websites. By participating in the Lowcountry Mental Health Conference events, you grant the Lowcountry Mental Health Conference the right to use your name, photograph, and biography for such purposes. All postings become the property of the Lowcountry Mental Health Conference. Postings may be displayed, distributed, or used by the Lowcountry Mental Health Conference for any purpose. 

Furthermore, I acknowledge the Lowcountry Mental Health Conference’s right to crop, splice, treat, and edit any photographs taken of me at the Lowcountry Mental Health Conference’s sole discretion. I waive my right to inspect or approve the finished product, now and in the future, whether that use is known or unknown to me. 

I hereby agree to release, defend, and hold harmless the Lowcountry Mental Health Conference and its agents or employees, including any company publishing and/or distributing the finished product in whole or in part, from and against any claims, damages or liability arising from or related to the use of the photographs, including but not limited to any misuse, distortion, blurring, alteration, optical illusion, or in the taking, processing, reduction, or production of the finished product, its publication, or distribution.

 

2.0 Accommodations

2.0.1: We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. To be respectful of those with allergies and environmental sensitivities, we ask that you please refrain from wearing strong fragrances. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact us at info@mhheroes.com.

 

2.1 Cancellations

2.1.1: Attendees may cancel their registration prior to May 1, 2024 and receive a full refund. Refunds will not be honored after this date unless under special circumstances. Please contact us at info@mhheroes.com if you have to make such a request.

 

2.2 Acceptance

2.2.1: By registering for and attending the Lowcountry Mental Health Conference events, I hereby agree that I accept the terms stated above and indemnify and hold harmless the Lowcountry Mental Health Conference, its affiliates, and their respective directors, employees, and agents (including , without limitation, any agent acting on its behalf) from and against any and all claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs or debt, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) resulting from attendance at the Lowcountry Mental Health Conference events.

 
Revisions to the Privacy Policy
We may revise this privacy policy at any time in response to changes in the law or other factors. We encourage you to periodically visit this page to review the most current policy.