Welcome to the first New York State Recovery Ready Workplace Symposium!
We are so glad you are here! The overdose crisis has hit New York State hard! There were 4,233 overdose deaths statewide in 2020, a fourfold increase from 2010 (1074). New York City recently announced 269 overdose deaths among construction workers in 2020. The workplace can play an important role in addressing this crisis. A key component in everyone’s life is employment, often where people spend the majority of their time. Work provides a sense of purpose and a routine, income for food, housing, family support, as well as a social environment. Friends of Recovery-New York helped to initiate the NYS Coalition to Prevent Addiction and Support Recovery in Employment (PARSE). The coalition has been uniting employers, labor unions, not-for-profit organizations, and policy makers to establish recovery ready workplace programs in New York State.
Recovery Ready Workplace (RRW) initiatives have emerged around the U.S. as important interventions in addressing substance use disorder (SUD) and the opioid overdose crisis. A RRW program strives to prevent SUD by creating a healthy and safe workplace, providing support for workers who are struggling, and facilitating opportunities for people in recovery to reenter or enter the workplace. RRW programs are also important to the economy by putting recovery to work and helping businesses realize the related economic benefits of doing so. Between 2009 to 2015, an estimated 225,000 New York workers were lost from the labor market due to opioids. New York’s economy cumulatively lost $179.4 billion in real economic output. Employers who establish RFW programs have saved money due to reduced absenteeism, healthier work environment, greater productivity, lower healthcare costs, greater workplace safety, employee retention, and reduced recruitment and hiring.
THE THREE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF PARSE ARE WELL UNDERWAY:
Establish and build a broad based coalition. PARSE has been holding monthly steering and membership meetings since it was established in February 2022.
1 3 2
Conduct an educational symposium to educate and motivate a broad base of participants on recovery ready workplace initiatives.
Initiate legislation for Recovery Ready Workplaces in NYS that will provide structure and resources so that a broad array of organizations can do the work of outreach, training, certification of employers, and job retention and job placement of people in recovery.
Thank you for being here. We look forward to a stimulating and productive symposium where we can learn from experts and each other.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) states the aims of a recovery-supportive workplace are:
“To prevent workplace factors that could cause or prolong a substance use disorder; and lower barriers to seek and receive care, and in maintaining recovery. A recovery supportive workplace teaches managers and workers about substance use disorders to reduce the stigma around this.”
On August 31, 2022, the White House issued a proclamation during National Recovery Month that included the following:
“We are also advocating for recovery-ready workplace policies across the public and private sectors to promote inclusive hiring, enable employers to assist in the recovery process, and help companies retain talent.”
“To improve outcomes over the long-term, we must recommit to shifting the focus of drug policy from punishment and social exclusion to healing and community reintegration. That is how we will begin to turn the tide, building recovery-ready communities that can effectively respond to and heal from drug use, addiction, and overdose.”
White House National Drug Control Policy, Page 73
SYMPOSIUM OBJECTIVES
After attending the symposium participants will be able to:
1. Explain key components of a recovery ready workplace program.
2. Detail the benefits to employers, labor unions, workers, and communities.
3. Initiate training and education to build support for RRW programs within their organizations.
4. Review the draft NYS RRW legislation so that organizational leaders can consider supporting it.
5. Consider establishing organizational resources to establish RRW programs.
LEAD ORGANIZERS
Allison Weingarten
Andrea West
Anthony Showard
Dr. Angelia Smith-Wilson
Chris Assini
Jennifer Donadio
Jonathan Rosen
Sarah Ahmed
Wilvena Gordon
PROGRAM COMMITTEE
Alison Young
Annette Bernhardt
Brenda Harris-Collins
Carrie Dunn-Herrera
Cristina Dyer-Drobnack
Danielle Ompad
Dean Hale
Emily D’Angelo
Eric Persaud
Jeanette Zoeckler
Julia Fesko
Julie Dostal
Justin Jimenez
Kayla Berretta
Ken Daly
Kitty Gelberg
Kristen Chalmers
Mabel Valencia-Yang
Michael Carpenter
Nydia Hill
Pat Lincourt
Pat McGee
Rachel Cooper
Robert Wright
Sara Bollinger
Sara Couch
Sarah Toledano
Scott Curry
Sean Jones
Stephanie Campbell
Dr. Thaddaeus Brown
Theresa Knorr
DAY 1: MONDAY DECEMBER 4TH, 2023
ESTABLISHING A RECOVERY READY WORKPLACE (RRW) IN NEW YORK STATE
DECEMBER 4TH AND 5TH, 2023
THE DESMOND CROWNE ROYAL HOTEL 660 ALBANY SHAKER RD, ALBANY, NY 12211
REGISTRATION 1:00 PM
PRE-CONFERENCE INSTITUTE 2:00-2:30 PM
OPENING PLENARY SESSION
King Street Ballroom
Welcome: Dr. Angelia Smith-Wilson, EdD
Review Objectives: Chris Assini
Overview of Recovery Ready Workplace Programs: Samantha Lewandowski
BREAK OUT WORKSHOPS
PREVENTION IN THE WORKPLACE
King Street Ballroom Room 2
Lead: Julie Dostal; Co-Presenters: Dr. Joel Bennett, PhD, Dr. Jeanette Zoekler, PhD, Kristen Chalmers
SUPPORTING RECOVERY IN THE WORKPLACE
King Street Ballroom Room 4
Lead: Chris Assini; Co-Presenters: Stephanie Campbell, Kyle Zimmer, Pat Magee, Theresa Knorr, Carrie Dunn-Herrera
2:30-5:00 PM
EMPLOYER ROLE IN ESTABLISHING RECOVERY READY
WORKPLACE PROGRAMS
King Street Ballroom Room 6
Leads: Scott Curry, Michael Carpenter, Jamie Osborne, Dean Hale
LABOR ROLE IN ESTABLISHING RECOVERY READY WORKPLACE PROGRAMS
King Street Ballroom Room 8
Lead: Jonathan Rosen; Co-Presenters: Brendan Loftus, Steve Romero
BUILDING ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY TO FACILITATE
ESTABLISHMENT OF RRW PROGRAMS: Town Hall
Lead: Sam Lewandowski; Co-Presenters: Cristina Dyer-Drobnack, Tyler Menach, Terence Daly
RECEPTION
Courtyard 5:00 -6:00 PM
Song, “Summer’s End”, Jonathan and Annie Rosen
Brendan Loftus, International Union of Elevator Constructors, Local 1
Member Assistance & Education Program Director
Johanne Morne, NYS DOH Deputy Commissioner
Brenda Harris-Collins, NYS OASAS Recovery Bureau
Lauren Wood, Appalachian Regional Commission
Nathalia Fernandez, Chair, Senate Alcoholism and Substance Use Disorders Committee
Michael Carpenter, Employer Perspective
DAY 2: TUESDAY
DECEMBER 5TH, 2023
ESTABLISHING A RECOVERY READY WORKPLACE (RRW) IN NEW YORK STATE
DECEMBER 4TH AND 5TH, 2023
THE DESMOND CROWNE ROYAL HOTEL 660 ALBANY SHAKER RD, ALBANY, NY 12211
INTRODUCTIONS, OBJECTIVES, 9:00-9:15AM
STIGMATIZING LANGUAGE, AND OVERVIEW FOR THE DAY
King Street Ballroom
Allison Weingarten and Dr. Danielle Ompad, PhD
OPENING PLENARY
King Street Ballroom
INSPIRATIONAL MESSAGE: POWER OF THE STORY
Steve Romero and Cody Nagle
OVERVIEW ON THE SCIENCE OF ADDICTION
Theresa Knorr
FEDERAL PERSPECTIVES ON RECOVERY
Dr. Casey Chosewood, MD, NIOSH
9:15–10:30AM
SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM IN NYS: NYSDOH AND PARSE RESEARCH WORKGROUP
Dr. Lucila Zamboni, PhD and Dr. Jeanette Zoeckler, PhD
NIEHS WTP OPIOID TRAINING
Dr. Eric Persaud, Dr. P.H.
PUT RECOVERY TO WORK
Gino Macchio Foundation- Terence Daly
VISION FOR NEW YORK STATE
Jonathan Rosen
MORNING BREAK, VISIT EXHIBITORS 10:30-10:45AM BREAK OUT WORKSHOPS 10:45-12:15PM
(See Day 1 Breakout Workshops and Room Assignments)
LUNCH, King Street Ballroom 12:15-1:15PM BREAK OUT WORKSHOPS 1:15-2:45PM
(See Day 1 Breakout Workshops and Room Assignments)
AFTERNOON BREAK AND SNACK, VISIT EXHIBITORS 2:45–3:00PM
CLOSING PLENARY STATE OF RFW - ACTION PLANNING 3:00-3:25PM King Street Ballroom
RFW NATIONAL SURVEY RESULTS, RECOMMENDATIONS
Allison Weingarten
NYS RFW PROPOSED LEGISLATION
Jonathan Rosen, Chris Assini
PEER TRAINING OPTIONS
Ruth Riddick
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSIONS AND REPORT OUT 3:25–4:20PM
CLOSING REMARKS 4:20-4:30PM
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
VIP SPONSOR
• New York State Department of Health
AMBASSADOR LUNCH SPONSOR
• New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports
SUPPORTING SPONSOR
• WDI
PLATINUM SPONSOR
• Velocity Group
GOLD SPONSORS
• Northeast Group
• MDB, Inc.
• New York State Laborers Health and Safety Trust Fund
• Healthcare Education Project (1199SEIU/GNYHA)
• Emergent
FRIEND OF PARSE SPONSOR
• Rochester & Genesee Valley Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO
• IUEC Local 1
• CWA Local 1168
RECOVERY CENTER TABLE
• MRP Solutions
• Kitty Gelberg
• NENYCOSH
• HFM Prevention Council/Rob Constantine
• FCA Family and Children’s Association
• Recoveries R Us
• NYSARR
IN KIND CONTRIBUTORS
• Friends of Recovery- New York
• NYAPRSS
• Gino Macchio Foundation
THANK YOU TO OUR FRIENDS AND COLLABORATORS
• NIOSH
• NIEHS Worker Training Program and the National Clearinghouse for Worker Safety & Health Training
• Healthy Capital Region
• Emblem Health@Work
• ASAP NYS/The NYS Certification Board
Promoting Health Reducing Harm Fighting Stigma
Pursuing Equity
hikma. Community Health is proud to support the PARSE Coalition and applauds your incredible work and first symposium.
Emergent develops, manufactures, and delivers protections against public health threats through a portfolio of vaccines and therapeutics worldwide. As part of our mission to protect and enhance life, we maintain a critical role in fighting the ongoing opioid crisis as the manufacturer of NARCAN® Nasal Spray.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Marlene G. Sanders, MBA Director, Community Health Solutions New
York & New Jersey
Congratulations to the PARSE Coalition on hosting the first Recovery Ready Workplace New York Symposium!
MDB, Inc. proudly supports the movement to transform workplaces into key players addressing substance use disorders and mental health crises nationwide.
MDB, Inc. is a consulting firm with expertise in workplace safety, hazardous materials, substance use disorder & the workplace, infectious diseases, and environmental exposure research.
For two decades, MDB, Inc. has worked to strengthen occupational safety and health for diverse stakeholders by providing strategic communication, data science & management, education & training, event management, program management, and web & database application development services. Learn
at www.michaeldbaker.com.
OUR MISSION
OUR VISION
NYSARR envisions all persons in recovery across the state of New York having access
WORKSHOPS
PREVENTION IN THE WORKPLACE
Lead: Julie Dostal
Objectives: After attending participants will be able to:
• Address how occupational injury, stress and burnout may impact worker mental health and lead to substance misuse from prescription opioids or self-medication with substances.
• Describe systems to assist injured workers in avoiding opioid misuse, seeking alternative pain treatment, and return to work programs.
• Discuss the impact of stigma and key elements of supportive workplace practices, drug and alcohol programs and policies.
SUPPORTING RECOVERY IN THE WORKPLACE
Lead: Chris Assini
Objectives: After attending participants will be able to:
• Detail key steps in supporting current workers who are struggling and hiring people in recovery.
• Explain the importance of developing peer networks, member assistance programs, and accessing certified peers in the workplace to support workers who are struggling with substance use/mental health issues.
• Review key steps in establishing naloxone programs in the workplace.
• Advocate for the importance of developing relationships with treatment and recovery community organizations.
• Review the lifesaving role of harm reduction programs.
• Describe the benefits to employers including reduced absenteeism, healthcare costs, injuries, etc.
EMPLOYER ROLE IN ESTABLISHING RECOVERY READY WORKPLACE PROGRAMS
Lead: Scott Curry
Objectives: After attending participants will be able to:
• Describe what a RRW looks like.
• Outline the key steps for establishing a RRW
• Define the importance of leadership, supervisor, and worker training.
• Discuss how to overcome the impact of stigma and punitive drug and alcohol policies.
• Promote access to the NYS tax incentive from OASAS.
LABOR ROLE IN ESTABLISHING RECOVERY READY WORKPLACE PROGRAMS
Lead: Jonathan Rosen
Objectives: After attending participants will be able to:
• Advocate for labor union and worker participation in establishing RRW programs, including role of safety and health and labor/management committees.
• Outline the importance of establishing member assistance and effective EAP programs.
• Describe steps in overcoming stigma and getting people to talk about the uncomfortable issues of substance use, mental health, and suicide.
• Make the case with management on initiating a RRW program.
• Access the CHAMP Program.
BUILDING ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY TO FACILITATE ESTABLISHMENT OF RRW PROGRAMS
Lead: Sam Lewandowski
Objectives: After attending participants will be able to:
• Build a coalition of interested organizations
• Describe potential sources and steps in establishing resources and staffing
• Review the important role of Recovery Ready Advisors
• Explain the role of Outreach, Training, Certification, Job Placement in helping employers achieve RRW status
• Outline key elements in program Management and Evaluation
SYMPOSIUM
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
To help maintain consistency across a number of diverse organizations and build a common foundation from which to work, we offer the following definitions for key concepts relevant to the symposium. We recognize that not everyone may agree with these definitions and the complex issues that underlie them. However, we ask that there be an understanding to use and acknowledge these definitions for the duration of the symposium so that we may direct our energy toward developing solutions rather than debating the specifics of highly complex terms.
ADDICTION
Addiction is a severe substance use disorder, characterized by changes in the brain leading to increasing inability to control or discontinue substance use despite severe, harmful consequences.
DEATHS OF DESPAIR
Deaths by drug, alcohol, and/or suicide.
DISEASE MODEL OF ADDICTION
Classifies addiction as a disease. There are several “disease models,” but addiction is a complex disease with biological, neurobiological, genetic, and environmental influences.
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP) OR MEMBER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (MAP)
EAPs and MAPs provide employees with free and confidential assessments, short-term counseling, referrals, and follow-up services.
HARM REDUCTION
Practices that aim to reduce the harms associated with the use of alcohol or other drugs.
MEDICATION ASSISTED TREATMENT (MAT) OR MEDICATIONS FOR ADDICTION TREATMENT
A type of treatment that combines medication and various types of counseling to treat substance use disorders. Medications to treat opioid use disorders include methadone, naltrexone, and buprenorphine. Medications are also available to treat alcohol use disorders, including disulfiram, naltrexone, and acamprosate. Medications are one component of a comprehensive treatment plan.
MUTUAL HELP ORGANIZATIONS/PEER SUPPORT GROUPS
• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)
• Narcotics Anonymous (NA)
• Marijuana Anonymous (MA)
• Cocaine Anonymous (CA)
• Smart Recovery
NALOXONE
• All Recovery Groups
• Celebrate Recovery
• LifeRing
• Women For Sobriety
• Other online forums.
• For family members and friends mutual help organizations include:
• Al-Anon
• Nar-Anon
• Learn2Cope
An opioid antagonist that works by blocking opioid receptors in the brain. Brand name: Narcan.
PEER MENTOR OR RECOVERY COACH
Typically, a non-clinical peer support specialist operating within a community or clinical organization and may be a paid or volunteer position.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
PERSON-FIRST LANGUAGE
Person-first language articulates that the disease is a secondary attribute and not the primary characteristic of the individual’s identity.
PUBLIC HEALTH MODEL OF PREVENTION
• Primary prevention: Prevent disease before it ever occurs.
• Secondary prevention: Detect disease early and prevent it from getting worse.
• Tertiary prevention: Reduce the impact of an ongoing disease to help prevent long lasting impacts.
STIGMA
The negative social attitude attached to a characteristic of an individual that may be regarded as a mental, physical, or social deficiency. A stigma implies social disapproval and can lead unfairly to discrimination against and exclusion of the individual.
SUBSTANCE USE
Any use of a psychoactive substance, including one-time use.
SUBSTANCE MISUSE
The use of any psychoactive substance that causes harm to the user or individuals around them. In some scenarios, any use constitutes misuse, such as intravenous drug use or underage drinking. Substance misuse is a broad category, and misuse alone is not sufficient to constitute an addiction or a disorder.
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER
A medical illness characterized by repeated misuse of a substance or substances. According to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), substance use disorders are characterized by clinically significant impairments in health and social function, along with impaired control over substance use, and are diagnosed by assessing cognitive, behavioral, and psychological symptoms. Substance use disorders range from mild to severe and from temporary to chronic. They typically develop gradually over time with repeated misuse, leading to changes in brain circuits governing incentive salience (the ability of substance-associated cues to trigger substance seeking), reward, stress, and executive functions like decision making and self-control. Multiple factors influence whether and how rapidly a person will develop a substance use disorder. These factors include the substance itself; the genetic vulnerability of the user; and the amount, frequency, and duration of the misuse. Note: A severe substance use disorder is commonly called an addiction.
SUICIDE
Suicide is defined as death caused by self-directed injurious behavior with intent to die as a result of the behavior. A suicide attempt is a non-fatal, self-directed, potentially injurious behavior with intent to die as a result of the behavior, though a suicide attempt might not result in injury. Suicidal ideation refers to thinking about, considering, or planning suicide.
CONSIDER PARTICIPATING IN OUR
We are setting up interviews and focus groups with professionals who are interested in developing workplace “recovery friendly” or “recovery ready” programs in the State of New York.
Programs involving peer advocacy are rarely formally documented. Our goals are to discover incentives and obstacles to establishing workplace recovery programs and how they may best support workers’ mental and physical health.
Our goals are to discover how the workplace recovery programs may best support workers’ mental and physical health.
- Best practices for starting and maintaining programs.- What circumstances cause the programs to flourish well.- Specific challenges and barriers.- Unique achievements.- How NYS policy might be better informed.Study
WORDS MATTER USING PEOPLE FIRST NON-STIGMATIZING LANGUAGE
Talking to and about an individual with a substance use disorder means seeing them as a person battling a severe illness. Our words reflect our thinking and make a profound difference in the outcome of care. Choose to inspire and support those with substance use disorders by reducing stigmatizing language.
WORDS TO AVOID WORDS TO USE INSTEAD X
• Addicts
• User
• Abuser
• Junkie
• Drug Habit
• Abuse
• Problem
• Clean
• Former/Reformed Addict
• Dirty
• Clean Drug Screen
• Dirty Drug Screen
• Substitution or Replacement Therapy
• Relapse
• Person with Opiod/Substance Use Disorder
• Person who uses drugs
• Opiod/Substance Use Disorder
• Misuse, harmful use
• Regular, risky, unhealthy, or heavy use
• Person in recovery
• Abstinent
• Actively Using
• Testing negative for substance use
• Testing positive for substance use
• Treatment or medication for addiction
• Resumed
• Recurrence of symptoms
PARSE MEMBERS AND SPEAKERS
ALLISON WEINGARTEN
Allison Weingarten works for MDB, Inc. supporting the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences Worker Training Program, focusing on training workers, supervisors, and employers on preventing addiction and supporting workers in recovery in the workplace. Allison is a co-founding member of the NYS Coalition to Prevent Addiction and Support Recovery in Employment (PARSE). She previously served as Director of Policy for Friends of Recovery-New York. Allison is a trained social worker and has experience in the NYS legislature and State Government.
DR. ANGELIA SMITH WILSON
Dr. Smith-Wilson has over 20 years of human service and addiction experience and currently serves as the Executive Director of Friends of Recovery-New York. Angelia’s career spans across working with human service agencies that have served individuals with mental health, substance use, residential, and homeless issues. She has worked as an intensive case manager, a primary therapist, a director of client services and eventually progressing to level of vice president throughout the greater Rochester area. Angelia has centered her career around improving treatment outcomes for those in recovery, as well as exploring research designed at substance use counselor development. Her doctoral dissertation, entitled, “Examining the Relationship between the Substance Abuse Counselor Knowledge of the Models of Disability and their self-assessment of cultural competence working with the Deaf Sign Language User,” afforded her the opportunity to learn and study addictions from the counselor’s perspective, with efforts of providing guidance in the area of diversity and inclusion in counselor development. Dr. Smith-Wilson has a B.S. in Psychology from SUNY Brockport, Master of Social Work from Roberts Wesleyan College and a Doctorate in Education from St. John Fisher College. Dr. Smith-Wilson is adjunct faculty at the School of Social Welfare, Graduate MSW Program, University of Albany, where she teaches Macro Practice Social Work in the MSW program and a variety of undergraduate courses. Angelia is currently a member of Black Faces, Black Voices, and on the national CAPRRS Advisory Committee for Faces and Voices of Recovery. She is also a founding board member of Girls Beyond Inc.
BRENDA HARRIS-COLLINS
Brenda Harris-Collins works in the Division of Addiction Treatment and Recovery (ATAR) for New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS). Brenda is the Director of the Recovery Bureau where she oversees New York States Recovery Community Outreach Centers (RCOC’s), Peer Integration, Peer Engagement Specialist services, the proposed regulation for the voluntary certification of Recovery Residences, Recovery Ready Workplace development and the overall NYS recovery agenda. She is working diligently in her position to assure that Recovery Oriented Systems of Care (ROSC) and Recovery Support Services continue to flourish in the State of New York. Brenda is a Trauma Informed Care Champion and, on the Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Council at NYS OASAS promoting the transformation of OASAS and the provider system. Brenda brings to the Recovery Bureau 36 plus years in the field of Addiction, 15 years focusing on ROSC and being a Recovery Coach for approximately 13 years. Brenda is a family member in recovery and is passionate about recovery services for women and faith as a pathway to recovery.
PARSE MEMBERS AND SPEAKERS
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BRENDAN LOFTUS
Brendan Loftus is the Director of the International Union of the Local One International Union of Elevator Constructors of New York and New Jersey Member Assistance and Education Program. The program was created to help any member or family member struggling with substance abuse disorder or any mental health issues. Brendan is Labor Assistance ProfessionalCertified, a Mental Health First Aid Trainer, an OSHA Trainer/CPR Trainer, and a National Elevator Industry Education Program Trainer. Brendan has been in the industry for 30 years and has served on the executive board for the last 13 years. Brendan is a combat veteran who served in the United States Navy from 1988-1993. Brendan was a member of Local 40 Iron Workers from 1986-1988. Brendan is happily married for 25 years, has three children and has been in recovery for 25 years. Brendan’s mission is to educate and help change the culture, break the stigma in the construction industry pertaining to mental health and substance use disorder. Brendan provides resources to members and their families in need.
CARRIE DUNN-HERRERA
Carrie is an Assistant Director of Health Promotion at the Healthy Capital District, an Albany nonprofit that works to increase access to coverage, provides health planning and workforce expertise, and supports health prevention programs across the Capital Region. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Prevention Council of Saratoga County and the Healing Springs Recovery Community and Outreach Center.
Carrie works closely with the leadership of Capital Region hospital systems, health departments, and community-based organizations on addressing and preventing overdoses related to substance use disorder (SUD) via the use of Medication Assisted Recovery (MAR) as well as integrating peers into their patient/community care. Most recently, she has developed a 3-month Professional Development Peer Support Program to enhance and grow the peer workforce in multiple settings. In her current role, she has developed a Recovery Resource Guide based on the 8 dimensions of wellness, hosted and developed several presentations and programs that support the invaluable work of certified peers; was the November 2022 Peer Recovery Center of Excellence Stakeholder of the Month; and implemented a webpage dedicated to the ongoing professional development of community health workers and certified peers. Carrie has presented at several conferences and task forces, and was selected as a panelist for the 2023 SAMHSA ORN Regional Summit to share her experience with Recovery Oriented Systems of Care, a key presenter at the 2018 NYS Department of Health State-Wide Conference on, Community Level Strategies: Confronting the Opioid Epidemic, as well as a presenter at the 2019 NYS Public Health Association Annual Conference where she presented on Partnering with Our Community to Save Lives: A Multi Sectoral Collaboration Approach. Carrie has also been awarded several grants to prevent and address substance use disorder, including a 2018 Alliance for Better Healthcare “Disruptive Innovation” award to recruit, retain, and implement peers. Carrie holds a MS in Health Promotion with a Community Health Education and Workplace Wellness major and a BA in Behavioral Science with a Positive Psychology major. She also attained an International Coaching Federation and National Board for Health and Wellness Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Health and Wellness Coaching, and is a Certified Addiction and Recovery Coach.
PARSE
MEMBERS AND SPEAKERS
CHRIS ASSINI
Christopher hails from the New York State Senate, where he worked in Senate Revision. There, he was an essential member of the team, analyzing, verifying and approving legislation for introduction for all members of the Senate. His position was integral on budgetary and legislative matters, in a bi-partisan fashion, allowing him to formulate working relationships with Senators and staff as well as different divisions of government. Christopher is no stranger to advocacy, having developed and planned advocacy campaigns for a local nonprofit based in Albany where he was Program Manager prior to his work in the NYS Legislature. As Program Manager, he founded and led a steering committee which helped foster advocacy while promoting empowerment for individuals with disabilities.
He was responsible for all advocacy efforts and planned many advocacy events, including lobby days at the capitol.
Advocating for recovery efforts is not only extremely important to Christopher, but it is personal. Christopher is in long term recovery and credits a wonderful support system and access to resources as critical to his recovery. Personally, he is a graduate of the University at Albany, loves his dogs, is an avid hiker and weather watcher. He is honored to be part of the effort to make sure that everyone has access to recovery in their own way.
CODY NAGLE
Cody Nagle is a woman in long term recovery from opioid use disorder. She is a passionate advocate for criminal justice reform, stigma reduction, second chance hiring, and recovery supports in the workplace. Over the past 11 years, Cody has worked tirelessly to overcome stigma from a lengthy criminal record related to her substance use including discrimination from employers, schools and housing. Most recently Cody led public engagement efforts for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy where she used her lived experience to advise on issues from harm reduction, treatment, prevention, and recovery. She recently completed her Juris Doctorate at Syracuse University which she plans to use in service to the harm reduction and recovery communities. Currently, Cody is consulting with Global Recovery Initiatives Foundation to launch the National Recovery Friendly Workplace Institute. Cody lives in Norfolk, Virginia with her husband, who is an active duty sailor in the US Navy, and their three children.
CRISTINA DYER-DROBNACK
Cristina Dyer-Drobnack is Public Policy and Program Director for the New York State Association of County Health Officials. Cristina joined NYSACHO in 1994 and is the longest tenured professional staff person at the association. Cristina’s provides in-depth knowledge of all core public health services, including analysis of annual state budget, legislation, and proposed regulatory changes that impact public health policy and local health department funding and operations. Cristina provides technical
PARSE MEMBERS AND SPEAKERS
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SYMPOSIUM BIOGRAPHIES
assistance to local health departments on state public health statute and regulations. She plays a lead role in the development, planning, direction, and supervision of education and public health leadership programs for all local health officials and LHD staff and supervises staff for NYSACHO’s Harm Reduction, Climate Change and Public Health workforce training contracts. Cristina is the association’s lead staff person for NYSACHO’s Workforce/ Funding, Environmental Health, and Rural committees. She is committed to supporting local health departments in their work to promote health and wellness and prevent disease, disability and injury and reduce preventable deaths throughout New York State.
Cristina earned her BA in History from Lenor-Rhyne University and her MS in Organizational Management from Antioch University, New England. She is an empty nester with a college age daughter and lives with her husband, Jason, and their English Springer Spaniel, Harper, in Schoharie County.
DR. DANIELLE OMPAD
Dr. Danielle Ompad is an epidemiologist whose work is focused in the areas of urban health, HIV, illicit drug use, and adult access to vaccines. With respect to illicit drug use, her work has spanned the entire natural history of addiction – from initiation to cessation, with particular attention paid to risk for infectious diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B and C, and STIs. She has primarily worked with people who use heroin, crack, cocaine, and/or club drugs.
In New York City, she has been examining heroin cessation among current, former, and relapsed heroin users. Working with Alliance for Public Health and the Ukrainian Institute on Public Health Policy, she analyzes harm reduction service utilization among people who inject drugs, in order to optimize service delivery in Ukraine. Since 2013, she has served as faculty for the Fogarty-funded New York State International Training and Research Program with the goal of building research capacity in Ukraine.
Dr. Ompad’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases-funded study aims to determine if herpes simplex 1 and 2 infections explain racial disparities in HIV incidence among a cohort of young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (YMSM). In addition, Dr. Ompad and colleagues are assessing HPV infection prevalence, persistence, and clearance among this same cohort.
DEAN HALE
Dean Hale has worked within the Bureau of Training and Development for NYS OASAS as a Training Specialist-2 Addictions since January 2019. He has overseen the NYS Recovery Friendly Workplace Tax Credit Initiative since 2020. Prior to working at OASAS Dean has worked for over 15 years in many different modalities of treatment for substance use disorders as well as in the capacity as a Recovery Coach. As a person in long-term recovery himself, he has witnessed both personally and professionally the instrumental part securing employment has in someone’s recovery, the strong work ethic people in recovery bring to the workforce, and the asset they become to their employers.
PARSE MEMBERS AND SPEAKERS
DR. ERIC PERSAUD
SYMPOSIUM BIOGRAPHIES
Dr. Eric Persaud is a Health Specialist in the Worker Training Program (WTP) of the Division of Extramural Research and Training (DERT) at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). The NIEHS Worker Training Program is an innovative program that supports development and delivery of safety and health training programs for workers involved in hazardous waste cleanup and emergency response throughout the nation. Training is delivered by universities, unions, community colleges, and nonprofit organizations who are funded through cooperative agreements with the NIEHS Worker Training Program.
As a Health Specialist, Dr. Persaud is primarly responsible for supporting evaluation efforts, fostering communication of the program, serving as an editor and writer in major documents and reports, and administering and analyzing grants and contracts related to the extramural training program. Prior to joining NIEHS, Dr. Persaud evaluated multiple initatives as a contractor to NIEHS, starting with the NIEHS WTP Opioids and the Workplace training program in 2019. He responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by providing expertise in evaluation and contributed to analysis regarding environmental justice activities.
Prior to joining NIEHS, he worked as a geologist and HAZMAT laborer, receiving his initial occupational health and safety training from a NIEHS WTP grantee in 2013.
Persaud received his Doctorate in Public Health from the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, his Master of Environmental Assessment from North Carolina State University, and his Bachelor of Science in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences from City College of New York. He is a member of the Delta Omega Honorary Public Health Society and an inaugural recipient of the School of Public Health Lenard & Christine Szarek Fellowship Award.
JAMIE OSBORNE
Jamie C. Osborne, MPH, CHES® is a Public Health Analyst and Certified Health Education Specialist on contract with the Office of the Director at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). In this role, Jamie works to advance the NIOSH substance use prevention and recovery portfolio. She provides guidance and leadership for the NIOSH effort to define and promote Workplace Supported Recovery, an initiative informed by Total Worker Health® principles and designed to prevent exposure to workplace factors that could cause or perpetuate a substance use disorder while lowering barriers to workers seeking care, receiving care, and maintaining recovery and employment. Jamie also supports NIOSH efforts on multiple interagency working groups to identify, drive, and promote the adoption of recovery-ready workplace policies and to develop, prioritize, and coordinate the implementation of a federal recovery research agenda across agencies.
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DR. JEANETTE ZOECKLER, PHD, MPH
Dr. Jeanette Zoeckler, PhD, MPH is Director of the Occupational Health Clinical Center, SUNY Upstate Medical University. Her public health practice engages the community in the design and implementation of collaborative initiatives. She has focused on low-wage workers and workers at high risk for occupational exposure. She raises awareness about hazardous workplace conditions and strives to stimulate the social and political changes required to advance healthy work.
Her research focuses on occupational health inequities. She has published on work-related stressors, return-to-work, low-wage work conditions, home care work policy, work and aging, and occupational epidemiology.
She completed her MPH from SUNY Upstate Medical University (2011) and her PhD in Social Science at Syracuse University (2017). Jeanette can be reached at zoecklej@upstate.edu or (315) 380-7512.
DR. JOEL BENNETT
Dr. Bennett is the founder/CEO of Organizational Wellness & Learning Systems (OWLS), whose mission is to catalyze healthy work cultures from the inside out with science. Founded in 1990, OWLS has received close to $6 Million in funding to design, deliver, and evaluate workplace programs to support the well-being of employers and employees. The effectiveness of these programs has been recognized by independent evaluators, including the U.S. Surgeon General. Dr. Bennett has trained over 500 facilitators, leaders, and coaches in his “Resilience-to-Thriving” and related methodologies, and his teachings have reached close to 250,000 workers worldwide. He is the author/co-author of six books, including “Heart-Centered Leadership,” “Raw Coping Power,” “Well-Being Champions,” and “Your Best Self at Work,” and also has over 30 scientific articles published in peer-review journals. OWLS clients have included corporations, military, healthcare, school districts, hospitality, municipalities, governmental agencies, small and large business, and nonprofits. Current and past clients have included TGI Fridays, Owens Corning, ACEC, and The National Guard. Dr. Bennett was previously on the Academy of Management’s “Spirituality and Religion Interest Group (MSR)” board and on the Board of Directors for the National Wellness Institute (NWI). He provides key-note speaking throughout the country and continues to train coaches and facilitators in a variety of team (culture of health) and resilience workshops. Dr. Bennett has a strong interest in the relationship between time and spiritual health and conducts related workshops and retreats. In 2022, the National Wellness Institute acknowledged Dr. Bennett with the William B. Baun Lifetime Achievement Award. He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Philosophy from State University of New York (Purchase) and his MA and Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of TexasAustin. He is a Certified Wellness Practitioner and a Certified Health and Wellness Coach. Dr. Bennett currently resides near water in Texas in the Dallas Fort Worth area.
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JOHANNE MORNE
Johanne E. Morne (she, her, hers) is currently the Acting Executive Deputy Commissioner for the NYS Department of Health. In this role, Ms. Morne is responsible for the administrative, operational, and programmatic oversight of the Department. Prior to this position, Ms. Morne served as the Deputy Commissioner, Office of Health Equity and Human Rights for the New York State Department of Health (Department). Ms. Morne was appointed in August 2022 to establish the new Office and serve as a member of the Department’s Executive Leadership Team. Ms. Morne has been with the Department for 16 years. Most of those years were in the AIDS Institute, serving as the Director from 2016 - 2022. Ms. Morne has long history of working in public health. Prior to coming into state government Ms. Morne worked in community-based settings that provided access to care and support to individuals under and uninsured. Regardless of her title, her priorities remain the same – the advancement of equity, social justice, and trauma informed care. Her best advice is only a brief two words - ‘be nice’.
JONATHAN ROSEN
Jonathan is the Principal Consultant for AJ Rosen & Associates LLC, providing occupational safety and industrial hygiene services to labor unions, government agencies, and organizations throughout the U.S. Jonathan works for the National Clearinghouse for Worker Safety & Health Training, National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences Worker Education and Training Program. In that capacity he has developed worker and leadership training programs on resilience, stress, trauma, opioids and the workplace, and infection prevention and control. Jonathan served as Director of the Occupational Health & Safety Department for NYS Public Employees Federation, AFL-CIO for 22 years. Jonathan has been co-investigator on several federal NIOSH intervention research grants. Jonathan completed a master’s degree in industrial health at the University of Michigan and is a Certified Industrial Hygienist.
JULIE DOSTAL
Julie Dostal is the executive director of the LEAF Council on Alcoholism and Addictions and has been with the organization since 1998. Julie is a trusted leader and recognized authority, both locally and nationally, on topics ranging from substance abuse prevention, addiction science, workplace wellbeing, community coalition building, and public policy advocacy. Julie is currently on the Board of Directors of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency (NCADD) and is a former Adjunct Instructor at SUNY Oneonta. She has been recognized for her efforts through her selection as a New York State Woman of Distinction, by Senator James Seward, A Hometown Oneonta Person of the Year, and as a 60th Anniversary Award recipient from the Otsego County Jail Ministry. At the heart of her work is the encouraging message, “Addiction is a preventable, treatable disease from which people can and do recover.”
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KRISTEN CHALMERS
SYMPOSIUM BIOGRAPHIES
Kristen Chalmers has been a licensed social worker for more than two decades. She worked as an Assistant Professor at Roberts Wesleyan University (RWU) for 11 years. During her tenure at RWU, she taught more than 20 distinct social work courses and was the Program Coordinator and lead instructor for a cohort of Ultra-Orthodox Jewish students in Brooklyn, NY. Kristen has worked in Occupational Social Work at the University of Rochester for nearly 9 years. Her position encompasses micro, mezzo, and macro social work functions, which includes providing support to individual patients and the delivery of occupational health outreach and education. Kristen develops trainings and presentations on occupational health topics such as stress, burnout, resilience, and workplace bullying. She has presented at local, state, and national conferences on occupational health issues. Kristen engages in peer-review writing and publication. In addition, she is involved in community partnerships, boards, committees, and coalitions to promote outreach on occupational exposure prevention. She serves as a representative of Finger Lakes Occupational Health Services (FLOHS) for the statewide Occupational Health Clinic Network (OHCN). She collaborates to develop materials for select and targeted populations to prevent psychosocial occupational exposures in at-risk, underserved populations. Kristen is passionate about occupational health and wellness and is an active member of the NY State Preventing Addiction and Supporting Recovery in Employment (PARSE) Coalition. She works part-time at a small group psychotherapy practice where she provides individual counseling and EAP services. She is also an adjunct professor at RWU. When she is not working, Kristen loves spending time her husband, their six children, and their three dogs.
KYLE ZIMMER
Kyle is employed at the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 478 as the Director of Health & Safety and Members Assistance Program Director. He started his career as the Health and Safety Instructor for the Operating Engineers training school in Meriden CT, where he would routinely provide safety and health training for nearly 3,000 members. Kyle is certified as an OSHA Safety and Health specialist. Kyle is qualified to train OSHA safety and health related topics, and he was an instructor for the IUOE National Training Fund in West Virginia where he co-instructed training courses for professional development for more than 400 active instructors. Kyle has been the eminence of Local 478’s Members Assistance Program (MAP), a peer-to-peer program, which helps assist union members in their families through lifestyle issues, as well as assisting in developing and teaching an International Members Assistance Peer training program for other Operating Engineer locals to adopt. Kyle serves on the following committees, CCIA Safety Committee, The Co-Chair AFL-CIO Safety Committee, the State of Connecticut Emergency Response Commission (SERC), Chairperson committee for the Mine Safety: Health Research Advisory (MSHRAC), an Opioid Task Force Member for the North American Building Trades Union (NABTU), the State of Connecticut Workers Compensation Advisory Board and the Opioid Settlement Advisory Board. Kyle has served on the board of trustees for the Local 478 Operating Engineers Health Fund since 2015.
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DR. L. CASEY CHOSEWOOD, MD MPH
Dr. L. Casey Chosewood is currently the Associate Director of Strategic Initiatives, and Director of the Office for Total Worker Health® at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, part of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In this role, he promotes the protection and improvement of the safety, health, and well-being of workers through research, intervention development, and partnerships. He coordinates the worker well-being, mental health, and substance use disorder prevention portfolios of the Institute. He co-leads the NIOSH cross-sector dedicated to Healthy Work Design and Wellbeing. From 2004 to 2009, he was the Director of the CDC Office of Health and Safety, which served the 15,000 members of the CDC workforce. Previous work included serving as the Medical Director of CDC’s three occupational health clinics and as the Medical Director of the tech manufacturing company, Lucent Technologies.
LAUREN WOOD
Lauren is a Health Program Manager at the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), an economic development partnership agency of the federal government and 13 state governments across the Appalachian Region. Lauren oversees all of ARC’s health portfolio, as well as their INSPIRE SUD Recovery to Work initiative. Prior to ARC, Lauren was at the National Governors Association where she worked closely with Governor’s offices to analyze state and federal substance use and opioid use policies. Prior to moving to D.C., she worked as a case manager at a federally qualified health center in Colorado, specializing in homelessness, serious mental illness, and substance use. Lauren holds a Bachelor of Science in Family Studies & Human Development from the University of Arizona, a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from Metro State University of Denver, and a Master of Public Health from the University of Arizona.
LUCILA ZAMBONI
Dr. Zamboni is the Director of the Drug Overdose Surveillance and Epidemiology Unit in the Office of Drug User Health (ODUH). The unit conducts activities to synthesize and identify trends across overdose related information systems in the NYS DOH. Through these activities the Unit provides accurate, timely and relevant information for overdose prevention and response program development, implementation, evaluation and monitoring. Dr. Zamboni holds a Ph.D. in Public Administration and Policy with a concentration in Public Health from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, University at Albany. Her doctoral dissertation looks at questions of equity in the context of public health emergency preparedness and response. She focused on different types of preparedness, local level grant allocation evaluation, and first responders’ decision-making.
MICHAEL CARPENTER
Michael H Carpenter President/CEO The Northeast Group MHAB Enterprises, LLC Member, Board of Directors, Clinton County Community Services Board Chair, CCCSB - Behavioral Health Services Committee Member, Board of Directors, NYSARR Leadership Team Member, SPARCC Steering Committee. Michael has over 38 years of experience in the logistics and transportation
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industry and serves as President/CEO of The Northeast Group, a forty-four year old, family-owned business specializing in fulfillment and distribution services, commercial printing, publishing, and direct mailing. Under his leadership, the business has expanded to 350,000 square feet of warehouse space, employing almost 100 people. The Northeast Group and Michael are regarded as mainstays of North Country community leaders. In 2018, Michael spearheaded a revolutionary project, MHAB Life Skills Campus, addressing the need for transitional housing and support services for people in recovery. Against all odds, the MHAB Life Skills Campus opened its doors in February 2019 collaborating with more than 35 local service providers to assist our residents and our community recovering from substance use disorder, mental health challenges, domestic violence, chronic poverty and other societal ails. Since 2019, we have served more than 600 people for residential services and thousands each year accessing the CVFC All Ways to Recovery Community Center and ancillaryservices.
NATHALIA FERNANDEZ, NEW YORK STATE SENATOR
Nathalia Fernandez is a New York State Senator for District 34, representing the Bronx and Westchester. She is the Chair of the Senate Alcoholism & Substance Use Disorders Committee and is a leading voice in the fight against the opioid crisis. A daughter of immigrants, Fernandez has always had a love for her community and a desire to serve. She began her career in public service as Executive Coordinator for then Assemblymember Mark Gjonaj of the 80th Assembly District office. She quickly rose through the ranks and was eventually promoted to Chief of Staff. In 2017, Fernandez joined the staff of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo as the representative of his office to the Bronx. In 2018, she was elected to represent the 80th District in the New York State Assembly.During her time in the Assembly, Fernandez led numerous projects and initiatives, including expanding access to affordable healthcare, protecting the environment, and creating good-paying jobs. She was also a strong advocate for education, social justice, and women’s rights. In 2022, Fernandez was elected to the New York State Senate becoming the first Latina to represent the 34th Senate District. As Senator, she is committed to fighting for the people of her district and making New York a more just and equitable place for all. She is a tireless advocate for working families, seniors, and marginalized communities. Senator Fernandez is a dedicated public servant who is committed to making a difference in the lives of her constituents. She is a strong voice for the people of New York and is working every day to build a better future for all.
PAT MAGEE
With over 15 years of experience serving the underserved and working at or with non-profits, Patrick Magee is the Executive Director of Mountain Top Cares Coalition (MCC).
Prior to joining MCC, Magee served as a performance consultant for Alliance for Better Health. Previously, Magee worked for Community Service Society of NY (CSSNY), first as a quality assurance manager, then as a program manager for the Facilitated Enrollment for the Aged, Blind and Disabled program. While employed at CSSNY he managed a network of eight community based organizations that assisted individuals to enroll
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in Medicaid and Medicare. Additionally, Magee held a position at the Association for Neurologically Brain INjured Children (ANIBIC) where he worked as the entitlement specialist.
Magee holds a Juris Doctor from Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center and a bachelor’s of arts degree in Communications and Political Science from SUNY Cortland.
RUTH RIDDICK
ASAP-Peer Workforce Initiative administrator, Ruth Riddick is a nationally recognized peer recovery subject matter expert and co-author of ASAPPWI’s CRPA-Family (2019), CRPA-Youth (2023) and Veteran Supported Recovery (VSR 2021) certification training programs. A Certified Addiction Recovery Coach (CARC 2015) with a private coaching, training and mentoring practice at Sobriety Together (founded 2004), she is an inaugural CCARdesignated Recovery Coach Professional (RCP 2016) and RCP/facilitator (from 2022), a Council member of the International Association of Recovery Coach Professionals (IARCP from 2020) and a New York Association of Treatment Court Professionals Board member (NYATCP from 2022).
At ASAP, Ruth Riddick also serves as Community Outreach, as program manager/founder member of the ASAP-New York Certification Board Trainer Registry (2020) and as co-author of its groundbreaking Trainer Registry Member Standards of Practice. She is co-developer of the forthcoming ASAP Criminal Justice Supported Recovery (CJSR 2023) peer certification and of the ASAP Peer Supervision Professional (PSP 2024) certification for individuals supervising peers. She offers consultation to the ASAP-NYCB ethics and nominating committees.
SAMANTHA LEWANDOWSKI
Samantha Lewandowski is the Program Director of New Hampshire’s Recovery Friendly Workplace (RFW) initiative. She first served as a Recovery Friendly Advisor for the initiative, where she worked 1:1 with over 80 workplaces, and then as its Assistant Director. She manages the day-to-day operations of the initiative, including overseeing staff and subcontractors, ensuring workplaces are supported in the RFW process, and promoting effective collaboration with partners, as well as helps develop and implement the initiative’s strategic plan. She also provides support to other states that are looking to implement RFW. This includes various 1:1 meetings, presentations, and leading a quarterly community of practice that convenes RFW-related entities across the nation (with over 30 states represented). Samantha first began working with individuals with SUD back in 2013 through a residential harm reduction program. She holds a Master of Science in Community Development & Applied Economics from the University of Vermont and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology/Anthropology and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Loyola University of Chicago. She is also a loved one and ally of people in recovery, as well as a trained Recovery Coach.
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SCOTT CURRY
Scott Curry is the DRC (Disability Resource Coordinator) for the County of Sullivan, center for workforce Development. As an advocate for those with Disabilities he has first-hand experience on what challenges are presented daily. Scott has been an active member of the recovery and peer services community for over seven years. He continues to develop collaborations and partnerships with neighboring agencies to continue the fight against system change and advocacy.
STEPHANIE CAMPBELL
Stephanie began her advocacy with ACT-UP, the grassroots organization that empowered people to fight back against health discrimination through direct action, partnerships with government and public health experts to end the AIDS pandemic, and to increase harm reduction and recovery supports and services to people who use drugs. After she received her MA from Columbia University, an MS from University of Albany, and an MSW from New York University, Stephanie joined Friends of Recovery— New York (FOR-NY) and worked at the state and national levels on public policy issues affecting individuals and families impacted by substance use. As a person in sustained recovery, Stephanie oversaw the creation of the first-innation statewide behavioral health ombudsman office (CHAMP), which has helped thousands of New Yorkers access treatment and recovery supports and services along the full continuum of healthcare. She is an adjunct professor at NYU’s Silver School of Social Work. She is also a member of the Recovery Policy Collaborative in partnership with the Addiction and Public Policy Initiative at the O’Neill Institute at Georgetown University, and serves on the National Harm Reduction Steering Committee, convened in 2021 by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). She has been the recipient of numerous awards, including the Betty Ann Hartman Foundation Award (2022); the Long Island Recovery Association Friends of Recovery Award (2019); In His Name Outreach Advocacy Award (2017); New York Press Association Best News/Featured Series Award (2009); African Reflections Foundation Award (2009); and the Albany School of Education Secondary Education Award (2008). Stephanie joined Kent Strategic Advisors in 2023 as Senior Vice President of Strategic Solutions.
STEVE ROMERO
Steve Romero is a United Auto Workers Union Health and Safety Representative based out of the Ford Van Dyke Electrical Powertrain Center in Sterling Heights, Michigan. Steve has served as a UAW union representative for 25 years, 15 of which were in the Health and Safety Department. A little over 5 years ago Steve and his family suffered the tragic loss of his brother Jeff at age 48 due to opioid dependency. Jeff’s initiation to opioids was the result of a high school wrestling injury. This tragic event caused Steve to become an advocate for those who struggle with addiction and mental health within the workplace, the union, and the community. Steve often speaks on behalf of the UAW in local, state, and national forums promoting labor and management commitment to workplace safety and wellness. His work in the labor and recovery movements contributed to the UAW and the big 3 automakers negotiating collective bargaining language committing significant funding to address opioids and substance use in the workplace.
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TERENCE DALY
Terence Daly is a Long Island based entrepreneur, co-owning and managing two popular pubs on the Island’s south shore. Terence joined the Gino Macchio Foundation in 2022, leading the Foundation’s Recovery Friendly Workplace program, successfully enlisting the Suffolk County Town governments of Babylon and Brookhaven as designated Recovery Friendly Workplaces.
THERESA KNORR
Theresa joined FOR-NY as the Director of Recovery Education and Training in 2016. She is a Certified Addiction Recovery Coach and Recovery Coach Professional Facilitator. She has been credentialed as an addiction counselor in both NY (former CASAC) and Arizona (former CADAC). She has over 30 years’ professional experience in addiction recovery; providing counseling, coaching, clinical supervision and education.
Theresa is also owner of BALANCE Recovery Consultation | “Tai Chi for Recovery” and teaches movement, meditation and personal growth in the community. She is now the Senior Director of Recovery Education and Training at FOR-NY.
Most importantly Theresa brings her own lived experience to her work, as a family member in recovery, family member of loss, trauma survivor and process addiction recoveree. She has had the privilege to speak locally, across the state, the nation and internationally.
TYLER MENACH
Tyler Meenach graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a BS in Criminal Justice in 2011. He spent the next 10 years developing his career in correctional rehabilitation—earning his MS in Criminal Justice along the way. In late 2021, Tyler began a new career as a health coordinator with Hamilton County Public Health where he has been active in the development and growth of the Recovery Friendly Hamilton County program. He is an avid bookworm, cinephile, and record collector.