Welcometothe2024NSCSoberingSummit!
We'rethrilledtogatherwithyouinHouston,TXforoursixthSoberingSummit Thisyear's theme,"PuttingthePiecesTogether,"encapsulatesoursharedcommitmenttoadvancing soberingcarebyunitingthediverseelementsofourworkintoacohesivewhole
Ourfocuswillbeonconnectingthepiecesofknowledge,practice,andpolicytocreatea comprehensive,integratedsystemthatmeetstheneedsofthoseweserve We'renotjust connectingsystemsandstrategies we'realsorecognizingandhonoringindividual journeys Eachpieceweputtogetherrepresentsasteptowardhealing,stability,andafuture whereeverypersoncanfindtheirplaceinasupportive,thrivingcommunity
Overthenextfewdays,we’llengageininsightfuldiscussions,sharecutting-edgedata,and learnfromeachother'sexperiences.ThisSummitismorethanagathering;it’sa collaborativeefforttocreateanintegratedapproachthatsupportsbothindividualsand communitiesontheirpathtorecovery.
Yourpresenceisareflectionofyourdedicationtothisvitalfield,andwe’regratefulforyour contributions.Together,let’sembracethethemeof"PuttingthePiecesTogether"aswe buildamoreeffectiveandcompassionatesystemofcare.
Shauna Goodman
Shannon Smith-Bernardin
Laura Elmore LeBlanc Executive Director President & Co-founder Summit Chair
Summit Committee Members
Kimberly Balmorez, RN Staff Support San Francisco, CA
Anne Johnston, MS, FNPc, CARN-AP CODA Inc. Portland, OR
Douglas Cox Bridgeway Recovery Services
Salem, OR
Shauna Goodman, MPA Staff Lead Sacramento, CA
Volunteer Committee
Jean Harris-Sokora, LCSW, CCDP-D, CRPS, CPS Dunnica Sobering Support Center
St. Louis, MO
Jesse Sieger-Walls, PhD, MSW, LCSW Wellbeing in Action
St. Louis, MO
Kisun Peters Tuerk House Baltimore, MD
Laura Elmore LeBlanc, LMSW-AP Board Lead Austin, TX
Sylvia Barnard Good Samaritan Shelter Santa Barbara, CA
Tim Quigley, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC South Shore Health Weymouth, MA
Tina Sentner, LAADC Horizon Services San Jose, CA
Magnolia Hotel Houston, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel
1100 Texas Ave, Houston, TX 77002
Wednesday, October 9
5:00 - 7:00p Welcome Reception (Magnolia Hotel - The Library Bar)
Sponsored by Wellbeing in Action
Thursday, October 10
8:00 - 9:00a Registration & Continental Breakfast (Magnolia Foyer)
9:00 - 9:45a Welcome (Magnolia Ballroom)
9:45 - 10:00a
10:00 - 11:00a
Sponsored by Tuerk House
Break
Breakout Session 1 (Commerce Room) & Session 2* (Magnolia Ballroom)
11:00 - 11:15a Break
11:15 - 12:15p
12:15 - 2:00p
2:00 - 3:00p
3:00 - 3:15p
3:15 - 4:30p
Breakout Session 3* (Magnolia Ballroom) & Session 4* (Commerce Room)
Lunch (Magnolia Foyer)
Sponsored by California Health Care Foundation
Breakout Session 5* (Magnolia Ballroom) & Session 6* (Commerce Room)
Break
Future of Technical Support for Effective & Sustainable
Sobering Centers (Magnolia Ballroom)
5:00 - 6:30p OPTIONAL: Houston Tunnels Tour
6:45 - 8:45p OPTIONAL: Dinner Groups
Friday, October 11
8:00 - 9:00a Continental Breakfast (Magnolia Foyer)
9:00 - 10:00a Keynote Address (Magnolia Ballroom)
10:00 - 10:15a
10:15 - 11:15a
11:15 - 11:30a
11:30 - 12:30p
12:30 - 12:45p
12:45 - 2:15p
Presenter: Devon Anderson
Break
Houston Highlight Panel (Magnolia Ballroom)
Break
From “No, Wrong Door” to “No Wrong Door”: Refining & Redefining the Crisis Continuum (Magnolia Ballroom)
Sponsor Highlight: Bridgeway Community Health
Break
Closing Thoughts & Lunch (Magnolia Foyer)
2:15 - 2:30p Break
2:30 - 3:30p Breakout Session 7* (Commerce Room) & Session 8* (Magnolia Ballroom)
3:30 - 3:45p Break
3:45 - 4:00p Transportation to Houston Recovery Center
4:00 - 5:00p Tour of Houston Recovery Center
Special thank you to our sponsors!
Breakout
Session descriptions Pages 4-8
Presenter & Speaker Biographies Pages 8-15 * = NASW CE Credit available for this session
Bridgeway Community Health Tuerk House
Wellbeing In Action
Exhibitor: Community Bridges
Map of the Magnolia Hotel Houston (Floor 3)
Restrooms located near elevators; lactation space located in CAPITOL room.
Thursday, October 10
10:00 - 11:00a
Breakout Sessions & Presentations
Breakout Session 1 Intro to Sobering Commerce Room
Anna Phillips, PhD, LMFT (Horizon Treatment Services)
If you're new or new-ish to sobering care, this session will provide its attendees with a succinct overview of the model and its primary function. Topics covered will include admission criteria, referral sources, staffing, and how sobering fits in the continuum of care.
Breakout Session 2 — Sobering – Beyond the Crisis*
Magnolia Ballroom
Mike Bloodworth, MA, CRADC (Preferred Family Healthcare)
Jean Sokora, LCSW, CCDP-D, CRPS, CPS (Preferred Family Healthcare)
The Dunnica Sobering Center provides comprehensive services, such as sobering, withdrawal management, primary care, psychiatry, outpatient, and same-day medications. Get a snapshot of harm reduction in a Sobering environment and experience what a “day in the life” of a Dunnica client is like.
11:15 - 12:15p
2:00 - 3:00p
Breakout Session 3 — Using Data Dashboard to Inform & Improve Care*
Magnolia Ballroom
Kelsi Urrutia, LMSW (Tri-West Group)
Jean Sokora, LCSW, CCDP-D, CRPS, CPS (Preferred Family Healthcare)
Come explore how data can drive relationships and build community partnerships. Utilizing data-driven outcomes has allowed the PFH Sobering Center, in collaboration with the evaluation team, to improve how partners are engaged and services are provided. PFH’s evaluation team has created a valuable tool to inform stakeholders and the general community about the impact of Sobering Care.
Breakout Session 4 — Compassionate Harm Reduction: Addressing Stigma in Non-Abstinence Recovery*
Commerce Room
Maggie Luna, JI-RPS (Texas Harm Reduction Alliance)
Delve into harm-reduction practices focusing on compassionate leadership. We will discuss the critical importance of understanding and addressing the stigma associated with non-abstinence in recovery. The presentation aims to dismantle harmful stereotypes and promote a more inclusive and supportive approach to recovery by sharing personal insights and professional expertise.
Key topics will include the harm reduction principles, the impact of stigma on individuals and communities, and practical strategies for fostering a compassionate and non-judgmental recovery environment.
Breakout Session 5 — Evolution of the Austin, Texas Sobering Care Model*
Magnolia Ballroom
Hillary Harris, LBSW (The Sobering Center - Austin)
Christine Hassall, LCDC (The Sobering Center - Austin)
Kimberly Smith Childers, EMT-B (The Sobering Center - Austin)
Learn about the past, present, and future of the Austin Sobering Center— the original 2018 model, changes to the services and business model, and plans for renovation and future strategic direction. Topics will include referral partnerships to and from the center, utilization of EMS, discharge planning, facilitating admissions to treatment centers, and building capacity for the future.
Breakout Session 6 The First Year in Sobering: Mini Sessions*
Commerce Room
Cesar Leon (Janus of Santa Cruz)
Katherine Orlando, MS, RADT (Janus of Santa Cruz)
Arish Narayen, Esq. (DC Department of Behavioral Health)
Curious about what the first year of sobering care operations can look like? Janus of Santa Cruz (opened February 2024) and the District of Columbia Stabilization Center (opened October 2023) will share their successes and lessons learned in the areas of design, regulatory issues, financial sustainability, staffing, data collection, community engagement, policies and procedures, and more.
Magnolia Ballroom
Peter Eckart, MSW (Principal, Peter Eckart Consulting)
Shannon Smith-Bernardin, PhD, RN, CNL (UCSF School of Nursing, Smith-Bernardin Consulting)
Over the last 10 to 15 years, sobering care has gone from relative obscurity to a model growing in national recognition. At the same time, recovery options for the identification, management, and treatment of harmful substance use have seen incredible advancement–from medical care and medications, cognitive and behavioral therapies, technological supports, to comprehensive public awareness campaigns and educational resources.
Now recognized as a promising care option by well-known agencies including the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Systems Authority (SAMHSA), American Medical Association (AMA), American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), sobering care has the potential for securing a critical role in the safety net. Yet there continue to be hurdles and barriers to making this potential a reality.
Using the historical experience as a foundation, we will explore the evolution of the development of sobering care, and the future of expanding, sustaining, and enhancing the sobering care model as a critical part of the safety net continuum. Together, we will identify and discuss current challenges and opportunities for sobering care development and examine what role the National Sobering Collaborative (NSC) can play in this evolution.
Friday, October 11
9:00-10:00a
Keynote Address
Magnolia Ballroom
Devon Anderson, Esq. (Justice Forward)
Devon Anderson, former prosecutor, judge, elected District Attorney, current nonprofit CEO, and woman in long-term recovery embodies the theme of this year’s NSC Summit, “Putting the Pieces Together.”
Throughout her professional life, Devon learned that in order to effect great change, she had to have global buy-in from strong partners. This knowledge proved essential in presiding over one of the first Drug Courts in Houston. As the District Attorney, Devon knew that she could not fight the stigma of addiction and establish treatment as the default response to drug possession cases without the cooperation and collaboration of other criminal justice stakeholders.
Working in the nonprofit world since 2018, Devon has learned that social service organizations are woven together through the people they serve and the services they provide, creating a natural community of partnerships and collaborations. This has led to the success of Justice Forward, the nonprofit she leads, as well as to the creation of the Party Sober Partnership, a group of 14 nonprofit organizations that host sober social events for Houston’s recovery community.
10:15-11:15a
Underlying these life experiences is Devon’s love/hate relationship with alcohol. She has suffered from alcohol abuse disorder since her college days, but somehow remained highly functioning in most aspects of her life. Devon will describe the long, winding, uneven path to recovery, looking for the missing pieces that would eventually lead to peace and long-term sobriety.
Elected Officials & Sobering Care: Highlighting Houston's Success
Magnolia Ballroom
Facilitator: Suzanne Jarvis, MPH (Houston Recovery Center )
Participants:
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez (Houston Police Department)
Mayor Annise Parker (LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and LGBTQ+ Victory
Champions of "Putting the Pieces Together" throughout their careers, Mayor Parker and Sheriff Gonzalez offer their perspectives on engaging legislative support for community change, the importance of system transformation, and inspirational initiatives they have implemented to improve the well-being of underserved communities. See highlights of Houston's Sobering Center's local and national impact—a jail diversion program that would not have gotten off the ground without their legislative leadership and support. Institute)
11:30 - 12:30p From “No, Wrong Door” to “No Wrong Door”: Refining & Redefining the Crisis Continuum
Magnolia Ballroom
Daniel Maas, MPH (SAMHSA)
Billina Shaw, MD, MPH, FAPA, FASAM (SAMHSA)
In 2020, Congress designated the new 988 dialing code to be operated through the pre-existing National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. In reality, 988 is more than just an easy-to-remember number–it’s a direct connection to compassionate, accessible care and support for all Americans who might be experiencing suicidal thoughts, who are at risk of suicide, substance misuse, overdose or who are struggling with emotional distress.
The session will review federal work supporting alignment of essential services across the crisis continuum, with a focus on low-barrier access and a discussion of the role of sobering centers therein, along with the importance of sustainability; there is an opportunity for participants to provide feedback about these activities. An effective crisis system will save lives and improve person-centered care by decreasing unnecessary law enforcement response, and emergency department boarding and hospitalization. The federal government cannot do this alone. Success of this transformation will rest heavily upon state and local leaders, along with key public and private sector partners, as we work in concert to meet the behavioral health crisis needs of people across our country.
12:45 - 2:15 p Discussion-based Lunch
Magnolia Foyer
Shannon Smith-Bernardin, PhD, RN, CNL (UCSF School of Nursing, SmithBernardin Consulting)
Laura Elmore LeBlanc, LMSW-AP (The Sobering Center)
Shauna Goodman, MPA (National Sobering Collaborative)
Commerce Room
Tracking and linking objective data with soft clinical data for outcome measurements 2:30 - 3:30p
Sarah Riley (Poplar Wellness Group)
This presentation will cover the following topics:
Technological advancements in behavioral health
Challenges of keeping populations safe
Challenges directors and operators face with staff, along with solutions to address these challenges
Breakout Session 8 — Addressing Mental Health within a Sobering Environment*
Magnolia Ballroom
Shawnte Alexander, Ed.D (HealthRight360)
Diana Castillo, LCSW (HealthRight360)
According to the San Francisco Department of Public Health, a drug sobering center is an innovative way to address the serious problem of drug overdose deaths and the deteriorating street conditions. A top priority of the San Francisco Meth Task Force and a central recommendation of the city’s Mental Health legislation, SoMa Rise Center is the first in the nation to provide an indoor monitoring site for drug intoxication. We will reflect on how sobering centers are addressing the mental health needs of people by providing access to basic necessities, such as showers, food, and shelter for up to 23 hours.
SoMa Rise has become an invaluable resource to the South of Market neighborhood in the city of San Francisco for persons who use drugs, are unhoused, and may be experiencing a substance use-related crisis. SoMa Rise’s radical hospitality approach is the first step in fostering a trauma-informed approach to enhance the guest experience; addressing the mental health needs of the most vulnerable in order to achieve stability and wellness.
Speaker Biographies
Devon Anderson, Esq. (she, her) Keynote Speaker CEO of Justice Forward Houston, TX
Devon Anderson has devoted her career to public service. She was a prosecutor for 12 years at the Harris County District Attorney’s (DA) office and tried over 100 felony jury trials. Seven of those trials were
capital murder cases, including serial killer Angel Maturino Resendiz, “The Railcar Killer.”
Devon left the Houston DA’s Office in 2005 after being elected to serve as State District Judge in the 177th Criminal District Court. While serving as District Judge, Devon also volunteered her time to preside over one of four STAR Drug Courts. In 2009, Devon left the bench and started her own criminal defense firm with a fellow former judge. Her practice focused on citizens accused of state and federal crimes. At the end of 2012, Devon ended her practice when her husband was elected Harris County DA.
In 2013, Devon was appointed Harris County District Attorney to succeed her late husband, Mike Anderson. The following year, Devon was elected by the voters of Harris County to finish his term. During her tenure, she led over 600 employees and managed a $78.7 million budget. As Chair of the Harris County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, she worked with other criminal justice stakeholders to secure a $2 million Safety + Justice Challenge grant from the Mac Arthur Foundation. Devon was honored by many community organizations including NAACP, the Association of Women Attorneys and The Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce. After serving as District Attorney, Devon transitioned from the legal profession to nonprofit work.
She is now the CEO of Justice Forward, a nonprofit dedicated to breaking the cycle of incarceration and funding essential programs for individuals in 23 Harris, Galveston, and Fort Bend County Specialty Courts. Devon serves on the Boards of the Coalition for the Homeless and the Council on Recovery and is also the Board Chair of the Party Sober Partnership.
Devon is the proud mother of Sam, a student at South Texas College of Law and Brynn, a senior at Sewanee: The University of the South. In addition to her children, Devon’s greatest accomplishment is that she has been in long- term recovery for the past 15 years.
Anna Phillips, PhD, LMFT (she, her)
Chief Program Officer, Horizon Treatment Services, Inc
Hayward, CA
emphasis in Criminal Justice. Since 2008 Dr. Phillips has dedicated her time, talent, and educational pursuits to serving those most vulnerable in the community, which she has done providing case management, therapy, program development, budget management, grant writing, curriculum design, teaching at university level and clinical supervision. Dr. Phillips’ doctoral work focused on the challenges formerly incarcerated individuals face around racial reintegration post-incarceration and this allowed her to spend time hearing from individuals that spent time in prison in the California correctional system deepening her passion and conviction for treatment services. At Horizon Services, Dr. Phillips brings her vast experience, education, and passion to improving the clinical services delivered across its service line portfolio. Dr. Phillips is excited to develop training programs for interns and create a client experience where all clients feel safe to make lasting changes that will impact not only their lives but their families and the communities they reside in.
Arish Narayen, Esq. (he, him)
Project Manager, DC Department of Behavioral Health Washington DC
An attorney licensed to practice in Maryland, Arish Narayen has worked in both the private and public sectors. His public sector service includes positions at the Maryland Department of Health, the
Dr. Anna Phillips is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist who also holds a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration with an Baltimore City Mayor’s Office, and Behavioral Health System Baltimore. At Behavioral Health System Baltimore, Arish served as Project Manager of the Maryland Crisis Stabilization Center, the first Center of its kind in the State of Maryland. In September 2022, Arish joined the District of Columbia Department of Behavioral Health to assist with the planning, implementation, management, and evaluation of the DC Stabilization Center.
Billina Shaw, MD, MPH, FAPA, FASAM (she, her)
Senior Medical Advisor, SAMHSA
Washington DC
Dr. Billina Shaw is a Senior Medical Advisor within the Center for Mental Health Services at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). She is triple board certified in
the areas of child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry and addiction medicine and is recognized as a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and the American Society of Addiction Medicine.
Billina received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Yale University, Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and Master’s Degree of Public Health from the Bloomberg Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, where she was a Bloomberg American Health Initiative Fellow in the Addiction and Overdose focus. She did her general adult and child and adolescent psychiatry training at the University of Maryland/Sheppard Pratt residency training program. Prior to working at SAMHSA, she served as the Medical Director of the Behavioral Health.
At SAMHSA, some of her focuses include serving as a liaison to the 988 and Behavioral Health Crisis Coordinating Office, co-leading the Black Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative, directing the Interdepartmental Serious Mental Illness Coordinating Committee, and assisting with Center activities concerning the behavioral health impacts of Long COVID.
Cesar Leon (he, him)
Sobering Center Manager, Janus of Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA
With over five years in the unhoused population sector, Cesar transitioned to Substance Use Disorder (SUD) treatment, driven by a commitment to community improvement. After 15 years in the restaurant industry, Cesar joined the staff at the local shelter, building a network of service providers. Now, as the Program Manager of the Sobering Center at Janus, Cesar collaborates with local law enforcement to provide safe sobering environments and essential support services.
Christine Hassall, LCDC (she, her)
Director of Programs, The Sobering Center - Austin
Austin, TX
Christine is currently the Director of Programs at The Sobering Center. Christine was previously a primary care doctor in Scotland
for 16 years with a special interest in substance misuse. She became a licensed chemical dependency counselor in Texas and has worked in treatment centers for 6 years before joining the team 5 years ago. Christine manages direct care staff and counselors who assess clients, provide brief interventions, and referral to treatment. These counselors use motivational interviewing based on the results of drug and alcohol risk assessments. Christine is passionate about patient-centered healthcare and motivates her interdisciplinary team to maximize resources for uninsured clients.
Daniel
Maas, MPH (he/him)
Public Health Advisor, SAMHSA
Philadelphia, PA
Dan works as a Public Health Advisor for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to promote community-based substance use disorder treatment, and recovery
support services for individuals and families, as well as national leadership to improve access, reduce barriers, and promote high-quality, life-saving, and effective treatment and recovery support services. Dan works in the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) Division of Service Improvement on the Criminal Justice Team, where he serves as the Team Lead for the Tribal and Veterans Problem Solving Courts portfolio. He is the designated CSAT Representative for the 988 Crisis TTA Advisory Board.
Diana Castillo, LCSW (she, ella)
Divisional Director of Crisis and Transitional Housing, HealthRight360
San Francisco, CA
Diana Castillo is the Division Director of Crisis Services at Healthright 360 in San Francisco where she oversees their first sobering center, violence intervention programs and transitional housing for individuals who are in recovery for substances and alcohol use. Diana recently moved from Chicago to the Bay Area where she led all outpatient, residential and crisis programs in a community-based organization. Over the last several years, Diana has served in various leadership roles in the private and non-profit sector. She has her Clinical Social Work license and has been successfully leading teams to positive outcomes in the communities served. Diana is dedicated to fostering a positive environment for the teams she leads and is always ready to learn new things and be challenged by those around her.
Hilary Harris, LBSW (she, her)
Program Manager, The Sobering Center - Austin
Austin, TX
Hillary finished her BSW in May 2024 and plans to go on to finish her MSW at Texas State University. She has spent the last three years working at the Austin-Travis County Sobering Center, was recently promoted to Program Manager, and is passionate about harm reduction, addressing substance misuse, public health, and criminal justice policies.
Jean Sokora, LCSW, MSW, CCDP-D, CRPS, CPS (she, her)
Program Director, Preferred Family Healthcare
St Louis, MO
Jean is a licensed clinical social worker pursuing her doctorate in social work. She opened and operates the Dunnica Sobering Support Center in St. Louis, which offers 23-hour crisis stabilization to people
who are actively under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. She has been working in behavioral health for over 40 years. Jean is also a person in long-term recovery from a substance use disorder.
Katherine Orlando, MS, RADT (she, her)
Director of Outpatient Services, Janus of Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, CA
Katherine has worked in the SUD, justice-involved and mental health arenas for 15 years and is currently the Director Of Outpatient Services for Janus Of Santa Cruz. Her current scope and purview
includes the Sobering Center, DUI program, multiple NTP clinics and contracts with probation to provide housing.
Kelsi Urrutia, LMSW (she, her)
Data Strategy and Visualization Manager, Tri-West Group
Boulder, CO
Kelsi Urrutia is a Data Strategy and Visualization Manager in health and human services consulting. She specializes in evaluating health and human service programs through data-driven approaches and is
passionate about transforming complex data into meaningful, informative visualizations. Kelsi is dedicated to understanding the human impact of data, striving to effect change and enhance lives through her work. She has earned her LMSW from the University of Texas at Austin.
Kimberly Smith Childers, EMT-B (she, her)
Medical Team Lead, The Sobering Center - Austin
Austin, Texas
Kimberly is an EMT with a background in home health, child care, and wound management. Her brother's journey to recovery inspired her to work in the substance use field, and she joined The Sobering Center team in December 2022. She was recently promoted to Medical Team Lead and coordinates services of the EMTs and paramedics on the team.
Laura Elmore LeBlanc, LMSW-AP (she, her)
Executive Director, Austin/Travis County Sobering Center
Austin, Texas
Laura has used her multi-faceted social work skills in leadership positions in treatment centers, jails, schools, public housing projects, and government agencies. She was a founding member of the Austin/Travis County Re-Entry Roundtable and has served as adjunct faculty for the University of Texas at Austin. Laura holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master’s of Science in Social Work.
Maggie Luna, JI-RPS (she, her, ella)
Executive Director, Texas Harm Reduction Alliance
Austin, TX
Maggie has a professional background in policy and research, advocating for criminal justice reform in Texas. Her 20-year journey through opioid addiction, incarceration, and homelessness informs
her over seven years of advocacy. Leading the Statewide Leadership Council, Maggie built relationships with policymakers and community stakeholders to combat harsh sentencing and racial inequalities. Her dedication to harm reduction exemplifies resilience, aiming to transform lives and inspire hope in people who use drugs.
Mayor Annise Parker (she, her)
LGBTQ+ Victory Fund
LGBTQ+ Victory Institute
Houston, TX
Annise Parker is President & CEO of LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and LGBTQ+ Victory Institute, where she works to increase LGBTQ+ representation in government and politics. She made history in 2009 when she was the first out LGBTQ+ leader elected mayor of a major American city–Houston. She previously served six years as Houston’s city controller and six years on the city council.
Mike Bloodworth, MA, CRADC (he, him)
Program Director, Preferred Family Healthcare
St Louis, MO
Mike Bloodworth is the Withdrawal Management Program Director for Preferred Family Healthcare in St. Louis, Missouri. He has a Masters Degree in Management and Leadership from Maryville University and is a certified Clinical Supervisor as well as an Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Mike has 17 years of experience in the substance use and mental health treatment field and has worked with both adults and adolescents in residential and outpatient settings.
Peter Eckart, MSW (he, him)
Principal, Peter Eckart Consulting
Chicago, IL
Peter provides non-profit capacity building, learning and organizational systems development to community-based, state and national organizations, with a focus on equity-based systems and
the integrated crisis response continuum. He is currently supporting Sobering Center development in select California counties on behalf of Quantified Ventures, a DC-based social advisory.
Sarah Riley (she, her)
Chief Executive Officer, Popular Wellness Group
Kirkwood, MO
Sarah Riley is CEO and founder of Poplar Wellness Group. She graduated Cum Laude from the University of Tulsa in 2009 with a BA in Communication. Sarah is a person in long term recovery and developed a deep passion for working with people suffering from substance use disorder. In 2019, she left her corporate position to pursue a full-time career in Treatment. In the fall of 2021, she was introduced to innovative technology being used outside of behavioral health and saw an incredible opportunity. Combining her corporate experience and her understanding of the treatment industry, Poplar Wellness was born. It has become her mission to make great strides in improving patient outcomes and ending the suffering from the disease of addiction.
Shannon Smith-Bernardin, PhD, RN, CNL (she, her)
Associate Professor, UCSF School of Nursing Nurse-Consultant, Smith-Bernardin Consulting, Inc Oakland, CA
A registered nurse by trade, Shannon is a nurse consultant, researcher, educator, and health care practitioner. She has worked in homeless health care since 2006, with expertise in community-based sobering care for acute alcohol and drug intoxication, alcohol harm reduction including managed alcohol programs, medical respite/recuperative care, and street nursing teams for persons who are unsheltered. Shannon’s primary focus is on the utilization of sobering centers in lieu of the emergency department and jail for adults intoxicated in public.
Dr. Smith-Bernardin holds a doctorate from University of California, San Francisco School of Nursing, a Master’s from Western University of Health Sciences, and a Bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College.
Shauna Goodman, MPA (she, her)
Executive Director, National Sobering Collaborative Sacramento, CA
As the first Executive Director of the National Sobering Collaborative, Shauna Goodman's role with the organization centers around strategic growth, program implementation, and advancing Sobering Care throughout the country. She has 20 years of experience working in fund development, donor relations, marketing/communications, and program management for organizations focused on youth, education, the arts, climate, and behavioral health.
Shauna has a BS in Business, Marketing from Biola University, an MPA from California State University, Fresno, and a Graduate Certificate in Diversity Leadership from Temple University.
Shawnte Alexander, Ed.D (she, her)
Vice President of Behavioral Health, Northern California HealthRight360 Pomona, CA
Dr. Alexander has over 20 years of professional clinical service experience specializing in issues related to trauma, stress, life transitions, mental health disorders and sexual abuse. She is a proven authority on management and supervision of sexual offenders and has served in numerous leadership roles with a focus on research, teaching, and therapeutic methods.
Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, MLA (he/him)
Harris County Sheriff, Houston Police Department Houston, TX
A lifelong Houstonian, Sheriff Gonzalez started his journey in public service at the Houston Police Department, first as a civilian, then a peace officer, homicide detective, hostage negotiator, and sergeant. After nearly two decades of service as a peace officer, Sheriff Gonzalez won a seat on the Houston City Council, serving three terms as the representative for residents in District H,
an area north and east of downtown Houston. As a city councilman, he chaired the Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee and was appointed Mayor Pro-Tem. He was instrumental in creating the Houston Recovery Center, a diversion facility where people with public intoxication cases connect with a recovery coach rather than going to jail.
As an advocate for mental health treatment, Sheriff Gonzalez founded the agency’s first Behavioral Health Division that offers a wide range of counseling services to employees. He also created a pre-book diversion desk at the county jail that is operated 24/7 by clinical staff to determine a person’s diversion eligibility.
Suzanne Jarvis, MPH (she, her)
Chief Analytics and Communications Officer, Houston Recovery Center Houston, TX
Chief Analytics and Communications Officer, Suzanne Jarvis operationalizes and conducts quality improvement for Houston Recovery Center’s programs. In 2016, she was an Associate Producer for Greg William’s documentary Generation Found. In 2012, as the Executive Director of Living Forward Alliance, Suzanne developed an award-winning recovery reentry program for 155 incarcerated women.
Suzanne earned an MPH from the UTHealth School of Public Health and a Psychology BA from Franklin & Marshall College.
NSC Board Members
Arish Narayen, Esq. DC Department of Behavioral Health Washington, D.C.
Bernard Gyebi-Foster, MBA, LCPC Tuerk House Baltimore, MD
Christie Becker-Markovich Queen of Peace Center St. Louis, MO
Devora Keller, MD, MPH National Health Care for the Homeless Philadelphia, PA
Jenny Bickler Treasurer CODA, Inc. Portland, OR
Jen Slusser-Macternan, M.Ed., SUDCC Horizon Services San Leandro, CA
Jesse Sieger-Walls, PhD, MSW, LCSW Wellbeing in Action St. Louis, MO
Laura Elmore LeBlanc, LMSW-AP Secretary The Sobering Center Austin Austin, TX
Michele Ellington Carelon Sacramento, CA
Shannon Smith-Bernardin, PhD, RN, CNL President & Co-founder University of California, San Francisco & Smith-Bernardin Consulting, Inc. Oakland, CA
Suzanne Jarvis, MPH Vice President Houston Recovery Center Houston, TX
Sylvia Barnard Good Samaritan Shelter Santa Barbara, CA
Terri Galvan, MPP WellSpace Health Sacramento, CA
Organizational Members
Behavioral Health Services, Inc.
Halifax Regional Municipality
Houston Recovery Center
Janus of Santa Cruz
Presbyterian Medical Services / Totah Behavioral Health
Tarzana Treatment Centers
Vinfen Corporation
Become an NSC Member
Apply for membership at nationalsobering.org/membership and receive:
Discounts on Sobering Summit registrations
Special access to NSC-developed and local Sobering Center resources
Access to online discussion forums And more!
Join a future Sobering Care Providers Network call: nationalsobering.org/events/#monthly-network-calls
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To get involved or learn more about the National Sobering Collaborative, go to nationalsobering.org.
Email: admin@nationalsobering.org
Donate: nationalsobering.org/donate