Cultivating Healthy Communities: Peer Learning and Support for Navigating Challenges and Building Resilience to Sustain Individual and Family Well-Being

Carol P. Gordon is a senior research associate with the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR). She is currently the project lead for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s (OJJDP) Opioid Affected Youth Initiative, in which IIR provides technical assistance in support of more than 40 sites across the country impacted by the opioid epidemic. In this capacity, Ms. Gordon serves as the primary point of contact for OAYI grantees and is responsible for overseeing the overall implementation, tracking, and monitoring of TTA-focused deliverables; facilitation and coordination of one-on-one grantee check-in meetings, as well as national and OAYI network-wide meetings and events. Additionally, she leads the project’s efforts to build and sustain ethical relationships with funded sites and interested communities and is responsible for the identification and engagement of subject matter experts representing multiple disciplines. Prior to joining IIR, Ms. Gordon worked on the national, state, and local levels to support initiatives on behalf of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), OJJDP, the Florida Office of the Attorney General (OAG), and Communities In Schools. Through her work with the OJJDP Targeted Community Action Planning (TCAP) Initiative, Ms. Gordon managed multiple prevention and intervention projects, collaborating with law enforcement, juvenile probation, juvenile court services, community and faith-based organizations, and rural and urban communities to initiate strategies to prevent and control delinquency. Working in concert with DOJ, OJJDP, and the Department of Health, Ms. Gordon facilitated research focus groups targeting racial and ethnic disparity and nursing home abuse; developed and updated procedural justice curricula; and trained sworn and non-sworn law enforcement officers and community-based organizations on the components of procedural justice, including fair and impartial bias and racial and ethnic disparity. As a consultant and project director with Communities In Schools of Florida, Ms. Gordon initiated, planned, executed, and managed the statewide affiliate accreditation process and was directly responsible for the facilitation of a multitiered programmatic replication process targeting “high risk” communities throughout the state. With extensive experience managing a statewide training program for the Florida OAG, Ms. Gordon led and managed multiple training projects simultaneously. In addition, she has served as the key liaison to subject-matter experts and was responsible for establishing collaborative partnerships with prevention and intervention organizations.

Athny Perez currently serves as a community coalition organizer for WestCare Texas through AmeriCorps Public Allies and a parenting advocate of the American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Mission. In her roles, Athny has developed expertise in advocacy and civil engagement and provides resources on self-sufficiency and healthy coping mechanisms to Indigenous communities. Previously, she participated in a pilot program with the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center which involved activism for the historic preservation of West Side San Antonio Chicanos.

Liz Ryan became Administrator of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention on May 16, 2022, following appointment by President Joseph R. Biden. Prior to leading OJJDP, Ms. Ryan served as president and CEO of the Youth First Initiative, a national campaign focused on ending the incarceration of youth by investing in community-based alternatives. Ms. Ryan founded the Youth First Initiative in 2014; under her leadership, it achieved the closure of youth prisons in six states and redirected more than $50 million to community-based alternatives to incarceration.Ms. Ryan founded the Campaign for Youth Justice in 2005 and served as its president and CEO until 2014. The national, multistate initiative sought to end the prosecution of youth in adult criminal courts and the placement of youth in adult jails and prisons. During Ms. Ryan’s tenure, the campaign’s work led to legislative and policy changes in more than 30 states, a 60 percent decrease in the number of youth in adult courts, and a greater-than 50 percent decrease in the number of youth placed in adult jails and prisons.A staunch advocate for youth, Ms. Ryan cofounded and cochaired Act 4 Juvenile Justice, a campaign to reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. She also served as advocacy director for the Youth Law Center, national field director for OJJDP’s Juvenile Court Centennial Initiative, and as an advocate for the Children’s Defense Fund. She has written extensively about juvenile justice reform, including articles, editorials, reports, and chapters of books.Since 2020, Ms. Ryan has worked as a student investigative journalist with the Louisiana State University Cold Case Project, focusing on the murders of African Americans by the Ku Klux Klan during the civil rights era. She collaborated with other Cold Case Project students on Killings on Ticheli Road, a four-part narrative investigating the murders in 1960 of four Black men in Ouachita Parish, LA. The reporters reconstructed the day of the murders and questioned local authorities’ failure to prosecute the killer: the murdered men’s employer, a white man who later became a statewide Klan leader. For their work, Ms. Ryan and the other Cold Case Project reporters were named semifinalists for the 2022 Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting, an award by the Harvard Kennedy School for reporting that impacts U.S. public policy. They were the only students recognized.Ms. Ryan also worked with families of the Martinsville Seven and other advocates to obtain posthumous pardons for seven young Black men who were executed in Virginia in 1951 for the alleged rape of a white woman. Ms. Ryan and her colleagues revisited the convictions, ultimately asserting that they were tinged by systemic racism, a rush to judgment, and a lack of due process. The Virginia Governor issued posthumous pardons in 2021, saying the men did not deserve the death penalty.Ms. Ryan earned a bachelor’s degree from Dickinson College and a master’s degree in International Studies from the George Washington University.

Terri Pate is a senior vice president of the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR) and director of the Center for Justice and Public Health Initiatives. In her current capacity, she manages the Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Use Program (COSSUP); the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP); the Opioid Affected Youth Initiative (OAYI); and the Suicide Fatality Review (SFR) program. She is responsible for providing oversight and strategic direction regarding COSSUP, PDMP, OAYI, and SFR activities and serving as IIR’s primary point of contact with Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) and OJJDP Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention program leadership. Ms. Pate is also responsible for client relations; collaboration and coordination with partners and training and technical assistance (TTA) providers on program development and delivery; strategic planning; and ensuring that TTA delivery by the COSSUP, PDMP, OAYI, and SFR programs is evidence-based, focuses on measurable outcomes, and promotes capacity building within communities to help achieve sustainable projects and programs. Ms. Pate formerly served as senior manager overseeing IIR’s support to several information sharing-focused projects, including the Global Justice Information Sharing Initiative, the National Information Exchange Model Project, the National Juvenile Justice Information Sharing Training and Technical Assistance Project, and the Crime Analysis Capability Building Project. Ms. Pate managed, coordinated the activities of, and provided strategic direction to those projects and served as the primary point of contact with BJA leadership. Prior to joining IIR, Ms. Pate served as program administrator over the Investigations and Forensics Services Unit of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) in Tallahassee, Florida. She was responsible for developing and implementing policy, supporting domestic security initiatives, strategic planning, reviewing budget and resource allocations, and serving as project lead on numerous projects. During her 18-year tenure with FDLE, Ms. Pate held numerous other positions, including crime intelligence analyst in the Florida Intelligence Center, management review specialist in the Investigations and Forensics Program, and senior management analyst supervisor in the Research and Development Unit. Her duties in these positions included providing intelligence and analytical support primarily in the areas of organized crime, fraud, and narcotics; serving as Florida’s liaison to INTERPOL; coordinating management assessments, justification reviews, and audits of various functions and programs within FDLE; monitoring performance-based budgeting efforts departmentwide; research and development of automated management systems and related policy development and enhancement; analysis of forensic and investigative data for use in resource allocation and justifications; and liaison to seven regional offices regarding FDLE’s investigative strategy, automated management systems, and performance-based budgeting.

Jazmone Wilkerson, J.D. is a Program Manager in the Youth Justice and System Innovation Division. She received her Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from Lindsey Wilson College, J.D. from the University of the District of Columbia with a specialization in Juvenile Delinquency and Special Education, M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, and two undergraduate degrees from Purdue University. Ms. Wilkerson serves as technical expert with juvenile delinquency; tribal, federal, and state level juvenile justice and criminal justice training and technical assistance experience; and mental health/substance advocacy. She provides guidance to identify gaps in programming, resolve programmatic and administrative concerns, and suggest creative and innovative methods to design and implement programs from initial conception through sustainability. Ms. Wilkerson has been a juvenile advocate for more than a decade who works within a racial justice lens from a holistic perspective.

Carol P. Gordon is a senior research associate with the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR). She is currently the project lead for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s (OJJDP) Opioid Affected Youth Initiative, in which IIR provides technical assistance in support of more than 40 sites across the country impacted by the opioid epidemic. In this capacity, Ms. Gordon serves as the primary point of contact for OAYI grantees and is responsible for overseeing the overall implementation, tracking, and monitoring of TTA-focused deliverables; facilitation and coordination of one-on-one grantee check-in meetings, as well as national and OAYI network-wide meetings and events. Additionally, she leads the project’s efforts to build and sustain ethical relationships with funded sites and interested communities and is responsible for the identification and engagement of subject matter experts representing multiple disciplines. Prior to joining IIR, Ms. Gordon worked on the national, state, and local levels to support initiatives on behalf of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), OJJDP, the Florida Office of the Attorney General (OAG), and Communities In Schools. Through her work with the OJJDP Targeted Community Action Planning (TCAP) Initiative, Ms. Gordon managed multiple prevention and intervention projects, collaborating with law enforcement, juvenile probation, juvenile court services, community and faith-based organizations, and rural and urban communities to initiate strategies to prevent and control delinquency. Working in concert with DOJ, OJJDP, and the Department of Health, Ms. Gordon facilitated research focus groups targeting racial and ethnic disparity and nursing home abuse; developed and updated procedural justice curricula; and trained sworn and non-sworn law enforcement officers and community-based organizations on the components of procedural justice, including fair and impartial bias and racial and ethnic disparity. As a consultant and project director with Communities In Schools of Florida, Ms. Gordon initiated, planned, executed, and managed the statewide affiliate accreditation process and was directly responsible for the facilitation of a multitiered programmatic replication process targeting “high risk” communities throughout the state. With extensive experience managing a statewide training program for the Florida OAG, Ms. Gordon led and managed multiple training projects simultaneously. In addition, she has served as the key liaison to subject-matter experts and was responsible for establishing collaborative partnerships with prevention and intervention organizations.

New Jersey State Police Captain Jason Piotrowski embarked on his law enforcement career in 1995, starting as a local police officer before joining the New Jersey State Police in 2001. Commencing as a general duty road trooper, he was later selected as an inaugural member of the state fusion center in 2006. During his time at the fusion center, Jason had the opportunity to represent the State of New Jersey at the National Operations Center in Washington DC, completing multiple tours. From 2014 to 2023, Jason played a pivotal role in the development and leadership of the New Jersey Drug Monitoring Initiative, focusing on data collection, analysis, intelligence production, and comprehensive training and outreach efforts. His dedication is centered on the drug environment, particularly in addressing the overdose epidemic. Currently, he serves as the Executive Officer in the Forensic and Technical Services Section. In addition to his law enforcement duties, Captain Piotrowski is a Bloomberg American Health Initiative Fellow and an MPH Candidate at Johns Hopkins University. His academic pursuits revolve around overdose, addiction, and health disparities, showcasing a genuine commitment to tackling public health challenges. By balancing his roles in law enforcement and public health, Captain Piotrowski offers a distinctive and valuable perspective on the intricate issues at the intersection of public safety and community well-being.

Dr. Sean Siebert’s breadth of knowledge and experience, combined with his storytelling ability, make him a much-sought-after speaker, panelist, educator, and consultant. His messages resonate with audiences, leaving them both motivated and committed to embracing a future of endless possibilities. Dr. Siebert has authored the award-winning books Fighting the Good Fight and Conversations on Grief. His cross-collaborative work has been funded by numerous organizations including the Delta Regional Authority (DRA), the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the National Institutes for Health (NIH), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Kauffman Foundation, the Georgia-Pacific Foundation, and other agencies. In addition, Dr. Siebert serves as a contracted subject-matter expert (SME) for the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR). His work in the industries of education, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and economic development continues to be recognized across the United States and around the world. Dr. Siebert has been honored by the Missouri Association of School Administrators (MASA) with the prestigious Friend of Education Award for his work with school districts across the state of Missouri. Dr. Siebert was the national recipient of the National Association of Development Organizations Innovation Award for his work that helps communities and individuals combat the mental health and opioid epidemics. Dr. Siebert has also been honored as the Entrepreneur of the Year, Citizen of the Year, and Faculty Member of the Year, and he was the recipient of the Exclamation Award for Excellence. Dr. Siebert’s work has been recognized on numerous occasions by the Missouri Department of Economic Development, since he was a featured keynote speaker at the Governor’s Conference on Economic Development in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2023.

Desiree Bell, a beacon of hope from the Bronx, New York, defies the odds as a young Black Executive Director of Keep it Simple and Safe (KISS), a non-profit founded by herself and her father. Her love and gratitude for her father have driven her long-standing community restoration work and creative involvement in all aspects of KISS and its systemic efforts. She embodies skillful versatility, from developing and delivering diverse training programs, creating awareness campaigns, mentoring in peer recovery, and coordinating national initiatives, including the World's First Overdose Walk. Showing exceptional leadership in advancing marginalized populations and unlocking community potential, she uses her platform as a founding and active member of the Opioid Affected Youth Initiative-Youth Advisory Board (OAYI-YAB) to implement systemic change for other intersectionally impacted youth. With her vast work in community affairs, such as public health, humanitarian, and public safety efforts, Desiree is more than a community servant — she is a living testament to wisdom beyond her years, creation, and innovation.

Rehman Hassan is a passionate human rights activist who has dedicated their life to amplifying the voices of marginalized people, pursuing change locally and globally.Some of Mx. Hassan’s most notable roles are as a World Health Organization Partnership for Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health Adolescent champion, the Health/SDG-3 youth advisor at UN-HABITAT, one of two North American Youth representatives to the UN-HABITAT Youth Advisory Board, and the representative of U.S. Youth Perspectives at the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization with the Youth4Health Initiative. In this capacity, they have worked to promote the health, well-being, and human rights of adolescents and children globally.Especially significant was Mx. Hassan’s role as a co-leader of the Digital Experience Subcommittee of the World Health Organization’s Global Forum for Adolescents (GFA), where they advised the development of the groundbreaking "What Young People Want" chatbot, which consulted with 1.2-plus million young people worldwide, primarily from the global South, with the support of partner UN agencies, NGOs, and corporations. Through this work, Mx. Hassan was able to successfully receive commitments to health and well-being from 100-plus countries all over the world, including the European Union, the African Union, and the United States.Since the age of 10, Mx. Hassan has led iCure Health International, a global community-based organization that has touched the lives of 60,000-plus individuals across 30-plus international chapters in 22 countries, dedicated to enhancing public health access, education, and policy.Moreover, as an NGO representative and ambassador to the United Nations Economic and Social Council, Mx. Hassan has served as a consultant or advisor for the World Health Organization, UN Women, UN Human Rights, the U.S. Department of Justice, UNICEF, the UN Population Fund, UN Climate Change, the UN Environment Programme, the UN Refugee Agency, the White House, the U.S. Department of State, the European Union, the G20, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand. Their contributions have resulted in the publication of 24-plus first-authored papers presented before and cited at platforms such as the Human Rights Council, the UN Committee for Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, the Commission on the Status of Women, the United Nations Human Rights Advisory Committee, the European Union Parliament, the White House, and the Economic and Social Council Partnership Forum.Locally, Mx. Hassan's leadership as a UNICEF Child-Friendly Cities Initiative Youth Houston Council leader led to the successful passage of the Child-Friendly Cities Initiative Action Plan and the Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights, impacting the lives of 2.5 million young people and bridging the gap between global aspirations and local dynamics. In addition, they have worked on many political campaigns, especially in social media, policy, and organizing, helping to engage 7.5-plus million people, especially on uses related to sexual and reproductive care, gun violence, and health care.Their ongoing work includes innovative solutions to systems perpetuating inequity, such as a patent-pending device aimed at eliminating the need for open-fire cooking methods.Mx. Hassan regularly advocates for better public health systems at all levels, whether it be advocating for Yemen’s Youth at the United Nations Committee for Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights; serving as a UN Refugee Agency young champion for Refugees; working as a suicide hotline volunteer; expressing the relationship between the well-being of people with disabilities and climate change at the first-ever U.S.-based UN Youth Climate Conference; serving as a youth ambassador for the Human Rights Campaign, one of the largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organizations; advising the U.S. Department of Justice on equitably shaping its opioid policies, with an understanding on international and market dynamics; conversing with the Kiribati ambassador to the United Nations on the role of youth leadership in public health; serving as the youngest-ever delegate to the WHO’s Regional Meeting of all of the health ministers in the Americas; or passionately working with congresspeople and Human Rights Watch to protect the health of migrants.Moreover, with Mx. Hassan’s recent appointment to the Leadership Council of USA for UNFPA, they are the youngest-ever Leadership Council member of a country UN body; in this role, they help contribute to UNFPA’s goals of ensuring the well-being of all women and girls and raising $100-plus million for UNFPA by 2030 (which is almost halfway met).Mx. Hassan has been recognized with the Diana Humanitarian Award, President Biden’s Lifetime Achievement Award, a White House Letter of Commendation for Contributions to Adolescent and Youth Well-being, $1.6 million in scholarships and grants, and more.

Athny Perez currently serves as a community coalition organizer for WestCare Texas through AmeriCorps Public Allies and a parenting advocate of the American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Mission. In her roles, Athny has developed expertise in advocacy and civil engagement and provides resources on self-sufficiency and healthy coping mechanisms to Indigenous communities. Previously, she participated in a pilot program with the Esperanza Peace and Justice Center which involved activism for the historic preservation of West Side San Antonio Chicanos.

Danie Guzman is a distinguished member of the Opioid Affected Youth Initiative Youth Advisory Board, boasting a rich academic background. She earned her bachelor’s degree in political science, delving deeply into the mechanisms of governance and societal dynamics. Building on this foundation, Ms. Guzman pursued a master’s degree in negotiation, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding, honing her skills in fostering dialogue and mitigating discord. In addition, she holds a Dispute Resolution Programs Act (DRPA) certification, further underscoring her expertise in conflict resolution and peace promotion. With this comprehensive blend of academic achievements and professional credentials, Ms. Guzman brings a unique perspective and invaluable insight to her role on the board.

Ms. Guzman stands at the forefront of advocacy for the rights of children and families in marginalized communities nationwide. Drawing on her multifaceted background encompassing professional expertise, educational attainment, and personal experiences, she epitomizes the essence of a dedicated changemaker. With an unwavering commitment to social justice, Ms. Guzman utilizes her platform to effect tangible, sustainable change, striving tirelessly to bridge the gaps in access, opportunity, and equity. Through her innovative approaches and collaborative endeavors, she remains steadfast in her mission to empower and uplift those most in need, embodying the true spirit of compassion and activism.

Carol P. Gordon is a senior research associate with the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR). She is currently the project lead for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s (OJJDP) Opioid Affected Youth Initiative, in which IIR provides technical assistance in support of more than 40 sites across the country impacted by the opioid epidemic. In this capacity, Ms. Gordon serves as the primary point of contact for OAYI grantees and is responsible for overseeing the overall implementation, tracking, and monitoring of TTA-focused deliverables; facilitation and coordination of one-on-one grantee check-in meetings, as well as national and OAYI network-wide meetings and events. Additionally, she leads the project’s efforts to build and sustain ethical relationships with funded sites and interested communities and is responsible for the identification and engagement of subject matter experts representing multiple disciplines. Prior to joining IIR, Ms. Gordon worked on the national, state, and local levels to support initiatives on behalf of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), OJJDP, the Florida Office of the Attorney General (OAG), and Communities In Schools. Through her work with the OJJDP Targeted Community Action Planning (TCAP) Initiative, Ms. Gordon managed multiple prevention and intervention projects, collaborating with law enforcement, juvenile probation, juvenile court services, community and faith-based organizations, and rural and urban communities to initiate strategies to prevent and control delinquency. Working in concert with DOJ, OJJDP, and the Department of Health, Ms. Gordon facilitated research focus groups targeting racial and ethnic disparity and nursing home abuse; developed and updated procedural justice curricula; and trained sworn and non-sworn law enforcement officers and community-based organizations on the components of procedural justice, including fair and impartial bias and racial and ethnic disparity. As a consultant and project director with Communities In Schools of Florida, Ms. Gordon initiated, planned, executed, and managed the statewide affiliate accreditation process and was directly responsible for the facilitation of a multitiered programmatic replication process targeting “high risk” communities throughout the state. With extensive experience managing a statewide training program for the Florida OAG, Ms. Gordon led and managed multiple training projects simultaneously. In addition, she has served as the key liaison to subject-matter experts and was responsible for establishing collaborative partnerships with prevention and intervention organizations.

Dishon Laing is a public health professional with more than 10 years of experience in youth work, health education, and community engagement. Throughout his career, he has organized numerous events and activities geared towards improving the lives of those most vulnerable. Mr. Laing currently works to create systems level change across the city of Boston as the Youth Prevention program director with the City of Boston Office of Recovery Services (ORS), where he coordinates technical assistance and trainings for the youth-serving workforce in topics related to engaging youth around substance use and developing new tools for city partners in their work with youth populations. Mr. Laing also co-chairs the Boston Youth Resiliency & Recovery Collaborative (BYRRC), a coalition with the purpose of addressing the harms and supporting those impacted by the opioid epidemic in Boston, and spearheads the CopeCode Club, a substance use prevention campaign focused on improving healthy responses to life stressors.

Brooke Mixon was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee, and is a dedicated professional in the field of social work. As a first-generation college student, Ms. Mixon pursued a bachelor's degree in psychology before obtaining a master's degree in social work at the University of Tennessee. She also has experience in suicide crisis intervention, grant writing, and motivational interviewing. With a strong commitment to mentoring and community service, she now serves as the director of the Amachi Knoxville mentoring program at Knoxville Leadership Foundation, where she began her journey as an intern 6 years ago.

Diana Archer is the program manager for Children, Youth, and Family Services. Ms. Archer brings a wealth of experience in case management, counseling, and mental health services across all age groups, including at-risk youth. Ms. Archer has served in various roles, including as a family service specialist and program coordinator, where she supported clients with emotional and financial needs. She taught first, second, and third grade for 4 years, gaining a deep understanding of the meaningful impact young people require throughout their lives. Currently, she manages a large team of more than seven people, overseeing their outcomes for various programs, all of whom are meeting their goals effectively. Ms. Archer holds an associate’s degree in early childhood education and a bachelor’s degree in family and child counseling from the City University of New York, Medgar Evers College. She has earned numerous certifications and credentials, including a certificate from the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS), credentialed alcoholism and substance abuse counselor (CASAC), and additional certificates in individual treatment planning, benefits access, and HIV/AIDS education. Moreover, she has completed certifications as a Narcan trainer and in CPR, youth mental health, and the Family Development Credential (FDC) Program for both frontline staff and leaders. Her FDC certification enables her to work meaningfully and impactfully with youth throughout New York State, leveraging her expertise in youth programming. Ms. Archer was also recognized as a champion of change at the White House during the Obama administration and has been interviewed by Scholastic magazine and several New York City publications. In 2020, she was honored as a PASEsetter for after-school education and was one of five New York City residents identified as being among the top leaders in after-school education. Recently, she successfully secured a significant ODJJP grant to support young people affected by the opioid epidemic across the country. This program has rapidly grown from zero to serving nearly 45 young people, providing prevention opportunities and fostering leadership within the community.

Lloyd A. Goldsamt, PhD, is a senior research scientist at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing and a licensed clinical psychologist in New York State. He has conducted NIH-funded research and community-based evaluations for more than 25 years. His primary research area is HIV and STI prevention among high-risk youth populations, including men who have sex with other men, male sex workers, and injection drug users. Dr. Goldsamt is also on the faculty of the Fordham University HIV and Drug Abuse Prevention Research Ethics Training Institute and is the associate director of the Administrative Core at the Center for Drug Use and HIV/HCV Research in the NYU School of Global Public Health.Dr. Goldsamt has conducted training and program evaluations locally and nationally, focusing on drug courts and community-based organizations working to prevent HIV and drug abuse. He is currently the evaluator for the Brooklyn Treatment Court and an evaluation consultant for the OJJDP Opioid Affected Youth Initiative.Dr. Goldsamt holds a PhD and a master of arts degree in clinical psychology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, as well as a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Carina Havenstrite currently serves as a senior research associate for the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR) and is the newest member of IIR’s Opioid Affected Youth Initiatives (OAYI) Training and Technical Assistance Team. Previously, she held the role of director of Program Management at the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office, where she led the development of the Drug Endangered Children Alliance (an OAYI-funded project), the Overdose Fatality Review Team, and various other harm reduction and law enforcement grant initiatives. Ms. Havenstrite has more than 15 years of experience working in the fields of grant management, innovative program implementation, case management, HIV and public health, drugs and alcohol, and harm reduction.

Jesse Fairchild is a psychotherapist and founder of Bodhi, a mental health counseling private practice in rural Cecil County, Maryland. Bodhi was established in 2011 with the vision of empowering people on their journey of self-discovery and mental wellness. Bodhi focuses on providing compassionate, knowledgeable, and efficient services to those who seek to awaken to their inner world. Bodhi has grown from a practice of one clinician to a one with 20 clinicians supported by a team of admin staff and a supervision program for graduate students. Under Jesse’s leadership, Bodhi has focused on supporting the systems in place surrounding children affected by the opioid epidemic in an effort to effectively realign the systems away from retraumatization and towards connection and healing. Jesse has focused on integrating her contemplative practice into the systems serving children and families in Cecil County and most particularly on bringing mindfulness practices to those most likely to be affected by secondary or vicarious trauma in the field (primarily first responders and social service agencies). She believes that change in the larger systems can only occur when we create reflective and safe spaces for those doing the work of helping. Jesse’s own therapeutic practice is rooted in Psychodynamic theory and Contemplative practice. Creating a compassionate space for healing, Jesse’s area of expertise is non-normative grief and integration of loss surrounding suicide, homicide, overdose, and other sudden deaths. Jesse also works with emergency services personnel to address the vicarious traumatization present in their emotionally demanding work. She sits on several local committees in an effort to provide ongoing reflection on how our own histories of trauma affect the work we do for those in ongoing crisis. She is the Mental Health Advisor to the Cecil County DES CISM team and supports their department in working to reduce the impact of critical incidents on those who respond to the call for help. Jesse Fairchild graduated from Loyola University in Maryland in 2006 with an MS in Clinical Psychology. She earned her license as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in 2008 and as an LCPC Approved Supervisor in 2012. She is also a Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health in DE since 2022 and is registered to provide mental health counseling by telehealth in South Carolina. She was certified as a Child and Adolescent Trauma Professional in 2020 and as a Clinical Trauma Professional in 2024 by the International Association of Trauma Professionals. She also earned a CCISM Certification of Knowledge in 2023 from the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation.

Kristin Willard has worked in leadership roles for more than 40 years and is currently employed at Morgan County Partnership. This is a nonprofit organization with emphasis on youth prevention and youth asset building. Ms. Willard has taught leadership, management, negotiations, and supervisory courses for Marshall University and Allegany Community College. She started her career in the human services field, working for the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Service (WVDHHR). Her last position at WVDHHR was as community service manager, responsible for the total operation of a county office including child/adult abuse and neglect, along with foster care and economic service programs. After 20 years at WVDHHR, Ms. Willard assumed the responsibility of director of finance and data at the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind. In this role, she was responsible for the fiscal and business affairs of the school, including personnel, transportation, food services, technology, security, and maintenance of buildings and grounds. Once retired from the state of West Virginia with 38 years of service, she accepted the position of executive director for the Morgan County Partnership. There, she was responsible for the total operation of the nonprofit organization where the programs support, educate, and empower the youth and citizens of Morgan County towards a safer and healthier lifestyle and environment. Her current role at the Morgan County Partnership is as business official. In this capacity, she is responsible for overseeing the fiscal management of the nonprofit organization. Ms. Willard graduated from Frostburg State University with a master’s degree in business administration and holds a permanent professional administrative certificate from the West Virginia Department of Education for superintendent, supervisor of general instruction, and principal.

With 25 years of experience in the public safety field, Elisa DiTrolio has strengthened government programs, not only to enhance safety but to improve systems within the criminal justice system. Her work has mainly focused on research and evaluation, program management, and policy.Ms. DiTrolio currently serves as the deputy director of Strategic Initiatives within the Denver Police Department and consults with the Institute for Intergovernmental Research as a subject-matter expert, supporting the Opioid Affected Youth Initiative. Ms. DiTrolio has a master of science degree in criminal justice from Northeastern University and a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from Boston University.

Dawne A. Sokora is the program manager for the OJJDP OAYI – FY 20 cohort and is with the Healthy Mom/Thriving Baby program at CHI St. Vincent Hospital. Ms. Sokora is a registered nurse of 39 years, specializing in neonatal intensive care, pediatric intensive care, and high risk OB ground and flight transport in Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, and Virginia. She also serves as a legal nurse consultant and pediatric disaster preparedness instructor with the Center for Domestic Preparedness and TEEX (division of Texas A&M).

Terri Mace has been with the Healthy Mom/Thriving Baby (HMTB) grant since March 2022. Ms. Mace started out as a family development specialist, working alongside her program director (Dawne Sokora) to help reduce the rate of substance use disorder (SUD) among the population served by the CHI St. Vincent Pregnancy Clinic. In her time working with HMTB, as the grant has grown into what it is today, she has transitioned from her family development specialist role to being the FDS lead and data specialist. Ms. Mace is passionate about doing whatever she can to make a difference in the lives of everyone with whom she comes into contact, helping them to overcome any hurdles that life may have thrown at them. She tries to live out the motto of “meeting each patient where they are at” in life and believes in individualized patient care.

Anyah Lock is the Family Development Specialist for OAYI Grant Healthy Mom/Thriving Baby at CHI St. Vincent Hospital. In this role, Ms. Lock works in a pregnancy clinic alongside nurses and doctors providing social support and assessing any needs that may arise for mom and family. Ms. Lock uses a biopsychosocial approach to assess all facets of life that may be identified as social determinants of health, mental health, substance use, employment, domestic violence, and medical history. Ms. Lock is currently preparing for perinatal mental health certification ion in hopes of continuing to bring awareness regarding maternal and paternal perinatal/postpartum mental health. Ms. Lock enjoys experiencing the joy that patients and families feel when they overcome obstacles and barriers that may have been hindering them in some way.

Tanika McCullough, LMSW, is a licensed social worker and Restorative Justice Specialist who founded Dandelions Are Flowers Too Youth Organization (D.A.F.T.) Youth Services, a non-profit organization whose mission is to eradicate the school-to-prison pipeline. She took notice of an inequitable system that further increased achievement gaps while inadvertently continuing cycles of oppression. Her understanding and knowledge of this increased her passion for evidence-based restorative practices to bring healing to schools and communities. Ms. McCullough's professional experience lies in over ten years of working in education as an administrator and implementing the restorative framework to decrease behavior challenges and suspension rates.

TreNise Holloway is the chief executive officer of the faith-based nonprofit organization Beginning New Outreach, located in Columbus, Georgia, whose mission is to serve economically disadvantaged and at-risk families with youth at the center of its services. Ms. Holloway has a master’s degree in leadership and organizational effectiveness and a bachelor’s degree in business management. She is a Certified Youth Mental Health First Aider and a member of the Georgia Family Support Network (GFSN) and the West Central Health District’s Opioid Executive Committee. The GFSN is a network of state, county, and community organizations dedicated to strengthening practices and policies that support quality family services across the state of Georgia. Ms. Holloway is also a member of the West Georgia Opioid Fatality Review Committee, which is the first OFR in the state of Georgia. Ms. Holloway has 24 years of experience as a project director, managing large project implementations that span 2 to 5 years with budgets of up to $20 million. Her project management experience at the executive level provides the necessary skills for strategic planning, oversight, and monitoring of implementation. This experience expands to risk management skills to identify, monitor, and track to completion any risks or critical impact items to the project implementation. Ms. Holloway’s project management experience has been instrumental in securing and implementing four federal grant programs and one state grant program for Beginning New Outreach.

Bobbi-Lynn Palmer has 31 years of experience in the mental and behavioral health field, serving children and families from diverse cultures, walks of life, and situations. Ms. Palmer holds a bachelor's degree in community and human services from Empire State College in Saratoga Springs, New York. She works for the Knik Tribe in Wasilla, Alaska, as an OVC/DEC youth victim advocate. Since working at Knik Tribe, Ms. Palmer has been honored to work with the National DEC, developing and implementing the Mat-Su Valley DEC-MDT Alliance throughout the Matanuska-Susitna Valley. While being a part of the Alliance working with families who experience substance misuse (legal and illegal), Ms. Palmer walks this journey alongside children and families, breaking down their barriers to rebuild their families, while providing resources, support, and case management and letting them know they are not alone. Ms. Palmer also provides DEC Awareness and DEC Approach “Moving from Awareness to Action” training and educational opportunities while promoting prevention, support, and wellness for children in the community. The Knik Tribe was awarded a subgrant award from National DEC -OJJDP-OAYI. With this grant, the Knik Tribe provides many Alaska Native cultural activities to various youth summer programs to promote prevention and healing through connection, support, and culture. Ms. Palmer is honored to work alongside Alaska Native families, earning their trust, and visiting their homes weekly to continue serving them as they carry out their journeys to wellness. Ms. Palmer has been acknowledged by the Kenaizitie Tribe in Alaska for the work and support given to their members and has recently been presented with a challenge coin from APOA (Alaska Peace Officers Association) for her continuing efforts with DEC and families.

Jessica Svetkovich is the DOJ coordinator for the Knik Tribe. Currently, the DOJ program holds grants or has programs in operation in relation to Victims of Crime–Victim Services, Drug Endangered Children (DEC), Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP), elder support, juvenile reentry, transitional housing, youth substance misuse prevention, and the Overdose Fatality Review Team (OFR). Ms. Svetkovich presides as the vice chair for the Mat-Su Alliance for Drug Endangered Children and as the OFR coordinator for the team currently being built out for both fatal and nonfatal cases. The program is also in the strategic planning phase of Tribal Court (Healing to Wellness). Ms. Svetkovich holds a bachelor of science degree in education and a master of science degree in mental health and wellness with a prevention emphasis. Ms. Svetkovich started as a pre-law student and still aspires to be involved in that field. She plans to attend Tribal Trial College this winter.

Tonya Milam is the Starting Points Family Support Center program manager for Child Protect of Mercer County’s Child Advocacy Center. She has been with the organization for more than 6 years. During her time at the agency, she has taken on the role of victim’s advocate, prevention coordinator, and therapist and is now on the leadership team for the organization. Ms. Milam’s roles include providing cognitive behavioral therapy to those with exposure to substances, support groups, coordination of community outreach events, management of emergency needs closets, and body safety prevention programming in Mercer County Schools. Ms. Milam’s background includes a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in social work from Concord University. Prior to her employment at Child Protect of Mercer County, Ms. Milam had more than 4 years’ experience as a child protective services investigative worker at the West Virginia Department of Human Services.

Carol P. Gordon is a senior research associate with the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR). She is currently the project lead for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s (OJJDP) Opioid Affected Youth Initiative, in which IIR provides technical assistance in support of more than 40 sites across the country impacted by the opioid epidemic. In this capacity, Ms. Gordon serves as the primary point of contact for OAYI grantees and is responsible for overseeing the overall implementation, tracking, and monitoring of TTA-focused deliverables; facilitation and coordination of one-on-one grantee check-in meetings, as well as national and OAYI network-wide meetings and events. Additionally, she leads the project’s efforts to build and sustain ethical relationships with funded sites and interested communities and is responsible for the identification and engagement of subject matter experts representing multiple disciplines. Prior to joining IIR, Ms. Gordon worked on the national, state, and local levels to support initiatives on behalf of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), OJJDP, the Florida Office of the Attorney General (OAG), and Communities In Schools. Through her work with the OJJDP Targeted Community Action Planning (TCAP) Initiative, Ms. Gordon managed multiple prevention and intervention projects, collaborating with law enforcement, juvenile probation, juvenile court services, community and faith-based organizations, and rural and urban communities to initiate strategies to prevent and control delinquency. Working in concert with DOJ, OJJDP, and the Department of Health, Ms. Gordon facilitated research focus groups targeting racial and ethnic disparity and nursing home abuse; developed and updated procedural justice curricula; and trained sworn and non-sworn law enforcement officers and community-based organizations on the components of procedural justice, including fair and impartial bias and racial and ethnic disparity. As a consultant and project director with Communities In Schools of Florida, Ms. Gordon initiated, planned, executed, and managed the statewide affiliate accreditation process and was directly responsible for the facilitation of a multitiered programmatic replication process targeting “high risk” communities throughout the state. With extensive experience managing a statewide training program for the Florida OAG, Ms. Gordon led and managed multiple training projects simultaneously. In addition, she has served as the key liaison to subject-matter experts and was responsible for establishing collaborative partnerships with prevention and intervention organizations.

Summer Gardner is a licensed master social worker in Alabama, currently working at the University of Alabama at Birmingham within Family and Adolescent Programs. Ms. Gardner has worked in substance misuse for the last 6 years, focusing on juveniles, and is currently the clinical program manager for UAB Adolescent Services. She is also a part of the Jefferson County RISE (Restoring Individual Strength and Empowerment) treatment team. RISE is a specialized probation docket for juveniles with moderate to severe substance use diagnosis. Ms. Gardner continues to work towards the prevention and recovery of adolescents with substance use and other high-risk behaviors, since serving this population now leads to a better future for everyone.

Carrie Jensen is the director of Alliance Support for the National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children (National DEC). She has more than 20 years of experience in child abuse prevention, trainings, curriculum research, and development and conference planning. Prior to joining National DEC, she worked for the Utah Attorney General’s Office in the Children’s Justice Center Program (nationally known as Children’s Advocacy Centers) and prior to that for Prevent Child Abuse Utah, where she spent most of her time teaching children in classrooms how to recognize and report child abuse. Ms. Jensen has served on many boards, coalitions, and task forces, most recently as a member of the Utah Opioid Task Force and the Utah Trafficking in Persons Task Force. Ms. Jensen holds a bachelor of science degree in integrated studies with an emphasis on social work, child and family studies, and English and holds a social service worker license.

Kippie Langford serves as program director for Center for Family Services’ Stepping Stones To Resiliency program. Under her supervision, a team of professional, compassionate individuals is dedicated to providing trauma-informed services to youth who have been impacted by the abuse/overdose of opioids and other substances in the family. These services are offered to youth ages 3–17 years old who reside in Camden and Gloucester Counties, New Jersey. Ms. Langford has an extensive background in leadership development, management, and team building. She has more than 25 years of experience in the field of social work and 15 years of experience in program development and deliveries. Since joining Center for Family Services, Ms. Langford has been instrumental in developing programs meant to educate, train, and build skills that add sustainability to individuals, families, and local communities. Ms. Langford is passionate about promoting the importance of self-care and has created Journaling and Affirming, a self-care series that assists participants with developing and applying coping skills to reduce stress and build resiliency through writing and intention setting. She enjoys coaching and empowering individuals to achieve their goals and reach desired results. Ms. Langford holds a bachelor of science degree in social work from Stockton University and a master’s degree in social work with a specialty in organizational leadership/management from Rutgers University.

Dr. Sean Siebert’s breadth of knowledge and experience, combined with his storytelling ability, make him a much-sought-after speaker, panelist, educator, and consultant. His messages resonate with audiences, leaving them both motivated and committed to embracing a future of endless possibilities. Dr. Siebert has authored the award-winning books Fighting the Good Fight and Conversations on Grief. His cross-collaborative work has been funded by numerous organizations including the Delta Regional Authority (DRA), the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the National Institutes for Health (NIH), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Kauffman Foundation, the Georgia-Pacific Foundation, and other agencies. In addition, Dr. Siebert serves as a contracted subject-matter expert (SME) for the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR). His work in the industries of education, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and economic development continues to be recognized across the United States and around the world. Dr. Siebert has been honored by the Missouri Association of School Administrators (MASA) with the prestigious Friend of Education Award for his work with school districts across the state of Missouri. Dr. Siebert was the national recipient of the National Association of Development Organizations Innovation Award for his work that helps communities and individuals combat the mental health and opioid epidemics. Dr. Siebert has also been honored as the Entrepreneur of the Year, Citizen of the Year, and Faculty Member of the Year, and he was the recipient of the Exclamation Award for Excellence. Dr. Siebert’s work has been recognized on numerous occasions by the Missouri Department of Economic Development, since he was a featured keynote speaker at the Governor’s Conference on Economic Development in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2023.

Jesse Fairchild is a psychotherapist and founder of Bodhi, a mental health counseling private practice in rural Cecil County, Maryland. Bodhi was established in 2011 with the vision of empowering people on their journey of self-discovery and mental wellness. Bodhi focuses on providing compassionate, knowledgeable, and efficient services to those who seek to awaken to their inner world. Bodhi has grown from a practice of one clinician to a one with 20 clinicians supported by a team of admin staff and a supervision program for graduate students. Under Jesse’s leadership, Bodhi has focused on supporting the systems in place surrounding children affected by the opioid epidemic in an effort to effectively realign the systems away from retraumatization and towards connection and healing. Jesse has focused on integrating her contemplative practice into the systems serving children and families in Cecil County and most particularly on bringing mindfulness practices to those most likely to be affected by secondary or vicarious trauma in the field (primarily first responders and social service agencies). She believes that change in the larger systems can only occur when we create reflective and safe spaces for those doing the work of helping. Jesse’s own therapeutic practice is rooted in Psychodynamic theory and Contemplative practice. Creating a compassionate space for healing, Jesse’s area of expertise is non-normative grief and integration of loss surrounding suicide, homicide, overdose, and other sudden deaths. Jesse also works with emergency services personnel to address the vicarious traumatization present in their emotionally demanding work. She sits on several local committees in an effort to provide ongoing reflection on how our own histories of trauma affect the work we do for those in ongoing crisis. She is the Mental Health Advisor to the Cecil County DES CISM team and supports their department in working to reduce the impact of critical incidents on those who respond to the call for help. Jesse Fairchild graduated from Loyola University in Maryland in 2006 with an MS in Clinical Psychology. She earned her license as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in 2008 and as an LCPC Approved Supervisor in 2012. She is also a Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health in DE since 2022 and is registered to provide mental health counseling by telehealth in South Carolina. She was certified as a Child and Adolescent Trauma Professional in 2020 and as a Clinical Trauma Professional in 2024 by the International Association of Trauma Professionals. She also earned a CCISM Certification of Knowledge in 2023 from the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation.

Tanika McCullough, LMSW, is a licensed social worker and Restorative Justice Specialist who founded Dandelions Are Flowers Too Youth Organization (D.A.F.T.) Youth Services, a non-profit organization whose mission is to eradicate the school-to-prison pipeline. She took notice of an inequitable system that further increased achievement gaps while inadvertently continuing cycles of oppression. Her understanding and knowledge of this increased her passion for evidence-based restorative practices to bring healing to schools and communities. Ms. McCullough's professional experience lies in over ten years of working in education as an administrator and implementing the restorative framework to decrease behavior challenges and suspension rates.

With 25 years of experience in the public safety field, Elisa DiTrolio has strengthened government programs, not only to enhance safety but to improve systems within the criminal justice system. Her work has mainly focused on research and evaluation, program management, and policy.Ms. DiTrolio currently serves as the deputy director of Strategic Initiatives within the Denver Police Department and consults with the Institute for Intergovernmental Research as a subject-matter expert, supporting the Opioid Affected Youth Initiative. Ms. DiTrolio has a master of science degree in criminal justice from Northeastern University and a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from Boston University.

Carina Havenstrite currently serves as a senior research associate for the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR) and is the newest member of IIR’s Opioid Affected Youth Initiatives (OAYI) Training and Technical Assistance Team. Previously, she held the role of director of Program Management at the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office, where she led the development of the Drug Endangered Children Alliance (an OAYI-funded project), the Overdose Fatality Review Team, and various other harm reduction and law enforcement grant initiatives. Ms. Havenstrite has more than 15 years of experience working in the fields of grant management, innovative program implementation, case management, HIV and public health, drugs and alcohol, and harm reduction.

Dr. Sean Siebert’s breadth of knowledge and experience, combined with his storytelling ability, make him a much-sought-after speaker, panelist, educator, and consultant. His messages resonate with audiences, leaving them both motivated and committed to embracing a future of endless possibilities. Dr. Siebert has authored the award-winning books Fighting the Good Fight and Conversations on Grief. His cross-collaborative work has been funded by numerous organizations including the Delta Regional Authority (DRA), the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the National Institutes for Health (NIH), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Kauffman Foundation, the Georgia-Pacific Foundation, and other agencies. In addition, Dr. Siebert serves as a contracted subject-matter expert (SME) for the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR). His work in the industries of education, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and economic development continues to be recognized across the United States and around the world. Dr. Siebert has been honored by the Missouri Association of School Administrators (MASA) with the prestigious Friend of Education Award for his work with school districts across the state of Missouri. Dr. Siebert was the national recipient of the National Association of Development Organizations Innovation Award for his work that helps communities and individuals combat the mental health and opioid epidemics. Dr. Siebert has also been honored as the Entrepreneur of the Year, Citizen of the Year, and Faculty Member of the Year, and he was the recipient of the Exclamation Award for Excellence. Dr. Siebert’s work has been recognized on numerous occasions by the Missouri Department of Economic Development, since he was a featured keynote speaker at the Governor’s Conference on Economic Development in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2023.

Tanika McCullough, LMSW, is a licensed social worker and Restorative Justice Specialist who founded Dandelions Are Flowers Too Youth Organization (D.A.F.T.) Youth Services, a non-profit organization whose mission is to eradicate the school-to-prison pipeline. She took notice of an inequitable system that further increased achievement gaps while inadvertently continuing cycles of oppression. Her understanding and knowledge of this increased her passion for evidence-based restorative practices to bring healing to schools and communities. Ms. McCullough's professional experience lies in over ten years of working in education as an administrator and implementing the restorative framework to decrease behavior challenges and suspension rates.

With 25 years of experience in the public safety field, Elisa DiTrolio has strengthened government programs, not only to enhance safety but to improve systems within the criminal justice system. Her work has mainly focused on research and evaluation, program management, and policy.Ms. DiTrolio currently serves as the deputy director of Strategic Initiatives within the Denver Police Department and consults with the Institute for Intergovernmental Research as a subject-matter expert, supporting the Opioid Affected Youth Initiative. Ms. DiTrolio has a master of science degree in criminal justice from Northeastern University and a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from Boston University.

Carina Havenstrite currently serves as a senior research associate for the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR) and is the newest member of IIR’s Opioid Affected Youth Initiatives (OAYI) Training and Technical Assistance Team. Previously, she held the role of director of Program Management at the Lackawanna County District Attorney’s Office, where she led the development of the Drug Endangered Children Alliance (an OAYI-funded project), the Overdose Fatality Review Team, and various other harm reduction and law enforcement grant initiatives. Ms. Havenstrite has more than 15 years of experience working in the fields of grant management, innovative program implementation, case management, HIV and public health, drugs and alcohol, and harm reduction.

Dr. Sean Siebert’s breadth of knowledge and experience, combined with his storytelling ability, make him a much-sought-after speaker, panelist, educator, and consultant. His messages resonate with audiences, leaving them both motivated and committed to embracing a future of endless possibilities. Dr. Siebert has authored the award-winning books Fighting the Good Fight and Conversations on Grief. His cross-collaborative work has been funded by numerous organizations including the Delta Regional Authority (DRA), the United States Department of Justice (DOJ), the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the National Institutes for Health (NIH), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Kauffman Foundation, the Georgia-Pacific Foundation, and other agencies. In addition, Dr. Siebert serves as a contracted subject-matter expert (SME) for the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR). His work in the industries of education, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and economic development continues to be recognized across the United States and around the world. Dr. Siebert has been honored by the Missouri Association of School Administrators (MASA) with the prestigious Friend of Education Award for his work with school districts across the state of Missouri. Dr. Siebert was the national recipient of the National Association of Development Organizations Innovation Award for his work that helps communities and individuals combat the mental health and opioid epidemics. Dr. Siebert has also been honored as the Entrepreneur of the Year, Citizen of the Year, and Faculty Member of the Year, and he was the recipient of the Exclamation Award for Excellence. Dr. Siebert’s work has been recognized on numerous occasions by the Missouri Department of Economic Development, since he was a featured keynote speaker at the Governor’s Conference on Economic Development in 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2023.

Jesse Fairchild is a psychotherapist and founder of Bodhi, a mental health counseling private practice in rural Cecil County, Maryland. Bodhi was established in 2011 with the vision of empowering people on their journey of self-discovery and mental wellness. Bodhi focuses on providing compassionate, knowledgeable, and efficient services to those who seek to awaken to their inner world. Bodhi has grown from a practice of one clinician to a one with 20 clinicians supported by a team of admin staff and a supervision program for graduate students. Under Jesse’s leadership, Bodhi has focused on supporting the systems in place surrounding children affected by the opioid epidemic in an effort to effectively realign the systems away from retraumatization and towards connection and healing. Jesse has focused on integrating her contemplative practice into the systems serving children and families in Cecil County and most particularly on bringing mindfulness practices to those most likely to be affected by secondary or vicarious trauma in the field (primarily first responders and social service agencies). She believes that change in the larger systems can only occur when we create reflective and safe spaces for those doing the work of helping. Jesse’s own therapeutic practice is rooted in Psychodynamic theory and Contemplative practice. Creating a compassionate space for healing, Jesse’s area of expertise is non-normative grief and integration of loss surrounding suicide, homicide, overdose, and other sudden deaths. Jesse also works with emergency services personnel to address the vicarious traumatization present in their emotionally demanding work. She sits on several local committees in an effort to provide ongoing reflection on how our own histories of trauma affect the work we do for those in ongoing crisis. She is the Mental Health Advisor to the Cecil County DES CISM team and supports their department in working to reduce the impact of critical incidents on those who respond to the call for help. Jesse Fairchild graduated from Loyola University in Maryland in 2006 with an MS in Clinical Psychology. She earned her license as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in 2008 and as an LCPC Approved Supervisor in 2012. She is also a Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health in DE since 2022 and is registered to provide mental health counseling by telehealth in South Carolina. She was certified as a Child and Adolescent Trauma Professional in 2020 and as a Clinical Trauma Professional in 2024 by the International Association of Trauma Professionals. She also earned a CCISM Certification of Knowledge in 2023 from the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation.

Tanika McCullough, LMSW, is a licensed social worker and Restorative Justice Specialist who founded Dandelions Are Flowers Too Youth Organization (D.A.F.T.) Youth Services, a non-profit organization whose mission is to eradicate the school-to-prison pipeline. She took notice of an inequitable system that further increased achievement gaps while inadvertently continuing cycles of oppression. Her understanding and knowledge of this increased her passion for evidence-based restorative practices to bring healing to schools and communities. Ms. McCullough's professional experience lies in over ten years of working in education as an administrator and implementing the restorative framework to decrease behavior challenges and suspension rates.

With 25 years of experience in the public safety field, Elisa DiTrolio has strengthened government programs, not only to enhance safety but to improve systems within the criminal justice system. Her work has mainly focused on research and evaluation, program management, and policy.Ms. DiTrolio currently serves as the deputy director of Strategic Initiatives within the Denver Police Department and consults with the Institute for Intergovernmental Research as a subject-matter expert, supporting the Opioid Affected Youth Initiative. Ms. DiTrolio has a master of science degree in criminal justice from Northeastern University and a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from Boston University.