Kansas Opioid and Stimulant Conference
December 12, 2024
8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Hyatt Regency Wichita
8:00am – 5:00pm
Registration Opens at 7:30am
7:30 – 8:30 Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:30 – 10:00 Welcome and Keynote Speakers
Don Stader, MD FACEP – Stader Opioid Consultants
Don Stader, MD FACEP is a board-certified emergency and addiction medicine physician, opioid expert, film producer & social entrepreneur. Don works at Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, CO where he served as section chair of emergency medicine and associate ED medical director prior to focusing on medical consulting. Don holds a medical degree with honors from Baylor College of Medicine and attended emergency medicine residency at Carolinas Medical Center. He is the Medical Director of the Compass Opioid Stewardship Program, a nationwide initiative to improve pain control, prescribing habits, addiction treatment and opioid stewardship for primary care clinicians. Don is also the founder and chair of the Colorado Naloxone Project one of the most ambitious national efforts to engage hospitals and clinicians in opioid overdose risk recognition, education and naloxone dispensing. As of March 2022, the project has engaged over 107 hospitals and distributed over 10,000 doses of naloxone.
Don is a recognized physician leader as is the Past President of the Colorado chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians (COACEP) and former President of the Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association (EMRA). He is the founder and past chair of Colorado ACEP’s Opioid Task Force, the Editor-in-Chief of COACEP’s 2017 Opioid Prescribing & Treatment Guidelines and the CO’s CURE’s guidelines on pain control and opioid stewardship. Don served for over 2 years as the Senior Pain Management & Opioid Policy Physician Adviser for the Colorado Hospital Association and serves on multiple national and local committees addressing the opioid epidemic in Colorado and across the nation, he is the current chair of ACEP’s Pain & Addiction Management Section.
He is the founder and president of Stader Opioid Consulting, a company that provides opioid and ALTO related education, policy and quality improvement services to hospitals, government organizations and physician groups. He is a well known national lecturer on the opioid epidemic, emergency department pain control, opioid stewardship, treatment of chronic and acute pain, opioid use disorders, medication for addiction treatment and harm reduction.
In addition to medicine, he works as a film producer & creative. He was the creative force behind the Emmy winning documentary 24|7|365 – The Evolution of Emergency Medicine. His 2nd film Palliative has won the audience award for short documentary at the Denver Film Festival and was recut in partnership with the NYTimes into Dying in your Mother’s arms, a film that garnered multiple awards and a national Emmy nomination. He served as the Editor-in-Chief of ACEP’s 50th Anniversary Book Bring EM’ ALL: Chaos. Care. Stories from Medicine’s Front Lines. He is the founder and chair emeritus of the nonprofit, The Emergency Medical Minute which provides free online emergency medical education via podcasts and video. Don enjoys bringing his talents in film production, writing and podcast production into his work as an educator and consultant.
He lives with his wife Andi and their three daughters Josiphine, Audrey & Morgan in Denver, Colorado.
10:15 – 11:00 Breakout Session 1
The Opioid Epidemic: DEA Updates and Emerging Trends
Kimberly Daniels, Diversion Program Manager, Drug Enforcement Agency (St. Louis Division)
Opioids and psychostimulants are major contributors to overdose fatalities in the United States. DEA’s Diversion Control aims to prevent, detect, and investigate the diversion of controlled pharmaceuticals. Our goal is to offer updated information on prescription and illicit drug trends occurring to inform local prevention efforts
Intersecting the Realities of Public Health and Public Safety in Kansas Drug Trends
DJ Gering, Public Health Analyst, CDC Foundation
Patrick Porubsky, Laboratory Operations Manager & Forensic Chemist, Kansas Bureau of Investigation
An overview of emerging drug trends in Kansas based on hospital emergency department visits, EMS calls, cause of death information, and laboratory testing of drug seizures from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
Do No Harm – Impaired Practice & Healthcare Provider Recovery Programs
Katie Allen, Assistant Director, Kansas Committee on Impaired Pharmacy Practice, PharmD
Impaired practice is a threat to patient safety, but where can healthcare providers with substance use disorders turn for help? This presentation will discuss substance use disorders in HCPs, barriers to seeking treatment, and impaired provider programs available in Kansas.
Empowering Futures: Strategies for Preventing Meth Use in Young Adults
Susan Bradford, Research Associate Professor, University of Missouri – St. Louis
Autumn Newman, Project Manager, Partnerships for Success, Compass Health
Methamphetamine use in our communities is experiencing a resurgence. Currently, there are no evidence-based interventions specifically for preventing meth use. This session will explore Missouri’s theory-based approach to preventing young adults from initiating or continuing meth use.
The Billion Pill Pledge Program: How Iowa and Tennessee are Modeling the Way Nationally for Opioid First Dose Prevention
John Greenwood, Co-founder, COO, Goldfinch Health
The Billion Pill Pledge program’s mission is to remove or avoid +1B unnecessary opioid pills in the US resulting from surgery. Designed to support rural and community hospitals in enhancing surgical care, the program focuses on the implementation and delivery of evidence-based care to better treat pain with fewer opioids.
Deflection in Kansas: A Collaborative Response to Mental Health and Addiction Crisis (Session 1 of 2)
Stewart Brought, Overland Park Crisis Action Team
Jessica Murphy, Overland Park Crisis Action Team
Ryan Howerton, Overland Park Crisis Action Team
The Overland Park Crisis Action Team (OPCAT) responds to addiction/mental health crisis. In this session, presenters will describe the OPCAT and discuss how the program has evolved. Panelists will discuss lessons learned from OPCAT and the Kansas Overdose Response Strategy, reflecting on collaborating at the community and state level.
ASAM Criteria, Treatment Placement & Clinical Documentation
Emily Swanzy, Manager of Clinical Services, Carelon Behavioral Health
Overview of ASAM Criteria, what it is and how it is used in the determination of appropriate Substance Use Disorder treatment placement. Explore the 6 dimensions and how to interpret the severity to make treatment referrals, admissions, transfers and discharge decisions; and clinical documentation requirements from a payer’s perspective.
11:15 – 12:00 Breakout Session 2
Ending the Opioid Crisis in your Community through Free Technical Assistance: Opioid Response Network’s Services and Request Trends in Kansas
Sherrie Watkins, LMSW, Regional Coordinator, Opioid Response Network
Holly Hagle, PhD, Assistant Research Professor and Addiction Health Services Educator and Researcher, University of Missouri – Kansas City
The Opioid Response Network (ORN) offers free technical assistance, training, tools, and resources for evidence-based prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction of opioid and stimulant misuse. This session covers Kansas trends, case examples, and how ORN support can benefit organizations and communities, including drug adulterant trends and harm reduction strategies.
Perinatal Substance Use and Behavioral Health Screening and Referral
Jennifer Guarino, Research Project Manager, University of Kansas Center for Public Partnerships and Research
Michaela Akacha, Vice President of Medical Integration, CKF Addiction Treatment
Mental health conditions impact 20% of individuals during pregnancy or postpartum and substance use disorders are estimated to cooccur at a rate of 19%. This presentation will review relevant terminology, prevalence, signs, and symptoms and discuss best practices for screening, brief intervention, and referral for this population.
You Never Know: Johnson County’s Response to Rising Fentanyl Overdoses Among Youth
Sierra Wright, Community Prevention Manager, Johnson County Mental Health Center
Participants will learn about the development and implementation of Johnson County’s Fentanyl Awareness Campaign. Information will be provided regarding the creative and content planning for the project. Participants will also learn about preliminary outcome data from the social norms campaign.
Deflection in Kansas: A Collaborative Response to Mental Health and Addiction Crisis (Session 2 of 2)
Kelly Firesheets, Vice President, Strategy and Partnerships, Cordata Healthcare
Brittney Garrett, Senior Director of Public Safety & Strategy, Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (PAARI)
Dan Meloy, Director of Operations, QRT National
Todd Hixson, State Coordinator – Kansas, Overdose Response Strategy, Midwest HIDTA
Experts in public health/public safety collaboration will facilitate an engaging problem-solving discussion, allowing attendees to explore barriers to collaboration across sectors and develop strategies to overcome them. Panelists: will provide the audience with resources from QRT National, PAARI, and the HIDTA/CDC Overdose Response Strategy that attendees can take home.
HRSA Efforts to Address Opioid Use Disorder in Rural Communities
Kealy Houlahan, Public Health Analyst, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs (IEA) – Region 7
The presentation will include a HRSA overview and highlight HRSA efforts to address opioid use disorder/substance use disorder including HRSA’s Rural Communities Opioid Response Program, behavioral health resources, find health services locator tools, forecasted funding opportunities, and regional activities to support rural communities.
Bridge, Road, Crutch, Castle: Metaphors in Addiction and Recovery
Daniel Warren, MD
Metaphors connect new or misunderstood information to pre-existing intuitive models of knowing. We will discuss the evidence around therapeutic use of metaphors, and review several metaphors for addiction, treatment (including medication treatment), and recovery. The audience will be invited to refine and expand their own metaphors.
Unveiling the Root of Addiction: Rediscovering Our Inner Selves
Brennan Hilleary, Operations Director/Chair, Love No Ego Foundation
The presentation explores addiction’s root causes, emphasizing self-awareness and inner values over societal pressures and external achievements. It discusses how cultural conditioning fosters addiction and offers practical steps to cultivate inner self-worth, aiming to reduce reliance on substances for fulfillment and promote authentic living through me teaching from personal experience.
12:00 – 1:20 Lunch – Provided
1:30 – 2:15 Breakout Session 3
Risk Communication for Community-based Substance Use Disorder using Knowledge Enriched Large Language Models
ZhiQiang Chen, PhD, Professor, School of Science and Engineering, University of Missouri-Kansas City
Holly Hagle, PhD, Associate Professor of Research, School of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Missouri-Kansas City
Yifei Liu, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City
This workshop explores the use of generative AI, specifically large language models, to communicate risks associated with substance use disorder. The transformative roles, challenges, solutions, and potential pitfalls of knowledge-enhanced LLMs will be discussed. Additionally, we will envision community-based SUD mitigation through AI tools and collaborative augmented reality devices.
Opioid Stewardship in Pediatrics
Elizabeth Edmundson, PhD, RN, NE-BC, Children’s Mercy Hospital
In some ways the opioid epidemic affects pediatric organizations differently than adult organizations. Upon developing our Opioid Stewardship program, our organization targeted two risk mitigation strategies: Patient/Family education and prescribing. This presentation is a review of outcomes demonstrating our successful journey.
Preparing Physicians to Treat Addiction
Elizabeth Ablah, PhD, Professor, University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita
Preparing Physicians to Treat Addiction of Sedgwick County was designed to improve access to care for people with substance use disorder. Dr. Ablah will describe the process and results of assessments and interventions with current and future physicians in Sedgwick County to provide care to individuals with substance use disorder.
Examining System Gaps and Solutions Through Overdose Fatality Case Reviews
Thomas Simmons, Health Educator, Reno County Health Department
DJ Gering, Public Health Analyst, CDC Foundation
An interactive session showcasing the value of an Overdose Fatality Review (OFR) board as a means to identify innovative solutions to address gaps in the substance use disorder system. This session features a sample OFR case from Hutchinson, KS.
Prevention through Digital Media – Digital Solutions that Change Lives
Kat Keyes, Social Worker, Senior Account Manager, Digital Strategist, cohort.digital
Alissa Menke, Chief Digital Strategist, Owner, cohort.digital
cohort.digital will highlight effective prevention practices for public awareness through digital media, social media, and marketing. This will include case studies that highlight past successes and a live discovery session. Participants will walk away with a greater understanding of the tools available and how to approach media strategy development.
Perinatal Substance Use: Mandated Reporting and Best Practices for Supporting Families (Session 1 of 2)
Kelsee Fout, Maternal & Child Behavioral Health Director, Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Erica Hunter, Safety and Thriving Families Deputy Director, Kansas Department for Children and Families
This presentation is intended to build provider capacity and knowledge of best practices in supporting perinatal families impacted by substance use.
“Anything is Everything:” Building a Harm Reduction Based Peer Support Program in Kansas
Keatherann Sharp, Peer Support Specialist, Wyandotte County Health Department
Discover how the Wyandotte County Health Department launched a new peer program with national grant funds. This presentation covers grant development, program setup and implementation, and the successes and challenges faced. Ideal for public health professionals, community health workers, grant writers, and those interested in peer support programs.
2:15 – 2:45 Snack and Vendor Break
2:45 – 3:30 Breakout Session 4
Supplements of Abuse: Demystifying Gas Station and Shop-Bought Products with Dependence Potential
Ashley Haynes, MD, Robert J Dole Veterans Health VA Medical Center
This presentation will address many of the substances currently available in gas stations and shops that have potential for abuse or dependency as well as neuropsychiatric effects, including the opioids kratom and tianeptine.
Communicating Compassion, not Contempt – Let’s Talk About Stigma
Hannah Prince, Director of Substance Use Programming, Missouri Hospital Association
In 2020, less than 10% of community members diagnosed with a Substance Use Disorder received treatment. This staggering statistic stems from the culture of stigma and shame surrounding behavioral health in our country. Join us as we delve into the impacts of intersectionality, bias, and the language we utilize.
Being the Village: Empowering Young People in our Community with Fentanyl Prevention Education and Support Through Meaningful Collaboration
Heidi Tomassi, Fentanyl and Substance Abuse Education Specialist, Olathe Public Schools
Rachael Perez, Community Prevention Coordinator, Johnson County Mental Health
John Moncayo, Sergeant, Olathe Police Department
Our presentation will focus on the collaborative efforts Olathe Schools and Johnson County Mental have been working on. We will share the impact these efforts are having on our community and provide details on what comes next in terms of fentanyl prevention education in our community.
Best Practices for Drug Endangered Children
Jennifer Gassmann, Parent Child Assistance Program Supervisor, Kansas Children’s Service League
Mike Parsons, Prevention Program Manager, DCCCA
Participants will learn about families impacted by substance use. The course will discuss best practices for working with families of drug endangered children to provide safe environments for children, focused on family-centered and positive interventions. Personal lived experiences in this area and case studies will be shared with the participants.
Perinatal Substance Use: Mandated Reporting and Best Practices for Supporting Families (Session 2 of 2)
Kelsee Fout, Maternal & Child Behavioral Health Director, Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Erica Hunter, Safety and Thriving Families Deputy Director, Kansas Department for Children and Families
This presentation is intended to build provider capacity and knowledge of best practices in supporting perinatal families impacted by substance use.
Recovery Lived Experience Panel
Chasity Shaffer, Peer Support Specialist Supervisor, DCCCA
Nick Casarona, Regional Director, Mirror, Inc.
Bryana Jenkins, START Case Manager, DCCCA
This is a lived experience panel to share our recovery background in hopes to help others understand addiction and recovery. We hope to help take away judgment and stigma that surrounds addiction. We will each share our personal recovery journey and how it got us to where we are now.
Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care in Rural Communities: Sharing Hope in Community Spaces and Recovery Housing
April Jackson, Addiction Prevention and Recovery Resources Director, Thrive Allen County/SEK Recovery Resources
Presenting programs and reporting of data during implementation of a three-year (2021-2024) federal grant objective which included prevention programs, establishment of a recovery house, placement of Harm Reduction boxes in the community and the overall effectiveness of coalition work in rural Southeast Kansas.
3:45 – 5:00 Closing Remarks and Keynote Speaker
Healing Neen
Tonier Cain
Tonier works tirelessly to raise the awareness about trauma informed care around the world. She has trained providers in all 50 states. Tonier is an advocate and educator, speaking all over the world on trauma, addiction, incarceration, homelessness, substance abuse and mental health. Her work has been used as a model in other countries for the establishment of their trauma informed care protocols.
Tonier was the former team leader for the National Center for Trauma Informed Care, with the National Association of State Mental Health Program Director. Currently she works to create international leaders in the field of Trauma Informed Care. She hosts an annual national conference to update and enlighten providers on current best practices. Tonier’s methods have proven to be effective, resulting in numerous awards for her work. She has been honored by two governors, a mayor and a state attorney with proclamations naming days after her, because of her help to transform their city and state.
Tonier is the C.E.O. and Founder of Tonier Cain International, Founder and President of Neen Cares, Inc. A 501 C 3, Founder and Co-C.E.O. of M.E.T.-R Integrated Health Global, as well as the Founder and C.E.O. of Purposeful Entertainment, a media production company.
She is an award-winning Film Producer that is the Creator and Producer of the upcoming tv show Restoration, Executive Producer of the film Walking Thru Bullets, subject and Co-Producer of the Award-Winning Film Healing Neen, along with being featured in the Documentary Behind Closed Doors: Trauma Survivors in the Psychiatrist System and advising on the film Like Any Other Kid.
Tonier is an author and serves as a Citygate Network Board Member. Her commitment to advocating for those who are often forgotten hasn’t gone without recognition. She has been featured in many articles including December’s 2014 Ebony magazine and appeared on over 17 talks shows. Tonier Cain uses her life experiences to make a difference for trauma survivors.
Sessions by Track
The Opioid Epidemic: DEA Updates and Emerging Trends
Kimberly Daniels, Diversion Program Manager, Drug Enforcement Agency (St. Louis Division)
Opioids and psychostimulants are major contributors to overdose fatalities in the United States. DEA’s Diversion Control aims to prevent, detect, and investigate the diversion of controlled pharmaceuticals. Our goal is to offer updated information on prescription and illicit drug trends occurring to inform local prevention efforts.
Intersecting the Realities of Public Health and Public Safety in Kansas Drug Trends
DJ Gering, Public Health Analyst, CDC Foundation
Patrick Porubsky, Laboratory Operations Manager & Forensic Chemist, Kansas Bureau of Investigation
An overview of emerging drug trends in Kansas based on hospital emergency department visits, EMS calls, cause of death information, and laboratory testing of drug seizures from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
Ending the Opioid Crisis in your Community through Free Technical Assistance: Opioid Response Network’s Services and Request Trends in Kansas
Sherrie Watkins, LMSW, Regional Coordinator, Opioid Response Network
Holly Hagle, PhD, Assistant Research Professor and Addiction Health Services Educator and Researcher, University of Missouri – Kansas City
The Opioid Response Network (ORN) offers free technical assistance, training, tools, and resources for evidence-based prevention, treatment, recovery, and harm reduction of opioid and stimulant misuse. This session covers Kansas trends, case examples, and how ORN support can benefit organizations and communities, including drug adulterant trends and harm reduction strategies.
Risk Communication for Community-based Substance Use Disorder using Knowledge Enriched Large Language Models
ZhiQiang Chen, PhD, Professor, School of Science and Engineering, University of Missouri-Kansas City
Holly Hagle, PhD, Associate Professor of Research, School of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Missouri-Kansas City
Yifei Liu, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City
This workshop explores the use of generative AI, specifically large language models, to communicate risks associated with substance use disorder. The transformative roles, challenges, solutions, and potential pitfalls of knowledge-enhanced LLMs will be discussed. Additionally, we will envision community-based SUD mitigation through AI tools and collaborative augmented reality devices.
Supplements of Abuse: Demystifying Gas Station and Shop-Bought Products with Dependence Potential
Ashley Haynes, MD, Robert J Dole Veterans Health VA Medical Center
This presentation will address many of the substances currently available in gas stations and shops that have potential for abuse or dependency as well as neuropsychiatric effects, including the opioids kratom and tianeptine.
Do No Harm – Impaired Practice & Healthcare Provider Recovery Programs
Katie Allen, Assistant Director, Kansas Committee on Impaired Pharmacy Practice, PharmD
Impaired practice is a threat to patient safety, but where can healthcare providers with substance use disorders turn for help? This presentation will discuss substance use disorders in HCPs, barriers to seeking treatment, and impaired provider programs available in Kansas.
Perinatal Substance Use and Behavioral Health Screening and Referral
Jennifer Guarino, Research Project Manager, University of Kansas Center for Public Partnerships and Research
Michaela Akacha, Vice President of Medical Integration, CKF Addiction Treatment
Mental health conditions impact 20% of individuals during pregnancy or postpartum and substance use disorders are estimated to cooccur at a rate of 19%. This presentation will review relevant terminology, prevalence, signs, and symptoms and discuss best practices for screening, brief intervention, and referral for this population.
Opioid Stewardship in Pediatrics
Elizabeth Edmundson, PhD, RN, NE-BC, Children’s Mercy Hospital
In some ways the opioid epidemic affects pediatric organizations differently than adult organizations. Upon developing our Opioid Stewardship program, our organization targeted two risk mitigation strategies: Patient/Family education and prescribing. This presentation is a review of outcomes demonstrating our successful journey.
Preparing Physicians to Treat Addiction
Elizabeth Ablah, PhD, Professor, University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita
Preparing Physicians to Treat Addiction of Sedgwick County was designed to improve access to care for people with substance use disorder. Dr. Ablah will describe the process and results of assessments and interventions with current and future physicians in Sedgwick County to provide care to individuals with substance use disorder.
Communicating Compassion, not Contempt – Let’s Talk About Stigma
Hannah Prince, Director of Substance Use Programming, Missouri Hospital Association
In 2020, less than 10% of community members diagnosed with a Substance Use Disorder received treatment. This staggering statistic stems from the culture of stigma and shame surrounding behavioral health in our country. Join us as we delve into the impacts of intersectionality, bias, and the language we utilize.
Empowering Futures: Strategies for Preventing Meth Use in Young Adults
Susan Bradford, Research Associate Professor, University of Missouri – St. Louis
Autumn Newman, Project Manager, Partnerships for Success, Compass Health
Methamphetamine use in our communities is experiencing a resurgence. Currently, there are no evidence-based interventions specifically for preventing meth use. This session will explore Missouri’s theory-based approach to preventing young adults from initiating or continuing meth use.
The Billion Pill Pledge Program: How Iowa and Tennessee are Modeling the Way Nationally for Opioid First Dose Prevention
John Greenwood, Co-founder, COO, Goldfinch Health
The Billion Pill Pledge program’s mission is to remove or avoid +1B unnecessary opioid pills in the US resulting from surgery. Designed to support rural and community hospitals in enhancing surgical care, the program focuses on the implementation and delivery of evidence-based care to better treat pain with fewer opioids.
You Never Know: Johnson County’s Response to Rising Fentanyl Overdoses Among Youth
Sierra Wright, Community Prevention Manager, Johnson County Mental Health Center
Participants will learn about the development and implementation of Johnson County’s Fentanyl Awareness Campaign. Information will be provided regarding the creative and content planning for the project. Participants will also learn about preliminary outcome data from the social norms campaign.
Examining System Gaps and Solutions Through Overdose Fatality Case Reviews
Thomas Simmons, Health Educator, Reno County Health Department
DJ Gering, Public Health Analyst, CDC Foundation
An interactive session showcasing the value of an Overdose Fatality Review (OFR) board as a means to identify innovative solutions to address gaps in the substance use disorder system. This session features a sample OFR case from Hutchinson, KS.
Prevention through Digital Media – Digital Solutions that Change Lives
Kat Keyes, Social Worker, Senior Account Manager, Digital Strategist, cohort.digital
Alissa Menke, Chief Digital Strategist, Owner, cohort.digital
cohort.digital will highlight effective prevention practices for public awareness through digital media, social media, and marketing. This will include case studies that highlight past successes and a live discovery session. Participants will walk away with a greater understanding of the tools available and how to approach media strategy development.
Being the Village: Empowering Young People in our Community with Fentanyl Prevention Education and Support Through Meaningful Collaboration
Heidi Tomassi, Fentanyl and Substance Abuse Education Specialist, Olathe Public Schools
Rachael Perez, Community Prevention Coordinator, Johnson County Mental Health
John Moncayo, Sergeant, Olathe Police Department
Our presentation will focus on the collaborative efforts Olathe Schools and Johnson County Mental have been working on. We will share the impact these efforts are having on our community and provide details on what comes next in terms of fentanyl prevention education in our community.
Best Practices for Drug Endangered Children
Jennifer Gassmann, Parent Child Assistance Program Supervisor, Kansas Children’s Service League
Mike Parsons, Prevention Program Manager, DCCCA
Participants will learn about families impacted by substance use. The course will discuss best practices for working with families of drug endangered children to provide safe environments for children, focused on family-centered and positive interventions. Personal lived experiences in this area and case studies will be shared with the participants.
Deflection in Kansas: A Collaborative Response to Mental Health and Addiction Crisis (Session 1 of 2)
Stewart Brought, Overland Park Crisis Action Team
Jessica Murphy, Overland Park Crisis Action Team
Ryan Howerton, Overland Park Crisis Action Team
The Overland Park Crisis Action Team (OPCAT) responds to addiction/mental health crisis. In this session, presenters will describe the OPCAT and discuss how the program has evolved. Panelists will discuss lessons learned from OPCAT and the Kansas Overdose Response Strategy, reflecting on collaborating at the community and state level.
Deflection in Kansas: A Collaborative Response to Mental Health and Addiction Crisis (Session 2 of 2)
Kelly Firesheets, Vice President, Strategy and Partnerships, Cordata Healthcare
Brittney Garrett, Senior Director of Public Safety & Strategy, Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative (PAARI)
Dan Meloy, Director of Operations, QRT National
Todd Hixson, State Coordinator – Kansas, Overdose Response Strategy, Midwest HIDTA
Experts in public health/public safety collaboration will facilitate an engaging problem-solving discussion, allowing attendees to explore barriers to collaboration across sectors and develop strategies to overcome them. Panelists: will provide the audience with resources from QRT National, PAARI, and the HIDTA/CDC Overdose Response Strategy that attendees can take home.
HRSA Efforts to Address Opioid Use Disorder in Rural Communities
Kealy Houlahan, Public Health Analyst, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs (IEA) – Region 7
The presentation will include a HRSA overview and highlight HRSA efforts to address opioid use disorder/substance use disorder including HRSA’s Rural Communities Opioid Response Program, behavioral health resources, find health services locator tools, forecasted funding opportunities, and regional activities to support rural communities.
Perinatal Substance Use: Mandated Reporting and Best Practices for Supporting Families (Sessions 1 and 2)
Kelsee Fout, Maternal & Child Behavioral Health Director, Kansas Department of Health and Environment
Erica Hunter, Safety and Thriving Families Deputy Director, Kansas Department for Children and Families
This presentation is intended to build provider capacity and knowledge of best practices in supporting perinatal families impacted by substance use.
ASAM Criteria, Treatment Placement & Clinical Documentation
Emily Swanzy, Manager of Clinical Services, Carelon Behavioral Health
Overview of ASAM Criteria, what it is and how it is used in the determination of appropriate Substance Use Disorder treatment placement. Explore the 6 dimensions and how to interpret the severity to make treatment referrals, admissions, transfers and discharge decisions; and clinical documentation requirements from a payer’s perspective.
Bridge, Road, Crutch, Castle: Metaphors in Addiction and Recovery
Daniel Warren, MD
Metaphors connect new or misunderstood information to pre-existing intuitive models of knowing. We will discuss the evidence around therapeutic use of metaphors, and review several metaphors for addiction, treatment (including medication treatment), and recovery. The audience will be invited to refine and expand their own metaphors.
Unveiling the Root of Addiction: Rediscovering Our Inner Selves
Brennan Hilleary, Operations Director/Chair, Love No Ego Foundation
The presentation explores addiction’s root causes, emphasizing self-awareness and inner values over societal pressures and external achievements. It discusses how cultural conditioning fosters addiction and offers practical steps to cultivate inner self-worth, aiming to reduce reliance on substances for fulfillment and promote authentic living through me teaching from personal experience.
“Anything is Everything:” Building a Harm Reduction Based Peer Support Program in Kansas
Keatherann Sharp, Peer Support Specialist, Wyandotte County Health Department
Discover how the Wyandotte County Health Department launched a new peer program with national grant funds. This presentation covers grant development, program setup and implementation, and the successes and challenges faced. Ideal for public health professionals, community health workers, grant writers, and those interested in peer support programs.
Recovery Lived Experience Panel
Chasity Shaffer, Peer Support Specialist Supervisor, DCCCA
Nick Casarona, Regional Director, Mirror, Inc.
Bryana Jenkins, START Case Manager, DCCCA
This is a lived experience panel to share our recovery background in hopes to help others understand addiction and recovery. We hope to help take away judgment and stigma that surrounds addiction. We will each share our personal recovery journey and how it got us to where we are now.
Recovery-Oriented Systems of Care in Rural Communities: Sharing Hope in Community Spaces and Recovery Housing
April Jackson, Addiction Prevention and Recovery Resources Director, Thrive Allen County/SEK Recovery Resources
Presenting programs and reporting of data during implementation of a three-year (2021-2024) federal grant objective which included prevention programs, establishment of a recovery house, placement of Harm Reduction boxes in the community and the overall effectiveness of coalition work in rural Southeast Kansas.