2025 Statewide Harm Reduction Symposium
Meeting Materials
Presentation Materials
Day 1: Thursday, September 11
11:15 AM – 12:30 PM: Breaking Down Silos: Harm Reduction, Mental Health & Co-Occurring Care Across Systems
- Tracie M. Gardner, Executive Director, National Black Harm Reduction Network
- Stephanie Marquesano, JD, Founder and President, The Harris Project, Inc.
- Lauren Johnson, MA, CASAC-M, Dual Recovery Coordinator, Putnam County Department of Mental Health
1:35 – 2:25 PM: Breakout 1A: Responding to Current Overdose Trends Utilizing Detect to Protect Campaign and Application of Overdose Data
- Angela Dieter, Director of Harm Reduction, Erie County Department of Health
- Marilyn Lenus, RN, OFR Coordinator, RN, Erie County Department of Health
- Jason Meurlin, Data Analyst, Erie County Department of Health
1:35 – 2:25 PM: Breakout 1B: Leveraging Interactive Mapping to Expand Community Access to Naloxone and Harm Reduction Servies
- Dayquan Crandell, BA, Epidemiologist, Orange County Department of Health
1:35 – 2:25 PM: Breakout 1C: Creating a Queer and Trans Connection Network: Peer-Led Mental Health Support as a Means of Harm Reduction in Rural LGBTQ+ Communities
- Toby Boris-Schacter, BA, Youth Coordinator, Columbia-Greene Addiction Coalition
2:30 – 3:20 PM: Launching Local Overdose Fatality Reviews: Why Mock Reviews Are a Powerful First Step – Hybrid
- Lisa Worden, Public Health Analyst – NY, CDC Foundation, Overdose Response Strategy
- James Hawley, Drug Intelligence Officer – NY, NY/NJ HIDTA, Overdose Response Strategy
- Linda L. Beers, Public Health Director, Essex County Health Department
- Shanna Siegel, RN, BSN, Supervising Public Health Educator, Public Information Officer, Putnam County Department of Health
- Meghan Tice, Epidemiologist, Oswego County Health Department
3:30 – 4:45 PM: Workshop 1A: From Data to Dialogue: An Interactive Mock Overdose Fatality Review Using Aggregate Data
- Lisa Worden, Public Health Analyst – NY, CDC Foundation, Overdose Response Strategy
- James Hawley, Drug Intelligence Officer – NY, NY/NJ HIDTA, Overdose Response Strategy
- Katherine Reynolds, CRPA, CARC, CASAC, ICFRC, Founder & Recovery Coach, Wayfinder Recovery
- Shanna Siegel, RN, BSN, Supervising Public Health Educator, Public Information Officer, Putnam County Department of Health
3:30 – 4:45 PM: Workshop 1B: Overamping Unpacked: Managing the Acute Effects of Stimulant Use
- Kelly S. Ramsey, MD, MPH, MA, FACP, DFASAM, Addiction Medicine and Harm Reduction Consultant, Kelly S. Ramsey Consulting, LLC
Day 2: Friday, September 12
8:20 – 9:10 AM: Stimulant Use Trends and Impact: Emerging Harm Reduction and Clinical Strategies
- Narelle Ellendon, RN, Opioid Program Manager, NYSDOH
- Anne DelVecchio, MPH, Evaluation Specialist IV, Program Manager, NYSDOH
- Blender Muzvondiwa, Graduate Research Assistant, NYSDOH
- Guen Argott, Hepatitis C Patient Navigator, Catholic Charities Care Coordination Services
9:15 – 10:05 AM: Breakout 2A: Leveraging Community Partnerships and Harm Reduction Philosophies to Solve Long-Standing Social Issues: The Schenectady Outreach Hub
- Jennifer Hayden, LMHC, CASAC, Dual Recovery Coordinator, Schenectady County
- Michelle Cejka, MA, Adult Behavioral Health Coordinator, Schenectady County
- Lauren Pierce, BA, Behavioral Health Navigator, Schenectady Police Department
- Lieutenant Ryan Macherone, Lieutenant of Neighborhood Engagement, Schenectady Police Department
9:15 – 10:05 AM: Breakout 2B: Beyond the Clinic Walls, Treatment Without Borders
- Ashley Spaulding, Director of Community Outreach, Baywood Center
9:15 – 10:05 AM: Breakout 2C: Monroe County C.A.C.T.U.S. (Community Action Coalition Committed to Uprooting Stigma): Changing the Conversation Around Substance Use Disorder
- Jessica O’Connor, MPH, Addiction Services Program Manager, Monroe County Department of Public Health
- Kelly Robinson, Addiction Services Outreach Supervisor, Monroe County Department of Public Health
10:20 – 11:10 AM: Breakout 3A: Peers, Data, and Partnership: Integrated Harm Reduction in Dutchess County, NY
- Lori Levine, MSPH, Quality Improvement Coordinator, Dutchess County Department of Health
- Allison M. Smith, MPH, Chief Epidemiologist, Dutchess County Department of Mental Health
- Gregory Gallo, LCSW, Clinical Program Manager, Dutchess County Department of Mental Health
10:20 – 11:10 AM: Breakout 3B: Bridges of Trust: Weaving Harm Reduction Into Community Hubs
- Tyler Gilyard, Program Coordinator, Onondaga County Health Department
- Julie Gilbert, Program Coordinator, Onondaga County Health Department
10:20 – 11:10 AM: Breakout 3C: Planning for Impactful Opioid Settlement Fund Utilization: Lessons Learned from Suffolk County
- Alyse Marotta, MPH, Coordinator of Community Based Programs, Division of Community Mental Hygiene Services, Suffolk County Department of Health
- Cari Faith Besserman, MS, CRC, CASAC-M, Director, Division of Community Mental Hygiene Services, Suffolk County Department of Health
- Tina Wolf, Executive Director, Community Action for Social Justice
- Melissa Wettengel, MPH, NYCPS, Chief Executive Officer, Hands Across Long Island
12:15 – 1:30 PM: Harm Reduction Policies for Protective Factors
- Alexis Pleus, Executive Director, Truth Pharm & NYSHRA Co-Chair
- Julie Ritzler-Shelling, M.Ed., Senior Director of Community Prevention and Harm Reduction Services, Trillium Health & NYSHRA Board Member
