Eluna Community Conversation: Supporting Youth Impacted by Addiction in Rural Communities
Thank you to our moderator, panelists, and the many participants who joined this critical conversation on May 23rd.
Rural communities are disproportionately impacted by the drug crisis. Substance use disorder not only affects the individual but also ripples through communities, schools and families where youth may grapple with a loss of hope and direction. This virtual Community Conversation explored tailored strategies and initiatives to support youth in rural areas impacted by a family member’s addiction. Our panel was comprised of thought leaders carving meaningful paths of action & support in their rural communities.
This conversation was made possible thanks to our participating sponsor: The Ronald A. Mincio Education Fund
Recommended Panelist Resources:
- NACoA offers resources for everyone, including providing support for professionals with tools and training in order to better support individuals in pain due to alcohol and drug dependency in their families. They offer a variety of programs and products uniquely designed to offer support and assist you at home or in the workplace.
- Programs that Avail Management Services consults on for substance and opioid use disorder.
- The National Rural Alcohol and Drug Abuse Network (NRADAN) is a non-profit organization serving the needs of rural America. NRADAN’s goal is to reduce the incidence and prevalence of substance-use and addictive disorders in rural communities
- Project SCOPE (Supporting Children of the OPioid Epidemic) is a national initiative to train interdisciplinary teams in targeted states on emerging knowledge and evidence-based practices in screening, monitoring, and interdisciplinary care for children impacted by neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), trauma, or related exposure.
For more, visit Resources for Rural Youth & Families Affected by Addiction, which serves as a carefully crafted bookmark of resources specific to rural communities impacted by the drug crisis including facts, recommended books, and support programs.
Meet the Panelists:
Mary Beth Collins, Director of Programs at NACoA
Mary Beth Collins has worked with NACoA for almost 10 years as Director of Programs. She brings 25 years of expertise in nonprofit advocacy, communications, and program leadership to raise awareness for and advance programs and support for children’s issues. She is committed to helping children and families heal from the impact of trauma. Her passion has improved the lives for children and families dealing with learning disabilities, behavioral disorders, executive dysfunction, autism, and childhood cancer, as well as addiction.
Liza Nicholson, DrPH, Owner/Chief Executive Officer at Avail Management Services
Dr. Nicholson is the Owner/Chief Executive Officer and Principal Consultant for Avail Management Services. She has worked with rural populations for over 16 years committed to enhancing healthcare access, equity, and quality. She has had an opportunity to serve as a consultant for the last several years on projects primarily focused on substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery support; through these projects, she has been able to assess and implement public health programs to increase service area capacity, build sustainable collaborations, and improve health outcomes in rural communities.
Shea Hausman, Social Worker and Mentor at Camp Mariposa
Shea Hausman recently completed a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Kentucky, during which she focused primarily on substance use disorder treatment in perinatal populations. Prior to completing her MSW, Shea worked at the Adolescent Substance Use and Addiction Program (ASAP) at Boston Children’s Hospital. Shea has been grateful to serve as a mentor at Camp Mariposa in both New Hampshire and Kentucky.
