Keynote Overview

Day 1

Opening Keynote Panel – What’s in WA’s Recovery Soup: Priorities, Funding, Key Champions, & Critical Initiatives

The State of Washington is one of the nation’s most innovative and progressive states in the country, especially when it comes to substance use prevention and research. Advocates for a statewide full continuum of cares, however, would argue that prevention is incomplete without a robust recovery landscape. Thanks to coordinated, statewide advocacy and legislative efforts, the Washington State Healthcare Authority awarded seed grants to 4 universities across Washington this past year. These institutions of higher education, along with coordination from Washington State University’s technical assistance team, can use the funds for collegiate recovery program development, technical assistance, and research of collegiate recovery efforts. During this session, participants will hear from some of the state of Washington’s leading recovery champions as they discuss priorities, funding streams, and critical initiatives for the State. Join us and see if you think you can replicate the state of Washington’s fiscal and programmatic support for collegiate recovery in your state!

Goals:
  • Learn about the history of the advocacy efforts in the state of Washington.
  • Understand how the collegiate recovery grantee program is supporting legislative and priorities for the state and vice versa.
  • Come to know who some of the major champions for the inclusion of collegiate recovery in the broader recovery support services system have been and who advocates hope to recruit for future efforts.
Moderator:
Panelists:
  • Rep. Lauren Davis, District 34
  • Ely Hernandez, Executive Director, Washington Recovery Alliance
  • Liz Venuto, Transition Age Youth Integrated Services, Children, Youth, and Family Behavioral Health Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Washington State Healthcare Authority

Keynote Panel – Blossoming: A Glimpse into Washington State’s Four, Collegiate Recovery Seed Grantees’ Progress

In the height of the nation turning its attention to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the state of Washington ambitiously rolled out a collegiate recovery grant program in partnership with Washington State University. Understanding the impending mental health and substance use tsunami in a post-COVID landscape, Washington is continuing to refine systems of care for students. Four institutions of higher education were awarded the first round of seed grants in the fall of 2020. Join us for an exciting discussion on how collegiate recovery is being implemented in a variety of settings including, a community college, private liberal arts college, large 4-year university and a Jesuit College. Participants will also get a glimpse at the future for collegiate recovery in Washington state.

Goals:
  • Listen to examples of successful program implementation as well as challenges each of the grantees have experienced.
  • Understand how collegiate recovery adoption should take campus culture into account when creating collegiate recovery services.
  • Discover resources that were most helpful to grantees in the early stages of the implementation process.
Moderator:
  • Patricia Maarhuis, PhD, Research and Program Development, Cougar Health Services – Health Promotion, Washington State University
Panelists:
  • Sydney Cheifetz, MPH, Health Educator, Office of Health Promotion, Gonzaga University
  • Rae Chresfield, PhD, NCC, Associate Dean of Health and Wellness, Director of the Counseling Center, Whitman College
  • Kelsey Barrans, MSW, She/her pronouns, Violence Prevention Center Program Manager, Green River College
  • Sarah Postel, MEd, She/her pronouns, Director of Violence Prevention, Student Testing & Communications, Green River College
  • Patricia Maarhuis, PhD, Research and Program Development, Cougar Health Services – Health Promotion, Washington State University
  • Jon Wallis, Project Coordinator, Cougar Health Services, Health Promotion, Washington State University

Day 2

Opening Keynote Panel – No Wrong Door to Student Success: From Overdose to Graduation

As of 2016, opioids have killed more than 42,000 people in the United States, according to the CDC (2017). More than one in seven young adults has misused prescription opioids, stimulants, or sedatives/tranquilizers in the past year (Hughes A, Williams MR, Lipari RN, et al, 2016). Instead of taking a punitive route, possibly losing students to dropout or worse, death, the inclusion of harm reduction on college campuses can help turn the tide of the epidemic. By adopting practices such as naloxone training/distribution, peer support, and other recovery services, college campuses can create a safer environment that encourages students to make positive changes autonomously at their own pace. Join us for this very special conversation with harm reduction practitioners and those with lived experience to learn more about what is affecting change and supporting students’ individual goals.

Goals:
  • Listen to individuals who have overcome an overdose experience and are thriving as students or alumni.
  • Review current harm reduction strategies available to Washington state residents and campus professionals.
  • Discuss current gaps in services that harm reductionists have identified in the intersection of prevention, treatment, and recovery.
Moderator:
Panelists:
  • Chase Holleman, LCSW, LCAS, Harm Reductionist, University of North Carolina, Greensboro, Collegiate Recovery Alumni (He, Him)
  • Amber Stephens, Harm Reductionist and Peer Advocate, University of Albany student, (She, Her, Hers)
  • Alison Newman, MPH, Continuing Education Specialist, COSE, University of Washington (She, Her)

Keynote Panel – Innovations in Statewide Collegiate Recovery Research and Evaluation

Community-based innovations, such as recovery community organizations and other recovery support services, have provided evidence of successfully scaling recovery efforts and improving the chance of sustained recovery for individuals that live within the community (Ashford, Brown, & Ryding, 2019). The current WSU statewide environmental scan is focused on an evaluation of services, programs, supportive relationships, and other community assets that enhance the likelihood of an individual accessing recovery support services. By conducting comprehensive, mixed-methods evaluations that are utilization-focused, collaborative with community partners, and trauma-informed for marginalized populations, WSU hopes to build the infrastructures that are feasible, relevant, and impactful for all stakeholders.

Goals:
  • Listen to the overall goal of the WSU evaluation.
  • Understand the primary intention of the evaluation is to increase transparency and accountability with funders, other stakeholders, and the community.
  • Review important questions about program process and outcomes.
  • Discuss how to build sustainable continuous quality improvement processes and local capacity through evaluation and research.
Moderator:
Panelists:

Closing Keynote – Bridging the Gap: Connecting with Washington’s Tribal and Rural Communities

A primary goal of the State of Washington Collegiate Recovery Support Project is to further health equity, inclusion, culturally appropriate and welcoming spaces on campuses as well as in collegiate recovery programs. To further this effort, Native American panelists will discuss the varied substance use rates and how the highest abstinence rates in the U.S. are among Native communities. Understanding the needs of Native America students and culturally-adapted and culturally-focused substance use prevention/treatment strategies is imperative for long-term recovery, relapse prevention, and the academic success.  Additionally, there is emerging research around Tribal College campuses and student experiences related to prevention and recovery. Over 570 tribes have state or federal recognition status, which provides certain levels of sovereignty, however, state and federal education and health policies have implications for individual students and native communities. How does policy impact engagement and access to services in Native communities and for Native American students on campus?

Goals:
  • Learn about culturally adapted and culturally focused substance use prevention/treatment/recovery strategies.
  • Find out about emerging research about Tribal College students and their experiences.
  • Gather how policy impacts engagement and access to services in Native communities, specific to education and recovery.
  • Discuss the unique challenges and needs of Native American students on campus and in their communities.
  • Listen to the experiences of Native American students, faculty, researchers, and educators.
Moderator:
Panelists:
  • Katherine Hirchak, (Eastern Shoshone), Assistant Research Professor, Behavioral Health Innovations, Washington State University, Spokane
  • Stasie Maxwell, (Iñupiaq), Psychology Major + Native Studies Certificate, McNair Scholar, Co-Chair of the SOU Native American Student Union, member of CORE, the Community of Recovery in Education
  • Kateri Coyhis, (Mohican), Executive Director of White Bison, Wellbriety Training Institute, Colorado Springs, CO

Conference Closing Remarks

Please join us for brief, closing remarks from the key drivers of the statewide collegiate recovery efforts in Washington. Participants will also hear updates on the future of the initiative as well as meet a few special guests.

Panelists:
  • Liz Venuto, Transition Age Youth Integrated Services, Children, Youth, and Family Behavioral Health Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Washington State Healthcare Authority
  • Paula Adams, MA, Director, Cougar Health Promotion – Health Promotion, Co-PI State of Washington Collegiate Recovery Initiative, Immediate Past Chair, Health Promotion Section, American College Health Association
  • Patricia Maarhuis, PhD, Research and Program Development, Cougar Health Services – Health Promotion, Washington State University