Conference Presentations

2026 Peer Conference Presentations

Below is a list of topics that we covered during the conference.

Wednesday DAY 01

  • Trauma and SUD – Presenter: Dr. Sonja Williams
  • A Spiritual Awakening: Incorporating Spirituality in Treatment Programs – Helene Loper
  • Criminal Justice – Carla Bugg
  • Teens suffering in silence – Sharon Jackson
  • The Fight Within: Mastering Emotional Intelligence in Recovery and Beyond – Jerrod Smith
  • Suicide Prevention – Presenter: Isaac Pena
  • A Public Health Perspective on Substance Use Disorder – Melissa Beck
  • Everyday Advocacy: what advocacy is. – Jennifer Moreno
  • Strategic Planning for Recovery Events – Elana Merriweather
  • PATHWAYS AND PEER SUPPORT – AMANDA ROSE
  •  Couples in Recovery: Getting Together and Staying Together, the Secrets of Happy Couples – Charles Dent
  • Certified Recovery Support Services & Court Diversion Programs- Deborah Currington
  • Human Efficiency Optimization (HEO) Mindfulness for CRSS – John Vereen
  • Reach Them Young, Save Them Early – Catrina Stephens

Thursday DAY 02

  • CRSS Code of Ethics – Lisa Teggart and Amanda Gray
  • Best Practices for Recovery Housing- Curt Lindsley
  • “We Are Sober….What Now!!” – DeEricka McGhee and Stan Whitfield
  • Treatment Within the Justice System: Continuum of Care From Incarceration to Community- Rebecca Bensema
  • Understanding Domestic Violence – Vicki Seavy
  •  Leveraging Media To Advance Your Mission  –  Presented by Curt Lindsley and Stephanie Jennings
  • Help, Not Handcuffs: Offering Advocacy and Hope for Justice-Involved Peers – Emily Couch
  • Trusting the Process – Jaquelyn Johnson
  • The Navigation of MAT – Kaylee Cowan
  • Hungry for Healing: The Link Between Eating Disorders and Addiction – Deidre Wilson
  • Making Multiple Pathways of Recovery a Reality in Alabama – presented by Randy Hal

Friday DAY 03

  • Self-Care – Tajuan McCarty
  • Trauma Informed Care – Mark Litvine
  • Energizing Change: Navigating Uncertainty in Addiction Recovery and Peer Support – Jesse Mogle

Course descriptions and speakers