Join us to learn more about the opioid and stimulant crisis in Kansas. Engaging together in this proactive effort to build a collaborative response will help to prevent the escalation of this crisis in Kansas.
Conference Agenda
| Title | Presenter(s) |
| Every Life Tells a Story: The anatomy of an Overdose Fatality Review (Presentation) | Thomas Simmons |
| Wichita – Sedgwick Opioid Settlement Consortium: Strategic Planning Lessons Learned | Burke Fishburn, Jeff Easter, Donte Martin |
| Ethical Uses of Technology and Behavioral Health Treatment: To AI or Not to AI that is the Question | Pete Nielsen |
| Integrating Public Health and Forensic Laboratory Data to Track Drug Trends in Kansas (Presentation) | Patrick Porubsky, Scott Johnston |
| United to Transform: Kansas SUD Needs Assessment Findings for Action | Silke Von Esenwein, Janine Hron |
| Beware the Shopkeep’s Potions: An Overview of 7-OH Kratom | Luke Rosebraugh |
| Title | Presenter(s) |
| Health Professionals can be the light (Presentation) | Dr Elizabeth Ablah, Cara Hansuld, Tessa Moren, Karen Bramen |
A Human-Centered Understanding of Substance Misuse and Substance Use Disorder | Keri Wineger, Hanna Prince |
| Community Health Workers Addressing Substance Use Disorder Needs (Presentation) | Dr. Elizabeth Ablah, Dr. Amanda Aguila, Angela Scott, Kaylee Hervey, Joshua Gaines |
| Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder in the Pediatric Patient (Presentation) | Michelle DePhillips |
| ASAM Criteria, Treatment Placement & Clinical Documentation (Presentation) | Emily Swanzy |
| Title | Presenter(s) |
| Fentanyl, The Impact | Amber Saale |
| Drug Endangered Children: Identification and Best Practices for Families Affected by Substance Use (Presentation) | Jennifer Gassman |
| Title | Presenter(s) |
| From Incarceration to Rehabilitation: a Jail-Based Medication Assisted Treatment Program (Presentation) | Adrienne Hearrell, Candace Davidson |
| Anything is Everything | Keatherann Sharp, Karah Barnes, Nicole Whitten, Jessica Kraus |
| First responder Awareness to Opiate and Fentanyl Overdoses (Presentation) | Josh Magaha |
| Peer Support for Substance Abuse Recovery in County Jail: Transforming Lives and Jail Culture | Nick Casarona, Katrina Parker, Adam Cobuluis |
| Title | Presenter(s) |
| Being ‘SMART’ About Treatment Approaches to Risk Reduction | Pete Nielsen |
| Driving Lasting Change: The Kansas Fights Addiction Centers of Excellence Model | Shawna Wright, Seth Dewey, Christina Boyd, Michaela Loxterman |
| Stronger Together: Community Based Response to Opioid and Stimulant Use In Kansas (Presentation) | Sherrie Watkins |
| Recovery Panel | Chasity Shaffer, Tracey Striplin |
| Recovery Capital: Helping Clients Discover the Treasures of Recovery | Pete Nielsen |
| Contingency Management: Evidence-Based Treatment for Stimulant Use (Presentation) | JK Costello |
| Track | Title | Presenter(s) |
| Treatment and Recovery | Being ‘SMART’ About Treatment Approaches to Risk Reduction | Pete Nielsen |
| Emerging Trends | Every Life Tells a Story: The anatomy of an Overdose Fatality Review | Thomas Simmons |
| Emerging Trends | Wichita - Sedgwick Opioid Settlement Consortium: Strategic Planning Lessons Learned | Burke Fishburn, Jeff Easter, Donte Martin |
| Public Safety | From Incarceration to Rehabilitation: a Jail-Based Medication Assisted Treatment Program | Adrienne Hearrel, Candace Davidson |
| Health Systems and Prescribers | Health Professionals can be the light | Dr Elizabeth Ablah, Cara Hansuld, Tessa Moren, Karen Bramen |
| Track | Title | Presenter(s) |
| Prevention | Fentanyl, The Impact | Amber Saale |
| Treatment and Recovery | Driving Lasting Change: The Kansas Fights Addiction Centers of Excellence Model | Shawna Wright, Seth Dewey, Christina Boyd, Michaela Loxterman |
| Emerging Trends | Ethical Uses of Technology and Behavioral Health Treatment: To AI or Not to AI that is the Question | Pete Nielsen |
| Emerging Trends | Integrating Public Health and Forensic Laboratory Data to Track Drug Trends in Kansas | Patrick Porubsky, Scott Johnston |
| Public Safety | Anything is Everything | Keatherann Sharp, Karah Barnes, Nicole Whitten, Jessica Kraus |
| Health Systems and Prescribers | A Human-Centered Understanding of Substance Misuse and Substance Use Disorder | Keri Wineger, Hanna Prince |
| Treatment and Recovery | Stronger Together: Community Based Response to Opioid and Stimulant Use In Kansas | Sherrie Watkins |
| Track | Title | Presenter(s) |
| Treatment and Recovery | Recovery Panel | Chasity Shaffer, Tracey Striplin |
| Treatment and Recovery | Recovery Capital: Helping Clients Discover the Treasures of Recovery | Pete Nielsen |
| Emerging Trends | United to Transform: Kansas SUD Needs Assessment Findings for Action | Silke Von Esenwein, Janine Hron |
| Public Safety | First Responder Awareness to Opiate and Fentanyl Overdoses | Josh Magaha |
| Health Systems and Prescribers | Community Health Workers Addressing Substance Use Disorder Needs | Dr. Elizabeth Ablah, Dr. Amanda Aguila, Angela Scott, Kaylee Hervey, Joshua Gaines |
| Health Systems and Prescribers | Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder in the Pediatric Patient | Michelle DePhillips |
| Track | Title | Presenter(s) |
| Prevention | Drug Endangered Children: Identification and Best Practices for Families Affected by Substance Use | Jennifer Gassman |
| Treatment and Recovery | Contingency Management: Evidence-Based Treatment for Stimulant Use | JK Costello |
| Emerging Trends | United to Transform: Kansas SUD Needs Assessment Findings for Action | Silke Von Esenwein, Janine Hron |
| Emerging Trends | Beware the Shopkeep's Potions: An Overview of 7-OH Kratom | Luke Rosebraugh |
| Public Safety | Peer Support for Substance Abuse Recovery in County Jail: Transforming Lives and Jail Culture | Nick Casarona, Katrina Parker, Adam Cobuluis |
| Health Systems and Prescribers | ASAM Criteria, Treatment Placement & Clinical Documentation | Emily Swanzy |
| Track | Title | Presenter(s) |
| Prevention | Promoting Life Saving Overdose Prevention and Response Services in Resistant Communities | Paul Hunt |
| Prevention | Drug Endangered Children: Identification and Best Practices for Families Affected by Substance Use | Jennifer Gassman |
| Treatment and Recovery | Contingency Management: Evidence-Based Treatment for Stimulant Use | JK Costello |
| Emerging Trends | United to Transform: Kansas SUD Needs Assessment Findings for Action | Silke Von Esenwein, Janine Hron |
| Emerging Trends | Beware the Shopkeep's Potions: An Overview of 7-OH Kratom | Luke Rosenbraugh |
| Public Safety | Peer Support for Substance Abuse Recovery in County Jail: Transforming Lives and Jail Culture | Nick Casarona, Katrina Parker, Adam Cobuluis |
| Health Systems and Prescribers | ASAM Criteria, Treatment Placement & Clinical Documentation | Emily Swanzy |
Session Tracks
Tiffany Jenkins
– Keynote Speaker
Tiffany Jenkins is a recovering addict, comedian, and social media star behind Juggling the Jenkins. With over 9 million followers across her social media platforms and over a billion total video views, she uses her platform to help and inspire others who are struggling with addiction and mental health issues, and those who just need a good laugh.
A highly sought-after speaker, Jenkins speaks about addiction, recovery, and her struggles with depression and anxiety. From jails to high schools to recovery events, she shares her own personal experiences with unflinching honesty and humor.
In her memoir, High Achiever: The Incredible True Story of One Addict’s Double Life, Jenkins provides an up-close portrait of the mind of an addict and the devastating effects of narcotics. The book takes readers inside the distress of addiction by detailing her life as an active opioid addict, her time spent in jail, and her eventual recovery and subsequent journey into motherhood.
In June 2025 Jenkins published her second memoir, A Clean Mess: A Memoir of Sobriety After a Lifetime of Being Numb. Told with dark humor and brutal honesty, Jenkins writes about how she learned to live without numbing herself with drugs, and how she discovered inner reserves she didn’t know she had.
In addition to running her blog and speaking about her experience with addiction, Jenkins co-hosts Take It or Leave It, a parenting podcast that tackles marriage, motherhood, and everything in between.
Tiffany Jenkins is the bestselling author of High Achiever, a raw and captivating memoir that details Jenkins’ experience with the devastating effects of opioid addiction, as well as her subsequent recovery and journey to sobriety. A social media sensation and talented speaker, Jenkins breaks through the stigma and silence of addiction with unflinching honesty and a surprising sense of humor. In her new memoir A Clean Mess, Jenkins takes a frank look at mental health, motherhood, grief, and sobriety.
Jimmy McGill
– Keynote Speaker
(Presentation)
Author and speaker, Jimmy McGill is a dynamic force in the realm of recovery and advocacy, he sits as the Executive Director of Next Step Recovery Housing, and Senior Treatment Policy Advisory for Palm Beach Recovery Centers. Formerly the Director of Peer and Recovery Services for the state of Arkansas (2018-2023).
A founding member of the SAMHSA Region 6 Peer Support Advisory Committee and founding Chairman of the National Association of Reentry Professionals, Jimmy leads pioneering efforts in peer support and reentry advocacy. Emerging triumphantly from a lifetime of incarceration and a twenty-three-year battle with addiction, Jimmy has transformed into an esteemed author and speaker, fueled by an unwavering purpose.
Despite a challenging past, Jimmy has graced stages alongside presidents, influenced drug and reentry policies, collaborated with Arkansas’s supreme court on program development, and addressed audiences nationwide. Honored with the “Jimmy McGill Peer Leadership” Award in 2019, the 2021 Trail Blazer award from the Department of Human Services, and the 2023 Arkansas Peer Legacy Award, his transformative journey is a beacon reshaping reentry and recovery efforts across the nation. Featured in numerous articles, Jimmy’s narrative is actively reshaping perceptions and driving change on a national scale.
