Schedule is subject to change.

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Monday, December 8, 2025

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8:00 AM – 9:00 AM       

Registration, Continental Breakfast, and Networking 

      

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM       

Plenary Session

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Session title coming soon!

Pemigewasset  ​

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Session description coming soon!

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Trainer: coming soon!

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10:00 AM – 10:30 AM

Break with Exhibitors 

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10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Session A Workshops 

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A1 - Supervision for CRSWs: Beyond the 6 Hour Training Requirement... What's Next

Pemigewasset

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CRSWs often serve under competing expectations, adhering to multiple sets of guidelines in different peer support systems. Increasingly, CRSW supervisors are questioning how best to support their staff and what to cover in weekly supervision. As CRSW services fall under various systems (schools, clinical, DOC, etc) Archways has developed an annual supervision plan which includes an integrated educational component that is adaptable. As Peer Recovery Support Services changes, having a plan to understand the changing substance use, mental health, and primary health landscape can help avoid exploitation of peers and reduce stress for supervisors.

Dr. Mark Watman, VP/Chief Operating Officer, Archways 

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Tonya Brown-Coulombe, CCHW, Plymouth Center Coordinator, CRSW-Supervisor-in-Training, Archways 

A2 - Using an Annual Assessment to Monitor and Improve the Spread and Quality of Evidence Based and Promising Children's Mental Practices Throughout NH's Children's System of Care

Piscataquog

 

The NH System of Care Assessment has evaluated the characteristics of 15 behavioral health practices (SUD & MH) routinely delivered by community mental health, intensive in-home, SUD treatment, and residential providers to some of the state’s most vulnerable children and their families. The assessment serves as a children’s behavioral health needs assessment and identifies systems barriers to high-quality practice. As such, it is relevant to understanding the behavioral health landscape, has major policy implications, and a promotes alignment of evidence based services.

Jim Fauth, Pd.D., Director, Behavioral Health Improvement Institute, Keene State College 

A3 – Cross-Cultural Communication Considerations: Connecting Versus Colliding

Merrimack

 

This workshop will explore the nuances of cross-cultural communication with the goal of fostering understanding, trust, and collaboration rather than missteps and misunderstandings. Participants will learn to recognize how cultural values, norms, and communication styles influence their interactions. We will highlight common areas where cultural collisions occur and offer practical strategies for bridging gaps with empathy, curiosity, and cultural humility. Whether you are navigating difficult conversations with clients or collaborating within interdisciplinary teams, this workshop will equip you with the tools to communicate in ways that connect rather than collide.

James Figueiredo, CCHW, Ed.M, Executive Director, Community Workforce Institute 

A4 - Substance Misuse Prevention in the Digital Age: Using Nontraditional Communication Strategies to Educate on Substance Misuse Prevention

Frost/Hawthorne

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In our evolving prevention communication landscape, it has never been more important to use nontraditional means to educate policy makers, stakeholders, and the public on the impacts substance misuse has on our New Hampshire communities. This session will explore how to stand out through digital storytelling, social marketing, and combating misinformation. Attendees will gain valuable insights into key topics, including the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), social norming strategies, and successful and unique educational techniques to use with NH state law makers. All with a goal of keeping prevention in New Hampshire strong.

Elizabeth Duffy, MPH, CHES, Health Promotion Advisor, NH Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Services, DHHS 

 

Melissa Silvey, MS, BSW, Director of New Hampshire Technical Assistance Center, Growth Partners

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Kate Frey, Vice President of Advocacy, New Futures

A5 – Hope and Recovery: Applying Evidenced Based Strategies to Address the Growing Trend of Co-Occurring Disorders in NH

Contoocook

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This workshop will provide attendees with intermediate level training to gain valuable knowledge regarding the prevalence of Substance Use and Co-Occurring Mental Health Disorders locally and nationally. The presenter will highlight common challenges that attendees encounter while working with this population and how to incorporate Evidenced Based Practices to support improved outcomes.
 

James Gamache, MSW, LCSW, LICSW, MLADC, ICAADC, VP of Quality and Corporate Compliance, Greater Nashua Mental Health 

A6 - Identifying and Addressing the Behavioral Health Needs of Older Adults and People with Physical Disabilities in New Hampshire

Dartmouth

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One in eight adults aged 65 or older has a diagnosed mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder and the prevalence is much higher among older adults with chronic health conditions and those in long-term care settings. In this workshop, the panel will review findings of two recent efforts that examined behavioral health among older adults and adults with chronic conditions in NH: the National Core Indicators-Aging and Disabilities (NCI-AD), and a statewide assessment of long-term services and supports needs of older adults and adults with physical disabilities. Panelists will review the first wave of data collected through the NCI-AD Adult Consumer Survey on individuals using long-term services and supports about their experiences with services and supports as well as the quality of their lives, with a focus on outcomes among people with a mental health condition who are using Medicaid services. The DHHS Bureau of Adult and Aging Services (BAAS) will discuss its initiatives to address older adult behavioral health, in partnership with the Division of Behavioral Health, and opportunities to enhance services and supports throughout the state as informed by the system assessment and gaps analysis study.
 

Alison Rataj, MSW, Research Scientist, UNH Institute for Health Policy and Practice 

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Lisa Dunham, MBA, Administrator IV, DHHS Bureau of Aging and Adult Services

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Stephanie Giordano, Research Associate, co-director National Core Indicators, Human Services Research Institute

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12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Lunch and Networking 

sponsored by Out of the Woods EMDR and Counseling Services

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1:00 PM – 2:30 PM

Session B Workshops 

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B1 - Culturally Responsive Care with the LGBTQ+ Community

Contoocook​

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Offered by NH Outright, this session supports the development of positive prevention relationships and culturally responsive behavioral health services for LGBTQ+ individuals, with a particular emphasis on youth & families. This training offers information on core LGBTQ+ concepts/terminology, explores the direct link between discrimination/harm and increased rates of substance use/ mental health concerns for this population, and provides strategies that can be embedded in one’s every-day work to foster protective factors and increase engagement. Strategies explored include pronoun use/ inclusive language, acknowledging the impact of lived experience on provider worldview, addressing mistreatment, and asking respectful questions. Questions will be encouraged throughout and during dedicated time at the end of the session.

Jessica Goff, MSW, Education & Training Director, NH Outright 

B2 – Shaping Systems Through Storytelling

Piscataquog

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Providers are specially positioned to advocate for systems change, not only due to their clinical expertise, but also thanks to their own lived experience. Through this workshop, providers will work to dispel the stigma surrounding sharing their stories, practice crafting and sharing their personal narrative, a learn the most effective ways to use that story to advocate for effective policy change. By developing these skills, providers will develop their leadership and advocacy skills, learn to engage multi-disciplinary audiences, and promote self-care while eliminating stigma.

Holly Stevens, Esq, Director of Public Policy, NAMI New Hampshire 

 

Sam Hawkins, Public Policy Assistant, NAMI New Hampshire

B3 – Family Care Plans in Action-Prenatal and Postpartum Support for Those Impacted by Substance Use

Merrimack

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A Family Care Plan also referred to as a Plan of Safe Care aims to help infants and their families impacted by substance use identify and obtain services and support. New Hampshire has worked to implement these Plans with families across the state since 2018. During this 90-minute session, the Perinatal Substance Exposure Collaborative will introduce the Family Care Plan including New Hampshire’s process, and will discuss approaches and challenges to implement the Plan. Participants will have the chance to practice how they would use a Family Care Plan in an effort to enhance care coordination and multi-disciplinary collaboration for this population.
 

Adriana Espitia, MPH, Senior Technical Associate, JSI 

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Cheri Bryer, CRSW, CLC, Senior Perinatal Peer Support Coordinator and Educator, New Hampshire Perinatal Quality Collaborative, Dartmouth Health

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Haley Martell, CLC, CHW, Recovery Support, Doula, Dartmouth Health

B4 - Project Align: A Pilot Initiative to Align Services and Practices to Support Survivors of Domestic Violence

Pemigewasset  

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Children and caregivers impacted by domestic violence (DV) have unique needs that are not always served well by existing mental health practices. Through a partnership between local DV, mental health, and child protection agencies, we have identified system and care misalignments and possible solutions, innovations in workforce development, and strategies for providing more sensitive, safe, and effective mental health care to families affected by DV.

Erin Barnett Pd.D, Associate Professor, Psychologist, Dartmouth Health 

 

Bailey H. Ray, MA, Advocacy Manager, Campus Advocacy Coordinator, WISE

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Elias Tyrrel-Walker, BA, Manager of Client Services, HAVEN

B5 - Breaking New Ground: Building an Effective Chronic Disease Management Program within a CMHC Setting.

Dartmouth

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This session will walk the audience through the process of program development specific to chronic disease management in a CMHC setting. By highlighting a successful "out of the box" Integrated Care program at a NH CMHC, this session will link the learning objectives with real-world examples of a robust and effective integrated care program. The presenters will walk the audience through the step-by-step process of building an effective and financially sustainable program. An additional focus will be on the importance of selecting and hiring a passionate workforce of providers and with strong leadership.

Amy Izzett, LICSW, Director of Integrated Care, Center for Life Management 

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Hanna Hudson, MSW, Clinician, Center for Life Management

B6 – Street Drugs Trends and Harm Reduction

Frost/Hawthorne

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This training enhances participants' understanding of commonly used substances, their effects, risks, and patterns of use. It also emphasizes harm reduction strategies—such as safer use practices, overdose prevention, naloxone administration, and stigma reduction—to support people who use drugs in a non-judgmental, trauma-informed manner. By improving awareness and practical skills, this training helps reduce overdose deaths, increase client engagement, and promote public health and safety in our communities.

Dave Suckling, Chief of Police, Alexandria Police Department 

 

Ashley Douthart, LCMHC, MLADC, CPP Clinician, Director of Behavioral Health, HealthFirst 

  

2:30 PM – 3:00 PM

Break with Exhibitors 

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3:00 PM – 4:30 PM

Session C Workshops 

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C1 – Beyond Burnout: A Roadmap to Workforce and Organizational Resilience in Substance Use Care

Contoocook

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New Hampshire’s substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery system has been facing a crisis of workforce shortages due to occupational burnout and exposure to client and personal trauma. Emotional exhaustion, disengagement, and loss of purpose aren’t just personal struggles, they threaten the stability and effectiveness of care across the system. The first phase of the Thriving in the Workplace (TIW) initiative was launched in New Hampshire 2022 with two SUD treatment organizations. In 2024, TIW expanded to two SUD treatment and five recovery community organizations (RCO), using lessons learned to strengthen personal and organizational resilience through hands-on guidance and collaborative problem-solving. This session will explore implementation insights, real-world strategies being used in New Hampshire, and outcomes from the seven sites which have been working individually and collaboratively to strengthen the workforce at the heart of addiction care. Archways NH will present their experience addressing their workforce and organizational resilience through this initiative.

Mana Rose, MPH, Director of Evaluation, Growth Partners 

 

Kameisha Bennett, MA, Growth Partners Consultant, Consultant 

 

Dr. Mark Watman, VP/Chief Operating Officer, Archways 

C2 - Improving the Connected Families NH Care Coordination Service Array: A Detective Story

Piscataquog

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Connected Families New Hampshire (CFNH) provides care coordination to youth with serious behavioral health conditions and their families. This workshop tells the story of how CFNH followed breadcrumbs from enrolled families, staff, and its own programmatic data to 1) discover that traditional wraparound is not a good fit for many families and 2) develop an intermediate form of care coordination (Brief Enhanced Care Coordination). In doing so, they CFNH has filled a service gap and increased youth/family voice/choice while potentially improving outcomes and decreasing costs.

Jim Fauth, PhD, Director, Behavioral Health Improvement Institute @ Keene State College 

 

Johanna Wilson-White, MA, Evaluator, Behavioral Health Improvement Institute, Keene State College 

 

John Erdmann, MS, Lead Analyst, Behavioral Health Improvement Institute, Keene State College 

C3 – Front Line Staff: Coping with Grief and Loss After a Suicide or Overdose Death

Merrimack

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Despite the significant increase in suicide and drug overdose deaths during the past decade, there is little training, and/or support offered to direct service workers following a suicide or overdose death.  Neglecting this area of workforce development is a critical oversight, with implications regarding staff wellness and retention.  This workshop will review the potential impact, including personal and professional grief and loss, on providers after an overdose or suicide death.  It will also identify resources, and supports that are available, as well as strategies for organizations to consider in providing support to their workforce.

Ken Norton, Grampy, School of Life Long Learning 

 

Franklin Cook, MA, Director, Support After A Death By Overdose 

C4 - Introduction to Exposure and Response Prevention for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in Youth
Frost/Hawthorne

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This workshop will provide an overview of the nature, prevalence, impact, and cognitive-behavioral model of pediatric OCD. It will also provide a primer in differential diagnosis and comorbidities of OCD along with the foundational principles of the most scientifically supported psychotherapeutic intervention for OCD: exposure and response prevention (ERP). Using case examples, participants will practice identifying obsessions and compulsions, developing case conceptualizations, and creating treatment plans for conducting ERP with youth that incorporates caregivers.

Alyssa Faro, Ph.D., Owner and Instructor in Psychology in the Department of Psychiatry, True North Health, PLLC, and Harvard Medical School/McLean Hospital 

 

Ashley Hart, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Owner, UMass Chan Medical School and Willow Tree Psychology, PLLC 

C5 – The Mental Health Parity Index: Leveraging New Data Tools to Inform Effective Policy

Dartmouth

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The Kennedy Forum has joined with founding strategic partners Third Horizon and the American Medical Association to create the Mental Health Parity Index (MHPI), a user friendly, open access online tool that leverages newly available data from health plan transparency files to evaluate how well commercial insurance plans - including those offered through Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace exchanges - provide coverage for and access to mental health and substance use disorder (MH/SUD) services when 
compared to physical health care services. This interactive session will provide participants with a walk-through of the MHPI, including its core methodology and lessons learned from the early-stage rollout. Through the presentation and discussion, participants will gain insights as to the current status of parity compliance in identified markets, alongside practice guidance around how the MHPI can be leveraged to support providers, policy makers, and public agencies in advancing improved payment methodologies and parity compliance regulations at the local, state, and national level.

Greg Williams, MA, President, Third Horizon 

 

Tym Rourke, MA, Managing Director, Advisory Services, Third Horizon 

C6 - Building a Foundation of Recovery: A Panel on SAMSHA’s Best Practice and Lived Experience in Recovery Housing.

Pemigewasset  

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This dynamic workshop will introduce New Hampshire’s newly implemented recovery housing certification standards, developed by the New Hampshire Partnership for Recovery Residences (NHPRR), and provide insights into the evolving landscape of recovery housing. The session begins with a 30-minute presentation on SAMHSA’s Best Practice Domains—Home, Health, Purpose, and Community—highlighting how these evidence-based principles are integrated into the state’s certification framework and carried out in recovery homes. As New Hampshire’s only designated certifying body, NHPRR officially adopted these standards in 2025, aligning them directly with SAMHSA’s national guidelines and supporting the core objectives of this conference.
The second half of the workshop will feature a moderated panel discussion with a diverse group of recovery housing experts. Panelists will include recovery home advocates, homeowners and operators, and individuals with lived experience as residents in recovery housing. The discussion will focus on the real-world application of recovery housing operations, policy development, community integration, building recovery capital, fostering house culture, and supporting leadership through wellness and self-care practices.
 

Laura Wargo, Director, New Hampshire Partnership for Recovery Residences 

 

Ariel Dupuis, Founder & Owner, Ascension Recovery 

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Christina Manter, Community Liasson / Business Development, Liberty Health Services 

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Christopher Charpentier, Owner & Broker, Plastics Processing Solutions 

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Tuesday, December 9, 2025

  

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM

Registration, Continental Breakfast, and Networking 

  

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM

Plenary Session 

 

Session title coming soon!

Pemigewasset  

​

Session description coming soon!

​

Trainer: coming soon!

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10:00 AM – 10:30 AM

Break with Exhibitors 

  

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Session D Workshops 

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D1 – Reframing Addiction: A Practical Approach to Recovery in Our Communities

Contoocook

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This workshop brings to the forefront the history and scope of addiction in the United States by setting the record 
straight regarding the history and consequences of the war on drugs and the impact on people who use drugs. In this 
workshop we will discuss trauma, disconnection and the real causes of addiction. The presenters will propose a practical 
approach to addressing addiction through a collaborative recovery ready community model, using the Greater 
Portsmouth Recovery Coalition as a case study.
 

Dr. Jon Peters, National Medical Director, Better Life Partners 

Mark Lefebvre, BS, MS, Author

D2 - From Stigma to Strength: Storytelling for Dignity in Substance Use Discourse

Frost/Hawthorne

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Many of us have internalized a redemption narrative of substance use that makes substance users villains and recovering people heroes. We unintentionally convey stories steeped in this stigma in personal, professional and policy settings. This session will enable participants to recognize the dominant narrative in action, how it interferes with access to and quality of care and causes other forms of harm, and equipping them with tools to address it structurally through policies and procedures, interactions with individuals, and provision of care.
 

Meghann Perry, CARC, RCPF, Founder & Owner, Meghann Perry Group 

D3 – Raising Healthy Children: The Infant Mental Health Workforce

Dartmouth

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The presentation will address the objectives to engage multi-disciplinary audiences and expansion of the workforce that work in early intervention and health promotion by sharing information about staff development and competencies in the interdisciplinary, multi-sector infant mental health sector, with a focus on what staff need to provide evidence-based infant mental health services, as well as how infant mental health is being built into NH's Children's System of Care.

JoAnne M. Malloy, Ph.D, Research Associate Professor, Institute on Disability at UNH 

 

Tessa McDonnell, M.Ed, Online Adjunct Faculty, UNH College of Professional Studies 

D4 – Care for Caregivers: An Integrative Approach to Addressing Traumatic Stress in Helping Professionals

Merrimack

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Healthcare workers and first responders are facing increasingly adverse and traumatic experiences in the workplace. This workshop provides a template for mental health support for identified caregiving professionals using a trauma-informed, integrative approach. Presenters will discuss the key components of a successful model, piloted in April 2024, designed to provide timely, evidence-based interventions (including Brief Focused EMDR) to support and stabilize professionals experiencing acute stress and complex trauma, with the goal of sustaining our caregiving workforce.

Shanna Meyer, MA, LCMHC, MT-BC, Vice President of Operations, Trivium New England 

 

Susan Odden, MS, MSN, RN, LCMHC, Clinical Manager, Trivium Integrative Mental Health 

D5 - New Hampshire's Recovery-Oriented Step-Up Step-Down Pilot Program: A Story of System Transformation and Model Overview

Pemigewasset

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In this presentation we will talk about the historical landscape of NH Peer Respite and an innovative new model, Recovery-Oriented Step-up/Step-Down program that launched in 2020. We will describe how the model was collaboratively developed, how it operates today, how it impacts guests and review qualitative and quantitative data.  We intend to have a panel/Q&A portion to discuss and answer questions about the expansion of this model, expanded options for those seeking support in a crisis, and the inclusion of voices of lived experience as a means of supporting the system and our communities at the same time.

Ayla Kendall, MA, Administrator of Peer and Family Support, NH DHHS-Office of Consumer and Family Affairs 

 

David Blacksmith, BA, Former Executive Director, On The Road To Wellness Peer Support Agency 

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Fred Poisson, BA, Executive Director, Connections Peer Support Agency 

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D6 - New Hampshire Certified Behavioral Health Clinics - Overview and Update 2025

Pisctataquog

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This workshop will include a presentation that describes the Certified Community Behavioral Health clinic (CCBHC) model and the New Hampshire CCBHC demonstration. We will define CCBHC and describe CCBHC behavioral health care, describe the national and the NH CCBHC demonstration, discuss projected impacts, review the CCBHC prospective payment system and cost-based payment, describe the NH certification process and provide updates in relation to the new landscape in 2025.

Mary F. Brunette, MD, Medical Director, Bureau of Mental Health Services, NH Dept Health and Human Services 

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Evelyn Allen, Administrator, Bureau of Mental Health Services 

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12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Lunch and Networking 

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1:00 PM – 2:30 PM

Session E Workshops 

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E1 - Postvention as Prevention: An Evidenced Based Approach in NH to Reduce Risk and Promote Healing After Suicides and Other Sudden Traumatic Loss

Contoocook

 

The impact of sudden traumatic loss can be devastating for immediate loss survivors as well as the larger community, and professionals. Dynamics around stigmatized deaths can increase risk and isolation for vulnerable populations and negatively impact providers who have lost a client or student. An overview of postvention concepts, best practices and resources available nationally and in NH will be reviewed. The power of lived experience and post traumatic growth will be discussed. This workshop will review a systemic plan to implement postvention practices in our state to enhance coordination, expertise and our state capacity to reduce risk and promote healing.
 

Elaine de Mello, MSW, Suicide Prevention and Postvention Advisor, NAMI NH 

 

Katherine Cox, MSW, Suicide Prevention Coordinator and Crisis System Program Manager, New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services 

E2 - Developing Collaborative Care at the Intersection of Maternal Health and Substance Use Disorders

Merrimack

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This session will discuss how a group of clinical and non-clinical providers, practitioners, and peers in the maternal and child health and substance use disorder fields came together to identify better ways to serve pregnant and perinatal people with substance use disorder (SUD) in New Hampshire. Specifically, we will discuss: 

• why this population deserves targeted, integrated, best practice care that is supported by state policy;

• the Maternal Opioid Misuse (MOM grant at The Elliott Hospital as a model of care; and,

• how a learning series, with content driven by the needs of the group, is working to shift policy 

• and practice across the state.

Kim Persson, MSW, Project Director, University of New Hampshire Institute for Health Policy 

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Susy Peoples, BA, Project Director, University of New Hampshire Institute for Health Policy 

E3 - In Service Together: Equipping Professionals to Recognize and Support Military-Connected Youth and Families

Piscataquog

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This interactive workshop equips providers to identify and support military-connected youth and families, aligning with goals of early intervention, suicide prevention, and care coordination. Participants will explore the impact of deployment and reintegration, learn culturally responsive strategies to build resilience and reduce risk, and engage in an experiential activity that highlights family disruption and rebalancing. The session supports integrated service delivery and expands workforce capacity to address the unique needs of military-connected populations.

Amy Cook, MBA, Director of Training, NAMI NH 

E4 - Integrated School-Community Behavioral Health: System Development, Innovative Practices, and Lessons Learned
Dartmouth

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This session will overview integrated school-community mental health system development within NH’s Multi-Tiered System of Supports for Behavioral Health and Wellness (MTSS-B). Participants will explore the role of school- and community-based behavioral health providers in implementing MTSS-B best practices including requests for assistance, facilitated referral pathways, provision of clinical services, and progress monitoring. Concord School District will highlight their implementation of NH MTSS-B's innovative community mental health school liaison role.

Megan Phillips, PsyD, Principal Investigator/Lead Evaluator, Behavioral Health Improvement Institute at Keene State College 

 

Fern Seiden, MSW, Director of Student and Staff Wellness, Concord School District 

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Sarah Ames, MA, Liaison to Concord School District, Riverbend Community Mental Health Center 

E5 – ACERT as Secondary Prevention: A Community‑Police Model to Address Childhood Trauma

Frost/Hawthorne

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This session reintroduces the Adverse Childhood Experiences Response Team (ACERT), a secondary prevention program that connects police and community providers to deliver trauma-informed care after crises. Now in 10+ NH communities, ACERT promotes integrated service delivery, strengthens early intervention and care coordination, and supports workforce development through cross-sector collaboration, aligning with Summit goals for prevention, integration, and leadership in behavioral health.

Elizabeth DiLuzio, MPH, Lead Evaluator, Behavioral Health Improvement Institute at Keene State College 

 

Caitlyn Kearney-Finn, MPH, ACERT Community Program Specialist, ACERT TAC, Amoskeag Health 

E6 – Trauma-Informed Care of People Experiencing Reentry from Incarceration

Pemigewasset

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Have your patients/clients experienced incarceration? Would you know if they had? In NH, ~2K adults are in state prison; 12–20K jail incarcerations occur annually. Studies show that 97%+ of incarcerated adults have a trauma history. After release, many face 
social exclusion, poor access to care, and a high risk of illness and death. Healthcare and social service providers have a vital opportunity to foster healing and connection through trauma-informed care (TIC). This workshop presents evidence based TIC practices for all clients, including those with (un)known trauma or incarceration history.

Lauren Szkodny, PhD, Assistant of Professor of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Health 

 

Randy Stevens, BA, Executive Director, Hope for NH Recovery 

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Joseph Lascaze, Regional Manager, ACLU NH 

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Milan Satcher, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Community & Family Medicine and Health Policy & Clinical Practice, Dartmouth Health 

  

3:00 PM – 4:30 PM

Session F Workshops 

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F1 – Rx for Recovery: A Counsellor's Guide to the Medical Side

Merrimack

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This conversation will be applicable to both medical and behavioral health providers to help align our understanding of current evidence-based care standards, reduce barriers to effective treatments, and promote a broad interdisciplinary understanding of available options.
 

Dr. Kate Peters, DO, Brain Tree Collaborative 

 

Dr. Jon Peters, DO, Brain Tree Collaborative 

F2 – The Peer Model: The Ethics in Efficacy

Frost/Hawthorne

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While the knowledge and experience brought into organizations and their systems by peers is extremely important, there are also great challenges as the majority of these systems have been operating in paradigms that differ greatly from the recovery-oriented environments peers are most effective in, leading to poor outcomes when appropriate support is lacking. We must ask the question: What are the ethics involved in hiring, training, supervising and retaining people with lived-living experience into existing organizations?

Paul Alves, NCPRSS, Executive Director, CHOiCE Recovery Coaching Inc 

 

Meghann Perry, CARC, RCPF, Founder & Owner, Meghann Perry Group 

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Sarko Gergerian, MS, Police Lieutenant, Winthrop Dept Public Health ​

F3 - Advocacy 101: Influencing Behavioral Health Policy in NH

Contoocook

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Public policy that positively impacts behavioral health services in NH is implemented when people with professional and lived experiences are involved in the policy-making process. This workshop will provide an introduction to our state legislature and how you can get involved by sharing your expertise and stories with legislators. We'll provide practical advice for participating in public hearings, contacting legislators, using media, and other advocacy strategies. You will leave feeling empowered with the knowledge and resources to take action in the 2026 legislative session.

Peter Ntourntourekas, Community Engagement Coordinator, New Futures 

 

Emma Sevigny, Esq, Children's Behavioral Health Policy Coordinator, New Futures 

F4 – Mental Health Access and the Regulation of Commercial Health Insurance

Pemigewasset

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The New Hampshire Insurance Department is pleased to present an overview of NHID initiatives addressing access to mental health services for those with commercial health insurance coverage. Topics will include the basics of insurance regulation, specific access issues addressed through the Department's Behavioral Health Advisory Committee, and a primer on mental health parity including the Department's approach to enforcement under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act.

Michelle Heaton, JD, Director of Life and Health, New Hampshire Insurance Department 

 

Alexander Feldvebel, JD, Insurance Company Examiner IV, New Hampshire Insurance Department 

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Leigh Curtis, BA, Health Insurance Reform Coordinator, New Hampshire Insurance Department 

F5 - The Things We Carry and How to Use Them as Superpowers for Good

Dartmouth

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In behavioral health, professionals often support others through their most vulnerable moments. To do this work well and sustainably, we must also care for ourselves with curiosity, compassion, and intention. This training invites participants to reflect on their emotional landscapes and the experiences that shape their caregiving. By fostering self-awareness and practicing intentional self-care, we can show up more fully for ourselves and those we serve, cultivating deeper connection, greater resilience, and more impactful, healing relationships.

Liz Morse, BS, TLC Recovery Programs Assistant Director, TLC Family Resource Center 

 

Elissa Smith, CRSW, Recovery Support Specialist, CRSW, TLC Family Resource Center 

F6 - Occupational Therapy in Community Behavioral Health: What Have We Accomplished and Where Are We Going?

Piscataquog

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New Hampshire has an established need to develop and expand the behavioral health workforce (NAMI, 2025). Occupational therapy (OT) is an evidence-based profession that strives to promote a client's highest level of participation in their desired daily activities. Occupational Therapy practitioners are highly trained allowing them to evaluate the intersecting individual, environmental, and occupational factors that impact participation in daily life activities in mental and behavioral health settings. This session discusses the findings of a year-long pilot project that established OT in two CBHCs in NH, including facilitators and barriers and lessons learned in providing OT in community behavioral health. Attendees will be encouraged to discuss these facilitators and barriers and identify actionable steps towards implementing OT in more community mental and behavioral health settings.

Danielle Amero, OTD, OTR/L, CHT, Assistant Faculty, MCPHS 

 

Alexa Trolley-Hanson MS, OTR/L, PhD Candidate and Research Coordinator, Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation at Boston University 

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