Bios

Cris Amann & Kaya Perry

Cris Amann, LGBTQIA Outreach Coordinator & Kaya Perry, LGBTQIA Community Mobilization Specialist - BRiDGES, Madison County Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Inc.

Presenters Cris Amann and Kaya Perry have provided LGBTQIA+ training for Camp Lookout in Eaton, N.Y., for the entire Community Action Partnership staff, for Canastota Central Schools guidance counselors and mental health team members, and others. They have also offered LGBTQIA+ training multiple times through BRiDGES.

Krysta Broeker

Mental health educator
Contact Community Services

Krysta Broeker received her bachelor's degree in social work from Niagara University in 2019. Since graduating, Krysta has been working in various areas of the mental health field, starting as an outreach resource navigator at Restoration Society, Inc., in Buffalo, N.Y., where she connected with those experiencing homelessness by meeting them in soup kitchens, parks, public libraries, or shelters. Krysta was able to get those in need connected to various resources, including mental health providers, and witnessed their lives changing before her eyes by starting a simple conversation. This experience sparked Krysta’s passion for talking about mental health and encouraging others to start the conversation. Ms. Broeker now works for Contact Community Services as the mental health educator for suicide safety in schools, where she presents to students, staff, parents, and community members within Onondaga County about mental health and wellness and suicide prevention. Krysta wholeheartedly believes that suicide is preventable, and everyone can play a role in helping those who are struggling. All it takes is the courage to start a conversation.

Chelsea Dodd

Seaway Valley Prevention Council

Chelsea Dodd is an NYS OASAS certified trainer for Cultural Competence: A Journey to Improved Outcomes and Transgender, Gender Non-Conforming, Non-Binary (TGNCNB) Cultural Competence. Chelsea is also a certified trainer for Bridges Out of Poverty, Nalaxone, Vapes R’ Us, Hidden Mischief, and Tips.

Amy Fahey

Prevention Services Coordinator
Herkimer County Prevention Council

Since November 2018, Amy Fahey has worked as the prevention services coordinator at Herkimer County Community College, where her primary responsibilities are to provide brief intervention services to college students and prevention education regarding alcohol and other drugs. Each year, Fahey develops and facilitates 3-4 workshops on various topics, including current drug trends and addiction.

Julie Hengst

Prevention Education Specialist
BRiDGES, Madison County Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Inc.

Julie Hengst is a prevention education specialist and workplace wellness trainer with BRiDGES, also known as the Madison County Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, Inc. Hengst has been with the council for 12 years, where she gained much experience developing and leading workshops and trainings. The workshop at today's conference is based on data Hengst collected from workplaces across Central New York. It was developed by Dr. Joel Bennett. Hengst recently co-presented this workshop at the Northern Tier Prevention Conference. she is grateful to be able to assist others with achieving better mental and physical health and considers wellness a passion that extends into her personal life.

Rachel Johnson

LMSW, LMFT
Half Hood Half Holistic, Owner

Owner of “Half Hood Half Holistic,” Rachel Johnson is a certified, full-spectrum sex and fertility doula, herbalist, reiki practitioner, steam facilitator and licensed mental health therapist. More recently, she wrote the “Self-love Workbook for Black Women." Curating spaces for Black individuals, couples and families, Rachel’s slogan is “come for the vibes, stay for the healing.” Rachel also works as the program manager for Black Health, Inc. — an organization whose mission is to reduce health disparities among Black & Brown people.

Jason R. Kilmer, Ph.D.

Associate professor in Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine & Adjunct Associate Professor in Psychology at UW

Dr. Jason Kilmer is an associate professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington (UW) School of Medicine and an adjunct associate professor in psychology at UW. Jason serves as an investigator on several studies evaluating prevention and intervention efforts for alcohol, cannabis, and other drug use by college students. In addition to research and teaching, he has worked extensively with college students and student groups around alcohol and other drug prevention programming and has done presentations throughout his career for student athletes, fraternity and sorority members, residence life, and first-year students both at UW and on more than 125 campuses across the nation.

Early in his career, Jason worked for 10 years as an addictive behaviors specialist in the Counseling Center at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. He then worked for 10 years as the LiveWell assistant director for alcohol and other drug education in LiveWell: Center for Student Advocacy, Training, & Education at UW (formerly Health & Wellness).

As a faculty member in the School of Medicine, Jason continues to work directly with students through presentations for intercollegiate athletics and residence life. Jason also serves as the chairperson of Washington State's College Coalition on Substance misuse, Advocacy, and Prevention (CCSAP).

Jason has been on project faculty for several national learning collaboratives in the U.S., including New York University’s National College Depression Partnership, Dartmouth’s National College Health Improvement Program, and the NCAA’s 360 Proof project. He was one of the six members of the development team for the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s College Alcohol Intervention Matrix (CollegeAIM).

Jason was the 2014 recipient of the National Prevention Network’s Award of Excellence for outstanding contributions to the field of prevention and was also the 2017 recipient of the Washington State Prevention Professional Award of Excellence. Related to student affairs, he was a 2017 recipient of the Sue Kraft Fussell Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors and also received the 2018-2019 Research Award from NASPA’s Student Athlete Knowledge Community for outstanding contributions to scholarship highlighting the shared interests of athletics and student affairs. Jason has been a 2017, 2018, and 2019 recipient of the Excellence in Teaching award by the MEDEX Northwest Physician Assistant Training Program.

Taylor Money

Program Manager
Catholic Charities of Herkimer County

Taylor Money is the program coordinator of the Safe Harbour and TREATY programs for Catholic Charities of Herkimer County. She has spent the past several years working as an advocate for youth who are at risk or have been identified as victims of sexual exploitation. Taylor has been providing training on commercial sexual exploitation of children, internet safety and violence prevention since 2019.

Braderick Morrison

Tobacco Free Chenango Coordinator
Chenango Health Network County

Born and raised in Southern Indiana, Brad Morrison received his undergraduate education in sociology at Ball State University under Dr. Melinda Messineo. An accomplished advocate, Brad has worked to create change for equality and justice for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the LGBTQ+ community, the Black Lives Matter movement, and those living in low socioeconomic status. Brad is an ambitious leader and has more than six years of experience working with community leaders across the country. He specializes in employee and community engagement and is currently responsible for the Reality Check Program of Chenango County, a youth-led movement that empowers teens to become leaders in their communities by exposing what they see as the manipulative and deceptive marketing tactics of the tobacco industry. In addition to advocacy, Brad loves teaching and sharing his leadership skills with youth. He has led and mentored students of all ages, has assisted in immersive learning projects with the Heart of Indiana United Way and the Muncie Head Start Program, and is currently a member of Kiwanis International, helping children around the world. He now works as the Tobacco Free Coordinator for Chenango Health Network in Norwich, N.Y. Brad is a powerful force in the workplace and uses his positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed. Title: Breathing In a New Waste Pandemic

Eric Stranak

Recovery Services Coordinator
Farnham Family Services

Eric Stranak has more than nine of experience working with diverse populations in a variety of different treatment settings. He has worked in a withdrawal and stabilization unit, inpatient rehabilitation unit, and outpatient clinic. He has also worked in prevention in schools and is currently working in recovery services as a recovery services coordinator, overseeing a training Institute and a team of professional peer advocates. Eric Stranak says he has had the pleasure of working with people from different backgrounds and identities, and his values represent a non-biased approach to his work with a focus on breaking down stigma wherever it exists.

Kein Trease

Youth Engagement & Empowerment Team Leader
Prevention Network

Kein Trease is the team leader for Youth Engagement and Empowerment at Prevention Network. He has been an employee with Prevention Network for the past six years and has worked in various programs within the agency, including Teen Institute, Onondaga County STOP DWI, and community education. He is trained in Botvin's Life Skills, Too Good for Drugs, Project Success, and much more. Trease holds a bachelor's degree in business management and marketing from St. John Fisher College and has 17 years of combined experience serving youth, families, and the community at large.

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