February 17, 2025
Register now for SIU’s Southern Illinois Drug Awareness Conference
CARBONDALE, Ill. — A two-day conference at Southern Illinois University Carbondale will bring together a diverse group of participants to focus on substance use, mental health and homelessness and how these issues correlate.
Registration is now underway for the collaborative and educational Southern Illinois Drug Awareness Conference on March 13-14. Educators, law enforcement agents, social workers, health care providers, child and family service representatives, prevention specialists, treatment providers, recovery support specialists, personnel from veterans’ organizations and other interested community members and stakeholders, including students, will gather to learn, share innovative practices, build partnerships and work together to foster understanding. “Partners in Change: Supporting Recovery and Wellness Across Sectors” is the theme for the event featuring keynote presentations, panels led by experts, interactive workshops, vendors and networking opportunities.
The conference will be held in the SIU Student Center, 1255 Lincoln Drive. Registration begins at 7 a.m., and the conference runs from 8:25 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day, concluding with the award of door prizes.
Sign up now
All who register for the conference by Feb. 27 will receive an early bird discount. To sign up, call Events and Outreach at 618-536-7751 or download the online registration form and return by mail.
Continuing education units and professional development hours will be offered for participants in a wide variety of occupations.
Multiple presentations to address several issues
The goal is to help participants discover tactics for:
- Addressing the stigma that often surrounds addiction, mental health and homelessness.
- Breaking down barriers to provide support and care for people and their families.
- Improving coordination among various agencies and personnel.
- Supporting recovery, resilience and wellness in communities.
Sessions will focus on a wide variety of topics, including:
- Current drug trends in the region.
- Law enforcement perspectives on substance use and mental health.
- Women’s substance abuse treatment issues.
- Human trafficking.
- Nicotine addiction in youths.
- Intergenerational patterns of addiction.
- Managing a mental health crisis in the emergency room.
- Harm reduction, overdose awareness, medical respite and homelessness.
- Improving recovery rates.
- Addictions and veterans.
Expert presenters offer insights
Numerous experts and leaders in the field will be featured, including:
- David E. Olson, professor and co-director of Loyola University Chicago’s interdisciplinary Center for Criminal Justice and chair of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. He is also on the advisory boards of the Illinois Department of Corrections and Department of Juvenile Justice.
- Mark Sanders, licensed clinical social worker, certified drug and alcohol counselor, international speaker and behavioral health consultant.
- Thoedore Lattan and Officer Randy Mathis of the Carbondale Police Department.
- Cantel Fullilove, clinical supervisor of female units, Destiny Smith, counselor, and Andy Greer, senior professional relations manager, with the Gateway Foundation
- Brandon Grzechowiak and Special Agent Robert Kraemer of the Illinois State Police.
- Elizabeth Raleigh and Kitty Juul with the SIU School of Medicine.
- Kelli Corner, who holds a master’s degree in public health education and has worked in a variety of positions in the community, health care and other settings and as a collegiate professor.
- Tiffanie Clark from the Illinois Department of Corrections.
- Stacy Seitz, licensed clinical professional counselor and certified drug and alcohol counselor with Centerstone.
- Cortney Meyer, licensed clinical social worker with Southern Illinois Healthcare (SIH).
For additional information
Visit the conference website for more details and the complete schedule. Or email conferenceservices@siu.edu or call 618-536-7751.