agenda
monday, september 8th
7:30am - 8:30am - Breakfast
Sponsored by Cantata Health Solutions
8:30am - 10:00am: Opening General Session
Welcoming Remarks
Jihoon Kim, LMSW, CRPA-P, President & CEO, InUnity Alliance
Debbian Fletcher-Blake, APRN, FNP, Board Chair, President & CEO, VIP Community Services
Congressman Paul D. Tonko
Morning Keynote
Kym Laube, Executive Director, Human Understanding and Growth Services (HUGS), Inc.
What if prevention, support, and healing weren’t seen as separate paths, but as interconnected pillars working together to support mental health, recovery, and emotional well-being. At their core, these approaches share a common purpose: to reduce harm, foster resilience, and build stronger, healthier communities. When we break down barriers and collaborate, our impact deepens, and meaningful, lasting change becomes possible. This inspiring keynote will set the tone for the conference, celebrating the strength of the human spirit and the commitment of those working to support mental health and those impacted by addiction. Grounded in the science of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the healing potential of Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs), it weaves together storytelling, research, evidence-based practices, and practical strategies to illustrate how trauma-informed, resilience-building approaches can shift lives and systems. Attendees will leave feeling energized, connected, and empowered to lead with compassion and purpose across the behavioral health continuum.
10:30am - 11:00am: Break
11:00am - 12:00pm: 100 Breakout Series
Breakout 101: Hospital to Community Transitions (OMH)
Janine Perazzo, LCSW, Assistant Commissioner, NYS Office of Mental Health
Katie Merrill, MSW, Director of Regional Teams, Office of Hospital Care & Community Transitions, NYS Office of Mental Health
The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) is advancing new initiatives to strengthen transitions from inpatient hospital care to community-based services. In this session, OMH leadership will provide updates on progress made, review recent regulatory changes, and highlight strategies to improve coordination, reduce readmissions, and ensure continuity of care. Participants will also have the opportunity to discuss how these efforts can best support providers and the individuals they serve.
Breakout 102: Now what! - A year later! What to expect in Albany and Washington in 2026
Robert Kent, JD, President, Kent Strategic Solutions
Session attendees will hear from Rob Kent, a drug policy expert who has worked on drug policy issues at the federal and the state level with OASAS. Rob will offer his insights on what has happened in 2025 at the state and federal level from a policy and budget perspective and what we can expect from the state and national government during 2026. Rob will also discuss the latest information regarding the 2026 elections. This session will also focus on actions the federal and state government can take to mitigate the continued loss of life from drugs and alcohol and what addiction care providers and their leadership can do to sustain their operations into the future.
Joshua Rubin, Vice President of Client Solutions, Health Management Associates
After decades in which the behavioral health system was segregated from health and social services systems, the barriers are coming down and the systems are coming together. This is happening at the government, agency, program, and clinical level. This session will focus on how these changes present community behavioral health providers with both huge risks and tremendous opportunities.
Breakout 104: AI and SUD: Understanding Machine Learning, Assumptions, and the Human Influence
Kimberly Boulden, PhD, Director of Operations, MATTERS Network
Raven Manchester, Outreach Coordinator, MATTERS Network
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) have dominated the headlines lately, leaving many to wonder how our field may be transformed by technological advances. In this session, presenters will introduce attendees to the foundational principles of AI, ML, and predictive analytics, and the societal implications of these technologies. Attendees will analyze a case study (using ChatGPT, specifically) and assess the strengths, limitations, and utility of AI applications in the field of behavioral health.
Ken Zimmerman, CEO, Fountain House
Alex Rowan-Hazlerigg, Member, Fountain House
Ann-Marie Foster, President & CEO, Phoenix House
Sarah Rand, Member, Hudson Valley Clubhouse
Savannah Lampley, CRPA, Program Director, Phoenix Clubhouse Harlem
Blaise Sackett, Executive Director, Hudson Valley Clubhouse
As New York State and New York City expand their commitment to accredited Clubhouses, this session offers a compelling look into how these community-based models are transforming lives. Through powerful stories from Harlem, the Bronx, and Poughkeepsie, panelists will reveal how Clubhouses foster deep community partnerships, reduce hospitalizations, and boost employment. Attendees will leave inspired by proven strategies for building sustainable, accredited Clubhouses that deliver lasting impact and real cost savings.
Breakout 106: Meet & Greet with the NYS Office of Mental Health
Bob Moon, Deputy Commissioner, Community Program Policy, and Management, NYS Office Of Mental Health
Joe Katagiri, DrPH, MPA, CPH, Deputy Commissioner and CFO, NYS Office of Mental Health
Benjamin Rosen, Acting Executive Deputy Commissioner, NYS Office of Mental Health
The New York State Office of Mental Health oversees programs that promote recovery and support for individuals living with mental health conditions across the state. In this Meet and Greet session, OMH leadership will join participants to share priorities and hear directly from providers. The discussion offers a unique opportunity to exchange perspectives, ask questions, and strengthen collaboration.
12:15pm - 1:45pm: Women's Luncheon (Ticketed):
Women Leading the Way in Addiction and Mental Health Services
Sponsored by Cantata Health Solutions
Join us for the InUnity Alliance Women’s Luncheon Celebration to honor four women who have helped shape the landscape of addiction and mental health services in New York State. This uplifting gathering will spotlight trailblazers whose vision, courage, and dedication have broken barriers, influenced policy, and transformed lives. These leaders not only advanced the field through innovation and advocacy but also mentored and inspired the next generation of professionals, ensuring that their impact continues to grow. Through storytelling and moments of reflection, we will celebrate the women who paved the way for greater equity, access, and compassion in addiction and mental health services. Attendees will gain perspective from their journeys and leave with renewed inspiration to carry forward their work. This celebration is a call to action to continue building a field where people receive high-quality services that honor our rich diversity, delivered with dignity by supported professionals who are empowered to succeed. Whether you are a seasoned professional or new to the field, you will leave with a clearer vision for how we can all mentor, uplift, and empower those who follow.
2:00pm - 3:30pm: Afternoon General Session: Preparing for What’s Next: Meeting Federal Changes
Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, Vice President, Advocates for Human Potential; Former Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Chuck Ingoglia, President & CEO, National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Robert Morrison, Executive Director, National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Agency Directors
Federal policy changes are advancing rapidly, with sweeping implications for mental health and substance use disorder services. This session features national leaders who will examine the most pressing changes, discuss how states and service providers are adapting, and explore the most effective advocacy strategies today. Participants will leave with practical tools to respond, adapt, and strengthen their readiness.
3:30pm - 4:00pm: Break with Exhibitors
4:00pm - 5:00pm: 200 Breakout Series
Breakout 201: NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports: Workforce Programs
Brenda Harris Collins, Program Manager, NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports
Learn about three OASAS workforce programs: Addiction Professionals Scholarship Program, Interdisciplinary Substance Use Disorder Fellowship Program, and the Paid Prevention Internship Opportunity. A panel including OASAS leadership, students, and service providers will provide an overview of workforce initiatives and share their experiences.
Breakout 202: Turning Roadblocks Into Results: Optimizing Evidence-Based Prevention
William “Bill” Bowman, CASAC, CPP, NCACII, CEAP, Executive Director, Pivot
There are many challenges and barriers prevention organizations experience as they strive to provide the most impactful programs and strategies to affect positive community change. This workshop discusses common barriers and challenges, and offers support and potential solutions.
Breakout 203: Two Lenses, One Vision: Integrating Clinical and Peer Perspectives in Recovery
Amanda Toal, CARC, RCP, RCPF, Founder, Person Centered Recovery Services, Facilitator, Recovery Coach University
Faith Carini-Graves, DNP, PMHNP-BC
Join a Recovery Coach and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner as they share how clinical expertise and lived experience can be combined to support holistic, person-centered recovery. Participants will engage in collaborative exercises designed to build stronger interdisciplinary partnerships. This session offers practical strategies for integrating peer and clinical voices to improve client outcomes.
Breakout 204: Supporting Older Adults Impacted by Incarceration: A Behavioral Health Perspective
Geordana Weber, LCSW, Chief Program Officer, Service Program for Older People (SPOP)
This session will help providers address behavioral health needs in older adults impacted by incarceration. Using a trauma-informed lens, participants will learn how to promote inclusive spaces that help foster community and connection.
Breakout 205: Clinical Supervision Strategies for Improving Staff Retention
Lilliane Drago, MA, CASAC Master Counselor, MAC, Vice President and Director of Training, Outreach Development Corporation
Effective clinical supervision has been shown to boost staff morale, enhance performance, improve client care, and significantly increase retention. This interactive workshop will explore evidence-based supervision strategies that can transform supervision into a powerful tool for workforce stability. Participants will learn practical approaches to strengthen supervisory practices that benefit not only staff, but also clients and the broader organization.
Breakout 206: Interactive Home-Based Crisis Intervention Dually Diagnosed I/DD and Mental Health
Kayla Savely, LMHC-D, NCC, CASAC-T, C-DBT, HBCI Clinical Team Leader, Access: Supports for Living
Sahil Sharma, BA, HBCI Interventionist, Access: Supports for Living
Attendees will learn about the Home-Based Crisis Intervention (HCBI) program at Access: Supports for Living, which serves children and youth living in Orange and Rockland counties. This session will provide insight into how short term, intensive clinical interventions with children and their families combined with case management services and referral to longer term services helps avert unnecessary psychiatric hospitalizations.
Breakout 207: Housing for Justice-Involved Individuals with Mental Illness
Latisha Millard, Vice President of Housing, Fortune Society (moderator)
Gerald Christophe, Program Director, Fountain House Guesthouse Program
Honorable Jessica Earle-Gargan, Justice, NYS Supreme Court, NYS Office of Court Administration
Danielle Spina, CADC, Vice President, Justice Initiatives at Housing Works
Moderated by The Fortune Society's VP of Housing, Supreme Court Justice Judge Earle-Gargan joins housing experts from Fountain House and Housing Works to address the challenges and successes of housing individuals with criminal legal histories and mental illness. This robust conversation will touch upon the barriers to placement and the considerations that go into those placement decisions. The panel will also share creative strategies for working with the court system, addressing NIMBYism, and lowering barriers to entry for much needed services.
5:00pm - 6:30pm: Exhibitor Reception