About Us
The Great Lakes ROTA-RC is funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to provide training and technical assistance (TA) to the rural communities of Health and Human Services Region 5: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Collaboratively, we develop and strengthen community capacity to prevent, treat, and support recovery for opioid use disorder and other mental health and substance use disorders, using a whole family/whole community approach to provide culturally appropriate educational opportunities. Through Cooperative Extension state programs, we employ evidence-based/emerging practices and provide virtual and/or on-demand education for rural community members on mental health and substance use disorders in the workplace, substance use education, and other relevant topics in mental health and substance use disorders. In communities with indigenous populations, the project co-creates culturally responsive, holistic health education and resources.
Great Lakes ROTA-RC Team
Regional Center Staff
State Project Staff
Meet the staff that support the ROTA-R offices in each of our five grant supporting Extension Universities within Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Ohio.
State Partners
ILLINOIS
The Illinois project is lead by Chelsea Byers and Robin Ridgely of the University of Illinois. (Former state director Anne Silvas)
INDIANA
The ROTA-RC project in Indiana is led by Stephanie Woodcox and Tessa Garrow from Purdue Extension Health & Human Sciences
Michigan
The Michigan ROTA-RC project is being led by Kea Norell-Aitch for MSU Children and Youth Institute. (Former state director Lauren Kennedy)
Minnesota
The project in Minnesota is led by Mary Jo Katras. Please visit the University of Minnesota Community-Based Opioid Prevention and Education (C.O.P.E.).
Ohio
The project in Ohio is being led by Michael Betz and Kelly Cabral. Please visit Ohio State Youth Resilience Collaborative.
Wisconsin
The Wisconsin project for ROTA-RC is led by Jen Park-Mroch and Amanda Coorough at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, Division of Extension’s Health and Well-Being Institute.
Advisory Board
Our Advisory Board is comprised of professionals with first and second hand lived experience that oversee and support the work of the ROTA-R grant. They help us align our activities with our stated goals and we elevate the work they do in the community at a local level, to highlight them as champions in rural communities in the areas of prevention, recovery and harm reduction.
Melissa Aaron, MSW, LSW
Clinical Coordinator, Substance Use Services, Centerstone
ILLINOIS REPRESENTATIVE
Cynthia Baade, C.P.R.S.R.
Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, Project Clean Start
MINNESOTA REPRESENTATIVE
Megan Barnett, PS, CHES
Manager, Community Health
WISCONSIN REPRESENTATIVE
Charmin Gabbard, BS, CADAC II
Executive Director
INDIANA REPRESENTATIVE
Tory Werth, LMSW, CAADC, CCS-DP, RCP
Clinical Therapist, Recovery Coach, Trainer
MICHIGAN REPRESENTATIVE
Jeanne Pulvermacher, MS
Outreach Program Director, CHESS
GREAT LAKES TTC PARTNER
Beth Weinstock, M.D.
Founder, BirdieLight
OHIO REPRESENTATIVE
