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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
Jen Park-Mroch, PhD
Program Director
Randy Brown, MD, PhD, DFASAM
Co-Program Director
Amanda Coorough, MSSA
Program Manager
Maureen Fitzgerald, BA
Communications Specialist
Jenna Klink, MPH
Evaluation Specialist
Lauren Doyle
Project Assistant
Mike Blaser, OPLM
WI Project Consultant
State Project Staff
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Anne Silvas, MBA
IL State Project Director
Robin Ridgely, M.ED
IL State Project Family Life Educator
Stephanie Woodcox, MPH, CHES
IN State Project Director
Tessa Garrow, MPH, LMHC, NCC, ACS
IN Behavioral Health Specialist
Lauren Kennedy, PhD
MI State Project Director
Mary Jo Katras, PhD
MN State Project Director
Michael Betz, PhD
OH State Project Director
Kelly Cabral, MA
OH State Project Co-Director
State Partners
ILLINOIS
The Illinois project is lead by Anne Silvis, Susan Odum, and Robin Ridgely of the University of Illinois.
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 Dr. Lauren Kennedy and health educators, Abigail Cudney, Tanner Derror, and Elizabeth Williams for MSU Extension’s Health and Nutrition Institute.
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 managed by Jen Park-Mroch and Amanda Coorough at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, Division of Extension’s Health and Well-Being Institute.
Advisory Board
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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
Outreach Program Director, CHESS
GREAT LAKES TTC PARTNER
TBD
Coming Soon…
OHIO REPRESENTATIVE