When: Sunday, September 15, 2024 from noon to 4:30pm
Where: Congregation Agudath Achim at 9 Lee Boulevard
What: This program will offer a rich tapestry of knowledge, strategies and tools designed to empower anyone providing care and support to families affected by the diseas of addiction. Attendees will be equipped to assist “the First Hurt and the Last Helped” by championing the cause of healing and family unity.
We will provide resources, refreshements, fellowship, and door prizes.
Who: Who should attend?
- Families struggling with the disease of addiction
- Faith leaders who want to offer help and hope
- People in recovery
- School Counselors
- Youth Coaches
- First Responders
- Peer Recovery Specialists and Coaches
- Medical Professionals
- Treatment Court Teams
- Mental Health and Treatment Professionals
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Denise Bertin-EPP – President/CEO of NACoA (National Association of Children of Addiction) RN, BsCN, MSA
Peggy McGillicuddy – Director of Children’s Programs NACoA MEd, CTSS
Both speakers are nationally-known experts in their field.
About Denise Bertin-EPP
Denise is a proven leader that brings an exacting blend of medical knowledge and administration to develop models for leadership in healthcare that set the stage for success. A trusted leader, motivator, with keen communication skills for meeting determined goals and objectives. She has been CEO in addiction treatment facilities for over 2 decades with over 40 years of healthcare experience. Denise is well versed in behavioral health treatment, continuing care, and organizational culture, with experience in healthcare accreditation, client, child, and family outcomes. She is a past recipient of the Michigan Nightingale Nursing Leadership Excellence Award; she is listed as a Behavioral Health Champion in 2010 by Healthcare Magazine; and “Woman of the Decade in Healthcare Leadership”, in November 2019, by the International Women’s Economic Forum in London England. Denise is currently the CEO of NACoA, the National Association for Children of Addiction, a 41-year legacy organization operating to eliminate the adverse effects of the disease of addiction on children and families.
About Peggy McGillicuddy, MEd, CTSS
Peggy McGillicuddy, MEd, CTSS, brings over 20 years of experience in the behavioral health field to her role as Director of Children’s Programs at NACoA. With a strong background in program development and service delivery, Peggy has worked with the Betty Ford Center Children’s Program, and Inner Direction Recovery, providing essential support, consultation, training, and group facilitation. She is dedicated to supporting children affected by parental substance use disorders, emphasizing a strength-based recovery approach that includes all family members.
In addition to her work at NACoA, as the Director of Children’s Programs, Peggy co-founded Heartache2Hope, a Toronto-based non-profit offering grief support to suicide loss survivors. Her extensive experience in grief and bereavement informs her commitment to reducing the stigma around mental health and the disease of addiction. Peggy holds an MEd in Adult Education and Community Development, certificates in Grief and Bereavement Education, Workplace Learning and Social Change, and is a Certified Trauma Support Specialist. She is currently pursuing post-graduate studies in Trauma Informed Clinical Practice at NYU Silver School of Social Work.