Conference Plenary Speakers
Frances Brisbane, Ph.D.
Frances L. Brisbane, Ph.D., is Professor and Dean of the School of Social Welfare, State University of New York, Stony Brook, and Dean of the Black Alcoholism and Addictions Institute, co-sponsored by the National Black Alcoholism and Addictions Council and Howard University School of Social Work.
She is co-founder of Counseling and Treating People of Colour: An International Perspective, a conference on health, mental health, substance abuse, AIDS, violence, and education. In its 22nd year, the conference has been held in eight countries and several States.
Dr. Brisbane created the 100% Drug Free Clubs, which operate in the United States, Africa, and Caribbean, as a primary prevention program. She developed Project HOPE(ful) – A Spiritual Healing and Recovery Program, which is used by treatment programs, faith-based organizations, and spiritual retreats, and Preventing and Overcoming Compassion Fatigue, a training program for volunteers and professionals who work with terminally ill patients.
She has written five books and edited five books. Her writing is on substance abuse, anger, leadership, spirituality, and working with African-American children who have experienced trauma.
Dr. Brisbane is Founder and Director of the School of Social Welfare's Center for Culturally Competent Education and Training, which has certified more than 500 cultural competent professionals.
Her degrees are from New York University, Columbia University, and Union Institute and University.
H. Westley Clark, M.D., J.D., M.P.H., CAS, FASAM
H. Westley Clark, M.D., J.D., M.P.H., CAS, FASAM, is Director of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment under the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Clark leads the agency's efforts to provide effective and accessible treatment to all Americans with addictive disorders. Dr. Clark's areas of expertise include substance abuse treatment, methadone maintenance, pain management, dual diagnosis, psychopharmacology, anger management, and medical and legal issues. He is also a noted author, clinician, teacher, and spokesperson in the field of addiction and forensic psychiatry.
Dr. Clark has received numerous awards for his contribution to the field of substance abuse treatment, including the President of the United States of America, Rank of Meritorious Executive in the Senior Executive Service for his sustained superior accomplishments in management of programs of the United States Government and for noteworthy achievement of quality and efficiency in the public service in 2005.
He received his medical degree from the University of Michigan and his law degree from Harvard University Law School. Dr. Clark received his board certification from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in psychiatry and sub-specialty certifications in both addiction and forensic psychiatry. Dr. Clark is licensed to practice medicine in California, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Michigan. He is also a member of the Washington, D.C., Bar Association.
Stephanie S. Covington, Ph.D., LCSW
Stephanie S. Covington, Ph.D., LCSW, is a nationally recognized clinician, author, consultant, and lecturer as well as developer of a gender-responsive approach to treating women and girls.
Dr. Covington's presentations focus on developing caring, compassionate, and empowering environments. Her clients include the Betty Ford Treatment Center, Hanley Center, Pine Grove Women's Center, U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT), and California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Dr. Covington chaired the women's and trauma Treatment Improvement Protocols (CSAT, forthcoming) and co-authored Gender-Responsive Strategies: Research, Practice, and Guiding Principles for Women Offenders.
Educated at Columbia University and the Union Institute, Dr. Covington served on the faculties of the University of Southern California, San Diego State University, and California School of Professional Psychology and was Chair of the Women's Committee of the International Council on Alcoholism and Addiction. She is a board-certified Diplomat of the National Association of Social Workers, American Board of Sexology, and American Board of Medical Psychotherapists and a member of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy.
Dr. Covington is Co-Director of the Institute for Relational Development and the Center for Gender and Justice, which address gender-responsive practices for females in the criminal justice system.
She has written several articles and books, developed materials to address the needs of women and girls, and designed training manuals and materials for professionals.
Susan Foster, M.S.W.
Susan E. Foster, M.S.W., is the Vice President and Director of Policy Research and Analysis at the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University. Ms. Foster provides research and policy analysis on the impact of substance abuse on America's systems and populations and strategies to improve results for those affected by substance abuse and those who bear the costs. She is responsible for CASA's first book, Women under the Influence (Johns Hopkins University Press, February 2006). Other projects include an examination of America's substance abuse treatment system, the diversion and abuse of controlled prescription drugs, the impact of early nicotine exposure, the commercial value of underage and pathological drinking to the alcohol industry, and studies of the links between substance abuse, government spending, and health and social problems.
She received her M.S.W. from Rutgers University and has authored publications on a broad range of public policy issues. Before joining CASA, Ms. Foster was a partner in the firm of Brizius & Foster, providing consultation to State and local governmental officials, private agencies, foundations, and corporations on issues of public policy, management, and budgeting. Before her consulting practice, she held positions in county and State government and served as Deputy Under Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs in the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare in the Carter Administration.
Marilyn Moats Kennedy, M.S.
Marilyn Moats Kennedy, M.S., is Founder and Managing Partner of Moats/Kennedy, Inc., a 35-year-old management consulting firm in Wilmette, Illinois. She makes more than 100 presentations a year on issues that affect the evolving workplace, such as age diversity, trend-spotting, leadership versus management, and organizational politics. For 16 years she published Kennedy's Career Strategist, a subscription newsletter on career planning, job hunting, and office politics. Her training sessions have reached more than 200,000 people.
Ms. Kennedy's 36 years of experience include her work as a university faculty member, business owner, consultant, and nationally known speaker. For 18 years she was the Job Strategies Columnist for Glamour magazine. She has written nine books and is currently a columnist for several professional journals. She is often quoted in national publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Fortune magazine, and Fast Company magazine. She has appeared on "20/20" and "Good Morning America." She holds BSJ and MSJ degrees from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism and is a charter member of the Medill School's Journalism Hall of Fame.
Judy Nelson, J.D., M.S.W.
Judy Nelson, J.D., M.S.W., is a Certified Professional Coach. Her philosophy about leadership and successful management derives from her unique educational background and extensive and rich experience: a law degree, a master's degree in social work, training and certification as a professional coach, and 30 years as a "coaching CEO." As an Executive Coach and Management Trainer, the payoff is exceptional. One CEO commented, "If you are looking to make a change in your company or in your life, you should consider Judy Nelson's extensive experience, talents, and skills."
Ms. Nelson is the co-author of Leading the Way to Success along with Warren Bennis and Jack Canfield. She is the creator of The Coaching Hotline©, a unique professional development program for senior and middle managers. She also hosts a weekly Web radio show, interviewing a variety of successful leaders. Married to "an amazing" Menninger-trained psychiatrist with whom she writes and travels extensively, she is also the step-grandmother of eight and enjoys life to the fullest.
Kana Enomoto, M.A.
Kana Enomoto, M.A., is Principal Senior Advisor to the Administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Ms. Enomoto coordinates SAMHSA activities on behalf of the Administrator across mental health and substance abuse policy issues, SAMHSA's grant and contracts portfolio, human capital management, and process improvement activities. She serves as SAMHSA's Acting Associate Administrator for Women's Services and Chair of the Advisory Committee on Women's Services.
Ms. Enomoto worked in SAMHSA's Center for Mental Health Services where she participated in the Transforming Mental Health Care in America: The Federal Action Agenda initiative and the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health Final Report. She served as Associate Managing Editor for the Surgeon General's Supplement on Mental Health: Culture, Race and Ethnicity and was lead evaluator on SAMHSA's Multi-Site Study on Women, Co-occurring Disorders, and Violence.
Since coming to SAMHSA, Ms. Enomoto has raised the profile of women's and minorities' mental health and substance abuse issues at the Federal level. Before entering the Federal Government, she was a Research Associate at the National Research Center on Asian American Mental Health at the University of California, Los Angeles. Her background is in clinical psychology, and her degrees are from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Francine Feinberg, Psy.D., LCSW
Francine Feinberg, Psy.D., LCSW, is the Executive Director of Meta House, Inc., in Milwaukee., and is recognized for her successful approach to treating women with substance use disorders.
Meta House and Dr. Feinberg are recipients of several awards. She was honored as a "National Leader Recognized for Community Service in the Field of Substance Abuse Treatment" by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Meta House received a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Best Practices Award and a Children Come First Award. Dr. Feinberg was a member of the Advisory Committee for Women's Services of the Joint Council of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and a member of the Joint Council's Sub-Committee on Co-occurring Disorders. She chaired one of the committees writing the women's Treatment Improvement Protocol (CSAT, forthcoming). She advises SAMHSA on family treatment and evidence-based practices. She is a member of the Milwaukee Child Welfare Partnership Council and was appointed to the National Advisory Council on Maternal, Infant and Fetal Nutrition by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Dr. Feinberg has published and written on the children of women who use substances. She authored a chapter in Children in Families at Risk (1995). Most recently, she developed the Diagnostic Assessment Workbook for Gender-Responsive Treatment for Women.
Anita Bertrand, M.S.W.
Anita Bertrand, M.S.W., is the Executive Director of the Northern Ohio Recovery Association. She received her degrees from Kent State University and Cleveland State University. Ms. Bertrand was also the Executive Director of Compass House, Inc.
Ms. Bertrand has social science and administrative experience. In recovery for more than 16 years, she understands the importance of blending personal and professional knowledge to "promote the power and possibility of recovery." Ms. Bertrand is a Licensed Independent Chemical Dependency Counselor and a Licensed Social Worker. She serves on the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment's National Advisory Council and the Ohio Association of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors as the Legislative Co-Chair.
Ms. Bertrand has served as both clinician and administrator. She specializes in urban and rural community organizing and program planning and development. Experienced in planning, implementing, and evaluating new and evolving substance abuse treatment programs, she provides technical assistance, has monitored treatment agencies for program compliance and quality improvement, and has conducted training sessions on substance abuse treatment issues.
The recipient of local leadership and volunteer service awards in the substance abuse profession, she organized a public Recovery Month event in a three-county region. Ms. Bertrand has also been a significant force in Northeast Ohio in promoting and ensuring the continuum of recovery and has developed and sustained a peer recovery model that is paramount to ongoing sobriety.
Nancy Hamilton, M.P.A., CAP, CCJAP
Nancy Hamilton, M.P.A., CAP, CCJAP, is President/Chief Executive Officer of Operation PAR. Her degrees are from Troy State University Public Administration College and the University of South Florida. She is a Certified Criminal Justice Addictions Professional and a Certified Addictions Professional and has more than 33 years of experience in behavioral healthcare services as a trainer and teacher in prevention, intervention, and treatment services.
Ms. Hamilton is a strong advocate and a recognized public speaker on substance abuse; maternal and child health relating to substance abuse; women, adolescents, and families; pharmacology; alcoholism; criminal justice; child development; motivational enhancement/cognitive behavioral therapies; and family support network. She has presented at hundreds of conferences nationally and internationally.
Ms. Hamilton was instrumental in PAR's research and was the Co-Principal Investigator of the Cannabis Youth Treatment Study. In 2001, Operation PAR's Family Support Network won the Department of Children and Families Grand Prize for Best Practices.
Ms. Hamilton serves on numerous boards including the Clinical Trials Network (Co-Chair); Florida NODE Steering Committee; Past-President of the Florida Juvenile Justice Association; CFBHN Board of Directors; Executive Board New Cent Pinellas County Substance Abuse Advisory Board; and the Substance Abuse Coalition of Pinellas County. Ms. Hamilton was the 2004 Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association's Professional.
