When
Thursday, May 7th
Doors Open 8:30 A. M.
9:00 to 4:00 P. M. (Eastern)
CEU Credits: 6
- Kentucky Board of Nursing
- Kentucky Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors (pending approval)
- Kentucky Board of Social Work (pending approval)
- Kentucky Board of Emergency Responders (pending approval)
Where
Location: London Community Center
529 S Main St, London, KY 40741
Speakers
Joyce Johnson,
MSN, APRN, AGNP-C, CARN-AP
Joyce Johnson is a known leader in Kentucky, but her advocacy, influence, and policy work also have a national impact. Joyce earned her master’s degree in Nursing at the University of Louisville and her post-graduate certification in Substance Use Disorder Treatment from Drexel University. Board-certified in both Adult Geriatric Primary Care and Addiction, in 2022, she wrote and was awarded a national grant to create an innovative mobile health project that now expands healthcare access to five underserved rural counties in Kentucky. Joyce was recently honored by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners as the 2024 Kentucky Nurse Practitioner of the Year.
Aaron Smallwood,
MSW, CSW, LCADC, CCS
Aaron Smallwood has an unwavering commitment to healing and recovery and leads a team of dedicated clinicians at Stepworks. Aaron graduated from the University of Kentucky with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and a master’s in social work. He began his career as a clinician on the front lines, working directly with people in the throes of addiction. His tenure at both The Hope Center and Mountain Comprehensive Care deepened his compassion and empathy for those battling the disease. Aaron has a profound understanding of the unique challenges faced by those in recovery, as well as a deep respect for each individual’s journey. Aaron believes in a holistic approach to healing that encompasses not only clinical intervention but also the importance of community, support, and empowerment. Aaron often claims, “The opposite of addiction isn’t sobriety, it’s community.”
Geoff Wilson,
LCSW, LCADC, CCS
Lauren Carr
Lauren Carr is the Opioid Settlement Advisor for Vital Strategies’ Overdose Prevention Program, seconded to the Kentucky Association of Counties (KACo). A native of Mayfield, Kentucky, and a graduate of Murray State University with a degree in Organizational Communication, Lauren was called to advocacy after losing her brother, Justin, to a fentanyl overdose in 2011. Since then, she has led youth prevention and harm reduction initiatives, helping establish one of Western Kentucky’s first syringe exchange programs and the Mayfield-Graves County ASAP Youth Council. In her current role, she supports counties across the Commonwealth by providing technical assistance on the use of opioid settlement funds to advance best practices and evidence-based strategies that save lives and strengthen communities.
