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Opioid Policy Fellows 2019

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The Opioid Policy Fellows program is designed to support legislators who are experienced or emerging leaders on opioid addiction and overdose issues. The kickoff meeting will set the stage for the work of the Opioid Policy Fellows and will provide issue content in a peer learning setting. The meeting goals include:

  • Build knowledge about new research and policy.
  • Exchange ideas and solutions related to opioid misuse and overdose, and related issues.
  • Meet and learn from other legislative leaders.
  • Connect with leading researchers and policy experts.
  • Identify practical information to use in your state and develop action steps.

Contact the Health Program to request speaker presentations from the Opioid Policy Fellows meetings.

Meet the Fellows

  • Representative Justin Boyd, Arkansas
  • Representative Cindy Ziemke, Indiana
  • Representative Russell Webber, Kentucky
  • Senator Regina Ashford Barrow, Louisiana
  • Representative Dustin Miller, Louisiana
  • Senator Cindy Friedman, Massachusetts
  • Senator James Welch, Massachusetts
  • Representative Joyce McCreight, Maine
  • Representative David Baker, Minnesota
  • Representative David Wood, Missouri
  • Senator Jim Davis, North Carolina
  • Senator Joseph Vitale, New Jersey
  • Assemblywoman Daniele Monroe-Moreno, Nevada
  • Assemblymember John McDonald III, New York
  • Representative Sheri Schouten, Oregon
  • Representative John Edwards, Rhode Island
  • Representative Jim Dunnigan, Utah
  • Representative Bill Lippert, Vermont
  • Senator Ann Rivers, Washington
  • Representative Jon Plumer, Wisconsin
  • Delegate Matthew Rohrbach, West Virginia
  • Senator Tom Takubo, West Virginia
  • Senator Fred Baldwin, Wyoming

Kickoff Meeting: Building State Leadership

Friday, Jan. 25, 2019
Time Description
3:30-5 p.m.

Welcome
This session will welcome the class of the Opioid Policy Fellows with an overview of the program and introductions of the Fellows.
Kate Blackman, NCSL
Hilary Eiring, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

6-8:30 p.m.

Dinner with the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Fellows
The Opioid Policy Fellows will join NCSL’s Maternal and Child Health Fellows for networking and dinner. The program will feature alumni of NCSL’s Fellows programs discussing their successes and advice for the newest classes of Fellows.

Moderator: Kate Blackman, NCSL
Panelists: Senator Joann Ginal, Colorado
Representative Stephanie Hilferty, Louisiana
Representative Ann Pugh, Vermont
Senator David Wilson, Alaska

Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019
Time Description
8-8:15 a.m.

Welcome and Overview of the Day
Kate Blackman, NCSL

8:15-9:30 a.m.

Setting the Stage
This session will provide an overview of the opioid epidemic, including trends and disparities. Speakers will also discuss recent federal action and provide an overview of funding and options available to states.

Moderator: Kate Blackman, NCSL
Speakers: Jamie Mells, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Hilary Eiring, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Margaret Wile, NCSL

9:45-11 a.m.

State Strategies to Prevent and Intervene Early
This session will focus on strategies to prevent opioid misuse and overdose, including those that show evidence of effectiveness, as well as emerging strategies.

Moderator: Kate Blackman, NCSL
Speakers: Jamie Mells, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Sherry Green, Sherry L. Green & Associates

11:15-11:45 a.m.

Joint Session with MCH Fellows: Medicaid 1115 Waivers

Moderator: Emily Blanford, NCSL
Speaker: Calder Lynch, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

11:45 a.m.-1 p.m.

Lunch with MCH Fellows: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
Over a joint lunch, Opioid Policy Fellows and Maternal and Child Health Fellows will learn about and discuss Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and how these early experiences intersect with the issues and populations of focus for the Fellows programs. The session will provide the opportunity for discussing solutions and sharing state strategies.

Moderator: Amber Bellazaire, NCSL
Speaker: Jay Butler, MD, Alaska

1:30-3 p.m.

Examining and Financing the Continuum of Care
This session will provide an overview of the full continuum of care for substance use disorders. From detox to sober living, speakers will examine the full system and its financing. Speakers will discuss policy levers for public and commercial insurance, federal grants to finance treatment without breaking state budgets, and challenges and opportunities states face along the way.

Moderator: Karmen Hanson, NCSL
Speakers: Aaron Williams, National Council for Behavioral Health
David Sheridan, National Alliance for Recovery Residences
Rick Harwood, National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors

3:15-4:30 p.m.

Examining and Financing the Continuum of Care
This session will continue and the panel will build upon the prior discussion, leading into roundtable discussions with speakers and Fellows.

Speakers: Haley Nicholson, NCSL
Emily Blanford, NCSL
Rick Harwood, National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors
Aaron Williams, National Council for Behavioral Health
David Sheridan, National Alliance for Recovery Residences

4:30-5 p.m. Action Planning, Networking and Group Photo
Moderator: Kate Blackman, NCSL
Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019
Time Description
8:30-9:45 a.m.

Looking Down the Road
This session will focus on the opioid epidemic as a part of a larger addiction crisis and the ways that leaders in all sectors can approach and intervene in the crisis.

Moderator: Charlie Severance-Medaris, NCSL
Speaker: Rochelle Head-Dunham, MD, Metropolitan Human Services District, New Orleans

10-11 a.m.

Networking and Action Planning

Moderator: Kate Blackman, NCSL

11-11:30 a.m. Wrap Up and Debrief
This session will wrap up the meeting with an opportunity to debrief and reflect, and share Fellows’ action steps to work on in the coming months. We will also discuss NCSL support and topics for upcoming events.
11:30 a.m.

Adjourn

Second Meeting: Policy Solutions and Innovations

Friday, Jan. 25, 2019
Time Description
3:30-5 p.m.

Welcome
This session will welcome the class of the Opioid Policy Fellows with an overview of the program and introductions of the Fellows.
Kate Blackman, NCSL
Hilary Eiring, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

6-8:30 p.m.

Dinner with the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Fellows
The Opioid Policy Fellows will join NCSL’s Maternal and Child Health Fellows for networking and dinner. The program will feature alumni of NCSL’s Fellows programs discussing their successes and advice for the newest classes of Fellows.

Moderator: Kate Blackman, NCSL
Panelists: Senator Joann Ginal, Colorado
Representative Stephanie Hilferty, Louisiana
Representative Ann Pugh, Vermont
Senator David Wilson, Alaska

Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019
Time Description
8-8:15 a.m.

Welcome and Overview of the Day
Kate Blackman, NCSL

8:15-9:30 a.m.

Setting the Stage
This session will provide an overview of the opioid epidemic, including trends and disparities. Speakers will also discuss recent federal action and provide an overview of funding and options available to states.

Moderator: Kate Blackman, NCSL
Speakers: Jamie Mells, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Hilary Eiring, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Margaret Wile, NCSL

9:45-11 a.m.

State Strategies to Prevent and Intervene Early
This session will focus on strategies to prevent opioid misuse and overdose, including those that show evidence of effectiveness, as well as emerging strategies.

Moderator: Kate Blackman, NCSL
Speakers: Jamie Mells, PhD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Sherry Green, Sherry L. Green & Associates

11:15-11:45 a.m.

Joint Session with MCH Fellows: Medicaid 1115 Waivers

Moderator: Emily Blanford, NCSL
Speaker: Calder Lynch, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

11:45 a.m.-1 p.m.

Lunch with MCH Fellows: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
Over a joint lunch, Opioid Policy Fellows and Maternal and Child Health Fellows will learn about and discuss Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and how these early experiences intersect with the issues and populations of focus for the Fellows programs. The session will provide the opportunity for discussing solutions and sharing state strategies.

Moderator: Amber Bellazaire, NCSL
Speaker: Jay Butler, MD, Alaska

1:30-3 p.m.

Examining and Financing the Continuum of Care
This session will provide an overview of the full continuum of care for substance use disorders. From detox to sober living, speakers will examine the full system and its financing. Speakers will discuss policy levers for public and commercial insurance, federal grants to finance treatment without breaking state budgets, and challenges and opportunities states face along the way.

Moderator: Karmen Hanson, NCSL
Speakers: Aaron Williams, National Council for Behavioral Health
David Sheridan, National Alliance for Recovery Residences
Rick Harwood, National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors

3:15-4:30 p.m.

Examining and Financing the Continuum of Care
This session will continue and the panel will build upon the prior discussion, leading into roundtable discussions with speakers and Fellows.

Speakers: Haley Nicholson, NCSL
Emily Blanford, NCSL
Rick Harwood, National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors
Aaron Williams, National Council for Behavioral Health
David Sheridan, National Alliance for Recovery Residences

4:30-5 p.m. Action Planning, Networking and Group Photo
Moderator: Kate Blackman, NCSL
Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019
Time Description
8:30-9:45 a.m.

Looking Down the Road
This session will focus on the opioid epidemic as a part of a larger addiction crisis and the ways that leaders in all sectors can approach and intervene in the crisis.

Moderator: Charlie Severance-Medaris, NCSL
Speaker: Rochelle Head-Dunham, MD, Metropolitan Human Services District, New Orleans

10-11 a.m.

Networking and Action Planning

Moderator: Kate Blackman, NCSL

11-11:30 a.m. Wrap Up and Debrief
This session will wrap up the meeting with an opportunity to debrief and reflect, and share Fellows’ action steps to work on in the coming months. We will also discuss NCSL support and topics for upcoming events.
11:30 a.m.

Adjourn

Webinars

Opioid Policy Fellows Webinar #1: Medicaid 1115 Waivers and Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment

Friday, March 15, 2019

Opioid Policy Fellows Webinar #2: Prevention, PDMPs and Innovative State Practices

Friday, May 3, 2019

Sponsors
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