This past WISE Coalition Meeting was hosted by 3 Speakers

Our first speaker:  Dr. Michelle Maloney,  PhD, NSCE, LPC, CAADC, CRPS

Dr. Michelle Maloney will educate on the disease of substance use disorders and how they affect the brain. How can learning about the disease decrease stigma? What can we do help decrease the stigma that exists within the recovery treatment arena?

Biography: Dr. Maloney has worked in mental health and addiction treatment for the past 26 years serving in various clinical and administrative positions.  In her role at Rogers Behavioral Health, she is responsible for the development of staff training, programming and fidelity monitoring of best practice, evidenced based and outcome driven standards across the mental health and addiction service line.  Dr. Maloney has created numerous clinical programs, including specialized programming for young adults and children.  She has also specialized in women’s services, body image and adolescent treatment.   Currently, she volunteers her time coaching and mentoring clinicians and leaders in providing servant leadership.  Dr. Maloney has provided leadership to several non-profit community agencies through serving on Boards of Directors.  She currently serves on the addiction treatment committee of NABH.  She has also served in the United States Army.  Dr. Maloney earned her undergraduate degree from Kutztown University and her Master of Counseling Psychology degree from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, PA.  She earned her doctoral degree in corporate leadership from Alvernia University, where her dissertation focused on management influence strategies within the behavioral healthcare industry.

Our second speaker: Terri Ellzey, MS, MA, CSAC, LPC, CS-IT

Terri Ellzey will take us through the progression of substance use disorders and how stigma and language surrounding substance use has changed. Work at de-stigmatizing substance use disorders begins with changing how we talk about it. Terri will share what works to reduce stigma.

Biography:  Terri Ellzey, Director of Clinical Services with Mental Health America of Wisconsin is a licensed Clinical Substance Abuse Counselor (CSAC), Professional Counselor (LPC), and Clinical Supervisor in training (CSIT). Terri has been working as a human service professional beginning in 1995 to the present. Terri has beat many odds as to why extending the olive branch is important because “It takes a village.” The ingredients being a human service professional best practices are compassion, tough love, healthy boundaries, psychoeducation, and increasing self awareness. Terri who once dropped out of high school is now in her second year of doctoral studies. During Terri’s downtime, she likes to read, explore the internet, Tik Tok, YouTube, Facebook, and stream movies with her family. Terri’s strength is her love for learning and problem-solving issues involving, conversations on racism, implicit bias, inequality, inequity, human rights, and addressing the gross negligence for double standards involving a lack of accountability. Terri is a board member with MIRACLE Inc., a consultant with WISE/Rogers, and a community partner supporting destigmatizing addiction and mental health. Terri aspires to complete her doctoral program by 2024, finish writing her book, and continue to be in the most important space and that is at home with her husband and teenage son. “With courage, you will dare to take risks, have the strength to be compassionate and the wisdom to be humble. Courage is the foundation of integrity.” Keshavan Nair

Our third speaker: Kristin Waite-Labott, RN, BSN, CARN

Hear Kristin’s story. Kristin has been in recovery since January 17, 2005. How did her substance use start, how did it end, where is she now? Kristin shares her story openly to decrease stigma and bring hope to those who are still struggling with substance use.

Biography:  Kristin has been a RN since 1991. After losing much to alcohol and opioid use disorders, she found recovery in 2005. She now works as a coach with nurses who have similar struggles, founded WisPAN (Wisconsin Peer Alliance for Nurses) a peer support organization for nurses with substance use issues, is an emergency room nurse, and has published a book, “An Unlikely Addict”, about her story of recovery. She has appeared locally in news stories about opioid use disorder and on the show “The Doctors” for an episode on healthcare workers and substance use disorder. She is committed to making a difference. You can learn more on her website, www.unlikelyaddict.com.