NORTHWEST WAYNE
Northwest Wayne FAN is back to in-person forums at a NEW LOCATION! We are meeting the first Monday of every month from 6 to 8 pm at the Hype Recreation Center of Western Wayne, located at 4635 Howe Rd., Wayne, MI 48184. If you're unable to attend, the forums will also be available live via our Facebook page at THIS LINK.
The Northwest Wayne County FAN chapter began with conversations--among parents who had lost children to heroin overdose; among family members struggling with loved ones in active addiction; and among treatment professionals dealing with families in desperate need of resources and support. There was growing awareness of FAN chapters in other parts of the state that were offering families support, working to end stigma, and creating positive change in the treatment of addiction in the community. FAN chapters existed in Macomb, Genesee, and Kent Counties, and at least eight chapter regions existed in Oakland County. But there was not a single FAN chapter in Wayne County. A group of us living in northwestern Wayne County--all impacted by addiction in one way or another--decided it was time to change that.
Too often, families are left to struggle with the burdens of addiction on their own, feeling ashamed and stigmatized. We strive to provide families, friends, and recovering people a place to come together and realize that they are not alone, that addiction is in fact a disease, and that this disease can be managed if we all do our part. Our monthly forum offers a support network for those affected by addiction. Through guest speakers and personal stories, we aim to raise awareness and provide education.
Our mission is to save lives by empowering individuals and communities through education, prevention, and support. By partnering with treatment professionals, the legal community, public safety, schools, and other help organizations, we hope to facilitate change in the way addiction is viewed and treated in our community.
MONTHLY MEETING
1st Monday of the Month
(Changes may occur due to holidays or special events)
6:00 - 8:00 pm
Hype Recreation Center
4635 Howe Rd.
Wayne, MI 48184
2nd & 4th Tuesday
of the Month
6:30 - 8:30 pm
ONLINE via ZOOM
Meeting ID: 402 899 9671
Password: 604110
GRIEF SUPPORT
For Grief Support, Contact the New Hope Center for Grief Support
New Hope Center for Grief Support (See Their Program for Loss from Overdose)
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Northwest Wayne FAN Forum
(Click image to enlarge)
2023 Round for Recovery Golf Outing
To view the sponsors and photos from our 2023 golf outing, click HERE. We can't wait to see you all again next year!
To watch Northwest Wayne FAN Family Forum videos, please visit our YouTube channel at THIS LINK.
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Lauren Rousseau
President
Lauren Rousseau is an emeritus professor of law at Western Michigan University Cooley Law School. She retired from her full-time faculty position at WMU Cooley in December 2022 after nearly 20 years of law school teaching. From 2010 to 2012, Lauren was the legal guardian of a young man who became addicted to heroin, and who lost his life after multiple attempts at treatment. Lauren's experience with this young
man started her on a path of service to families struggling with addiction. She has organized and presented at multiple symposia and conferences focused on substance use disorder and the opioid epidemic, and co-presented a webinar for the State Bar of Michigan on this subject. She is one of the founders of Unite to Face Addiction--Michigan, which organizes annual statewide rallies and other events to bring awareness to and eliminate the stigma associated with addiction. Prior to her work with FAN, Lauren served on the boards of directors of Home of New Vision (an addiction treatment agency in Ann Arbor) and the Alliance of Coalitions for Healthy Communities (an umbrella organization working with multiple substance use prevention coalitions in Oakland County). In September 2016, Lauren was honored by Michigan Lawyers Weekly as one of its "Class of 2016 Women in the Law," in recognition of her work in the substance use disorder field. Prior to joining WMU Cooley, Lauren served as vice president, general counsel of a local automotive supplier; a senior litigation attorney at Ford Motor Company; and an associate attorney at the law firm Dykema Gossett.
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Dara Cockrum
Vice President
Dara Cockrum is a Sr. Speciality Representative for Orexo. She is a graduate of Central Michigan University and has been in the healthcare field for 23 years, 9 of which have been in the area of addiction, working extensively with addiction medicine specialists, pharmacists, addiction counselors, and detoxification centers. She has been active in several community programs and organizations throughout metropolitan Detroit to help better our communities. Dara currently serves on the Southeast Michigan Alliance for Addiction-Free Communities (SEEMAC) through the Michigan Public Health Institute, is a former CCBHC Advisory Board member for Hegira Health, Inc., and a workgroup member for Michigan House Representative Phil Green. Her passion runs deep for this disease state. Because of Dara's involvement with Orexo and passion for helping others, she wanted to give back and join FAN to help her community. Her main goal is to provide collaboration between legal, medical, law enforcement, and treatment and prevention groups. Educating our administrators, teachers, and youth through the schools is another area Dara feels compelled to help in. She hopes to help patients and families get their dignity back and not feel so isolated being caught up in the midst of this disease.
Jessica Hillen
Secretary
Jessica Hillen is a Licensed Master Social Worker and has been working in the field of substance use disorders (SUD) since 2014. She graduated from Eastern Michigan University in 2010 with a Bachelor’s in Psychology and Criminology. Just prior to her graduation, Jessica experienced a significant personal loss related to an accidental overdose of a family member. Following that loss, she decided that she wanted to devote her life to helping fight the stigma of addiction, and went on to complete a Master’s in Social Work from Wayne State University. During her graduate studies, Jessica spent time learning and training at detox and residential treatment programs. She previously worked as an outpatient therapist treating those with SUD. Jessica has been an employee of St. Mary Mercy Hospital since 2014 and was in charge of their Intensive Outpatient Program from 2015 to 2020. After changes related to the pandemic, she took on a new role within the hospital. This new role of SUD Specialist allows her to work within a multidisciplinary team of providers where she evaluates, collaborates, and offers support to patients hospitalized with a SUD. She also serves as the Lead Behavioral Specialist for Chemical Dependency and oversees the clinicians of the SUD departments within the hospital. With her combined personal and professional experience, Jessica’s hope is to be a resource and support for anyone affected by the disease of addiction.
Judge Laura Redmond Mack
Treasurer
Laura Mack recently retired as District Judge for the 29th District Court in Wayne. She was Chief Judge of that court for 16 years. She is currently a director for the Michigan Association of Treatment Court Professionals and Families Against Narcotics’ Northwest Wayne County chapter, and is President of the Rotary Club of Wayne. She also serves on the State Court Administrative Office Mental Health Advisory Committee, the Governor’s Mental Health Diversion Council Incompetent to Stand Trial Workgroup, and on the Wayne County Jail Diversion Committee. Judge Mack continues to preside, together with Judge Breeda O’Leary, over the Western Wayne County Regional Behavioral Treatment Court (RBTC), which originated in October, 2013. The RBTC is a dynamic collaboration between the criminal justice and community mental health systems. In 2015, the program expanded to include 11 Wayne County District Courts. During her tenure at the 29th District Court, Judge Mack also started teen court, truancy diversion, eviction diversion, and internship programs to further collaboration among disparate systems to solve community problems. In 2017, she was honored to receive a distinguished Woman in Law award from Michigan Lawyers Weekly for her mental health and other outreach activities. Before her appointment to the bench in 2003, Judge Mack practiced law in the areas of tax, estate, and retirement planning at Seyburn Kahn, P.C. in Southfield.
BOARD MEMBERS
Kelly O'Reilly
Director
Kelly has a daughter who has been fighting the battle against heroin for more than eight years, and she knows all too well the hardships that parents face when their loved ones are struggling with addiction. Kelly is passionate about raising awareness about the dangers of drug misuse and addiction, educating the public, and helping to support families that are dealing with loved ones in recovery or in active addiction. Kelly is a warm-hearted, caring person who puts others before herself, and exhibits this as an active volunteer member in her community. She is making it her life mission to positively improve the statistics in the battle against this ongoing drug epidemic.
Chief Ryan Strong
Director
Ryan Strong is the chief of police at the Wayne Police Department, where he has worked since 1999. Chief Strong has served in various roles at the department, including patrol officer, sergeant, and lieutenant in charge of the detective bureau. He is passionate about officer wellness. The holder of Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University, Chief Strong is an Adjunct Professor of Criminal Justice at Ferris State University and Baker College. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time on Lake Michigan with his family, running, and hiking.
Samantha Carducci
Director
Samantha Carducci is a Masters Level Social Worker and a graduate of Eastern Michigan University. She is a proud member of the National Association of Social Workers, Michigan Chapter. She began her clinical career providing psychotherapy for geriatric clients with severe and persistent mental illness in the Older Adult Services program at Neighborhood Service Organization, a nonprofit community mental health provider located in Detroit. She currently provides mental health services to inmates at Women's Huron Valley Correctional Facility in the Michigan Department of Corrections. She has spent years working with dual-diagnosed clients that face the challenges of mental illness and co-morbid substance abuse disorders. She is passionate about political advocacy, restorative justice, and volunteer work in the community that supports all such clients and family members. She is in long-term recovery from addiction.
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Rabih Darwiche
Director
Born in the Middle East, specifically Lebanon, and now proudly hailing from the United States, Rabih Darwiche is a testament to the power of resilience and personal growth. Growing up in Dearborn, he graduated from Fordson High School and pursued higher education, earning an associate's degree in nutrition. However, life took an unexpected turn and he battled drug addiction for many years before finding long-term recovery in 2016. Rabih is currently the General Manager at HYPE Athletics in Wayne, where he oversees programs designed for both youth and adults. In addition, he serves as the Director of Operations for SAFE Substance Abuse Coalition, is an active member of the Wayne Rotary, and was recently appointed to serve on the City of Wayne Planning Commission. Rabih is actively involved in vocational training for adults with disabilities, and has embraced the roles of life coach and personal trainer, utilizing his personal journey to motivate and inspire others towards a healthier and happier lifestyle. His life journey has taught him the value of determination, resilience, and the possibility of positive transformation, and he is committed to utilizing his experiences and skills to empower others, promote wellness, and contribute to the betterment of his community.
ADVISORY BOARD
Michele Baldori
Recovery High School and Adolescent SUD Clinician
Growth Works
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Vicki Berger
Owner
Victory Travel
Joseph Bialy
Lieutenant
Canto Police Department
Karen Bonanno
Executive Director
Livonia Save Our Youth Coalition
Sarah Bono
Sanford House
Dr. Carl Christensen, MD
Medical Director
Dawn Farm
Rabih Darwiche
SAFE Coalition
Hype Athletics
Melissa Daub
Wayne County Commissioner
Judy Davis
Director of SUD Services
Detroit Integrated Health Network
Elise DuBois, MA, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor
DuBois Counseling
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Dr. Michael Fox, D.O.
Addiction and Family Practice Physician
Allison Herrst, CPRC, CPRM
Supervisor, Rescue Recovery
Peer Support Services
Community Intervention & Treatment
Growth Works
Andrew Hopson
Founding Member of NW Wayne FAN
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The Honorable Sean Kavanagh
Judge
16th District Court (Livonia)
Richard Kummert
Lieutenant
Westland Police Department
Alan Maciag
Chief of Police
Northville
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DesaRay Maier
Therapist
Beginning Step
The Honorable Mark McConnell
Judge
18th District Court
Tonya Napolitano
Operations Manager
Core Title LLC
Chris O’Droski
Peer Recovery Program Manager
Hegira Health
The Honorable Breeda O’Leary
Judge
29th District Court
Joseph Paliwoda
Chief Executive Officer
Personalized Nursing Lighthouse
The Honorable James Plakas
Judge
35th District Court
Scott Schadel
Program Manager – Therapy
Easter Seals MORC
Lisa Sellinger
Sellinger Associates
Yoga Instructor
Jason Schwartz
Director of Social Work and Spiritual Care
Michigan Medicine
Angela Spino
Certified Prevention Specialist, Certified Peer Recovery Mentor, & Project Coordinator
Detroit Recovery Project’s Prevention Team
Lauren Sundstrom
Therapist
Lincoln Behavioral Health
Eric Turczyn
PC Alano Club
Carol Zuniga
Chief Executive Officer
Hegira Health