6. Substance Use Prevention: How implementing Care Management Strategies and SBIRT can reduce the negative impacts of substance use

My name is Bailee Brekke, I am a first year PhD student in the Social Gerontology program at  Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. I also work as a graduate research assistant in the Scripps Gerontology Center at Miami. My research interests surround substance use among older adults, as well as state and federal policies that support this population. The data presented today stems from a project I worked on in conjunction with other Scripps researchers and a local community-based organization in the Midwest.  

Amanda Krisher, MSW, LCSW, brings over 15 years of direct practice and program management experience to the National Council on Aging where she serves as the Associate Director for Behavioral Health in the Center for Healthy Aging. A seasoned professional in the older adult care industry, she previously was the Senior Director for a live virtual training program for older adult care professionals and a clinical social worker for a community health program and hospice organization. She received her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Maryland School of Social Work in Baltimore and is a Licensed Certified Clinical Social Worker in Maryland and Virginia. As a leader in older adult care, she has presented at national conferences and statewide meetings.

Dr. Nicole Cadovius is a visionary leader in nonprofit, healthcare, and public sector transformation, driven by a deep passion for advancing mission-oriented work. She places people at the center of her approach, focusing on quality of life and empowering communities to thrive. Her dedication is reflected in her commitment to developing equitable systems that foster stability, growth, and opportunity. By blending strategic expertise with genuine personal connection, Dr. Cadovius ensures that every initiative not only achieves organizational goals but also enhances individual and community well-being, underscoring her belief in the transformative power of purpose-driven leadership. 

Core Expertise

• Enterprise transformation and change leadership
• Strategy-to-execution program design and delivery
• Cross-sector partnerships and stakeholder alignment
• Portfolio and performance management (data-driven outcomes)
• Equity-centered systems improvement
• Revenue diversification and sustainable program growth

Current Role
At the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, Dr. Cadovius leads national initiatives including strategic initiatives for Mental Health First Aid, aligning strategy, partnerships, and implementation to advance scalable, data-driven programming. Her leadership has strengthened stakeholder engagement, diversified revenue, and improved program performance at scale. 

Leadership & Impact
Proven track record leading complex, cross-sector transformation efforts, advising executive leadership, and building high-performing teams. Recognized for aligning diverse stakeholders, embedding accountability and equity into strategy, and delivering sustainable, mission-driven results.

She is deeply committed to advancing systems that support growth, stability, well-being, and opportunity, bringing both professional expertise and personal connection to mission-driven work.   Dr. Cadovius has more than 30 years of volunteer experience with national and international non-profits and boards.