Our community is in crisis from issues related to substance use, addiction, and mental health. We must come together to move the needle for our community and find meaningful and inclusive solutions to these issues that have historically been viewed as taboo. Staff from ACCESS’ Community Health and Research Center will share best practices and engage the community in a discussion about accessible and culturally sensitive resources that are available to better support our impacted friends and neighbors.
Mona Makki is an impassioned proponent of rights for underserved members of the community and fearless advocate against crime and domestic violence. Throughout her career at ACCESS as the director of the Community Health and Research Center, she has committed herself to improving and empowering the lives of individuals and families who suffer from domestic abuse and behavioral health issues. She has worked tirelessly to collaborate with judges, faith leaders, schools and police departments in the fight against such abuse. In addition to her work at ACCESS, Makki serves on several community boards, including the Greater Detroit Area Health Council’s board and the Michigan Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. She received her master’s in clinical psychology from the University of Detroit Mercy in 2004 and has been a member of the American Psychological Association since 2006.
Mona Abdallah-Hijazi is a Public Health Coordinator at ACCESS. She leads the ACCESS Substance Abuse Program (ASAP) Community Coalition and works with Syrian Refugees in the Building Blocks for New Americans Program. She is currently a member of Healthy Dearborn Coalition Steering Committee, Greater Detroit Area Health Council Opioid Task Force, and the Michigan Department of Health & Human Services Prescription Drug Overdose Prevention Team. She will be conducting research in collaboration with Michigan State on substance abuse among Arab Americans in upcoming year through the Community Based Participatory Research. She received her MBA and Master of Healthcare Administration in 2012.
Nader Habhab is a peer coach and member of the ASAP Community Coalition at ACCESS. He is also a recovering addict, who has 5 years of sobriety from pain pill addiction. Habhab is proof that recovery is possible. As someone who once found himself feeling alone when battling addiction, he has found his road to recovery and is now in a place where he can help others, thanks to the help that he received at ACCESS and other facilities.
Sean McGraw serves as the Behavioral Health Programs Manager at ACCESS. Prior to this role he served as a clinical therapist, specializing in the treatment of individuals diagnosed with Substance Use Disorders. He is a member of ACCESS Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP) coalition and a Certified Recovery Coach and Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor. He is also the Executive Director of The Eastland Recovery Home for Men.
Jessica Kowalski is an experienced primary care practice facilitator, with extensive SUD treatment knowledge. Mrs. Kowalski currently works as a Health Operations Generalist at ACCESS to facilitate and lead strategic health care delivery initiatives, review quality metric and cost performance, identify gaps in care and avoidable costs, and prepare teach-to-target clinical and cost management guidance with participating primary care providers. Previously, Kowalski was a Principal Investigator of “Committed to Recovery” at UBMD Addictions Medicine Clinic under the supervision of David Holmes, M.D. and Frederick Klaits, PhD. (2015-2017). Kowalski holds a Master’s Degree from University at Buffalo, State University of New York in Medical Anthropology and a Bachelor’s Degree in Health and Human Services from the same institution. She is an Honorary Lecturer at University at Buffalo, having taught the following classes: Medical Anthropology, Cultural Anthropology, Social Determinants of Health – A Collaborative Approach to Substance Abuse Treatment, and Culture, Health, and Illness.
Session tags: activism, research, empowering youth, civic engagement, human services
Location: Plaza Ballroom B