FLYER

Stephanie Marquesano, a Westchester County resident, founded the harris project after her 19-year-old son, Harris, died of an accidental overdose in 2013. Like millions, Harris had co-occurring disorders (COD)—the combination of mental health challenges and substance use issues. Since then, Stephanie has been a driving force at the county, state, and national levels, transforming awareness into action. She spearheaded Westchester County’s groundbreaking co-occurring system of care efforts and played a pivotal role in launching the Encompass program and availability of wraparound supports for youth and their families; improving COD identification and treatment. Her efforts are setting a new standard for integrated care in New York State and beyond.

This presentation will highlight the power of prevention and early identification, exploring the three pathways to COD, along with risk and protective factors. Participants will also gain insights on recognizing early signs and being proactive in getting support. Stephanie will be joined by Lorena Rucaj, LMHC and Westchester County Encompass Coordinator, to discuss Encompass—an innovative co-occurring treatment opportunity available in school and community settings—and how to connect young people and their adult supports to critical resources.