We are proud to announce the 2025 KYSTARS Consumer Conference Workshop Presenters
Madalyn Schiller serves as 988 Coordinator at New Vista, bringing experience in crisis intervention, suicide prevention, teaching, and training. Her life’s work is rooted in the belief that through compassionate, person-centered care, all people have the capacity for recovery and thriving. Beyond her work with 988, Madalyn is a dedicated yoga and meditation teacher and practitioner, and she contributes her time to Sheltered Risks Incorporated, a Kentucky-based therapeutic equine nonprofit.
Richard Addison, Lead Peer Support Specialist, NorthKey Community Care. Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Facilitator. National Council for Mental Wellbeing CCBHC Living Experience Advisory Council Member. National Council for Mental Wellbeing Start With Hope Advisory Committee Member.
Chrystal Osborne, is the Health Program Administrator for the Department for Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities Training Records Information System (DBHDID-TRIS). Chrystal has been with the Department since 2018 and has been serving in the role of Health Program Administrator for the DBHDID-TRIS system since March of 2023. Chrystal earned her degree in Nursing with an emphasis in Behavioral Health. Prior to coming to DBHDID, she worked in the education industry for over twelve years and then in the healthcare industry for eleven years and now for DBHDID for over six years for a total of twenty-nine years of service to the public.
Chrystal will be presenting on the DBHDID-TRIS system and focusing on what each TRIS user needs to know to navigate within the TRIS system, regulation requirements, changes and updates made to TRIS and will be answering any questions that you may have regarding TRIS, regulations or training requirements.
Chrystal will be presenting on the DBHDID-TRIS system and focusing on what each TRIS user needs to know to navigate within the TRIS system, regulation requirements, changes and updates made to TRIS and will be answering any questions that you may have regarding TRIS, regulations or training requirements.
Julie Perry, DNP, APRN an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse who has served at Bluegrass Community Health Center for over 11 years. She earned both her Doctor of Nursing Practice and her Master of Science in Nursing with a focus in Family Practice from the University of Kentucky. In addition, she has completed the academic requirements for certification as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.
Julie’s clinical and academic work centers on improving health outcomes for individuals with serious mental illness (SMI). Her doctoral studies focused on integrating physical and behavioral health services through community-based models of care. She proposed a healthcare delivery model that establishes medical homes for individuals with SMI using Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) teams housed within community mental health centers. This model emphasizes holistic care—addressing not only medical and psychiatric conditions, but also the psychosocial challenges that often impact this population.
Julie’s clinical and academic work centers on improving health outcomes for individuals with serious mental illness (SMI). Her doctoral studies focused on integrating physical and behavioral health services through community-based models of care. She proposed a healthcare delivery model that establishes medical homes for individuals with SMI using Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) teams housed within community mental health centers. This model emphasizes holistic care—addressing not only medical and psychiatric conditions, but also the psychosocial challenges that often impact this population.
Raven Rogers is a passionate Peer Support Specialist and the Admissions and Marketing Director for Recovery Plus for Women, a dual diagnosis mental health and substance recovery program. With a deep understanding of the delicate relationship between substance use disorders and severe mental illness, Raven draws from her own experiences as someone who has navigated the challenges of dual diagnosis personally and professionally. Her genuine love for people drives her commitment to helping those in need, allowing her to connect authentically with clients and foster a supportive environment for recovery. Raven excels in engaging some of the hardest-to-reach individuals, ensuring they remain connected to mental health services.
Outside of work and caring for her five daughters, Raven enjoys spending time outdoors, singing, and listening to audiobooks. Through her work and personal passions, she aims to create pathways for healing and resilience, empowering individuals on their journey to recovery.
Outside of work and caring for her five daughters, Raven enjoys spending time outdoors, singing, and listening to audiobooks. Through her work and personal passions, she aims to create pathways for healing and resilience, empowering individuals on their journey to recovery.
Stacey McDonald, is a passionate evangelist, dedicated school psychologist, distinguished author, and dynamic public speaker who also leads NAMI Kentucky Sharing Hope Community Conversations. As the founder of McDonald Hope Ministries, a nonprofit organization committed to advancing mental health awareness, she offers transformative workshops and seminars tailored for businesses, schools, and places of worship. Stacey also hosts annual Gospel of Mental Health Conferences and leads engaging live-streamed empowerment sessions on major social media platforms every week. Discover more about Stacey and her impactful work at McDonaldMinistries.org
Amber Collins is currently a Program Administrator in the Adult Mental Health and Recovery Services Branch of Kentucky’s Department of Behavioral Health, Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities. Prior to her employment in state government, she spent over twelve years gaining extensive knowledge and experience in multiple roles including peer support, substance use counseling, targeted case management, as well as administrative experience as the clinical director of an inpatient rehabilitation facility.
Amber is the founder and CEO of A New Hope, LLC, a private clinical practice, and a former co-owner and CEO of Panacea Healthcare, an office-based, opioid treatment clinic. She holds a Master of Education in Counseling and Human Development, a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, as well as an Associate in Nursing (RN).
The years of education and varied practical experience has fostered a comprehensive and holistic approach to Amber’s view of her service, as well as equip her with the ability to provide consultation services to start-up behavioral health organizations.
Amber is the founder and CEO of A New Hope, LLC, a private clinical practice, and a former co-owner and CEO of Panacea Healthcare, an office-based, opioid treatment clinic. She holds a Master of Education in Counseling and Human Development, a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, as well as an Associate in Nursing (RN).
The years of education and varied practical experience has fostered a comprehensive and holistic approach to Amber’s view of her service, as well as equip her with the ability to provide consultation services to start-up behavioral health organizations.
Amanda Metcalf, serves as the Program Capacity and Sustainability Specialist at the Kentucky Partnership for Families and Children, Inc. (KPFC), where she also holds the role of Family Leadership Coordinator. Amanda is a dedicated wife and proud mother-both biological and fictive kin- to five children. With over eight years of experience as a Family and Adult Peer Support Specialist, Amanda has provided compassionate support and encouragement to families navigating the child welfare system.
She is deeply passionate about empowering families and youth with behavioral health needs, supporting them to live the life they want to lead and navigating the System of Care. Amanda is a strong advocate for multiple pathways to recovery and she shares her own lived experience to inspire hope, drive change and show that recovery is possible.
She is deeply passionate about empowering families and youth with behavioral health needs, supporting them to live the life they want to lead and navigating the System of Care. Amanda is a strong advocate for multiple pathways to recovery and she shares her own lived experience to inspire hope, drive change and show that recovery is possible.
Dr. Lee Anne Walmsley, PhD, EdS, MSN, RN, is an Associate Professor at the University of Kentucky College of Nursing in Lexington, Kentucky. She serves as Assistant Dean of Wellness and Well-Being and is Chair of the University of Kentucky College of Nursing Wellness Council. Along with student instruction, her nursing career includes providing direct patient care in a variety of medical surgical settings including a neonatal intensive care unit in Birmingham, England. Dr. Walmsley is a certified instructor for Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, KORU Mindfulness for College age students, QPR Suicide Prevention, and for the E3A leadership course with equine partners. She is a Fellow of the Center for Interprofessional Health Education. She collaborates with research colleagues who examine psychological well-being, anxiety, suicide prevention, and depression.
Dr. Kent Brouwer is an Assistant Professor in the undergraduate program at the UK College of Nursing and practices as an acute care nurse practitioner at Baptist Health Lexington. An advocate for interprofessional education (IPE) and student wellness, Dr. Brouwer serves on multiple UK committees focused on self-care and burnout prevention. His scholarly work centers on using mindfulness to address nurse burnout, and he has presented nationally on this topic.
Bassema Abu-Farsakh, Ph.D., MSN, RN, TTS, is a dedicated post-doctoral scholar with the BH WELL team at the UK College of Nursing, where her research focuses on the complex interplay between mental health and oncology. She is particularly interested in the impact of childhood trauma and depression on lung cancer survivorship. Her work aims to understand how these psychological factors can influence treatment outcomes and the survival rates for lung cancer patients. Dr. Abu-Farsakh is also committed to promoting lung cancer prevention through smoking cessation initiatives and enhancing early detection strategies among people diagnosed with mental illnesses. By improving tobacco treatment and lung cancer screening rates among those with mental health disorders, she seeks to address disparities in early detection and treatment. Ultimately, her research strives to improve survival rates and the overall well-being of individuals living with mental health challenges.
Kelly Gunning
Kelly Gunning is a Community Psychologist and the current Director of Advocacy and Public Policy for NAMI Lexington. Kelly has worked in mental health for 30 years. Her key role in advocacy efforts have resulted in the replacement of the 200 year old Eastern State Hospital, the creation of Peer Operated Services in Kentucky, the creation of the Fayette County Mental Health Diversion Court, the passage of Tim's Law and the impetus for the first Juvenile Mental Health Diversion Court in Kentucky.
Mrs. Gunning has had lifelong depression and PTSD, has had many family members with addiction as well as a son with untreated schizophrenia. A life lived up close and personal with mental health and substance use challenges and survival.
Kelly Gunning is a Community Psychologist and the current Director of Advocacy and Public Policy for NAMI Lexington. Kelly has worked in mental health for 30 years. Her key role in advocacy efforts have resulted in the replacement of the 200 year old Eastern State Hospital, the creation of Peer Operated Services in Kentucky, the creation of the Fayette County Mental Health Diversion Court, the passage of Tim's Law and the impetus for the first Juvenile Mental Health Diversion Court in Kentucky.
Mrs. Gunning has had lifelong depression and PTSD, has had many family members with addiction as well as a son with untreated schizophrenia. A life lived up close and personal with mental health and substance use challenges and survival.
David Brummett, is the Kentucky Overdose Response Effort's Recovery Implementation Specialist. He provides contract and fiscal oversight, along with technical assistance, to the 15 KORE-funded Recovery Community Centers and other recovery support service programs throughout the Commonwealth. He also serves on DBHDID's Peer Support Implementation Team, which oversees Certified Peer Support Specialists. Previously, David was a Program Manager at Voices of Hope, supervising multiple recovery and outreach programs, including a 25-member staff, many of whom were peer support specialists. Also, as a person in long-term recovery, David provides perspectives from both the client and provider point of views.
Mary Hicks, has been a Jane of all trades, master of none. But she is passionate about helping others through 12 Step programs, service work, and working with other as a certified adult peer support specialist. In her free time, she gets lost in t-shirt and sticker creations, plant and cat parenting, and napping.
Amy Hinton has worked for LifeSkills for 28 years as a case manager and peer support supervisor. In those years, I have supported individual through Targeted Case Management for 20 years by helping individuals maintain and grow in their community. For the past 7 years I have supervised the Peer Support Team at LifeSkills, working to grow a program of support not only for individuals but peers supports working in the Community Mental Health system.
Debbie Homan joined Bridgehaven Mental Health Services in March of 2020 as an Adult Peer Support Specialist. Before joining Bridgehaven, she worked in Illinois for 4 years as an IPS (Individual Placement and Support) Supported Employment Trainer and 9 years as an IPS (Individual Placement and Support) Supported Employment Specialist with a Community Mental Health Center. Debbie believes that work and employment have been a powerful force in her mental health recovery. Debbie received her B.A. in Communications from Elmhurst College and her Master’s Degree in Broadcast Journalism from Northwestern University.
Kerry Goodman, Salt River Trail Region, Family Support Specialist Advisor. Kerry has worked in the peer support world for 15 years and has provided countless families with support across the state. She has moved from full-time peer support to part-time and she coaches other peer specialists within her organization. She is a self-care advocate, has her own mental health recovery background and understands the importance of providing yourself care while providing support to others and your own families needs. She is the mother of adult twins that have backgrounds in behavioral and mental health stuff. She is also the Memaw to 2 grandchildren with behavioral health challenges.
Makia Adkins, Adult Peer Support Specialists at NAMI Lexington. My name is Makia Adkins, I live in Lexington, KY, originally from Detroit, MI. I am a single cat-parent to a 7 yr old Calio named Promise.
I live with a SMI and I am in recovery day by day. I'm nothing special, just blessed to have the opportunity to work with NAMI, MHC and PS.
My hobbies include writing poetry and completing puzzles; from logic to crossword to jigsaw. I love animals, especially cats and dogs, I'm afraid of rabbits although they are cute.
I've been with NAMI for over 10 years and plan to stay with NAMI for a long time.
I live with a SMI and I am in recovery day by day. I'm nothing special, just blessed to have the opportunity to work with NAMI, MHC and PS.
My hobbies include writing poetry and completing puzzles; from logic to crossword to jigsaw. I love animals, especially cats and dogs, I'm afraid of rabbits although they are cute.
I've been with NAMI for over 10 years and plan to stay with NAMI for a long time.
Jean Lafky has been a Peer Support Specialist since 2013. She is currently employed by KYSTARS as the Dual Diagnosis State Coordinator and the Training Coordinator. Jean also holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of River Falls, WI and an MA from the University of Alabama.
Terry Green "I’m a RazorCat! Born in Hot Springs Arkansas. Peer Support Specialist. Recovering addict / alcoholic with 15 years of Sobriety and Stability. 3 failed suicides because I kept relapsing. Then I was introduced to NAMI. The leader for the Sharing Hope initiative took me to the old Eastern State Hospital where I was diagnosed with depression, ptsd & anxiety. I merged the two recovery’s together and 15 years later……Here I am!"
Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, Horses Healing People. Central Kentucky Riding for Hope (CKRH) is a multi-faceted organization dedicated to improving the quality of life and health of children and adults with special physical, cognitive, emotional and social needs through therapeutic activities with horses. Equine assisted activities and therapies provide independence, achievement and community to the individuals that we serve. Ability…Not Disability is the CKRH way!
David Riggsby is employed by NAMI-Lexington as program Director for KYSTARS (Kentucky System Transformation Advocating Recovery Support). He has been in this position since retiring from Eastern State Hospital in August 2011 where he served as the hospital’s Director of Quality Management. In his 27 years at the hospital he has a wealth of experience with performance measurement, program evaluation and outcomes, indicator development and survey coordination as well as clinical rehabilitation for individuals dealing with serious mental illness. David was also instrumental in the planning and implementation of the innovative Recovery Mall at Eastern State Hospital and was a member of the Bluegrass MH/MR Board’s SMI Task Force. In addition, David worked for 15 years in the hospital’s Rehabilitation Services department and has been a staunch advocate for Psychiatric Rehabilitation and Recovery-based services. He has worked on numerous state-wide initiatives centering around transformation to a Recovery-based system of care and implementation of Peer Support services in Kentucky. David currently provides training and technical assistance to Peer Operated centers around the state and helps organize the annual Kentucky Consumer Conference and the annual Peer Excellence Awards which recognizes the wonderful things that are being done in our state with Peer Support and provides administrative and service support to NAMI Lexington’s Peer Support Team at Eastern State Hospital.
Hannah Brosnan, is the Executive Director of Mental Health America of Kentucky. She has more than ten years of experience in behavioral health treatment, education, and nonprofit sectors. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and an M.Ed. in Behavior Analysis. In addition to her professional experience and education, Hannah's work is informed by her lived experience with mental illness.
Marcie Timmerman, Education & Outreach Liaison, Mental Health America of Kentucky has a Masters in Health Administration from UK but is most proud of her nearly 20 years in mental health advocacy in Kentucky. She's worked with Kentucky Equal Justice Center, NAMI Lexington, and many other nonprofits. She currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Kentucky Mental Health Coalition, on the 988 Planning, 988 Quality Assurance, and 988 Advocacy committees in Kentucky, and is the Board Co-Chair of RadioEye, a reading service for those with vision issues. Marcie lives with an invisible disability and is a proud advocate for disability rights in addition to her mental health work.
Kenna's Creative Canvas - Kenna Spears offers mobile paint parties in Eastern and central Eastern Ky. Fundraisers, parties, team events. She has her own painting studios in Prestonsburg and Pikeville. Kenna's love for art and creating began as soon as she could hold a crayon. Her talents really blossomed when she took art class in high school. From there Kenna has created a business out of her passion.
Jillian Breeden is a Recreational Therapist at Eastern State Hospital. She also leads group therapy and provides 1:1 therapy to patients using recreation as a gateway to recovery. She has been at Eastern State Hospital for 2 years. Jillian graduated from Eastern Kentucky University. Before her career at Eastern State Hospital, Jillian worked with Lexington Parks and Recreation to eventually became a co-director for their Adult Summer camp, “The Day Trippers”.
Sharon Mayes is a Recreational Therapist and Evening Supervisor at Eastern State Hospital. She leads group therapy and provides 1:1 therapy to patients using recreation as a gateway to recovery. She has been at Eastern State for 8 years. Sharon has a passion for mental health and working with those with disabilities and spinal cord injuries. Sharon graduated from Eastern Kentucky University. Prior to working at Eastern State Hospital, Sharon ran a youth program for underprivileged teens and children.
Susan Turner is the Manager for the Bridgehaven Center for Peer Excellence. She has worked as a consumer advocate and mental health provider for over 29 years. Susan is a Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP) and Adult Peer Support Specialist. She has made recovery for all her life’s work .
Breanna Webb has lived in Lexington for over 30 years. She is the mother of 5 children, 4 living. Breanna is a proud graduate of the Fayette Mental Health Court Program. Currently, she is investing in her children and plans to pursue becoming a Peer Support Specialist.
Judge John Lindsay Tackett was born and raised in Lexington Kentucky. He attended and graduated from the University of Chicago in 1998. He returned to Lexington and worked for the Lexington Fair Housing Council as First Assistant to the Director. Judge Tackett attended and graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Law in 2003. Prior to being elected to the Fayette District Court Bench, Judge Tackett worked for multiple law firms including, Ward, Hocker and Thornton PLLC and Phillips, Parker, Orberson & Arnett PLC. In 2013, Judge Tackett started his own general law practice, John L. Tackett, Attorney at Law PLLC, which he ran until his election to the bench in 2018. As a District Judge, Tackett serves on the Statewide District Judges Educational Committee, Chairs the Bob Heaton Award Subcommittee and is a ranking member of the Kentucky Judicial Commission on Mental Health. Judge Tackett also presides over the nationally recognized Fayette Mental Health Treatment Court. He has also been publicly engaged throughout his life, working with several non-profits, and serving on several organizational boards including but not limited to The American Red Cross (Bluegrass Region), The Makenna Foundation, Lexington Children’s Theater, and the Foundation for Affordable Housing. He is married to Sarah Merlin, who is employed as a Special Education Teacher at STEAM, and they have a daughter, Stella (age 6).