Events
Register Today! OPPA Conference 2026: May 7, 2026
Prevention: The Future is Bold
Registration is open for OPPA Conference 2026! Our one-day event for Ohio’s prevention professionals and advocates takes place at The Fawcett Center in Columbus on Thursday, May 7, 9:00am - 4:00pm.
Online registration is available HERE. A downloadable registration form is available HERE.
Registration fee can be paid online (below) or by mailing payment to OPPA.
Themed Prevention: The Future is Bold, the conference will traverse today’s prevention challenges and opportunities, provide practical skills, and enhance professional connection with Ohio’s prevention community. OPPA Conference 2026 is centered on education and dialogue for Ohio’s prevention professionals, from seasoned veterans to those new to the field.
Large group sessions, interactive workshops, and networking are foundations of the OPPA Conference, and our 2026 event is built around those priorities.
The conference luncheon will feature presentation of the 2026 OPPA Prevention Awards, honoring prevention excellence in our state through recognition of five individual prevention professionals and advocates for their local and/or statewide contributions to prevention.
"OPPA Conference 2026 sets the stage for the future of prevention in Ohio through critical thinking and exploration of key topics affecting our work today and in the months and years to come," states OPPA President Holly Zweizig. "We look forward to bringing together our state's prevention professionals and advocates for a terrific day of learning and professional growth."
Questions? Email mail@ohiopreventionprofessionals.org.
CONFERENCE PROGRAM
9:00 - 9:30am - PAST TO PRESENT: THE POWER OF OHIO'S PREVENTION COMMUNITY
Holly Zweizig, MPA, OCPC, ICPS
Associate Director, Mental Health & Recovery Board of Union County
President, Ohio Prevention Professionals Association
Jim Ryan, OCPC, ICPS
Executive Director, Ohio Prevention Professionals Association
9:30 - 10:15am - THE FUTURE IS BOLD. ARE WE?
Angela Patchen, LISW, OCPC, ICPS
Program Manager, Wood County Educational Service Center
10:15 - 10:30am - Transition Break
10:30 - 11:45am - MORNING WORKSHOPS
BEYOND CURRICULUM: BUILDING A FUTURE WITH SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Amy Macechko, OCPS, ICPS
Health & Wellness Coordinator, Talawanda School District/Coalition for a Healthy Community - Oxford Area
ENVIRONMENTAL PREVENTION AT THE LOCAL LEVEL: SUCCESSES!
Marcie Keith, RA
Community Engagement Manager, Clermont County Mental Health & Recovery Board
Taniayah O'Quinn-Sims, OCPSA
Program Coordinator, Montgomery County ADAMHS
Thomas Rollins, OCPSA
Prevention Support Staff, Clark County Partners in Prevention
MARIJUANA: HOW DO WE TALK ABOUT IT IN THESE CHANGING TIMES?
Allison Sharer, OCPC, ICPS; President, Wingspan Training, LLC
PREVENTION WITHIN RURAL COMMUNITIES: ENHANCING OUR SKILLS
Peggy Garcia, MBA
Director of Prevention Services, Appalachian Children Coalition
Matt Petersen, OCPS, ICPS
Prevention Specialist, Lake-Geauga Recovery Centers
Shannon Ware, OCPSA
Community Programming Coordinator, Gallia-Jackson-Meigs ADAMH Board
YOUTH-LED PREVENTION: THE INSIDE SCOOP
Suzanne Aftabizadeh, BA
Prevention Specialist, Appalachian Children Coalition
Aloni Hardrick, OCPSA
Prevention Specialist, CompDrug/Youth to Youth International
REFRAMING THE STAKES: STRATEGIES FOR PREVENTING GAMBLING HARM AMONG YOUNG ADULTS
Cindy Clouner, MPH, OCPS, ICPS, LSW
Managing Director, Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Drug Misuse Prevention and Recovery at The Ohio State University
TOOLS & STRATEGIES TO EFFECTIVELY SUPERVISE PREVENTION PROFESSIONALS
Barbara Adams Marin, MA, OCPC, ICPS
Prevention Consultant
Lake Miller, OCPC, ICPS
Director of Education, Nurturing Community Cultivating Justice
11:45am - 12:00pm - Transition Break
12:00 - 1:15pm - CELEBRATING PREVENTION (Conference Luncheon Program)
Holly Zweizig, MPA, OCPC, ICPS
Associate Director, Mental Health & Recovery Board of Union County
President, Ohio Prevention Professionals Association
1:15 - 1:30pm - Transition Break
1:30 - 2:45pm - AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS
POWERFUL VOICES! YOUTH-LED PREVENTION TEENS AND LEGISLATIVE ADVOCACY
Jordan Ballinger, BS
Healthcare Policy and Advocacy Director, Public Policy and Advocacy Consultant
Beth Dixon, OCPSA
Adult Ally, BATS (Bringing Awareness to Students)
Belon Hill, OCPS, ICPS
Prevention Specialist, Envision Partnerships
PIVOT THY NEIGHBORHOOD: NAVIGATING SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH IN PREVENTION
Solomon Jones, OCPSA
Program Manager, NCCJ: Nurturing Community, Cultivating Justice
Lake Miller, OCPC, ICPS
Director of Education, NCCJ: Nurturing Community, Cultivating Justice
FROM PASSION TO STRATEGY: COMMUNICATING PREVENTION TO POWER AND PRESS
Natalie Alexander, RA
Community Prevention Manager, Problem Gambling Network of Ohio
James Brill, MA
Communications Manager, Problem Gambling Network of Ohio
EVIDENCE-BASED STRATEGIES FOR PREVENTION: A ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
Cindy Clouner, MPH, OCPS, ICPS, LSW
Managing Director, Higher Education Center for Alcohol and Drug Misuse Prevention and Recovery at The Ohio State University
Jessica Collura, PhD
Senior Research Associate, Ohio Education Research Center in the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University
PLAY ON PURPOSE: BELONGING, ENGAGEMENT, AND THE ART OF READING THE ROOM
Erin Horn, BS
Director of Program Operations, Sources of Strength
ENGAGING YOUR ADAMHS/MHRS BOARD TO CHAMPION PREVENTION
Lynsi Beagle, BS, OCPC, ICPS
Director of Prevention and Outreach, Columbiana County Mental Health and Recovery Services Board
Cara Brown, MSW, LISW-S, LICDC-CS
Director of Addiction Services, Butler County Mental Health & Addiction Recovery Services Board
Aimee R. Wade, MSW, LISW-S, OCPC, ICPS
Executive Director, County of Summit ADM Board
THE PROBLEM GAMBLING PREVENTION PLAYBOOKS: FUNDING, PARTNERSHIPS, AND PRACTICES
Kelly Haddow, RA
Community Impact Coordinator, Problem Gambling Network of Ohio
Madison Noble, LSW, OCPSA
Community Prevention Coordinator, Problem Gambling Network of Ohio
2:45 - 3:00pm - Transition Break
3:00 - 4:00pm - PREVENTION COURAGE: BOLDNESS IN OUR BACKYARDS
Rachel Miller, MEd, LSW, OCPC, ICPS
Prevention Specialist, Greene County Educational Service Center
Christi Valentini-Lackner, OCPC, ICPS
Chief Program Officer, PreventionFIRST!
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