Keynote Speaker: Nzinga Harrison, MD

Dr. Harrison is the Chief Medical Officer and Co-Founder of Eleanor Health, an innovative company who provides comprehensive outpatient care for individuals experiencing opioid and other substance use disorders. She also holds adjunct faculty appointments at the Morehouse School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry, is Co-Founder of Physicians for Criminal Justice Reform, Inc. and Campaign Psychiatrist for Let’s Get Mentally Fit, a public education and stigma-reduction campaign. As host of the In Recovery weekly podcast by Lemonada Media, she engages a large audience on all things addiction.

Presenter & Agency Host: Janet Kittams
Janet Kittams is currently the Chief Executive Officer of the Helpline Center.  She has been with agency for over 20 years in a variety of leadership roles beginning as a volunteer.  She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of South Dakota and her Master’s Degree in Counseling from the University of North Dakota and is a licensed professional counselor.
Her experience includes serving as a leader in statewide efforts surrounding suicide prevention, expanding the 211 system to become statewide in 2020, and building the Helpline Center to work as a collaborative partner on a variety social service and health care issues.

Lived Experience Presenter: Melissa Flynn

Melissa Flynn completed a Bachelor of Art’s Degree in Business Management and Project Management in 2015 and completed her M.Ed. in Educational Administration: Adult and Higher Education at University of Sioux Falls in August 2017.  She is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, a Certified DDI Leadership Training Facilitator, a Certified Professional of Talent Development (CPTD), volunteer Community Educator for Addiction Policy Forum, and a former volunteer Board Member for Face It TOGETHER.  Flynn also volunteers for the Avera Addiction Care Center.

Flynn has worked for YRC Freight since 1995 and currently holds a Manager, Talent Development Programs position in Learning and Organizational Development for YRC Freight’s Parent Corporation, Yellow.

Since becoming a volunteer with Addiction Policy Forum in 2018, Flynn has attended two National Leadership Conferences in Washington D.C. and met with state representatives.  Flynn has shared her personal story of grief and loss by speaking at Communities Facing Addiction events.  Flynn has also shared her story on the Addiction Policy Forum “192 A Day Awareness Campaign”, through an interview as an affected family member on the Face It TOGETHER Sioux Falls web site, and through a Podcast recording for “Emily’s Hope” as well as many other events and forums.  Flynn also helped organize a candlelight vigil for Overdose Awareness in 2019, 2020, and 2021.  Flynn hopes that sharing her family’s story will raise awareness, reduce stigma and provide hope and access to assistance for those in need.

Presenter and Agency Co-Host: Dr. Melissa "Mo" Dittberner

Dr. Mo, (Melissa Dittberner), PhD, CPS, LMT, is a lecturer in the Addiction Counseling and Prevention department at the University of South Dakota. She has a Ph.D. in Counseling and Psychology in Education, a master’s in Addiction Studies and a bachelor’s in Health Sciences. Dr. Mo is a prevention specialist. She does research on college students’ substance use, pedagogy, addiction and harm reduction. Dr. Mo has worked on grants surrounding substance use disorders, harm reduction, continuing education, telehealth, recovery support, tattoos and much more. She speaks publicly on adaptability, resiliency, and sustainability, screening, prevention, harm reduction, motivation as well as her own lived experience story. Dr. Mo is a person in long-term recovery from trauma, abuse and addiction. Dr. Mo’s Mission: to help people learn to help themselves.

Co-Presenter: Katie Kassin

Katie T. Kassin is a mom to Collins and Kellen, wife to Chris, certified physician assistant of 13 years, and an assistant professor in the Physician Assistant Studies Program at the University of South Dakota (USD). She has a master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, both which were completed at USD in 2008 and 2006, respectively. After leaving clinical practice after 10 years of service, she entered academia with a hope to educate eager physician assistant students on all aspects of medicine. Through education, continued clinical practice, and personal experience in caring for those with mental illness and addiction, she hopes to bring a new kind of inspiration and hope to aspiring practitioners, those struggling with addiction, and to family members who have been affected by addiction.

Panel - Moderated by: Angela Kennecke, Emily's Hope

• Sara Crosby- SMART Recovery
• Sioux Falls Police Department
• Maddie Miller - The Link

Livestream Link!

This conference was made possible by the Helpline Center and the University of South Dakota thanks to funding by the SD Department of  Social Services, Division of Behavioral Health.