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Register now for Coalitions Rising 2026: Tools for Change | Prevention Strategies with Big Impact!
Join us for Coalitions Rising 2026, a one-day virtual conference that brings together coalition and community leaders to explore practical tools, proven strategies, and forward-thinking insights that strengthen prevention efforts and build healthier, safer communities.
As part of the Coalitions Rising learning series, this event delivers the latest prevention science and workforce development education to help participants expand their knowledge, enhance their skills, and strengthen coalition infrastructure across states.
Previously, participants represented more than 34 states nationwide, and this year’s conference promises to reach even more. Be part of a growing network of leaders committed to creating meaningful change in their communities.
Sponsorship Opportunities
Sponsorships range from $1,000 to $5,000 and include a variety of benefits such as introducing speakers, social media recognition, on-screen acknowledgments, and more.
Available Sessions:
Note: PAA recommends attending the full day of sessions to gain the greatest value and benefit for your coalition. However, you are welcome to step away and rejoin as needed.
CEUs: Prevention and CHES CEUs will be applied for.
From Readiness to Action: Equipping Coalitions for Transformational Impact
Speakers: Kristina Clark – President and Founder of KM Clark Consulting Group, and Kim Linkel, MLD, CPS II, GPC – Principal, KM Clark Consulting Group
Description: This keynote will set the tone for the conference by focusing on the Readiness Thinking Tool and its application in prevention. Participants will explore how to assess organizational and community readiness, identify capacity strengths and gaps, and align prevention strategies with real-world context. Through interactive discussions and practical examples, attendees will walk away with a framework that helps them prioritize where to begin, how to move forward, and how to build sustainable momentum for change. The session will emphasize readiness as a prerequisite for impact, ensuring participants leave with tools they can immediately apply in their communities.
Where Do We Go From Here? Using the Past to Predict Future Drug Use Trends
Speaker: Erin Reed, JD – Director, RecoveryOhio | Office of Governor DeWine
Description: Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s RecoveryOhio initiative has launched a new online dashboard that predicts overdose risk up to 30 days in advance. Using data from emergency reports, naloxone use, socioeconomic factors, and law enforcement, the tool identifies potential overdose spikes across Ohio. Built through the InnovateOhio Platform, it provides a color-coded risk map showing five levels of risk by ZIP code. This early warning system helps first responders and health officials deploy naloxone, fentanyl test strips, and other resources before crises worsen. Participants will learn how the dashboard predicts future drug activity, supports local overdose prevention, and connects agencies to share critical data for the predictive model’s success.
Making Data Work for You: Strategic Decision-Making using Community-Engaged Data Science
Speaker: Ramona Olvera, PhD – Research Analyst, The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center
Description: This interactive session introduces participants to Community-Engaged Data Science (CEDS), a practical, step-by-step framework that centers trust-building and collaboration to harness data for community-driven prevention strategies. Participants will learn how engaging a data ambassador can support coalitions and prevention partners in co-designing action plans, establishing data governance, and implementing measurable solutions that reflect community realities and goals. Through case examples and guided discussion, this session offers tools and insights for participants at any level of experience, from data-timid beginners to data science experts, to strengthen coalition capacity for data-informed decision-making and sustainable change.
Environmental Strategies in Action: Tools for Lasting Change
Speakers: Kristina Clark – President and Founder of KM Clark Consulting Group, and Kim Linkel, MLD, CPS II, GPC – Principal, KM Clark Consulting Group
Description: The conference will close with an engaging and energizing look at environmental strategies – practical, community-level approaches that create conditions for healthier choices and long-term change. Participants will reflect on key insights from the conference, explore real-world examples of environmental strategies in prevention, and discuss how these approaches complement programmatic efforts. This session will highlight how coalitions and organizations can amplify their impact by aligning data, readiness, and environmental change. Attendees will leave with a clear call to action: concrete strategies to implement, partnerships to pursue, and tools to sustain prevention goals.
Meet the Speakers:
Kristina Clark
Kristina Clark is a nationally recognized leader in coalition building, nonprofit sustainability, and substance use prevention. She is the President and Founder of KM Clark Consulting Group, where she helps organizations nationwide strengthen capacity, increase impact, and ensure long-term sustainability. With over 15 years of leadership in public health and prevention, she is also a trusted national trainer for CADCA, guiding hundreds of coalitions through the National Coalition Academy. As Executive Director of the Coffee County Anti-Drug Coalition, her leadership earned national recognition, including multiple Drug-Free Communities grants and the prestigious National Got Outcomes! award. She co-created the Count It! Lock It! Drop It!® initiative, a nationally adopted model for preventing prescription drug misuse. Kristina also serves on the executive board of the Prevention Alliance of Tennessee and on the board of The Healing Trust, advancing policy and equity in public health. Her expertise spans strategic planning, policy advocacy, program sustainability, and nonprofit capacity building. Known for bridging research and practice, she empowers organizations to create measurable, lasting change. A proud Air Force brat and Army Veteran’s wife, she brings adaptability, collaboration, and heart to every project. She lives in Tennessee with her husband, two sons, and their energetic pets.
Kim Linkel, MLD, CPS II, GPC
Kim Linkel, MLD, CPS II, GPC, is a nonprofit and public-sector leader with over 25 years of experience in prevention, coalition building, and organizational development. As Principal of KM Clark Consulting Group, she helps nonprofits, coalitions, and government agencies achieve sustainable impact through strategic planning, grant management, and capacity building. She previously directed the Coalition for a Drug Free Batesville, leading cross-sector initiatives, securing funding, and engaging youth. Kim consults nationally with CADCA and the Opioid Response Network, guiding coalitions on systems change and substance misuse prevention. A Certified Prevention Specialist II and Grant Professional Certified, she combines practical leadership with data-driven strategies. Her expertise includes project management, sustainability planning, and community mobilization, especially in rural areas. She is a recognized trainer and speaker at local, state, and national conferences. Kim holds a Master’s in Leadership Development and a Bachelor’s in Recreation Administration. Her work focuses on helping organizations build partnerships, adapt with purpose, and create lasting community impact.
Erin Reed, JD
Erin Reed is the Director of RecoveryOhio, where she leads statewide efforts to improve mental health and substance use treatment. She focuses on expanding access to recovery services and fostering collaboration across state agencies. Previously, Erin served as Assistant Policy Director for Criminal Justice and Public Safety in Governor Mike DeWine’s office. In that role, she guided policy implementation and evaluated the impact of criminal justice initiatives. With over 20 years in state service, Erin has held leadership roles in public safety and criminal justice. At the Ohio Department of Public Safety, she coordinated data-driven law enforcement programs. She also oversaw the State Board of Pharmacy’s work on the Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program. Earlier, Erin spent 12 years at the Ohio Attorney General’s Office, starting as a forensic scientist while attending law school. After earning her law degree, she defended state criminal convictions and later became Director of Administration for the Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Her broad experience in law enforcement, policy, and public health guides her leadership in strengthening Ohio’s response to addiction and mental health challenges.
Ramona Olvera, PhD
Dr. Ramona Olvera is a strategic researcher, evaluator, and educator with nearly two decades experience across academic, nonprofit, and government sectors. She specializes in coalition capacity building, community-engaged, participatory investigations, and translating data into actionable strategies. Most recently, she led projects as a researcher at The Ohio State University focused on opioid use disorder, maternal and infant health, financial-medical partnerships, and serious illness decision-making, resulting in numerous publications and presentations at the national, state, and local levels. Dr. Olvera is currently self-employed as a consultant and evaluator, partnering with coalitions, nonprofits, and interdisciplinary teams to elevate community voices and drive systems change. Dr. Olvera holds a PhD in Social Policy from Brandeis University and resides in Toledo, Ohio.
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