Wednesday, April 9, 2025
7-8:30pm
Empowering Families:
Navigating Co-Occurring Disorders
for a Resilient Future
TIP JAR
Video
Recording
Stephanie
Marquesano
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.
Lorena Rucaj
LMHC
Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025
Teen Mental Health: Time for a Reset
Laura Kastner, Ph.D.
VIDEO RECORDING
We are in the midst of a youth mental health crisis with teens increasingly reporting persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness, along with increased suicide rates. Factors contributing to this crisis include the negative effects of social media, increased academic pressure, childhood trauma, alcohol and substance use, and social isolation.
The good news is, research shows parents and caregivers can make a difference. Whether your teen is experiencing typical challenges, an uptick in stress from significant setbacks, or a serious mental health condition, parents help their child enormously when they provide security, maintain a calm and positive relating approach, and practice effective problem-solving strategies.
This presentation will help you navigate the challenges of managing boundaries and policies regarding sleep, substance use, media, and other health-related routines, without sacrificing a warm and loving relationship and while granting developmentally-appropriate autonomy.