Mark National Substance Use Prevention Month with Jennifer Faringer and Jonathan Westfall for insights on prevention, resources & recovery.

Date: October 23, 2024
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Mental Health Association of Rochester (274 N. Goodman St., Ste. D103, Rochester, NY 14607)

About the Event:
In honor of National Substance Use Prevention Month, join us for a special Speaker Series featuring Jennifer Faringer and Jonathan Westfall. This event will provide an overview of substances of use and community resources, while also highlighting the transformative power of peer support and fitness in recovery. Jennifer will share insights into prevention strategies and available resources, and Jonathan will discuss the significant impact of peer support and fitness programs on the recovery journey. Don’t miss this opportunity to enhance your understanding and explore effective approaches to substance use prevention and recovery.

**A representative from Delphi Rise will also be present to distribute Narcan and discuss their Open Access program, which provides 24/7 peer support to individuals struggling with addiction.

About Jennifer Faringer, MS.Ed, CPP-G, Director – DePaul’s National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence-Rochester Area: 

Jennifer has worked in the field of prevention since 1988, as Director of NCADD-RA for over 25 years, delivering education and training for professionals and communities. She has developed and expanded continuing educational opportunities in the addictions field. Additionally, she is offering workplace wellness workshops. As director of NCADD-RA, she oversees the multiple programs of NCADD-RA.

Jennifer has served on the Board of the Association of Substance Abuse Providers of NYS, the NYS Certification Board, and the Co-Chair of the ASAP NYS Prevention Committee. She is the current Vice President and past President of the Councils on Addiction of NYS. Regionally, she serves on the Executive Committee of the Finger Lakes Consortium of Addictions Services and Supports while locally chairing the Opioid Task Force of Monroe County.

Jennifer received her Bachelor’s from Syracuse University and her Master’s from SUNY Brockport. She holds the NYS OASAS Credential for Prevention Professionals, with a specialty in problem gambling and was awarded the Eileen Pencer Award in 2017 for outstanding contributions to the field, the Prevention Practitioner of the Year from NYS OASAS in 2011, and was regionally recognized in 2001 by CASAS for her outstanding contributions to the field.

About Jonathan Westfall, Executive Director – ROCovery Fitness:

Jon has been involved with ROCovery Fitness since 2017. He started as a volunteer engaging in a Wayne County expansion project, at the forefront of the community/street level outreach pilot project “Find Your Path” and the annual ROCovery 5k fundraising event. In July 2018, he was hired on full-time with the organization, which allowed him to marry his love of fitness with his passion for community service. In January of 2021, he assumed the role of Interim Executive Director, and six months later was unanimously and officially selected by the board of directors for the position going forward. Jon has become a cornerstone of the peer recovery movement in the Rochester region. He is heavily involved in community outreach programs, grassroots recovery community organizations and advocacy groups/events. In his time in the human services field, he has served as a Peer Navigator with Catholic Charities Community Services and the Addiction Recovery Program Manager at Open Door Mission.

Jon also serves as ROCovery’s Boxing & Conditioning Coach, IKFF CKT Level 2 Certified Kettlebell Instructor and Outdoor Program Team Leader. Jon is a NY State Certified Recovery Peer Advocate (CRPA) and CRPA-Family, Certified Addiction Recovery Coach (CARC), and a CCAR curriculum trainer. He is also a proud father of four, a long-time fitness enthusiast, ultra-distance trail runner, graphic designer and artist. He also is an avid outdoorsman and ADK 46’r (#15086).