I have had the pleasure of serving as NHADACA North Country Representative and on the NHADACA Ethics Committee. If selected, I welcome opportunity to continue contributing. I have worked with our North Country At-Large Representative and other Board members to boost NHADACA presence in the North Country as well as accomplishing Strategic Plan goals of updating the description for the role and function of the Ethics Committee, cultivating a working relationship with our NAADAC Ethics Committee, proposing a plan for sustainability, responding to our colleagues request from the NH Mental Health Counselors Association by collaborating with our Grafton County Attorney to provide a tailored training on ethical practices for licensed mental health and substance use treatment providers, and encouraging dialogue to support continued growth as individual practitioners as well as for NHADACA.

Bio found here.

I have been a social worker for 20+ years, the majority of which is in the medical setting. I have worked with a diverse population that over the years has included those who struggle with substance use disorder. For the past seven years I have been employed in the Pregnancy Care Center at CMC and see firsthand the benefits of addressing substance use disorder within the context of overall medical care. Mothers can get into recovery and reduce the risks for their unborn children. I have tirelessly advocated for people throughout my career. More recently, as a licensed clinician for the Roots to Recovery program, a MAT program embedded in a prenatal clinic. Here I provide the therapy that is mandated with medication assisted treatment. It is here that I realized the importance of my need for additional education for substance use disorders. I have received the majority of my education from the many offerings through NHADACA and NAADAC and remain a member in good standing. Additionally, I hold a MAC certification and soon will have my MLADC. I have served as a board member for the NH NASW and was an Ambassador for the Concord Chamber of Commerce for five years I see my appointment to this board as my way of giving back to NHADACA for the endless support it has provided to me, its members and the community we serve.

I have worked in and around the field of Substance Use Disorders for over 25 years. After completing an Associate of Science in Human Services with a major in Alcohol and Drug Counseling at NHTI in 1993, I worked at Seaborne Hospital in Dover from 1992 until I moved to California in 1994. Studying Psychology, and the Sociology of Women at Cal State University in San Bernardino, I became a CADC II and ICADC working in an intensive outpatient SUD treatment setting for pregnant and parenting women, for over a decade. I was fortunate to be exposed to a lot of experts in the field of treatment through trainings at the Betty Ford Center. Returning to my home state of New Hampshire in 2004, I earned my Master’s degree in Human Services and worked in a State HHS office providing program administration. However, my passion is in substance use disorder treatment and so I sought to establish my NH LADC and have been working for Seacoast Mental Health Center as their SUD program manager for over the past 14 months. (Fontneau continued) I’m involved in the Seacoast PHN, IDN Workforce Taskforce, IDN Policy Subcommittee, and IDN SUD Region 6 (Greater Seacoast) subcommittee developing an Ambulatory Detox program. I am a founding member of the Rochester Bridging the Gaps Coalition, and helped write the first SAMHSA grant that funded so many prevention programs in the local schools, including hiring substance use disorder treatment and prevention staff. I’m currently enrolled full-time in a Master’s level Clinical Mental Health Counseling program through Capella’s University Online. I recently attended the NAADAC Annual Conference in Denver, and am active in seeking out input from the SUD community across the country as we battle this illness, and help clients find peace in recovery together.

Jacqui Abikoff, LICSW, MLADC, is the Executive Director of Horizons Counseling Center in Gilford and Plymouth, NH. She has been working with substance abusers and their families for over 30 years. Jacqui has an extensive background providing clinical services, as well as training and consultation in the areas of confidentiality and professional ethics, domestic violence, co-occurring disorders, PTSD, women’s issues, corrections and forensics. She is currently the Chair of the NH Board of Licensing for Alcohol and Other Drug Use Professionals. Jacqui has been committed to the mission of NHADACA since its inception in 1986, and has served in many positions with the organization over her career.

Suzanne L. Thistle MLADC has a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology with a Substance Abuse Concentration and a Bachelor of Science in Health Education: Wellness Management. She has been an Adjunct Professor at Plymouth State University since 2006, teaching a Drug Behavior Class. She has spent the last 10 years working with Board of Directors, CEO’s and Program Directors to set up and manage over 12 substance use disorder treatment sites throughout NH. Her past 20 years of experience in the addiction profession includes: Executive Director of 2 non-profit agencies, Clinical Director, Manager, Clinical Supervisor and Therapist. She specializes in designing, implementing and evaluating substance use disorder programs and provides creative solutions to reducing substance misuse. Her skills include: oversight of operations, grant writing, collaborations with state, federal and local agencies, budgeting and finance, writing policies and procedures to state standards, as well as setting up agencies for billing insurances. While working in this profession, Suzanne owned a motel for 6 years and co-owned a building business for 20 years. She is a current Board member of the NH Association of Drug and Alcohol Counselors and is active in the Public Policy Committee. She is a member of the Governor’s Treatment Task Force and is also a person in long-term recovery, 31 years. In 2017 she received the Award for Legislative Advocacy from NHADACA and in 2015 her agency won the Treatment Provider of the Year Award from NH Providers Association. During her down time, she enjoys being with her 7 grandchildren, riding her bike, hiking the NH mountains and spending time on Newfound Lake.