Connecticut Association of Prevention Professionals

Anna Gasinski is a Public Health Analyst for the Overdose Response Strategy (ORS) program through the CDC Foundation and New England HIDTA. She was formerly a Prevention Specialist with Alliance for Prevention and Wellness, which is the Regional Behavioral Health Action Organization (RBHAO) for DMHAS Region 2 and former Prevention Coordinator for the Stratford Partnership for Youth and Families in Stratford. Anna obtained her certification as a Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS) in 2017. She has a BS in Public Health from Southern CT State University and has nearly 10 years of experience in the prevention field. She has been serving on the CAPP Board since 2015.

​Cassie Schend is the Prevention Project Director at The Village for Families and Children. She received her Masters in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Connecticut in 2018 and became a Certified Prevention Specialist in 2021. Cassie began her prevention career as a Youth Advocate for the Vernon ROCKS Coalition in 2017 and is now a co-chair for the coalition. Cassie is passionate about using data to inform prevention efforts and youth-driven prevention initiatives.

Kiersten Naumann earned her Master’s of Public Administration in Health Policy & Management from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service. After graduation, she worked for the Deafness Research Foundation’s National Campaign for Hearing Health, as Director of Development & Media Relations, in Washington, DC. After returning to Connecticut, she worked as the Development Director at Mercy Learning Center in Bridgeport, and then as a Substitute Teacher for the Milford Public Schools. Since 2017, she has been the Program Coordinator for TPAUD, Trumbull’s Prevention Partnership, under the Drug Free Communities grant program.

Tom Fulton graduated from UConn with a Bachelors in Cognitive Science in 2016. He began working in substance use prevention as a PreventionCorps service member with the Housatonic Valley Coalition Against Substance Abuse. His work there largely focused on addressing the opioid crisis, but, he also became a QPR Gatekeeper and Adolescent Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (A-SBIRT) trainer. In 2018, he started working for Wheeler Clinic as a Resource Specialist and in 2019, moved into his current role as a Project Coordinator. He is responsible for coordinating statewide education and awareness campaigns, such as Change the Script. While at Wheeler Clinic, he has also become certified in Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST), as a Self-Management and Recovery Training (SMART) Meeting Facilitator, and a Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Trainer. In his free time, Tom enjoys golfing, snowboarding, basketball, reading, watching movies and spending time with his niece and four nephews.

Dena is currently the Prevention Coordinator for Durham Middlefield Local Wellness Coalition a Drug Free Communities grant program. She grew up in Connecticut and attended Southern Connecticut State University to receive her Bachelor of Science in Public Health. Dena has served in the Ameri Corps program, Prevention Corps with TPAUD, Trumbull’s Prevention Partnership, focusing on the opioid epidemic and spent time working in lead poisoning prevention for The Naugatuck Valley Health District. She was awarded the RYASAP Above & Beyond Award in 2018 and is also a board member of the Connecticut Public Health Association’s, Health Education Committee. Dena was a lifeguard for 10 years; this is where her passion of helping others started. Substance use prevention is the way she now helps community members live a safe and healthy life. In her free time, she enjoys baking sourdough bread, hiking, and spending time with her loved ones.

Alli Behnke, MSW, MA is the Prevention Coordinator for the Lyme-Old Lyme Prevention Coalition at the Lymes’ Youth Service Bureau.   She has been a Social Worker for 20 years working in the fields of prevention, equine-assisted therapy, youth leadership, and health coaching/personal training.   Alli believes strongly in providing accurate information, education, and tools for success when empowering the LOLPC and REACH Youth Coalition to work together on strengths-based campaigns, programs, and activities.  Her passion is connecting people with their personal strengths and invaluable coping strategies to pave their individual pathway to well-being.  Facilitating community change through individual and collective connection and kindness is what drives her work at LYSB.   When she’s not working- Alli loves taking care of her small family farm, showing horses with her daughters, and running races with her husband and kids.

Carolyn Wilson is a health program coordinator at Ledge Light Health District. She currently coordinates the Groton Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention. Carolyn is a Certified Health Education Specialist, Certified Prevention Specialist and a Tobacco Treatment Specialist. She is passionate about bringing creativity into prevention messaging. Carolyn has been in prevention for 10 years and has a background in public health, health promotion and behavioral science.

James Olsen is the Prevention Coordinator for the East Hampton Prevention Partnership which was the recipient of the Partnership for Success Grant. Prior to working in East Hampton, James worked for two years as a Program Assistant with the Stratford Partnership for Youth and Families, under the Drug Free Communities Grant. James has a BS degree in Public Health from Southern Connecticut State University and is a Certified Prevention Specialist. This is James fourth year as a CAPP Board Member.

Ben Eaves is the Prevention Coordinator in Clinton, CT.

Heather McNeil is a Licensed Marriage and Family therapist and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor.

She is also an AAMFT (American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists) Approved Supervisor.

Her clinical work experience has been with adolescents and adults in Southeastern CT. for over 20 years,

working with families impacted by addiction. She has been a member of the Ct. Military Support

program since 2005 and worked as an embedded clinician with the Ct. Army National Guard 2007-16.

She became the Director of Old Saybrook Youth and Family Services in 2010 and has facilitated the

growth of clinical services offered to community members needing mental health support. She has

initiated many Positive Youth Development programs which have been recognized on a state and

national level and is currently working towards becoming a Certified Prevention Specialist. She has been

an adjunct faculty at CCSU since 2013 in the Counseling and Education Department.