Training & Strategy Lead
Overdose Response Strategy
Rico, Colorado, United States
Lindsey Kato currently serves as the Training & Strategy Lead for the Overdose Response Strategy (ORS), a national initiative funded by the Office of National Drug Control & Policy (ONDCP) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), where she oversees the training, education and networking needs as well as supporting the strategic direction of the program on the state and national levels.
She is a public health professional who specializes in multidisciplinary work to strategically address complex issues at the intersection of public health and public safety. Examples of some of her projects include – the planning and facilitation of the 2018 Colorado Law Enforcement Opioid Summit; ongoing training and technical assistance to communities implementing overdose prevention, including, provider education, naloxone distribution, safe disposal of household medication, medication assisted treatment (MAT), and building multidisciplinary taskforces; coordinating and facilitating training to treatment sites in working to initiate or expand MAT services; and overseeing technical assistance to the correctional departments for the development and implementation of a comprehensive MAT program.
Throughout her career, she has successfully facilitated multidisciplinary focus groups with public health and public safety sectors, guided the development of a relationship building tool for organizations to cross-educate, work past differences, and set common goals around a shared vision. Lindsey has consulted for criminal justice systems and law enforcement agencies across the country to minimize overdose risk by working with public and behavioral health partners to implement sustainable solutions based on meaningful partnerships.
In 2017, Lindsey was awarded the US Attorney’s Award for Outstanding Contributions to Cooperative Law Enforcement. Lindsey holds a Master of Public Health in epidemiology from the Colorado School of Public Health and a Bachelor of Science in Public Health, focused on health promotion and behavior, from Oregon State University. Prior to her work with the ORS, Lindsey consulted for Health Management Associates Inc., a national research and consulting firm, working with clients addressing overdose across the spectrum of prevention.
I do not have any relevant financial / non-financial relationships with any proprietary interests.