Founder and President
The Harris Project Inc.
Ardsley, New York
Stephanie Marquesano received her BA in Political Science and Public Communication from Brooklyn College in 1986, Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law in 1989, and is a former school board member and PTA president. Stephanie’s 19-year-old son Harris died by accidental overdose in 2013. While Harris’s story is all too familiar, Stephanie has taken a unique, proactive, and transformational approach to the overdose and suicide epidemics gripping our nation. Like millions, Harris had co-occurring disorders (COD) - the combination of one or more mental health challenges and substance misuse/addiction. Launched at his funeral, the harris project is the nation’s only 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to advancing prevention programming and advocating for the implementation of an integrated treatment model to improve the lives of teens and young adults with COD. Stephanie is a member of the New York State (NYS) NIDA HEALing Communities Study Advisory Board and national dissemination workgroup; NYS Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Board; NYS Partnership for Integrated Care; and, de facto lead of the Mid-Hudson Region Co-Occurring System of Care effort. Stephanie also co-chairs the Westchesterr County Department of Community Mental Health's Co-Occurring System of Care Committee. Thanks to funding from WMCHealth and the Westchester Community Foundation, Stephanie also leads a project delivering Encompass, an integrated evidence-based treatment modality, to local teens and young adults. CODA, the peer-led Co-Occurring Disorders Awareness prevention movement developed by the harris project, has made incredible strides in empowering our youth to take an active role in raising awareness, connecting with peers, and linking to resources. Student Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) is now a national partner with a goal of bringing CODA to SADD's 8000 chapters across the nation. Stephanie was named a 2020 Westchester County Youth Bureau "SHERO", the 2019 National Association of Social Workers - Westchester Public Citizen of the Year, the 2019 Westchester County Department of Health Dr. Harold Keltz Distinguished Public Health Service Awardee, and the 2018 Volunteer NY! Spirit Awardee in Education & Literacy. With her work and Harris's story recently featured in a New York Times Sunday Review opinion piece by Jeneen Interlandi: "Experts Say We Have the Tools to Fight Addiction. So Why Are More Americans Overdosing Than Ever?", Stephanie hopes to save lives and improve outcomes.
Wednesday, May 3, 2023
9:00 AM – 9:20 AM
.png)
