DHS Honors Those Who Prevent and Reduce the Impact of Substance Use in Communities

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) today named the recipients of several awards recognizing exceptional work of those who prevent and reduce the impact of alcohol, commercial tobacco, and other drugs in their communities. DHS selected the award winners from a pool of 100 nominations submitted through a statewide call for nominees earlier this year. Awards were presented at the Wisconsin Substance Use Summit in Green Bay.

Awards and recipients

Leaders of the Next Generation: Outstanding Youth Advocates for Substance Use Prevention Award

Madisyn Rogers, Superior and Idaliz Jones, Corey Newsom, Zakarah Ross, and Jazmine Smith, Milwaukee

This award recognizes middle and high school students for their leadership in developing and supporting substance use prevention initiatives that protect and promote the well-being of their peers with a vision of a brighter future for everyone.

Madisyn Rodgers of Superior connects her classmates to the resources they need to be substance-free. She also provides a listening ear for classmates who need someone to talk to about substance use challenges.

Idaliz Jones, Corey Newsom, Zakarah Ross, and Jazmine Smith of Milwaukee are members of a local group organized by Neu-life Community Development helping youth understand the risks of using commercial tobacco and other drugs. The focus of their work is reminding their peers of how choices made today can have long-term consequences.

Beyond the Call to Action: Outstanding Substance Use Prevention Professional Award

Kelsey Adams, Ripon

This award recognizes a substance use prevention professional for work that engages members of their community and empowers them to live their best life.

Kelsey Adams of Ripon is the Green Lake site coordinator for the Boys & Girls Club of the Tri-County Area. In this role, she helps youth of all ages develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to live substance-free. She also works with the support systems of the program participants—their families, community role models, and more—to expand the positive impact of her work.

Catalyst for Change: Outstanding Partner in Substance Use Prevention Award

Focus on Community, Racine

This award recognizes an organization that has made contributions to the field of substance use prevention in their community.

Focus on Community is a substance use prevention agency serving Racine. Staff facilitate yearly skill building training for all local 5th, 6th, and 7th graders to help them navigate life's stressors without substances. They also support after-school programs that help youth see healthy, hopeful pathways for their future. Staff also engage families, school staff, and community support agencies to build stronger relationships that are essential for the well-being of youth and the adults who support them.

Protecting the Pond: Outstanding Substance Use Prevention Coalition Award

Giiwii-Minobimaadizimin Prevention Coalition, Hayward

This award recognizes a substance use prevention coalition for their efforts to build healthy communities.

The Giiwii-Minobimaadizimin Prevention Coalition serves the Lac Courtes Orielles Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe and Sawyer County. It includes representatives from the Tribal nation's behavioral health, education, justice, and youth services systems. Members meet community members where they are with culturally grounded approaches designed to build connections for better health and wellness. Members also integrate substance-free activities into community events to shift opinions on substance use.

Meeting People Where They Are: Outstanding Advocate for Overdose Prevention Award

Tahira Malik, Milwaukee

This award recognizes an individual in the overdose prevention field implementing programs and policies designed to reduce overdose deaths by keeping individuals who use drugs safe and healthy.

Tahira Malik of Milwaukee has led efforts to install boxes with free naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal medication, in areas of Milwaukee with high rates of opioid overdoses. She has visited businesses, including restaurants, barber shops, and liquor stores, to secure locations for these boxes, making naloxone more accessible to people who need it. Beyond installing the boxes of naloxone, she uses her interactions with business owners to educate them on overdose prevention, increasing their willingness to support their customers. Her "Voices of the Front Lines" podcast highlights the experiences of outreach workers, peer support specialists, and advocates working to prevent overdose deaths. This podcast inspires broader community engagement in overdose prevention work. She created a program at Samad's House that trains residents in recovery from substance use challenges to work in the community with people who use drugs, which includes handing out safer use supplies and naloxone.

Wisconsin Substance Use Summit

This was the first year of the Wisconsin Substance Use Summit. More than 900 people from across the state working in the fields of behavioral health, education, government, medicine, and public health gathered for two days to deepen their knowledge of substance use services and best practices to build healthy and safe communities.

The next Wisconsin Substance Use Summit will be held May 5-6, 2027, in Wisconsin Dells. Join the DHS substance use services email list to get updates on the 2027 Wisconsin Substance Use Summit.

For help with preventing, treating, and recovering from substance use, visit programs and services available in Wisconsin.