Laura Nicole Sisson Email and Phone Number

Provided technical assistance in developing opioid crisis response programs with select public health departments across the United States. Developed needs and assets assessments for opioid crisis response in partnership with local stakeholders. Drafted community action plans to guide program implementation. Developed instructional materials and provided training on various topics related to the opioid crisis and working with individuals who use drugs.

Assisted various research projects within the Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Use Prevention, Care, & Treatment. Selected activities included: conducting semi-structured interviews with individuals who use drugs, assisting community-based rapid assessment and response activities, and facilitating overdose prevention and response training, including the administration of naloxone.

Graduate Intern with the Research and Surveillance Unit of the Bureau of Alcohol and Drug Use Prevention, Care, and Treatment. Assisted in surveillance and evaluation activities, including abstraction of medical examiner records. Conducted literature reviews on topics related to the morbidity and mortality associated with drug and alcohol use among New York City residents. Coordinated research project exploring intentional overdose deaths among NYC residents.

Field Interviewer for studies conducted by the Global Psychiatric Epidemiology Group at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. Collected and processed biological samples, including blood, urine, and saliva. Assisted in the management of clinical issues encountered in the field. Provided training to new interns on clinical interviewing and follow-up. Participated in recruitment activities for studies.

Social Work Intern with the Washington Heights Community Service, an acute inpatient psychiatric unit. Worked as part of an interdisciplinary team to support individuals experiencing an acute psychiatric crisis. Core activities included: completing psychosocial assessments with individuals upon admittance to the unit; providing individual and family counseling, focused on identifying and addressing factors that preceded hospitalization; and co-facilitating weekly groups on wellness and recovery for individuals on the unit.

Graduate Social Work Intern at a transfer high school located in the Bronx. Provided individual counseling and socio-emotional support to students in a school-based setting. Provided group counseling on a variety of subjects, including adjustment to a new school environment. Supported school's resource development activities addressing issues such as food insecurity. Supported school's attendance monitoring activities by overseeing an attendance caseload. Provided referral to external services and resources as necessary.

Assisted in management and coordination of the organizational infrastructure and systems of operation, including:-Development of new programs and activities-Management of organization website and social media sites-Management and coordination of communications system-Coordination of "Telehealth" pilot project

Research study under Ph.D candidate in Human Development. Study investigated self-empowerment and community program/extracurricular activity involvement among at-risk high school students in Upstate New York.Involved in:-Survey design and piloting-Recruitment and data collection-Data entry and quality assurance-Qualitative analysis (grounded theory)-Poster, abstract, and manuscript development