Workshop: Fact or Myth: Dispelling Substance Use Myths in New Mexico
Organization: Corinne Wolfe Center for Child and Family Justice

Cristen Conley, JD, CWLS, is the Director of the Corinne Wolfe Center for Child and Family Justice. Graduating from Baylor University School of Law she has been an attorney since 1988. With certification by the American Bar Association and the National Association of Counsel for Children as a Child Welfare Law Specialist, she designs and develops resources and trainings in child and family welfare for professionals and volunteers. She was in private practice for 22 years serving as a Respondent's Attorney, Youth Attorney, and Guardian ad litem and as a Guardian ad Litem for allegedly incapacitated Respondents.  Cristen was a Guardian ad Litem for adults in guardianship proceedings. She was awarded a Certificate Recognizing Excellence in Service as a Child/Youth Law Advocate Attorney by the Supreme Court of New Mexico and the Children’s Court Improvement Commission (CCIC) in 2018. Cristen has been a local and national trainer on the law for her entire career.  She is a commissioner on the CCIC and on the Office of Family Representation and Advocacy Oversight Commission and was the chair of the last two iterations of the Children’s Code Reform Task Force that made the recommendations for changes to the New Mexico Children’s Code.  She is also a member of NM Partners, a group providing a platform for collaboration between the Tribes, Nations, and Pueblos of NM and various child and family welfare-involved organizations. For many years, Cristen was a board member for Casa Q - a transitional living home for LGBTQ youth and still supports their good work.  She is married, is enjoying a new dog, and snowshoes, hikes, and travels when she can - and knits, watches old movies, and reads for daily fun. 

Workshop: Building Strong Foundations with Youth & Family Peer Support
Organization: Better Together Family Services

Chasity LeBlanc is the Executive Director of Better Together Family Services and a state trainer for the Center of Innovation (COI) for Family Peer Support. She has extensive experience supporting families involved in New Mexico’s child welfare and behavioral health systems. Formerly the Director of Family Engagement at the Attachment Healing Center, Chasity developed and implemented innovative peer support and family engagement models that strengthened relationships between clinicians and caregivers. A Certified Family Peer Support Specialist, Chasity brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work. She is passionate about ensuring families have access to culturally responsive, trauma-informed care that values the voices of those with lived experience. Chasity’s leadership focuses on workforce development, systems collaboration, and helping agencies effectively integrate Family Peer Support into their service delivery models to promote better outcomes for children and families across New Mexico. 

Workshop: Building Strong Foundations with Youth & Family Peer Support
Organization: Center of Innovation for Behavioral Health and Wellbeing

Shelby McDaniel is a dedicated individual committed to empowering young people through intentional actions and inspiring connections. They hold a bachelor’s degree in Family & Child Studies, concentrating on Human Development and Family Relations, with a minor in Psychology, which they completed in Spring 2024. Additionally, Shelby has maintained a Certified Peer Support Worker (CPSW) certification for several years, underscoring their dedication to supporting others. Shelby is actively pursuing a dual Master’s Degree in Social Work and Public Health (Health Behavior and Health Promotion) at New Mexico State University. Shelby is a graduate assistant at the Center of Innovation and contributes to curriculum development and training moderation with a focus on youth-serving programs. 

Workshop: Resilience in Practice: Thriving in the Work We Are Called To
Organization: Southwest Family Guidance Center & Institute

Craig Pierce, Ph.D. LPCC, LMFT, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor. He is the founder and Chief Clinical Officer of Southwest Family Guidance Center & Institute. Founded in 2004, Southwest Family Guidance Center serves children, adolescents, and families in seven counties throughout New Mexico. As the director of the Institute, he and the training team provide extensive training to clinicians, educators, the New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Division (CYFD), and other partnering stakeholders.  He is a co-author of our Thriving Kids and Thriving Students curriculum and programs offered to CYFD and school districts throughout New Mexico. Dr. Pierce is recognized as a leading expert in trauma-informed treatment and is the author of Parenting Without Distraction: The Attunement Approach and co-author of Parenting through Grief. 

Workshop: Fact or Myth: Dispelling Substance Use Myths in New Mexico
Organization: Presbyterian Community Health 

Art Salazar was born and raised in Albuquerque, NM, and began his public health career in 1999 with the New Mexico Department of Health, focusing on Harm Reduction (HR) and Infectious Disease (ID) prevention. He is currently serving as a Substance Use Preventionist II with Presbyterian Community Health and holds a certification as a Certified Prevention Specialist (CPS). He oversaw the PFS20 and currently the PFS25 grant for Bernalillo County, providing harm-reduction education and resources to reduce overdose deaths and promote community wellness. With 26 years of professional presentation and training experience, Art has designed and delivered statewide educational programs such as Polysubstance 101/201/301, Harm Reduction 101/201, and the Harm Reduction Conversation Guide, used across New Mexico. His approach emphasizes data-driven prevention, collaboration with coalitions, and culturally responsive practices that meet the needs of Tribal, rural, and urban communities.

Workshop: Building Strong Foundations with Youth & Family Peer Support
Organization: Center of Innovation for Behavioral Health and Wellbeing

Spence Spencer joined the Center of Innovation team in 2024 as a Program Manager, overseeing all program efforts for Family Peer Support and Family Engagement. Prior to working at the COI, Spence has worked in social services for over 18 years. Their prior experience includes Youth Mental Health, classroom and special education support, High-Fidelity Wraparound, Adult Mental Health, and supported adults on the DD waiver. Spence received their Master's Degree of Public Administration with a concentration in Health and Disability Management from the University of New Mexico.

Workshop: Substance Use Disorder and the Minds of Our Youth

Dr. Brandon Warrick grew up in rural South Dakota and was always drawn to helping people. Dr. Warrick was the first in his family to go into medicine. Emergency Medicine was his first love, but during residency he discovered Medical Toxicology. During fellowship, he found himself working not just at the bedside but also with law enforcement and policymakers to tackle these challenges. When Dr. Warrick moved to New Mexico, he quickly saw how deeply addiction was affecting patients and communities. He realized that locking people up wasn’t solving the problem and was making things worse. Instead, evidence-based care delivered compassionately was life-changing not just for the patient, but for their families and loved ones. Today, Dr. Warrick focuses on expanding access to addiction care—through hospital programs, 24/7 consultation at the Poison Center, and statewide initiatives like Project ECHO and New Mexico Bridge. He also works with the NM Supreme Courts and law enforcement to make sure people get help instead of just punishment. Dr. Warrick’s passion is sharing what he’s learned, because when we treat addiction as a medical condition, we change lives.