We partner with a range of community organizations to ensure our work is grounded in real-world needs. Our approach reflects input from individuals embedded in the communities we serve, alongside strong support from the University of Michigan and Boxcar, shaping an intervention that aligns with community priorities and is simple to engage with.
The ConCERN study will be piloted in collaboration with several community-based Quick Response Teams (QRTs) across Michigan. The QRTs we partner with are run by ACCESS (Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services), Face Addiction Now (FAN), the Greater Flint Health Coalition (GFHC), Sobriety House, and Home of New Vision. Staff at the QRTs connect individuals to care following a non-fatal overdose and provide ongoing support to families and loved ones affected by opioid use. Their on-the-ground expertise ensures that the ConCERN intervention is grounded in lived experience, responsive to community needs, and informed by those working daily to prevent overdose and support recovery. If your community organization is also interested in helping us pilot the intervention, let us know at ConCERNstudy@umich.edu
Ahmad Ballout
Ahmad Ballout has been working at ACCESS as a Public Health Coordinator for the past eight years. In this role, he oversees overdose prevention efforts across Dearborn, Dearborn Heights, and Hamtramck, with a focus on connecting individuals to appropriate services following a crisis. Outside of his professional work, he enjoys traveling and has a strong interest in history. He also values creating meaningful memories with his family and loved ones.
Amanda Beson
Amanda Beson did not have access to support resources when she was directly impacted by her ex-husband's substance use disorder (SUD), leaving her feeling lost and alone. After discovering family recovery coaching and learning how to support a loved one with SUD, she felt compelled to help others facing similar challenges, especially those still in the midst of it. Amanda is passionate about supporting spouses and partners before relationships reach a breaking point, helping families navigate difficult moments and avoid the confusion and isolation she once experienced. Amanda believes in transforming pain into purpose, which led her to her work as a family recovery coach. Outside of her work, she enjoys music, spending time with loved ones, volleyball, softball, hiking, volleyball, softball, and boating.
Darrell Barnes-Bey
Darrell Barnes-Bey is a dedicated Peer Recovery Coach Supervisor and Recovery Coach Professional Facilitator with a passion and focus on empowering individuals, strengthening communities through recovery support, building recovery capital, promoting long-term wellness. With a lived experience that fuels his purpose, Darrell has been in recovery since April 21, 2016, bringing authenticity, leadership, and compassion to every space he enters. Since 2019, he has led and supervised peer recovery services, while also training and developing recovery coaches to serve on the front lines of substance use and mental health recovery.
Joye Staple
Joye Staple’s main interests revolve around the arts, traveling, and volunteer work. She is passionate about helping others and has contributed to modern-day science by volunteering in research studies. The passion drives both Joye’s personal and professional life, as she views volunteering not simply as a hobby, but as a meaningful way to make a difference in the world one life at a time.
Samuel Zeeryp
Samuel Zeeryp is a licensed cosmetologist, individual in recovery, and the founder of The Hairapist Project, an initiative that provides free hair transformations for people in early recovery. He uses hair as a gateway to deeper conversations around identity, confidence, and healing. Drawing from lived experience, Samuel brings authenticity and empathy into his work, with a strong belief that transformation is both internal and external. He is passionate about helping others feel seen, valued, and capable of growth while continuing to evolve in his own journey.
Boxcar Studio focuses primarily on building websites for nonprofit organizations and higher education institutions. Their small dedicated team is passionate about sites with a social impact or those that serve the public good. They design and develop sites in-house from start to finish with an eye toward elegant interface design and accessibility.
ITS provides innovative, reliable, and user-centric technology services and support for the U-M community.