The Importance of Peer Support

Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM EDT

Register Now

Registration

Sale ended

Center for Addiction & Recovery Education (CARE) - Phoenix Training Partial Approval

Enter your discount code

  • Fee
  • Total amount

1. Select Seats

2. Review and Proceed

Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM EDT

The Center for Addiction and Recovery Education at Saint Joseph’s University, under a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, delivers first responder, opioid response, and refresher training across the Commonwealth. Current and former first responders will train law enforcement, firefighters, and related professionals on the topics of substance use disorder and the use of Naloxone (NARCAN) as well as stigma and implicit bias when engaging persons with addiction or substance use disorder issues.

Steve Forzato
Director, Center for Addiction and Recovery Education (CARE)

Forzato began his law enforcement career at the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office in 1986. In 1992, Forzato transferred to the Narcotic Enforcement Team and for the next 27 years, worked in undercover roles and investigated drug traffickers, pursuing them locally, nationally and internationally. As a Lieutenant, Forzato supervised undercover detectives and 480 local police officers who served in a drug task force. Forzato led more than 100 wiretaps where his team seized thousands of pounds of drugs including kilograms of heroin and fentanyl. Forzato was sworn-in as a federal agent in the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. In 2017, Forzato joined Pennsylvania’s Attorney General as Deputy Chief of Statewide Drug Initiatives where he led new initiatives addressing the drug overdose crisis in Pennsylvania. Forzato testified as an expert in drug abuse, trafficking, and wiretapping in local, state and federal courts. Forzato has interviewed hundreds of drug dealers, suppliers and users. Forzato remains up to date on the current drug-trafficking trends statewide, nationally, and internationally. Forzato trained thousands of local, state and federal law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and public health officials. Forzato now directs the Center for Addiction and Recovery Education at Saint Joseph’s University and leads its Phoenix Training for first responders.

About Steve Forzato

Director, Center for Addiction and Recovery Education (CARE)
Mike Yaeger
Retired Battalion Chief, Philadelphia Fire Department

Mike Yaeger retired several years ago as a Battalion Chief with the Phila fire Dept. ( 41 years ). He spent most of his time as a firefighter in north Philly. After getting promoted to Lieut in 1989 Mike was sent to west Philly where he spent the next few years. Promoted to Captain in 1994 and spent the next 15 years in the rank. During that time Mike had the honor of being Captain at Resue 1, which he found to be a truly humbling experience. Mike was promoted to BC in Aug of 2008. After recognizing the increasing amount of suicides in the fire service he got involved with developing and delivering a suicide prevention initiative in the PFD. Mike began working with Local 22’s health and wellness program and assisted in developing a peer support program. He started working with first responders at the Livengrin Foundation’s FRAT program (drug and alcohol rehab). They developed a drug and alcohol prevention progam and delivered that program to over 20,000 first responders. From the peer program they have visited all station in the PFD to discuss trauma, PTSD and other related issues with first responders. They are also involved with presenting the peer program to all cadets in the PFD.

About Mike Yaeger

Retired Battalion Chief, Philadelphia Fire Department

  • test
Clear all ×

Sessions on May 30, 2024

11:30 AM

The Importance of Peer Support

11:30 AM - 01:45 PM
    Steve Forzato
    Director, Center for Addiction and Recovery Education (CARE)
    Forzato began his law enforcement career at the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office in 1986. In 1992, Forzato transferred to the Narcotic Enforcement Team and for the next 27 years, worked in undercover roles and investigated drug traffickers, pursuing them locally, nationally and internationally. As a Lieutenant, Forzato supervised undercover detectives and 480 local police officers who served in a drug task force. Forzato led more than 100 wiretaps where his team seized thousands of pounds of drugs including kilograms of heroin and fentanyl. Forzato was sworn-in as a federal agent in the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. In 2017, Forzato joined Pennsylvania’s Attorney General as Deputy Chief of Statewide Drug Initiatives where he led new initiatives addressing the drug overdose crisis in Pennsylvania. Forzato testified as an expert in drug abuse, trafficking, and wiretapping in local, state and federal courts. Forzato has interviewed hundreds of drug dealers, suppliers and users. Forzato remains up to date on the current drug-trafficking trends statewide, nationally, and internationally. Forzato trained thousands of local, state and federal law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and public health officials. Forzato now directs the Center for Addiction and Recovery Education at Saint Joseph’s University and leads its Phoenix Training for first responders.
    Mike Yaeger
    Retired Battalion Chief, Philadelphia Fire Department
    Mike Yaeger retired several years ago as a Battalion Chief with the Phila fire Dept. ( 41 years ). He spent most of his time as a firefighter in north Philly. After getting promoted to Lieut in 1989 Mike was sent to west Philly where he spent the next few years. Promoted to Captain in 1994 and spent the next 15 years in the rank. During that time Mike had the honor of being Captain at Resue 1, which he found to be a truly humbling experience. Mike was promoted to BC in Aug of 2008. After recognizing the increasing amount of suicides in the fire service he got involved with developing and delivering a suicide prevention initiative in the PFD. Mike began working with Local 22’s health and wellness program and assisted in developing a peer support program. He started working with first responders at the Livengrin Foundation’s FRAT program (drug and alcohol rehab). They developed a drug and alcohol prevention progam and delivered that program to over 20,000 first responders. From the peer program they have visited all station in the PFD to discuss trauma, PTSD and other related issues with first responders. They are also involved with presenting the peer program to all cadets in the PFD.