We embrace the ethos, “Nothing About Us, Without Us”. The Project CONNECT team reaches far and wide, including people who use drugs, industry partners, first responders and healthcare workers, community members working in harm reduction and recovery settings, and academics and researchers.
Together, we developed the TxCOPE platform using Community-Engaged research practices, to ensure that TxCOPE will meet the needs of all Texans impacted by substance use and overdose.
Community Advisory Board
The community advisory board (CAB) is comprised of members from harm reduction, recovery, healthcare providers, first responders, and people with lived experience. We began with four county specific CABs in Travis, Bexar, Williamson and El Paso and now have one unified statewide CAB. These CABs explored regional needs and considerations. We have now combined the four CABs into a unified statewide CAB.
Co-Design Partners
Our co-design partners were comprised of organizations that provide harm reduction services within their communities. They have actively worked alongside us to build TxCOPE and learn what best suits the needs of harm reduction groups across the state.
Bexar County Organizations
- Bexar Area Harm Reduction Coalition
- Street Medicine San Antonio
- 210 Street Reach
El Paso County Organizations
- Punto de Partida
- Project Vida
Travis County Organizations
- ASHwell
- Texas Harm Reduction Alliance
- Vivent Health
Williamson County Organizations
- Williamson County EMS, Mobile Outreach Team
Executive Team
Kasey Claborn, PhD, Principal Investigator, Steve Hicks School of Social Work and Dell Medical School
Frederic Courtois, MSW, Associate Director Division of Community Engagement
Ariel Britt, MSW, Associate Director Division of Policy and Community Impact
Andrea Daugherty, Technical Security Lead, Dell Medical School
Scientific Team
Justin Benzer, PhD
Dell Medical School
Suzannah Creech, PhD
Dell Medical School
Scott Graham, PhD
College of Liberal Arts
Patrick Boswell
Dell Medical School
Fiona Conway, PhD
Dell Medical School
Ruben Parra-Cardona, PhD
Steve Hicks School of Social WorkResearch Team
- Kyle Lozada, Senior Outreach Program Coordinator
- Katie McCormick, Graduate Research Assistant
- Jake Samora, Research Associate
- Mina Chitti, Research Associate
Technology Development Team
Maven Wave LLC is a digital transformation firm, they provide consulting and specialize in digital delivery skills and cloud-powered applications. They are a leading Google Cloud Premier Partner, and are working with Project CONNECT staff to build the overdose reporting and prevention platform.
