SPEAKERS

July 18, 2022

Bonnie Brown, Ph.D. is an applied behavioral health researcher with experience in public education, child and family studies and substance abuse. Her research and evaluation studies focus on behavioral health strategies for those struggling with mental illness and community-based interventions that
support vulnerable populations. Most recently, Dr. Brown has focused on the means to support children and their families impacted by the opioid use epidemic, particularly those involved in the child welfare system of Florida. She is an experience trainer in mental health and is passionate about raising
awareness and reducing stigma around mental health issues.

Dr. Brown is currently the lead epidemiologist for the Manatee County Substance Abuse Prevention Collation, a federally supported organization focused on reducing substance use in disparate populations in Manatee County. Additionally, she is a researcher and evaluator for the Louis de la Parte,
Florida Mental Health Institute at the University of South Florida. As a native of the Suncoast, and previous public-school educator, she is invested in her community, and dedicated to working to improve the lives and wellbeing of its citizens, particularly children and individuals with foster care experience.