We train individuals in suicide prevention and response techniques.

We offer pre-packaged courses for state-groups needing to have a certain level of suicide prevention training.

One of ASPARC's primary missions is the maintenance of an up-to-date database of suicide prevention resources.

Executive Director

ASPARC Board President Cheryl Dodson, lost a friend to suicide in 2015. She is now an advocate for suicide prevention and is a Certified QPR Gatekeeper Trainer. She has co-hosted over 100 QPR Gatekeeper Training presentations since she began working with ASPARC. Cheryl founded the Annual Wildflower Walk and Wellness Fair in Woodstock, Alabama in 2018 to help raise mental health awareness and provide suicide loss survivors with a public event to honor their loss. Cheryl serves on the Indian Rivers Behavioral Health Board of Directors & the State of Alabama Mental Illness Planning Council.

President

ASPARC Board President, Angela Sullivan, earned a BS and MS in Criminal Justice, as well as a PhD in Health Behavior. Her interests focus on suicidality as it relates to veterans and people living in rural Alabama. Since 2016, she has been a primary QPR Gatekeeper Trainer and has served as a board member for ASPARC. She works for the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health and is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Behavior and Assistant Dean for Admissions & Enrollment Management.

Vice President

ASPARC Vice President, Gerald Friedman, MPH is currently the Program Manager for the Office of Service Learning in the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Heersink School of Medicine and the Healthcare Educators Academy housed within the school. He completed his Masters in Public Health from UAB in 2021, with a concentration in Health Behavior. He completed his internship with ASPARC, and has continued to work with the organization conducting QPR training. Prior to moving to Birmingham in 2017, Jerry served as an academic advisor at the University of South Carolina, where he also completed his undergraduate degree in Experimental Psychology in 2014. His scholarly interests include mental health promotion and suicide prevention, health education, and health equity. Jerry also serves on the junior board of the Crisis Center in Birmingham.

Secretary

Oliver earned his M.Ed. from the University of Montevallo in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. During his time at UM, he was a Residence Hall Director and worked to aid in suicide prevention efforts on the campus. Immediately following his graduation, Oliver worked in Birmingham at a non-profit organization where he worked with kids and teens struggling with various mental health concerns. He now works at UAB Student Counseling Services where he works with students as a Counselor-in-Residence. Oliver has been with ASPARC since 2022 where he has served as Secretary, QPR Trainer, and has assisted with training coordination. Outside of professional life, Oliver loves hiking, traveling, playing video games, and reading.

Treasurer

ASPARC Board Secretary, Katie Beaugez M.Ed, ALC organizes QPR training for interested groups and individuals around Alabama. She received her master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from the University of Montevallo and works full time as a mental health therapist for the Alabama Head Injury Foundation.

Board Member

ASPARC Board Member, T.J. Bradley, Certified Peer Support Specialist with the JBS Mental Health Authority and will be transferring to the AltaPointe Crisis Center in Mobile in July. He is an active and passionate advocate for mental health recovery. T.J. also coordinated the Alabamians in Recovery (AIR) Conference this past April with over 400 attendees. He co-chairs the PAIMI (Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness) advisory council and second Vice President on the NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Alabama Peer Leadership Council. He is an IOOV presenter and Connections Support Group facilitator for NAMI, APPR facilitator for Wings, Respect Initiative speaker, a QPR (Question, Persuade and Refer) Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper, and a State of Alabama CPS trainer.

Board Member

ASPARC Vice President, Belinda Kock M.Ed., NCC, CT is a graduate of the University of Montevallo, earning a M.Ed. in Counseling with an emphasis on Clinical Mental Health. She is a Nationally Certified Counselor with the NBCC. She also received a Certification of Thanatology from the Association for Death Education and Counseling. Belinda performed most of her internship at UAB Palliative Care and Community Grief Support in Birmingham, AL.

Board Member

Founding member and past board president, David Coombs PHD, MPH, continues to serve as an ASPARC Board Member and works part-time as a faculty member at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health. After being a trained sociologist, he obtained his master's degree in health behavior and communication. He has experience in designing and implementing health promotion programs, and is also bilingual, which gives him the ability to reach a larger audience. Since 1973, he has played a role in suicide prevention as a researcher and service provider.

Board Member

Founding member and past board vice president ASPARC Board Member Judith Harrington, developed and teaches graduate courses on suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention. She also serves on the Standards, Training and Practices Committee for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline.

Board Member

ASPARC Board Member, Kimberly Adams M.Ed, ALC is a member of the Alabama Counseling Association, American Counseling Association, and Kappa Delta International Honor Society in Education. She shares her passion for suicide prevention by facilitating suicide grief support groups in her community.

Board Member

Xavian Tate is from Anniston, Alabama, and he cares deeply about people and his community. He graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a Bachelor of Science in Mental Health Psychology and an Interdisciplinary minor in S.T.E.A.M. Education, as well as Life and Peer Coach certifications. Xavian also has a QPR certification. He is currently a graduate student at UAB studying Clinical Mental Health Counseling. During his undergraduate studies, he was Blazer Male Excellence Network Mentor of the Year 2017-2018 and taught 5th-10th grade STEM Education. Xavian currently serves as a Mental Health Ambassador Artists in Medicine Lead, as well as on his alma mater's Mental Health Advisory Board and TRIO Advisory Council. Xavian serves as a liaison for LWICORP and UAB Student Counseling Services as a Board member. His interests include singing Broadway songs, gaming, spending time with family and friends, and watching anime.

Board Member

Karen Cook, is a licensed Alabama Funeral Director and Cremationist and has been serving families for over 20 years in the Funeral Industry. Since 2010 she has served within the Christian Street Ministry atmosphere serving the homeless, the trafficked, physically abused and those in addiction. Karen is an ordained Chaplain who holds a B.A. in Ministry and is currently pursuing her Psychology degree. She is also a QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper. It was after her brother, Johnny Cook’s suicide death in 2015 that she founded, Cook Ministries, a 501c3 nonprofit in his memory, where she serves as Leader with their various programs, including Suicide Prevention.

David Chain is a mental health advocate and certified QPR Gatekeeper trainer. He retired from the United States Army after serving 24 years and now he is currently a full-time graduate student at Jacksonville State University in the MSW program. David became passionate about mental health and suicide awareness largely due to his experiences while serving in the United States Army. David is dedicated to mental health awareness and eliminating stigma that surrounds it.

ASPARC QPR Gatekeeper Instructor, Christi Collins, began her mental health recovery journey around 2007, and was trained as a Certified Peer Specialist (CPS) in 2008. She has worked as a CPS since 2009. Her work is focused around recovery and regaining one’s life after a mental health challenge. She is a state and national CPS Trainer, a NAMI Support Group Facilitator State and National Trainer, and a Recovery Story Speaker and Trainer. Christi also serves on several state boards, councils and committees.

Christi enjoys spending time with her son and dog, volunteering, and spending time outdoors. She aspires to use her education, skills and experience to contribute to mental health awareness in hopes of eradicating stigma and promoting recovery. Her work as a CPS has launched her mental health recovery to new heights. Christi has an eagerness to see others receive necessary treatments and supports in order to live full, meaningful lives with hopes and dreams.

Reagen Dodson is a mental health advocate and Certified QPR Gatekeeper Trainer. She currently attends the University of Montevallo. Reagen became involved with ASPARC because she is passionate about mental health especially in youth and young adults. She loves to raise mental health awareness and support suicide prevention through social media.

Stacia Tate is a mental health professional and activist. She works on the Behavioral Health Unit, at Grandview Medical Center as a nurse assistant. She has five years of direct patient care experience with mentally and physically disabled individuals. Stacia has her own cleaning service, as well as a successful podcast found on Spotify and Anchor. Stacia is also the Communications Chief Officer (CCO) of the successful mental health firm, LWI.. Stacia is QPR, CPR, CPI, & SAMA Certified; and is working toward obtaining a life & peer coach certification. Stacia takes pride in having a natural niche in helping and caring for people, as well as saving lives! It is her true passion; some even say it’s her “calling”!.. Working with ASPARC will be an amazing opportunity for Stacia to share her own silent mental struggles, as well as reach a larger audience to further and continue the education of suicide and suicide prevention.