Meet our SUFA Developers

JK Costello develops population health plans for substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery. He works across medicine, public health, and community organizations to create a community of recovery. He has worked with numerous jails across our region on their medication programs for opioid use disorder after advocating at the legislature for better treatment in carceral facilities. He has developed contingency management programs across the nation. Now, he’s turning to adult prevention, moving upstream along the continuum.
As a physician in recovery himself, he understands both the health care system and community recovery. But perhaps the most powerful work he does is sharing his story of recovery as a person in recovery.

Stephanie Halvorson is the project manager and co-developer of Substance Use First Aid (SUFA). She brings expertise in community-engaged participatory research, program design, and grant writing. Stephanie oversees all aspects of SUFA’s creation–from training content and design to the learning management platform and qualitative research–ensuring the program is practical, inclusive, and grounded in real-world experiences.
Stephanie’s passion for SUFA is personal. Inspired by her father’s story, Stephanie often reflects on how different his life might have been if someone had reached out with empathy, understanding, and nonjudgmental support. That reflection fuels her commitment to SUFA and the questions that guide her: Who might this program reach before things get worse? Who might feel seen, heard, and supported because someone knew how to start the conversation? She believes everyday people can spark meaningful change when equipped with the right tools and confidence. Through SUFA, her goal is to help people recognize early signs, reduce stigma, and show up for one another with compassion, courage, and hope.

Jason Rivera is a young, dynamic and compassionate physician with expertise in public health, preventive medicine, and family medicine. His background as a Hispanic male from an underserved community guides his values of justice and equity for the most vulnerable communities in this country. He is committed to advancing health equity, advocacy, and education through impactful leadership roles, innovation, and meaningful relationships.
Jason has proven ability to build and maintain relationships with internal and external partners, lead initiatives addressing systemic racism in healthcare, and advocated for universal healthcare. He has been recognized as a strategic thinker with meticulous attention to detail, and exceptional verbal, written, and presentation skills. Jason offers a strong track record of leadership in national health organizations, community engagement, and volunteer efforts to expand health equity and access.

Steven Haden (he/him) is a leader working at the intersection of social impact, public health, and business strategy. As the founder of Ripple Effect Partners, a consulting firm launched in 2025, he helps organizations achieve transformative social impact and growth by designing data-driven strategies and initiatives. A rare combination of corporate and clinical experience marks Steven’s career. He previously founded and served as CEO of the mental health nonprofit Envision:You, and he also founded the public benefit corporation You:Flourish.
As a person in recovery, Steven is dedicated to strengthening connection, healing, and progress in an individual’s ability to address disruptive substance use before it becomes problematic. He has led several national research initiatives focused on increasing understanding of the impact of substance misuse and mental health challenges, with a particular emphasis on the LGBTQ+ community. Steven is enthusiastic about the impact SUFA will have on workplaces, communities, and individuals across the country. His educational background includes a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Social Work, and ongoing doctoral studies in Public Health. He lives in Denver with his husband and their two labs.

Our Team