Jan Cairnes: Fighting a modern epidemic

Jan Cairnes is the chief executive officer of the Hanley Foundation in West Palm Beach, an organization that provides community leadership in substance abuse prevention programming, education and advocacy. But giving back to the community through her day job isn’t enough for Cairnes, she says. That’s why she also recently joined the boards of the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce in Palm Beach Gardens, and the Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association in Tallahassee. The urgency, she says, is the opioid epidemic and the need to begin open dialogue to make things happen. Cairnes was previously director of prevention services at Hanley. Why I’m a good fit for these positions: I have 18 years of experience in substance abuse prevention, talking to people of all ages, from all walks of life, so in my new role as chief executive officer of Hanley Foundation and as a member of these boards, I can use my leadership position to foster meaningful change in how addiction is prevented, perceived and treated in our communities. I want to be at the forefront of solving this issue in Florida.

On the Boards

Wisdom: Collaboration is key. Big issues aren’t solved by people working alone, but rather by coming together to share best practices.

Engage: Part of Hanley Foundation recently presented: “When Lawful Drugs Come to Work,” to discuss the legalities surrounding lawful drugs, such as medical marijuana and prescribed opiates, in the workplace. We are on task forces and working with first responders, legislators, and other thought leaders to further our collective goals.

What’s new: Dialogue. For a long time, there was a real stigma surrounding addiction, and people struggled to speak openly. But the opioid epidemic is changing that. People are talking, and that opens doors for Hanley Foundation and others on the front lines of the crisis.

Professional development: How I got to ‘now’: I was a stay-at-home mom. In 1998, Pat Rooney donated $20,000 to Hanley Foundation to start its substance abuse prevention department. My friend asked if I wanted to go with her to be trained as a “Roots and Wings” parent facilitator for Hanley. After the training, I began facilitating parenting programs for Hanley Foundation. That was how I found my true passion for working with families.

JAN CAIRNES