Pilar Horner (Winter Conference 2026)

Pilar Horner, MSW, PhD, Associate Professor, Michigan State University

This podcast was conducted at the CMHA Annual Winter Conference held on February 2nd, 2026 at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Kalamazoo, MI.

Pilar Horner was a presenter at the 2026 Annual Winter Conference, where she delivered a presentation titled, “Strengthening the Social Work Workforce: Evidence-Based Training for Substance Use Practice – Patients in the Community: Challenges and Changes.” An Associate Professor in the Michigan State University School of Social Work, Pilar shared the personal and professional experiences that inspired her passion for working with the MI CARES Project. MI CARES is a statewide initiative focused on strengthening the workforce through evidence-based addiction education and training. Through her work, Pilar has come to believe that when people collaborate with the right partners, there are no true roadblocks — only obstacles to navigate together. Rather than preventing progress, challenges can create opportunities to pivot, problem-solve, and ask, “How can we make this happen?”