Kelly King

Kelly King is senior technical assistance consultant at AIR with more than a decade of direct experience developing, managing, and evaluating community-based, cross-sector initiatives designed to improve health and reduce recidivism outcomes among individuals impacted by addiction. Dr. King serves as a Core Coach for the National Reentry Resource Center, providing training and technical assistance to Bureau of Justice Assistance funded Second Chance Act grantees within state and local prisons, jails, and community corrections agencies across the country. As an expert with AIR’s Center for Addiction Research & Effective Solutions (AIR CARES), Dr. King also assists in the formation and execution strategies to prevent and reduce negative consequences associated with substance use and incarceration.

Prior to her time at AIR, Dr. King worked in close partnership with academic, governmental, and nonprofit partners to develop, implement, and assess a series of innovative, system-level changes to enhance linkages to effective addiction treatment and reduce drug-related overdose fatalities. These included coordinating data-sharing to construct a real-time, citywide overdose alert system; co-dispatching peer recovery coaches to the scene of substance use related 911 calls; initiating a first responder Naloxone “leave behind” program; and assisting with the launch of a 24-hour behavioral health “stabilization center.” Dr. King is skilled at translating complex research findings on substance use prevention and treatment to varied youth & adult audiences in multimedia formats. She has administered several online trainings on ACES and the relationship between trauma and addiction to state and law enforcement officers, first responders, district attorneys, medical providers, and correctional staff. She also has significant experience creating resources to help individuals struggling with substance use and their loved ones identify and connect with appropriate, evidence-based addiction treatment modalities.