The Champions of Texas Injury Prevention is the Injury Prevention Unit's new feature which highlights the work of Texas community members that make a difference in the fields of public health, public safety, and injury prevention. These are everyday Texans working to prevent injuries. Continue reading to meet some Texas Injury Prevention Champions.

November 2025 Champions of Texas Injury Prevention

Alanna Boulton

Director of Operations – Mental Health and Addiction Care, Central Health (Travis County Hospital District)

How did you get started in your field?

Like many of my colleagues, I am the friend, sister, daughter, granddaughter, and niece of people who have struggled with, and in some cases lost their lives, to the disease of addiction. Despite this strong personal driver, I was first exposed to work in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment services largely by chance. As a Healthcare Project Manager early in my career, I was assigned a project to develop an OBOT/MAT clinic within an FQHC in Austin. I quickly fell in love with the subject matter and my colleagues in this space and began intentionally seeking out work and professional growth opportunities in this field.

What do you like most about your work?

I'll say it every chance that I get: The people who choose, and continue, to work in SUD treatment and prevention and recovery support are absolutely the best people to work with. I am so fortunate to find my work fulfilling and to love the people I get to work with. Most of my colleagues have turned into close personal friends, and it is still astounding to me that I get to do this work.

Tell us about a recent success from your work.

As a recipient of Opioid Abatement Settlement Funds, Central Health has prioritized naloxone distribution and overdose prevention education at all our clinical and administrative locations. In fiscal year 2025 we were able to deploy 12 machines and distribute 3362 total doses of naloxone to the public. Additionally, we developed and implemented standard overdose prevention education sessions to accompany each new machine deployment and have successfully educated 120 of our clinical and administrative team members. We have plans to deploy 15 additional machines in the first six months of fiscal year 2026.

Tell us about any barriers or challenges in your field you’ve experienced and how you have overcome or addressed them.

The immense stigma of drugs, addiction, and people who use drugs continues to be the largest barrier to increased impact and success of the work my colleagues and I get to do. To counter this, I include an intentional component of awareness building and stigma reduction in all of the initiatives that I move forward. Educating both frontline health care staff and administrative and operational leaders on the disease model of addiction and stigma reduction techniques is hugely important to the success of these initiatives. I was privileged to be part of the team who developed the Reducing Stigma Educational Modules (ReSET) to provide evidence-based stigma reduction content to health care trainees nationwide and have been fortunate to present stigma reduction didactic sessions at interprofessional conferences and professional development events for many years.

What motivates you to continue in your work each day?

Knowing that I'm working to improve the lives of my neighbors and people everywhere is a huge driver for me. This work is hard and heavy, but knowing that I'm making an impact, and getting to do it with some of the best colleagues out there, motivates me immensely.

Judge Kyle Hartmann

Justice of the Peace, Fayette County Precinct 1

How did you get started in your field?

I was elected as Justice of the Peace for Pct. 1 in Fayette County in 2018.

What do you like most about your work?

Passion and curiosity drive my approach to public service. I’m deeply committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of others — that’s the heart of what public service should be. Curiosity pushes me to continually seek new ways to improve and expand our impact. Innovation, collaboration, and relationship-building are the core principles that shape how I serve my community.

Tell us about a recent success from your work.

Through collaboration, we successfully expanded the Integrated Community Opioid Network (ICON) Navigator and the State Toxicology Expansion Program (STEP) into Fayette County. This achievement is largely due to the dedication and hard work of Brandie Harris and Jordan Baker, who committed their time and expertise through numerous meetings to help adapt these programs for our rural community. This partnership has strengthened our ability to understand and respond to opioid-related emergencies and has enhanced our efforts to support individuals struggling with substance use disorder (SUD).

Tell us about any barriers or challenges in your field you’ve experienced and how you have overcome or addressed them.

My biggest challenge has been a lack of medical experience and knowledge. Like many justices of the peace (JPs), I did not have formal medical training when I took office, which made for a significant learning curve. I’ve worked to overcome this by actively seeking guidance and building relationships with subject matter experts. I’ve leaned on the expertise of local primary care physicians, medical examiners and their staff, fellow JPs, and program professionals like Jordan Baker (Texas Overdose Data to Action) and Brandie Harris (Integrated Community Opioid Network). Their willingness to consult, educate, and collaborate has been invaluable.

It’s often said that "a rising tide lifts all boats” and that couldn’t be truer in public service. We must always strive to be a resource for one another.

What motivates you to continue in your work each day?

Like many other roles, JPs wear many hats. We preside over criminal, civil, and administrative hearings, serve as jail magistrates, conduct death inquests, and certify death certificates, among other duties. This broad scope of responsibilities fosters collaboration across various areas and helps build strong partnerships.

Cindi Wynia

Safe Kids Program Manager, Amarillo Public Health

How did you get started in your field?

I joined Amarillo Public Health three years ago because I am passionate about serving families in my community. I have a varied 30-year career in community work having enjoyed my time at WIC, Early Head Start/Head Start, and as a Public Librarian. I believe all of those skills have come together in my work as a Child Passenger Safety Technician, safe infant sleep educator, and injury prevention advocate.

What do you like most about your work?

Helping families learn concrete ways they can keep their children safe through one-on-one conversations and education opportunities. When a caregiver installs their car seat correctly and feels proud, or a firearm owner asks for a gun lock to protect their child from an accidental injury, or a grandparent promises to put their newborn grandchild alone in their crib - on their back for every sleep - I feel as if I am making a positive difference.

Tell us about a recent success from your work.

I have an amazing team, and we were honored to be selected as the 2025 National Child Passenger Safety Team of the Year by the National Child Passenger Safety Board.

Tell us about any barriers or challenges in your field you’ve experienced and how you have overcome or addressed them.

Funding is always a challenge, but with the support of the Panhandle Child Fatality Review Team, I secured a $20,000 grant from the Moody Foundation which has allowed us to purchase portable cribs as part of our safe infant sleep efforts. We have distributed over 400 portable cribs to families in need since 2023.

What motivates you to continue in your injury prevention work each day?

The families! When a caregiver asks if they can hug me for helping them keep their children safe, I know I am on the right path.