Jennifer Icard

Jennifer serves as program coordinator for SUAAOA at the Center for Elder Law and Justice, focusing on Erie County. In this role, they design and deliver community outreach and educational presentations that highlight the distinct challenges substance use poses for older adults—a population whose needs are often overlooked in traditional substance use programming.
Jennifer is qualified to both administer and train others in naloxone use—skills that directly enhance their community education efforts. Jennifer graduated from Canisius University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, providing a foundational understanding of human behavior and mental health that informs their compassionate, person-centered advocacy approach.
Prior to this role, Jennifer spent 4 years as a paralegal in the agency's housing unit, where they assisted clients facing eviction and navigating housing code violations. This experience provided firsthand insight into how legal challenges, housing insecurity, and health issues compound vulnerabilities for older adults—knowledge that now informs their holistic approach to substance use advocacy.