Dr. Leona Eggert co-developed Reconnecting Youth: A Peer Group Approach to Building Life Skills (RY) and Coping and Support Training (CAST) with Ms. Liela Nicholas. During her years as a member of the faculty at the University of Washington School of Nursing in Seattle, WA, Leona received extensive funding from NIDA, NIMH, and the U.S. Department of Education to test RY (Reconnecting Youth) and CAST (Coping And Support Training: A Road Map for Teen Groups). Leona’s work experience includes child/adolescent psychosocial nursing, and she is a certified health educator and school nurse. Leona is the author of Anger Management for Youth: Stemming Aggression and Violence, and the principal author of the RY and CAST curricula, as well as The Youth Suicide Prevention Plan for Washington State. She has authored numerous journal articles and book chapters about her work with at-risk youth. Leona is a University of Washington Professor Emeritus and is co-owner and President of Reconnecting Youth Inc. Leona’s work exemplifies a life dedicated to helping at-risk youth, their families, and their communities.