Meet the Team

Circuit Judge Chuck Clawson

Judge Chuck Clawson serves as a Circuit Judge in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit of Arkansas, which includes Faulkner, Searcy, and Van Buren counties.  In addition to his regular criminal, civil, probate, and domestic dockets he presides over both the Adult Drug Treatment Court and Veterans Court in Faulkner County.

Born and raised in Conway, Arkansas, Judge Clawson graduated from Arkansas State University before earning his law degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen Law School. His legal career began in private practice, followed by serving as a deputy prosecuting attorney, where he gained extensive courtroom experience.  He served two terms as the City Attorney for Conway where he advised the mayor and city council, as well as represented the city in all civil litigation.

Judge Clawson has expressed a lifelong passion for the law, stating that presiding over cases was a long-term goal since his time in law school. His judicial philosophy emphasizes fairness, integrity, and a commitment to justice.  His top priority since taking the bench has been ensuring the judicial system serves all members of the community effectively.

Beyond his legal career, a major focus for Judge Clawson has been his dedication to community involvement.  He and his wife Shawn live in Conway with their four sons.

Julian Wiggins

Julian Wiggins is the Program Director for the Faulkner County Drug Court. He is an ASACB credentialed Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor currently pursuing his Master’s Degree in Addiction Studies at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. Julian is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Incorporated.

Phil Burr

My name is Phil, a Peer Recovery Support Specialist with 29 years of lived experience in substance use disorder and over 7 years thriving in long-term recovery. I work with people on a daily basis who struggle with substance use disorder and mental health challenges. I have experience with multiple pathways to recovery and willing to help however I can. If you’re struggling or just need someone to listen, please reach out.

You do not have to do this alone.

Megan Copeland, APR

Megan Copeland, APR, serves as Project Manager and Peer Specialist Consultant on the FREE-C project. Ms. Copeland currently works with ABHIN and River Valley Medical Wellness as a Project Director and Lead Peer Recovery Support Specialist. She has contributed to several grant-funded programs by developing and leading initiatives that include peer recovery support specialists. Ms. Copland previously worked in the publishing industry for more than a decade prior and served as a Peer at the Department of Youth Services (DYS), gaining valuable experience in working with multi-discipline teams to support individuals on their path to recovery. This hands-on experience laid the foundation for her current role, where Megan brings a unique blend of personal insight and professional expertise to those in need. As Co-Founder of the Copeland Foundation and Director of Arkansas People Achieving Recovery Together (APART) Coalition, Megan is well-connected to a variety of state organizations focused on mental health and substance use services.

Kim Shuler, LCSW

Kim Shuler, LCSW, is ABHIN’s Chief Executive Officer and serves as a Harm Reduction Consultant on the FREE-C project. Ms. Shuler contributes more than 20 years of experience as a clinician and administrator working in a variety of integrated behavioral health settings. She has served as Project Director on five Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) projects over the past four years, as well as numerous contracts and foundation initiatives. Ms. Shuler has extensive experience in harm reduction, in training behavioral health providers and care teams, in assessing practice capacity and readiness, and in developing strategic and business operation plans to grow BHI programs. She is a certified behavioral health consultant trained through the University of Massachusetts in Amherst and spent a decade serving as Director of Behavioral Health in a large FQHC.

Rachel Blanton, MHA

Rachel Blanton, MHA, has worked with teams across Arkansas for the past five years as an evaluator and project consultant. She is an experienced state and national program director for rural behavioral health programs and practice improvement initiatives across the country. Ms. Blanton led the Rural Integrated Behavioral Health Hub Program for Idaho and has been awarded the “Emerging Leader in Public Health” honor from the Kresge Foundation. She also brings with her an extensive program evaluation and scaling background having presented promising programs to the CDC, National Rural Health Association and other professional organizations.