VAN BUREN COUNTY SAFE COALITION ATTENDED CADCA’S NATIONAL LEADERSHIP FORUM TO LEARN NEW SKILLS TO INCREASE SUBSTANCE MISUSE PREVENTION EFFORTS IN VAN BUREN COUNTY

A representative from Van Buren County headed to the Washington, D.C., area to join more than 3,000 substance misuse prevention specialists and advocates from throughout the country for CADCA’s (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America's) 30th Annual National Leadership Forum.

“I was so excited to be able to spend several days with other similar organizations from across the country, learning and honing my prevention skills so my community can be a better place, one that doesn’t suffer from the harms of substance misuse,” said Kris Rankin SAFE Coalition & IPFS Coordinator. “I came back re-energized with new strategies under my belt to tackle substance use in Van Buren County.”

CADCA’s Forum covered a wide range of topics – everything from how to prevent prescription misuse to addressing electronic cigarettes use, trending marijuana issues and how to develop policies to reduce underage drinking.

Our coalition has recently impacted the community by working to address underage drinking and underage binge drinking by working with local privately owned facilities that host community events and city councils to develop best practices alcohol restrictions for their facilities and public places.  The coalition also worked with the Van Buren County Community School District to implement the Botvin Life Skills Curriculum with the 7^th & 8^th grade students during their Explore Rotation.  The coalition has also continued to work with the 7-12^th grade students at the Van Buren County Junior/Senior High School through the Youth Leadership Council.  The Youth Leadership Council learns about substance misuse and then does activities for their peers to promote a substance abuse free lifestyle. 

Our coalition representative heard from several leaders including Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).  The SAFE Coalition also met with U.S. Representatives and Senators at the Forum’s Capitol Hill Day event on Wednesday, Feb. 5. During those meetings, they shared local data with each of them to show what has been happening around substance misuse in Van Buren County. 

CADCA’s National Leadership Forum, the nation’s largest training event for community prevention leaders, treatment professionals and researchers took place at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center Feb. 3-6, 2020. Visit the CADCA Forum website for details about training sessions, speakers and special events.

The Van Buren County SAFE Coalition seeks to stimulate community involvement to promote responsible behaviors, among youth and adults leading to SAFE (Substance Abuse Free Environments) and healthy communities.  For information about the coalition please contact the SAFE Coalition by phone at 319-293-3334 ext. 1017 or by email at safe.coalition@van-burencsd.org.

About CADCA The mission of CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America) is to strengthen the capacity of community coalitions to create and maintain safe, healthy and drug-free communities globally. This is accomplished by providing technical assistance and training, public policy advocacy, media strategies and marketing programs, training and special events.