Prevention Resources Inc

PARTNERSHIP FOR HEALTH DRUG-FREE TASK FORCE RECEIVES CADCA’S 2020 CHAIRMAN’S AWARD
AT CADCA 2021 VIRTUAL NATIONAL LEADERSHIP FORUM
Flemington, NJ –
The Partnership for Health Drug-Free Task Force was named the 2020 Chairman’s Award winner by Community Anti- Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), the nation’s leading substance abuse prevention organization. The Chairman’s Award program recognizes coalitions who have demonstrated and applied the core competencies and essential processes of effective community problem solving. Leaders from the Partnership for Health Drug-Free Task Force will accept the award from CADCA’s Executive Chairman, Gen. Arthur T. Dean on February 2, 2021, at CADCA’s Virtual National Leadership Forum.

CADCA’s National Leadership Forum is a four-day event packed with opportunities to learn the latest strategies to fight substance abuse and hear from nationally-known prevention experts, federal administrators, and concerned policymakers. The Forum brings together 3,000+ participants representing coalitions from all regions of the country and internationally, government leaders, youth, prevention specialists, addiction treatment professionals, addiction recovery advocates, researchers, education institutions, law enforcement professionals, and faith-based leaders. It is the largest training conference for community-based substance abuse prevention professionals, coalition leaders and prevention and addiction researchers.

To be chosen as a Chairman’s Award recipient, coalitions must attend and graduate from the CADCA National Coalition Institute’s National Coalition Academy (NCA). The NCA is a comprehensive training program that teaches coalition leaders “what they need to know” and “what their team needs to do” to establish or maintain a highly effective anti-drug coalition. The NCA’s training curriculum is organized within the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Strategic Prevention Framework. By the end of the year-long training, coalitions develop six essential products (1) a community assessment, (2) a logic model, (3) a strategic & action plan, (4) an evaluation plan, (5) a sustainability plan and (6) a communication evaluation plan. In the Chairman’s Award application, the coalition must demonstrate how they applied the NCA curriculum to their coalition work and what successes and lessons learned resulted from attending.

Meghan Moore Project Coordinator of the Partnership for Health Drug-Free Task Force said, “Erin and I are incredibly grateful for our experience with the National Coalition Academy (NCA). Our time with the NCA gave us powerful insight in to the world of prevention. We were given the opportunity to look closely at the work the Partnership for Health Drug-Free Task Force is doing to ensure we are truly making an impact on prevention in Hunterdon County.”

“Meghan and I are proud of the work that we completed in the NCA. During our time with the NCA we were constantly evaluating and adjusting our work. When we finished the NCA and took a close look at all the work we had accomplished, we felt that we had the tools to make a powerful impact on substance misuse in Hunterdon County.” remarked coalition member Erin Cohen.

The Partnership for Health Drug-Free Task Force received the 2020 Chairman’s Award for not only applying what they learned from the NCA to their coalition work, but also because of the strong work completed to better inform and represent all members of the Hunterdon County community.

“As the Chairman and CEO of CADCA, it is an honor to present this award to the Partnership for Health Drug-Free Task Force during our 2021 National Coalition Academy (NCA) Virtual Graduation. What the coalition has achieved since attending the NCA is truly remarkable and I am excited to see what they will accomplish in the future.” said Gen. Arthur T. Dean, CADCA’s Executive Chairman.

The Partnership for Health Drug-Free Task Force has been busy since the completion of the NCA. In late October, the coalition collaborated with Prevention Resources on their Annual Fall Professional Conference. Meghan Moore hosted a session on Pride in Prevention with Hudson Pride to raise awareness of the needs of the LGBTQ+ community in prevention. The coalition also hosted Game Night each week where young adults were encouraged to participate in an online trivia game. Participants were also provided information to increase awareness of the dangers of substance misuse. The coalition has also worked to inform the community about the Help App. The Help App provides valuable hotlines, text lines, and resources for drugs/alcohol, suicide and self-harm, mental health and more. This app can be downloaded free on both Apple and Android devices.

“We are so grateful for funding from the Office of National Drug Control Policy’s Drug Free Communities Grant to send members of our coalition to CADCA’s National Coalition Academy” said Lesley Gabel the Co-CEO of Prevention Resources, and Project Director for the Partnership for Health Drug-Free Task Force. “This training provides us with the tools to make impactful and measurable changes to reduce substance use. We want to thank General Dean, General Price, and CADCA for recognizing our coalition’s work at this high level.”