February 2, 2018 | Lori Croasdell, 812-820-0620, lcroasdell@me.com
CEASe Joins Thousands of Community Leaders to Educate Congress
on Advancing Substance Abuse Prevention Efforts
SCOTT COUNTY, IN – Representatives from Scott County, Indiana, will join community leaders from across the country on Capitol Hill, Feb. 7th to meet with U.S. Senators and Representatives from nearly 50 states to educate them about critical substance abuse issues. These Congressional meetings were scheduled as a part of CADCA’s (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America) 28th Annual National Leadership Forum, the nation’s largest training event for substance abuse prevention and treatment professionals and researchers.
“Drug Free Communities Coordinator, Jamie Raichel, and I are so excited to have the opportunity to head to Capitol Hill and share our concerns and data with our State senators and representatives,” said Lori Croasdell, Coordinator for CEASe. “We plan to return to our community reenergized and ready to continue to advance our prevention advocacy efforts.”
“Capitol Hill Day is a vital opportunity for Forum attendees to communicate directly with their representatives to educate them about the successes and challenges facing our field and reiterate what legislators can do to advance prevention efforts,” said Gen. Arthur T. Dean, CADCA Chairman & CEO. “We are bringing the “boots on the ground” to Upper Senate Park and Capitol Hill with the knowledge of what communities are facing every day in this drug crisis and partnering with our nation’s legislators for prevention.”
Three Scott County youth, Byron Holland (Ivy Tech), Destinie, Achelpohl (Austin High School), and Eliza Mount (Scottsburg High School) will be joining them, advocating and educating federal legislators on behalf of CEASe, as well as attending the National Youth Coalition Training.
During CEASe’s first year of their Drug Free Communities funding, they have accomplished the following: evidence-based prevention curricula taught in Scott County public schools impacting grades 3-12; new Alternative Youth Activities in the heart of Austin’s highest substance misuse area; 34 medical, dental, and law enforcement professionals trained in INSPECT (Indiana’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program); 898,633 community-wide prevention education campaign reaches (radio, print, email, and social media); Student Drug Screening Policy implemented in both county high schools.
Capitol Hill Day kicks off with a plenary session and roundtable discussion followed by a rally at Upper Senate Park. The purpose of the rally is to raise awareness about the importance and impact of substance use prevention generally and community coalitions specifically in reducing the pipeline to addiction. Several distinguished members of Congress will provide remarks at each event. The day concludes with Congressional appointments for Forum attendees to interact directly with Senate and Congressional representatives.
CADCA’s National Leadership Forum is a four-day event packed with opportunities to learn the latest strategies to address substance abuse and hear from nationally-known prevention experts, federal administrators, and concerned policymakers. Forum brings together attendees representing coalitions from all regions of the country and internationally, government leaders, youth, prevention specialists, addiction treatment professionals, addiction recovery advocates, researchers, educators, law enforcement professionals, and faith-based leaders. It is the largest training event for the prevention field.
CEASe is a collaboration of community sectors reducing the incidence and prevalence of substance abuse and addictions among youth and adults in Scott County. The coalition plans, monitors, and evaluates comprehensive local alcohol and drug abuse plans. They also identify community drug programs, coordinate community initiatives, design comprehensive collaborative community strategies and monitor anti-drug activities at the local level. CEASe meets the first Thursdayof every month from 11:45 am to 1 pm in the Scott Memorial Hospital Conference Room. Everyone is welcome.
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