6th Annual

AC4C Prevention Conference

"Empowering Prevention!"

November 7, 2024

Midwest Counterdrug Training Center, Johnston, IA

The AC4C Prevention Conference is right around the corner. Please register soon! Registration closes after October 28. Our planning team is excited to have Melissa Moore as our keynote speaker this year. Melissa Moore has worked in Public Health for nearly 23 years, leading substance abuse prevention and coalition efforts in multiple diverse communities.

The AC4C Prevention Conference planning committee is inviting your Coalition to share your successes for others to learn from and celebrate with you! 

This would be similar to poster sessions presented at other conferences. Your coalition or youth advocacy group is encouraged to share the great things they have done in the past year, sharing their knowledge to motivate and inspire others. We know there are many great activities that coalitions, youth, and agency folks are doing that they need to be shared and celebrated! You are also encouraged to nominate a coalition or prevention specialist that is doing exciting and important work in their communities and from whom we can learn. 

At the end of the day at the Prevention Conference on November 7th, a visual presentation will need to be presented. You can provide a printed poster/handouts or photos/video on the screen. The items you present are provided by you and within your budget. 

Please nominate your coalition or youth project(s)/group by sending an email to jhusmann@asac.us with why you are nominating them to this email by this Monday, OCTOBER 21^st. Please include the following information: 

Name of person or coalition: 

Name of person submitting nomination: 

Title of Project:

Brief overview of the project including idea, strategy, intervention, and need:

2- 4 Outcomes to demonstrate success:

2 - 4 Lessons learned:

Name(s) of presenters: 

The Prevention Conference will include many other great topics and presenters for both those new and more experienced who work or volunteer in prevention and prevention coalitions. The conference has been approved by IBC for 6.0 ATOD CEUs. Register HERE by October 28.

There is also a Youth Track for coalitions to bring their students. (See their agenda below. Youth are FREE.)

Agenda:

7:45-8:45 a.m.- Registration- Resource Fair- Light Breakfast- Rec Hall

8:45-9:00 a.m.- Opening Welcome- Theater

9:00- 10:15 a.m.- Opening Keynote address- Melissa Moore, M3 Consulting LLC- “Don’t Stop, Keep Moving”

10:15-10:30 a.m.- Early Break (Adults move to workshops; youth go to Youth Track)

10:30-11:30 a.m.- Breakouts/Workshops:

A1. Josie Wagler, Iowa DPS- “Legislative Update”

A2. Christina Mensinger, ASAC, and Sergeant Dean Ottens, Clinton PD– “Demystifying SUD and Harm Reduction”

A3. Julie Furne, ASAC/CADCA Trainer- “Getting Buy-In to Get the Job Done”- Coalition Capacity Building and Coalition Member Engagement

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.- Lunch - Taco Bar

12:30- 1:30 p.m.- Breakouts/Workshops:

B1. Melissa Moore- “Handshakes, not Handouts” – Coalition Sustainability

B2. Katya Boltanova, PFS PAM Coalition Development Coordinator/CADCA International Trainer- “Cultural Competence for Community Coalitions”

B3. Todd Hospodarsky, Monticello High School Teacher and SODA group sponsor- “Building a Strong School Program” Getting schools on board and getting youth involved

Break- 1:30-1:45 p.m.

1:45-2:45 p.m. – Breakouts/Workshops:

C1. Kevin Winker and Virgil Jackson, Midwest HIDTA- “National Overdose Response Strategy”- OD Mapping

C2. Shawn Felts, Speak Out Against Suicide Director- “QPR, Question Persuade, and Refer” -a suicide prevention training

C3. Peter Komendowski, PHI Executive Director- “Digital Wellness, Mental Health, and Youth High-Risk Behavior”

2:45-3:00 p.m.- Break

3:00-3:45 p.m.- Youth join adults, Youth share highlights of their day

3:45-4:15 p.m.- Call to Action- Closing Posters- top coalition project/youth projects (more about this soon)

4:15-4:30 p.m.- Wrap up

Youth Track Agenda after the Keynote for all:

10:15 – 10:30 Break – Youth move to their track

10:30 – 11:30 Mental Health & Wellness – Kalli-Ann Kennel and B Tyrrell

11:30 – 12:30 Lunch

12:30 – 1:30 Marijuana & Youth – Savanah Strahan

1:30 – 1:45 Break

1:45 – 2:45 Finding Your Superpower – Melissa Moore

2:45 – 3:00 Break -Youth join adults in auditorium

3:00 – 3:45 Youth share highlights

3:45-4:15 Call to Action

4:15 – 4:30 Wrap up

Upcoming Events:

AC4C Annual Prevention Conference -

Thursday, November 7, 2024

Register HERE! (See agenda to left or above. See the Hidden in Plain Sight Backpack Project explained also in this newsletter. The backpacks will be distributed at the Prevention Conference to those who have applied and are chosen to receive them. Sign up for the conference today if you haven't already.)

December Quarterly Work Retreat- Wed. & Thurs., December 4 and 5. Register HERE. Information about this retreat will be coming out by email and in next month's newsletter. Plan on a brief Minimum Unit Pricing for Alcohol Strategy/Policy Steps training among other normal work retreat agenda items.



AC4C Day on the Hill next year: Thursday, February 13, 2025

AC4C Legislative Learning Event: Tuesday, March 25, 2025, 7 a.m., Legislative Dining Room G15

Resources to Share and Links to check out... 

Members, keep up with the latest in the news

AC4C on Facebook

AC4C Youth on Instagram

Looking for a training

Iowa Board of Certification

Iowa ODCP

Iowa State Patrol

Iowa Health and Human Services & Your Life Iowa

Partnership for A Healthy Iowa

Do you know about RALI Iowa?

Check out this organization and information about their virtual trailer HERE

More resources...

Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau

Drive Smart Iowa

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Traffic Safety Marketing

Stop Drugged Driving

AC4C members, state partners and others, if you have teens in your coalitions, schools, family, or other areas of your life who might be interested in being a part of AC4C Youth,

they, or you, can send an email to: ac4cyouth@gmail.com

It's a great day to quit (or never start). Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW

Saturday, October 26 is the DEA National Take Back Day across the country!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Hidden in Plain Sight Backpack Project

Due to the amazing partnership AC4C has with the Iowa Office of Drug Control Policy (ODCP), we have been given an opportunity to help many prevention coalitions and agencies across the state get a Hidden in Plain Sight (HIPS) backpack tool to train parents, caregivers, educators and other adults on youth substance use trends in Iowa.

In the backpack are examples of products that can easily be missed by an untrained eye. Adults will learn what products look like, signs of substance use, and how to start a conversation with youth. The backpacks will be distributed at the AC4C Prevention Conference and at our December Work Retreat at MCTC at Camp Dodge in Johnston. If it is not possible to come to either event, the backpacks will be available at ODCP's office in Des Moines or AC4C's office in Anamosa. If you did not receive an application by email contact Jennifer at jhusmann@asac.us. The applications are due very quickly, October 23.

Why is Hidden in Plain Sight Important?

Now more than ever it is important to stay educated on the ever-changing substances that are marketed to our youth everyday. Not only is it important to know what the products look like but how to talk to youth about expectations and the dangers of substance use.

Why Backpacks?

Some prevention coalitions can set up large mock teen bedroom scenes, but not everyone has that resource. The backpack is a newer educational tool for parents that is easily portable for people working on substance use prevention to bring to community events. Along with the backpack we will have a training video on the AC4C website by an Iowa Drug Recognition Expert going through the backpack's items. There is already an information guide, conversation starters, a signs and symptoms handout for parents and educators downloadable on our website HERE.

Besides ODCP, AC4C would like to thank the Healthiest Manitowoc County Substance Use Prevention Action Team for sharing their resources to make this project possible!

Join an Action Team or Work Group session every month!

Access the action team meetings on Mondays. Login information here

Other Substances Action Team

Next meeting- November 4 @ 9:30 a.m.

Marijuana Action Team

Next meetings- November 11 @ 9:30 a.m.



Nicotine Action Team 

Next meetings- October 21 and November 18 @ 9:30 a.m.

Alcohol Action Team

Next meetings- October 28 and November 25 @ 9:30 a.m.

_______________________________

Policy Work Group

Chair:  

Jennifer Husmann

Co-Chair: 

Maggie Ballard



4th Wednesday at 2:00 pm (Not meeting in September due to the AC4C Work Retreat)

Looking for a volunteer to replace Jennifer as a Co-chair on this work group. If you are interested in this position please contact a board member or Jennifer.  

Meeting information can be found here

Click here for meeting minutes

Purpose: To collaborate with the community and statewide entities to advocate and educate on substance abuse legislation, policies, and related issues.

_________________________________

Capacity/Marketing Work Group

Chair:

Chris Courtney

New Co-Chair:

Kelly Hutcheson

3rd Monday at 2:00 pm

Click here for meeting minutes

Purpose: Create a network of professionals that have diverse knowledge, experience, and interests to build skills and provide resources to members of AC4C.