AC4C Youth

Substance Use Prevention Day on the Hill



Tuesday, February 17, 2026

EVENT DETAILS

What: Read the Fine Print: This is Addiction-for-Profit

Why: Raise Awareness about Substance Abuse Prevention

When: Tuesday, February 17, 2026

Agenda for the Day:

10:00 – Arrive at Iowa Historical Society building

10:15-11:30 – Youth training and lunch

11:30-11:45 or so – Walk to the Capitol, go through security

11:45-12:45 – Visit with your legislators, tour, go to a committee meeting, and be ready for the press conference in the 1st Floor

Rotunda – South/West Wing at 12:45

1:00-1:30 – Press Conference

1:30 -? - Meet with your legislators and experience the Capitol (have a tour with your legislator if you can) until you need to head home.

Agenda for Substance Use Prevention Press Conference

Where: 1st Floor Rotunda – West/South Wing

1:00pm Emcee: Peter H. Komendowski, Former President, Partnership for a Healthy Iowa

Youth Speakers:

1. Mackenzie, Washington High School, Cedar Rapids

2. Serenity, Washington High School, Cedar Rapids

3.Calli, Vinton-Shellsburg High School, Vinton

4.Stella, Winterset Community School District, Winterset

5.Alyssa, Carroll Community School District, Carroll

Invite your legislators to the press conference! Invite them to meet with you before or after the press conference.

Semi-casual dress. Wear comfortable shoes for walking.

If you can’t make it that day due to weather or some other circumstance please notify

Jennifer Husmann by text or call at 319-721-4463, by 8 a.m. the day before if possible.

Notifications to those registered about cancellations or postponements will be made by Noon the day before.

Please register with Jennifer at jhusmann@asac.us by noon Friday, February 6, 2026 (sooner is better)

Lunch is $11 per person and payable by Venmo @ACforC-Iowa or by check to AC4C. Mail to: 110 S. Williams St., Anamosa, IA 52205. Invoices/receipts are available.

Hope for good weather this year! Snow date is set for March 3. HERE is a link to the Day on the Hill toolkit to help prepare your group!

The morning starts with a youth training in the State Historical Building.

Youth will be speaking in the Capitol Rotunda to legislators and others. The press is invited too.

Upcoming Events:

AC4C Legislative Learning Event:

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Arrive by 7 a.m. with breakfast in the Legislative Dining Room, G15, at the Capitol.

Topics- Kratom, as well as Alcohol and Nicotine.

Main Speaker- Jennifer Sleiter, ARNP, CPNP-PC, PMHS, Blank Children's Star Center, and Iowa Drug Endangered Children Alliance President. Other AC4C members may be speaking too. (A flyer will be coming out soon.)

Spring Work Retreat:

March 24 and 25, 2026

The full detailed agenda is below in this newsletter.

Limited free lodging is available on campus at Camp Dodge the nights before, March 23 and 24. Indicate if this is needed when registering HERE.

Day 1, March 24 will also be our the annual voting for new Executive Board members so if you are interested in leading in this way please let anyone on the Board know!



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

For help quitting tobacco call Quitline Iowa 800-QUIT-NOW

We have 5 hooded sweatshirts and 3 long sleeve t-shirts left if you would like to purchase one. For sweatshirts, we have 2 Mediums, 1 Large, and 2 Extra Larges left. They are $40. For Long Sleeve t-shirts, we have 2 Mediums and 1 Large left. They are $28. You can either pick up one at the next AC4C Work Retreat, we can send it to you with the cost of postage, or we can bring it to the Day on the Hill Feb. 17. Just contact Jennifer Husmann and work out the Venmo, check or cash payment.

AC4C Spring Work Retreat

March 24 and 25, 2026

Tuesday, March 24

Day 1: 9:00 a.m. – 3:15 p.m.

Hybrid: In-Person at Camp Dodge – MCTC or Online via Zoom

9:00-9:45 a.m. – AC4C Orientation for New Members/Partners (Others are encouraged to attend too, please.)

9:45-10:15 a.m. – Introductions

10:15-10:30 a.m. – Coalition Business

 Approval of the December Work Retreat Minutes

 AC4C Executive Board Member Election

10:30-10:45 a.m. – Break

10:45-12:00 p.m. – DOTH Feedback; Action Team Sharing

 DOTH

 Alcohol

 Marijuana

 Nicotine

 Other Substances

12:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m. – Lunch Break – Time for Networking

1:30-2:00 p.m. – Workgroup Sharing

 Policy (MUP and other efforts)

 Capacity/Sustainability

2:00-2:30 p.m. – Grant Updates

 AC4C STOP Act Grant

 YSS- Iowa HHS State National Opioid Settlement Fund Grant

 Iowa Attorney General’s State National Opioid Settlement Grant application

2:30-2:45 p.m. - Break

2:45-3:45 p.m. – Coalition Sharing

3:45-4:00 p.m. – Wrap Up, Highlights of the Day, and Preview of Tomorrow

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

Day 2: Be at the Capitol by 7 a.m. for Legislative Learning Breakfast

Room G15 (Legislative Dining)

7:15-8:30 a.m., In-Person Only

Time to meet with legislators (8:30-11) and head to lunch at 11.

Work Retreat begins at 12:30 p.m. at DPS and Online, ends at 4:00 p.m.

12:30-12:45 p.m. – Introductions

12:45-2:15 p.m. – State Partner Sharing

2:15-2:30 p.m. – Break

2:30-3:45 p.m. – State Partner Sharing

3:45-4:00 p.m. – Wrap Up, Highlights of the Day, and Upcoming Events

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 meetings- February 2 @ 9:30 a.m.

Marijuana Action Team

Next meeting- February 9 @ 9:30 a.m.

Nicotine Action Team 

Next meeting: February 16 @ 9:30 a.m.

Alcohol Action Team

Next meetings- February 23 @ 9:30 a.m.

_______________________________

Policy Work Group

Co-Chair:  

Jennifer Husmann

Co-Chair: 

Maggie Ballard



4th Wednesday at 2:00 pm

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

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

_________________________________

Capacity/Sustainability Work Group

We are in need co-chairs for this group. Please let us know if you would like this leadership opportunity.

3rd Monday at 2:00 pm (Every other month now- next meeting February 16.)

Please let Jennifer know if you would like to be sent the link for the meeting.

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

For help quitting tobacco call Quitline Iowa 800-QUIT-NOW