Sustaining our Mission:



Thank you to every member and partner of AC4C!

We always hear that each individual snowflake is unique. The snow is piling up outside our houses and offices this month as we start the new year. AC4C has started Year 10 of 10 of our Drug Free Community (DFC) grant. We are thinking harder about what AC4C will look like in the future.

AC4C with the Iowa Office of Drug Control Policy as our fiscal grantee have been awarded the smaller STOP Act grant through SAMHSA to reduce underage drinking. We haven't been able to start it yet due to some changes outside of our control, but we are working on that and trying to be ready to go as soon as we receive the funding. That funding will help with some specific goals of AC4C for a few more years. To keep the momentum of our collaboration going, though, we will need to keep searching and asking all of our members and partners to consider leadership opportunities that this transition from having a DFC grant for 10 years will require.

Back to the snow....much more importantly and differently than the unique snowflakes that sometimes collectively are beautiful and sometimes are not as fun to deal with, each individual member of AC4C brings unique skills, experiences, talents and personalities to the table that help us collectively reach our mission and goals in ways we could not without you there. We also strive to help each other reach the common goals of each organization we represent.

One thing I know for sure is that AC4C members and partners are great at helping each other. We work hard to move best practices forward to make a difference for, and with, our youth. With this spirit of collaboration, I'm confident AC4C and our mission will sustain for years to come. Each of you are the Iowa Alliance of Coalitions for Change. AC4C fills a unique role in Iowa that no other organization does. I hope you have had a chance to catch the vision of AC4C and see how much being a part of the group can benefit your work.

Here's to 2024! Thanks for being a part of AC4C! Although it is so awesome to be together in person, I am really glad that most of our AC4C collaboration is virtual or can easily transition to virtual.

BUT....let's hope the snow can stay away for our Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Day on the Hill on February 15th this year! I know many of our youth really want an opportunity to see the Capitol and let their voices be heard standing in the Rotunda and meeting with the legislators! The legislators need to know how the substances of concern and their policy work affects them.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Husmann

AC4C Project Coordinator

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

Upcoming Events:

2024 Day on the Hill:

-Thursday, February 15 (see information below in newsletter)

2024 Legislative Learning Event on Alcohol

-Tuesday, March 26, breakfast starting at 7:15 a.m.

Drs. Paul Gilbert and Shawn Dorius will be speaking about Alcohol-related illness and deaths in Iowa, as well as policies to reduce them!

(Held in the Legislative Dining Room at the Capitol- Room G15)

Flyer to share with your legislators will be sent out soon. Go ahead and invite them now to both the Day on the Hill and the Legislative Learning Event with a quick text, call or email.

Spring Work Retreat - (Two separate days in March)

Day 1- Wednesday, March 6, 8:30-4 (Virtual Only)

Register HERE

Day 2- Tuesday, March 26, 10-3, after the Legislative Learning Event above, but at MCTC with virtual option. Register HERE

Limited lodging may be available for the night of March 25 at Camp Dodge for those coming in person to to the Legislative Learning Event and retreat following. Please contact Jennifer if needed.

Please register for Day 1 and Day 2 separately! Agendas will be coming out soon.

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 Youth Substance Use Prevention

Day on the Hill

"Putting Youth First: Challenging

Addiction-for-Profit"

Thursday, February 15

2024

AC4C will once again be hosting the Day on the Hill for Youth Substance Use Prevention.

Something new this year! We will be having the youth training and lunch at the Iowa State Historical Building and then walking up the Capitol. It is still a very short walk like the Jessie Parker building was.

Lunch will be provided the by contracted caterer, Barrata's Italian Restaurant. We will be having a Penne Pasta lunch with salad, rolls, and cookies. The cost is $10/person. Another fun new part this year! Everyone will get an AC4C refillable water bottle with our youth and AC4C logos and the Day on the Hill theme!

Theme: Putting our Youth First: Challenging Addiction-for-Profit

Agenda for the Day:

10:00 – Arrive at Iowa Historical Society building

10:15-11:00 – Youth training

11:00-11:30-- Lunch

11:30-11:45 – Go to the Capitol, go through security, and be ready for the press conference.

11:45-Noon – Meet in the 1^st Floor Rotunda – East/North Wing

Noon-12:30 – Press Conference

12:30 -? - Meet with your legislators and experience the Capitol (have a tour with your legislator if you can) until you need to head home.

Invite your legislators to the press conference and talk to them about meeting with you afterwards.

Register for the Event: Please feel free to invite community members adults/youth or members of your coalition to attend this event with you. Contact Jennifer at jhusmann@asac.us, with the name of your coalition and the number of youth and adults who will be attending.

PLEASE REGISTER BY Friday, February 2, 2024 AT NOON

(Inclement weather date is set for February 29 in the Historical Building auditorium)

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- February 5 @ 9:30

Marijuana Action Team

Next meetings- February 12 @ 9:30



Nicotine Action Team 

Next meetings- February 19 @ 9:30

Alcohol Action Team

Next meetings- January 22 @ 9:30 and February 26 @ 9:30

_______________________________

Policy Work Group

Chair:  

Jennifer Husmann

Co-Chair: 

Maggie Ballard



4th Wednesday at 2:00 pm

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:

Jackie Preston

New Co-Chair:

Chris Courtney

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. 

January is Birth Defects Prevention Month

For help quitting tobacco call Quitline Iowa at 800-Quit-Now