January 2022
AC4C Monthly Roundtable
Spotlight on North Iowa Addiction Prevention Alliance!

The North Iowa Addiction Prevention Alliance is a newly named coalition with roots that have been focused on tobacco for over 20 years. The Alliance meets in Mason City in Cerro Gordo County and is open to everyone in the surrounding area. Members include Cerro Gordo (CG) and Floyd County Public Health, MercyOne, Prairie Ridge Integrated Behavioral Healthcare, law enforcement, a school representative, city of Rockwell, Mason City Youth Task Force, American Cancer Society CAN (Cancer Action Network) from Hancock County, and Community Action including Head Start. The goal is to have partners from all the surrounding communities and youth involved. Working with the IPN grant through Prairie Ridge, the group decided to broaden the tobacco focus to reach some additional issues in the community. They developed a charter with elected officers and by-laws.

Currently the group is assessing their capacity. In February and March the group will develop a strategic plan with implementation to begin immediately in the spring. The group has discussed various data and the issues affecting the community including criminal activity and how it may relate to retailer density. The needs assessed and prioritized include tobacco use/vaping, underage drinking, binge drinking, gambling, marijuana, and prescription drug misuse. CG Public Health has an intern who is developing a survey to be taken by businesses, the medical and education sectors, and families. The survey will help the Alliance know what the community sees as issues, what policies the sectors have in place to mediate these issues, and what they would like to see implemented by the coalition to help.   

Many of the members have been committed to this journey for close to 20 years and look forward to growing the coalition to meet the expanded vision. If you are in the north central Iowa area and would like to be involved, please contact Penny McCaslin at pmccaslin@cghealth.com or call 641-421-9329. At this time the group meets the second Tuesday of the month beginning at 11:30 a.m. at CG Public Health, with a virtual option. As the group grows they will consider whatever time works best for most of the membership. 

(Thank you, Penny McCaslin, for telling us about the North Iowa Addiction Prevention Alliance!)
AC4C is still seeking a
Youth Coordinator!

AC4C has a 10 hour/week paid Youth Coordinator position open immediately. This position will work with the AC4C Youth as well as other related AC4C work in the Drug Free Community grant action plan. Please see the job description HERE. If you know of anyone who would be a good fit for this position, please encourage them to send their resume to Jennifer Husmann or Lorelle Mueting, AC4C Board President,  Also, if you have any questions about the position, feel free to ask either person above.
Mark Your Calendars!
Upcoming Retreats and Events: 
 
  • March 22 & 23, 2022 (See agenda below.)
  • June 28 & 29, 2022
  • Sept. 14 & 15, 2022
(Registration is open for all of these retreats at MCTC's Course Calendar HERE.
AC4C
Day on the Hill
February 24, 2022
See the agenda for the day below!
Resources to Share and Links to check out... 

Members, keep up with the latest in the news


Looking for a training

 
 
 

Do you know about RALI Iowa?
Check out this organization and information about their virtual trailer HERE
 
More resources...

 
 
 

Mid-America Prevention Training Transfer Center (PTTC) featured AC4C on their Podcast. Check it out and their website for training opportunities and other resources to support prevention here in Iowa. 


AC4C Youth Substance Use Prevention
Day on the Hill-
February 24, 2022

"It's Not a War on Drugs, It's a Defense of our Mental Health"
Agenda for the Day:
 10:00 – Arrive at Jessie Parker building
10:15-11:30 – Youth training and pizza
11:30-11:45 – Go to the Capitol, go through security and be ready for the press conference in the 1st Floor Rotunda – East/North Wing
 11:45-Noon – Meet in the 1st Floor Rotunda – East/North Wing
Noon-12:30 – Press Conference

Speakers include:
-Prevention Specialist talking about theme
-Parent who lost daughter to overdose
-Outstanding America Miss Iowa Teen
-School Principal
-NAMI Iowa
-Law Enforcement
Invite your legislators to the press conference!
12:30 - ? Meet with your legislators and experience the Capitol until you need to head home
Check out the Day on the Hill TOOLKIT with all the details to help you be ready to attend and bring youth.

The next AC4C Quarterly
Work Retreat! March 22-23
Native American PTTC
and Ben Cort

We have a couple amazing trainings and an event scheduled during our retreat this time. Day 1 will be at MCTC with the afternoon training by Sean Bear from the National American Indian and Alaskan Native Prevention Technology Transfer Center our of the University of Iowa. This will be an overview of their services as well as a cultural competency training.

Day 2 will be at the Capitol and Department of Public Safety building. Ben Cort will be presenting to the legislators about marijuana issues that morning at the Capitol before we start our meeting. He will also join our meeting that morning at the DPS building to provide more marijuana prevention strategy training for us! Register for the Retreat HERE.
Here is the 2-day agenda:
Tuesday, March 22, 2022- Hybrid
DAY 1: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
8:30-9:00 – Registration, coffee, and networking at MCTC or Zoom
9:00-9:30 - Orientation
9:30-10:00 - Introductions
10:00-10:30 - Elections
10:30-10:45- Break- Networking
10:45-11:00- New staff, assistant(s) and updates
11:00-12:00 – Action Plan approval or other business (sustainability, etc.) and/or Action Team and Workgroup report out 
12:00-1:30 - Lunch Break
1:30-3:45 – Sean Bear, Native PTTC- Requesting approval for 2 CEUs by IBC (with break)
3:45-4:00 – Highlights from the day, preview of tomorrow’s agenda
 
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
 DAY 2: 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
7:00-9:00 – Set up, arrive by 7:30 a.m., Legislative Learning Event at the Capitol- Ben Cort speaking at 8 a.m. (Park at DPS before, walk back to the DPS after)
9:30-10:00 – Introductions- hybrid meeting at DPS for the rest of the day
10:00-12:00- Ben Cort address AC4C with more to know (CEUs will be requested)
(Ben Cort is pictured to the right.)
12:00-1:15- Lunch at nearby restaurants
1:15-3:15 - State Partner Sharing
3:15-3:30- Upcoming Events and Wrap Up 
VISION:

Connected Communities.
Effective Coalitions. 
Healthy Iowans. 

 MISSION:

Unifying Iowans to reduce youth substance misuse
on a state
and community level.
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 7 @ 9:30
Marijuana Action Team
Next meeting- February 14 @ 9:30
Nicotine Action Team 
Next meeting- February 21 @ 9:30

Alcohol Action Team
Next meetings- January 24 @ 9:30
and February 28 @ 9:30
_______________________________

Policy Work Group
 
Chair:  
Co-Chair: 
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.
_________________________________

Marketing and Communications Work Group (currently meeting with Capacity Work group)

Seeking a new Chair. Let Jennifer or an AC4C Board Member know if you are interested.

Purpose: To build skills and provide resources to members of AC4C 
_________________________________

Capacity Work Group (currently meeting with Marketing & Communications Group)

Chair:
3rd Monday at 2:00 pm

Click here for meeting minutes

Purpose: Create a network of professionals that have a diverse knowledge, experience and interest
2021 AC4C Board
Top row - L to R: Lorelle Mueting- President,
Kristin Frank- VP,
Kris Rankin- Secretary

Bottom row- L to R: Julie Furne-
At Large,
Jackie Preston-
At Large,
Stacie Schroeder- Treasurer

If you are interested in being on the Executive Board please let Jennifer or Lorelle know. We will be having elections on March 22 at the AC4C Quarterly Work Retreat.
AC4C
319-462-4327 x661
ia.ac4c@gmail.com
https://ac4c.org/
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