November 2021
AC4C Monthly Roundtable
Coalition Development Coordinator Hired for Joint Venture with IDPH

From Katya: I am about to start the AC4C Coalition Development Coordinator position, and thought you might like to know me better.

I fell into the substance abuse prevention field accidentally, by getting a job at MECCA (now Prelude Behavioral Cervices) in Washington County after finishing college with a pedagogy degree in linguistics. I thought it would be a temporary couple of years gig, and then I would move to a job in my field of studies. But as time went by, and I learned prevention, got certified in programs such as PRIME For Life, Strengthening Families, CMCA, and many others, I liked it more and more. Right away when I started, I was building a coalition in Washington County, which was a rewarding challenge.

Five years later I switched to working with the existing coalitions in Iowa City and Johnson County, and as funding went away, I initiated a merge of the two, and a major restructure of the coalitions, and involved the University of Iowa Vice President and Iowa City Mayor to chair the newly formed coalition called Partnership for Alcohol Safety. At the same time, I was involved in starting AC4C, and helping Cedar and Iowa counties to start their coalitions.

Then I had my first child, I left my job to spend more time with family, but stayed involved with AC4C, and the Partnership for Alcohol Safety, as I felt deeply connected to the two groups and the work they were doing. I took two of my coalitions through CADCA coalition academy over the 10 years of working at MECCA.

Knowing of my experience and having more time available, CADCA recruited me to work as a contract trainer in Central Asia, and the first test was speaking at the UNODC conference in Istanbul, and then to help persuade the Central Asian countries to invite CADCA to build coalitions there. This November marks 10 years since I started building coalitions in Central Asia, I currently support 37 coalitions in 3 countries, and provide trainings and technical assistance to coalitions as a guest trainer in Indonesia, the Philippines, Albania and Ghana.

I led the initial introduction of CADCA’s coalition training program and held negotiations with the Albanian government, as a result, Albania has several coalitions working to prevent drug use. I coached the coalitions in the Philippines to organize an association of coalitions at a national level, and their association is now well established and gets funding from the national government. Over the years, I spoke at multiple CADCA conferences, and national conferences in other countries.

Simultaneously, in 2012, Prevention Research Institute reached out to me and invited me to work as a Contract Trainer of Trainers for PRIME For Life, and speak at the continuing education conferences. Since the beginning of the pandemic, I also started coaching the new PRIME For Life instructors on their skills after they complete the training. 

As you may know, I was nominated to serve on the AC4C Board in 2012, where I held several positions including President. I stepped down from the board in 2021. Now I am excited to help AC4C in this new capacity to build coalitions under IDPH's SPF PFS Grant, and work on the new-to-me area of prevention of alcohol-related deaths among adults 45 and older.
Mark Your Calendars!
Upcoming Retreats and Events: 
 
  • December 1 & 2, 2021 (see information below)
  • March 22 & 23, 2022
  • June 28 & 29, 2022
  • Sept. 14 & 15, 2022
AC4C
Day on the Hill
February 24, 2022 More information coming soon!
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 is 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 attached job description. 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.

Thanks to Ryan Doyle for serving AC4C for two years! Ryan is now working for ISU in a substance-related position. Congratulations, Ryan!

AC4C Quarterly Work Retreat
December 1 & 2
In-person at Camp Dodge and On-line

DAY 1: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
8:30-9:00 - Registration, coffee, networking
9:00-9:30 - Orientation with 3 ring binders- wait on introductions (for new members, but current members are wanted too!)
·      Where to find information
·      Benefits sharing- one thing members like and pair up with someone new
·      New people- One glaring or not so glaring question
·      Membership form- what workgroup or action teams can you participate in?
·      Ethical Conduct form
9:30-10:00 – Introductions- if you participated in the Prevention Conference, share a highlight
10:00-10:30 – Mary Schissel- Annual Report
10:30-10:45- Break- Networking
10:45-11:15- Katya Boltanova, AC4C’s new SPF PFS Coalition Development Coordinator, update
11:15-12:00 – AC4C Sustainability Plan
12:00-1:30 - Lunch Break – Local Restaurants
1:30-2:30 – David Phillips, Idaho Statewide Coalition Director and marketing expert
       Social Media Marketing training
2:30-2:45- Break
2:45-3:00- Niccole Tate, ADDS, CADCA Midyear highlights
3:00-3:45- Marketing/Capacity and/or Policy Workgroups and report out- Year 8 Action Plan
3:45-4:00 – Highlights from today, preview of Day 2's agenda

DAY 2: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
8:00-8:30 - Registration, coffee, networking—wear an ugly Christmas sweater for fun!
8:30-9:00 – Introductions- Favorite holiday appetizer- Day One Recap/Highlights
9:00-10:30 - State Partner Sharing-
10:30-11:00 – Break - Networking 
11:00-12:00 - State Partner Sharing continued
12:00-1:00 - Networking lunch with subs, chips, and fruit brought in. (Pitch in donations)
1:00-2:30 – Action Teams- group participation
2:30-2:45- Break
2:45-3:15- Year End Recognition!
3:15-3:30 - Upcoming Events and Wrap Up 

Please register whether you are coming in-person or virtually, and whether you are coming for an hour or for the whole two day meeting.
  
There are inexpensive rooms available yet at Camp Dodge. If you have funding to pay for them, please go ahead and pay for them either ahead or when you arrive.

If you do not have funding to pay, please contact Jennifer Husmann and AC4C will help you attend the retreat by covering those costs. The costs are: Female only rooms at the rate of $37 that have private bathrooms, or for males (or females if they run out of the $37 ones) potentially some $56 a night rooms which would have private bathrooms.

Here is who you contact to get a room, whether you need funding help or not: Camp Dodge Billeting Office Give them this information:

First and last name
Phone number at which you can be reached
Department you are with and what city
Check in date
Check out date

We do have a virtual option available again for those who cannot attend in person. As usual, we are not promising it will be a great option, but we’ll try our best. Please let Jennifer know if you are coming virtually at any point and she will send you the link.
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- December 6 @ 9:30
Marijuana Action Team
Next meeting- December 13 @ 9:30
Nicotine Action Team 
Next meeting- December 20 @ 9:30

Alcohol Action Team
Next meetings- November 22 @ 9:30
and December 27 @ 9:30
(We will have this meeting for those of you who are working between the holidays.)
_______________________________

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. Thanks to Sue Greene for leading this group for 2 years!

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

We have had a few resignations from the board the past 2 months due to changes of jobs and responsibilities.

Thanks to Dana Allen, David Condry, and Sue Greene for their service on the board!

If you are interested in being on the Executive Board please let Jennifer or Lorelle know.
AC4C
319-462-4327 x661
https://ac4c.org/
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