March 2022
AC4C Monthly Roundtable
Spotlight on Howard County Prevention 5 Coalition!

The Howard County Prevention 5 Coalition is a group of highly engaged citizens who strive to bring awareness to substance misuse, teen pregnancy, mental health, and overall wellness of the community. Through collaborative efforts, Prevention 5 focuses on educating and raising awareness in the community to the resources that are available. With the pandemic and shutdown, plans had to change and events were canceled. However, the coalition was able to remain thanks to strong partnerships and members that have a firm grasp on how their goals overlap with the mission and vision of the group.

The Coalition is looking forward and is currently planning events such as a Hidden in Plain Sight exhibit at the Mighty Howard County Fair, and a Teen Maze Event for youth in the county to take place in the Fall. The Teen Maze will be an interactive experience and educate students on a variety of topics including substance misuse, social media safety, and how to access resources. Prior to this, Prevention 5 has promoted and engaged in Substance Free Graduation Parties, media campaigns to educate the community on Iowa’s Social Host Law, increased the number of drug drop-off boxes, mock crash events, and numerous other educational events for youth and the community. The Prevention 5 Coalition will continue to move forward, bringing partners together to work towards the vision: that Howard County will be educated and have the knowledge to access resources to create a healthier and safer community for generations to come. 

(Thanks to Jen Rose and Ashley Havenstrite for updating us on the Howard Co. Prevent 5 Coalition. See the photos of their members below.)

Drug Endangered Children (DEC) Conference -April 11, 2022
8 AM to 4:30 PM, Altoona, IA
AC4C would like to encourage our members to attend the Iowa DEC Conference. Speakers and topics include Ira J. Chasnoff, MD, speaking on "Prenatal Alcohol and Drug Exposure" and Jermaine Galloway, (The Tall Cop) presenting "High in Plain Sight." Registration information is available HERE.
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.
In case you missed it!

The "Strategic Prevention Framework for Beginners" training session by Katya Boltanova, SPF Partnership For Success (PFS) Coalition Development Coordinator, was very well attended and received. The recording can be accessed HERE.
Mark Your Calendars!
Upcoming Retreats and Events: 
 
  • March 22 & 23, 2022 (See agenda below.)
  • June 28 & 29, 2022
  • Sept. 14 & 15, 2022
  • AC4C PREVENTION Conference- November 2, 2022!
(Registration is open for all of these retreats at MCTC's Course Calendar HERE.)
Celebrating
Kristin Frank!!

In just a couple weeks, Kristin Frank will be ending almost two decades at Prelude in prevention. Besides being an amazing Prevention Manager for her staff, Kristin has also been an integral member of AC4C for the past few years. She has co-chaired the Alcohol Action Team and is the current Vice President on the AC4C Executive Board. Recently, Kristin helped AC4C arrange the Native PTTC training (see upcoming retreat agenda below) and helped with finding future graduate assistant opportunities for AC4C. Kristin also has encouraged all of her staff to benefit from AC4C. She worked extremely hard on creating and sustaining the Johnson County Prevention Partnership Coalition and has also been an important member of the Iowa City Partnership for Alcohol Safety. Recently these groups led a town hall meeting at the Iowa City Unimpaired Dry Bar, which Kristin helped plan and promote. She is so good to always add articles to our AC4C Member Facebook page and send emails to members with training opportunities.

Kristin also has helped create the AC4C Ethical Code of Conduct. She has assisted with creating the AC4C Drug Free Communities action plan and retreat agendas. She will be greatly missed by AC4C and by all who had the privilege of working alongside her over the years! Thank you, Kristin, for all you have done to make youth and adults in your community, county, and the state of Iowa safer. Your caring heart, strong work ethic and commitment to fidelity in prevention is something all who know you admire!

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 brought awareness to important issues

Thanks to all those who helped with and attended the AC4C Day on the Hill. Several groups were able to participate in spite of the snowy weather. They spoke to their 22 legislators combined. Thanks to Maggie Ballard and Lorelle Mueting for leading the youth training. Thanks to Peter Komendowski, Maggie Ballard, Trent Walker, and Mackenzie Eichhorn for speaking at the press conference.

Special thanks to Sheri Krohn from the Governor's Traffic Safety Bureau for making signs the youth held up in the Rotunda about 13 young people who died over the past 5 years with connections to AC4C through our coalitions, previous AC4C Days on the Hill, and Johnny's Ambassadors. Laura Stack from Johnny's Ambassadors had spoken at AC4C Prevention Conference in November. (See below a couple examples of the signs about the Mason City teens who were killed in 2017 in an alcohol-related accident with a photo of each of them on the front--14 year old, Sydney Alcorn pictured here-- and their stories on the back.)
Mark your calendars for next year's AC4C Youth Substance Use Day on the Hill-- February 23, 2023.

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 out 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- (See the bottom of the newsletter! We need you!)
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 and Anne Helene Skinstad, Native PTTC- 2.0 Racial/Ethnic CEUs approved by IBC (with break)
3:45-4:00 – Highlights from the day, preview of tomorrow’s agenda
 
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
 DAY 2: 7:15 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

7:00-9:00 – Set up, arrive by 7:15 a.m., Legislative Learning Event at the Capitol- Ben Cort speaking at about 7:30 a.m. (Park at DPS before, walk back to the DPS after)
9:00-9:30 – Introductions- hybrid meeting at DPS for the rest of the day
9:30-11:30- Ben Cort address AC4C with more to know (CEUs are approved)
(Ben Cort is pictured to the right.)
11:30-12:45- Lunch at nearby restaurants
12:45-2:45 - State Partner Sharing
2:45-3:00- 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- April 4 @ 9:30
Marijuana Action Team
Next meeting- April 11 @ 9:30- this may be moved due to the DEC Conference.
Nicotine Action Team 
Next meeting- March 21 and April 18 @ 9:30

Alcohol Action Team
Next meetings- March 28 and April 25 @ 9:30
_______________________________

Policy Work Group
 
Chair:  
Co-Chair: 
4th Wednesday at 2:00 pm (No meeting this month as we will be at the Work Retreat.)

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

There are four open positions on the Executive Board. If you are interested in being on the Board please let Jennifer or Lorelle know immediately. 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/
Connect with us