January 2023
AC4C Monthly Roundtable
Welcome to our new Youth Coordinator, Savanah Strahan!

A message from Savanah:

Hi everyone!

My name is Savanah Strahan, and I am the new Youth Coordinator for AC4C. Here are some personal and professional facts about me:

I completed my Bachelor of Science degree at Central Michigan University in Public Health Education with a minor in Substance Use Disorders.

One of my past experiences in the field of prevention, was interning for my university’s collegiate recovery program. There I learned how to conduct assessments, develop educational materials, present to students on various substances, and collaborate with coalitions.

Currently, I work for YSS as the Specialized Prevention Services Coordinator in Substance Use. This February will be my one-year anniversary with this organization. I am also part of the Story County Prevention Policy Board Coalition.

My partner, Kyle, and I currently live in Story County but are originally from Michigan. We moved to Iowa for Kyle to complete his masters and PhD in Agriculture Meteorology at Iowa State University. 

During my spare time, I enjoy reading, yoga, and cooking.

I am excited to start this position and be more involved with the youth!

-Savanah 

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: [email protected]
Upcoming Events and Retreats:
 


AC4C Day on the Hill- February 23, 2023 (See details below.)

Tentative dates for 2023 Quarterly Work retreats:
-March 29 & 30 (notice date change)
-June 7 & 8
-September 27 & 28
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...

 
 
 
January is Cervical Cancer Prevention Month

For free help to quit smoking
call 800-quit-now.
January is also Birth Defects
 Prevention Month











AC4C Youth
Substance Use Prevention
Day on the Hill

February 23, 2023

Putting Our Children First: Challenging Addiction-for-Profit

We are excited to have another great Day on the Hill event planned. Here is the updated Day on the Hill Toolkit with all the information you and your youth need to know before the day! The day's schedule will be very much like other years. Plan to arrive in Des Moines at 10 a.m. The youth training will be in the Jessie Parker building at 10:15 a.m. We will have lunch there and move over to the Capitol for the press conference in the Rotunda from Noon to 12:30.

The Press Conference will include the following speakers:

Hannah Barker, AC4C Youth, West Hancock ASAP Coalition

Haylee Montgomery, Youth from Jackson County Prevention Coalition

Steve Cundiff, Sergeant for Clinton County Sheriff’s Department

Julie Doeppke, 5C Coalition (Clayton County) personal story of losing her brother to alcohol

Chad Harder, MS/HS Principal, Tri-Center Community School District

Please start inviting your legislators to the press conference which will be full of stories from youth and others on how alcohol and marijuana is affecting youth and all Iowans. Typically groups meet with their legislators after that and tour the Capitol a bit learning all about the legislative process before returning home. It is a great learning day for the youth on how important their voices are as citizens!
Register your group by emailing Jennifer.
Spend the season
(the new year and your life)
smoke and vape-free!
For free help to quit tobacco/nicotine
call 800-quit-now
or Teens can visit: My Life My Quit
VISION Statement:

To be the leading, statewide coalition and community based resource promoting the health of Iowans.  


 MISSION Statement:

Unifying Iowans to address substance use and mental health issues across the lifespan 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 6 @ 9:30

Marijuana Action Team
Next meeting- February 13 @ 9:30

Nicotine Action Team 
No meeting due to MLK Jr. Day on January 16. Next meeting- February 20 @ 9:30

Alcohol Action Team
Next meetings- January 23 and February 27, both @ 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.
_________________________________

Capacity/Marketing Work Group

Chair:

Need a new co-chair. Please let Jackie or Jennifer know if you are interested.

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 and to build skills and provide resources to members of AC4C.

Be looking for the AC4C media campaigns as they are running on digital venues for Iowans. Check out this link to our website with more information:


Thanks to the ad hoc committees from the Alcohol Action Team, the Other Substances Action Team, and the Marijuana Action Team. We'll highlight the Social Media Access to Drugs campaign next month.
2022 AC4C Board
Connected Communities.

Effective Coalitions.

Healthy Iowans.
Top row (all L to R): Lorelle Mueting- President, Jackie Preston, VP,
Kris Rankin- Secretary.
Middle row:
Julie Furne- Treasurer,
Heather Hotchkiss and Joy Gonnerman, At-Large Members
Bottom middle:
Cheryl Buntsma, At-Large Member

(Members, please consider a nominating yourself or others for the AC4C Board. Elections will be held at the March retreat.)
AC4C
319-462-4327 x661
https://ac4c.org/
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