PRESS RELEASE
FOR RELEASE: Wednesday, October 8, 2008
For more information: Jennifer Brinkman, Conference Coordinator: 402.525.3958
Karen Heusel, Lincoln Council on Alcoholism and Drugs, 402.617.1688
2008 SAAC PREVENTION CONFERENCE BEGINS TODAY
Statewide Substance Abuse Prevention Professionals Gather in Lincoln
Over 100 members of coalitions from across Nebraska working to prevent substance abuse in their local communities are gathering in Lincoln this week for “The Power of Prevention” conference to receive training from the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) regarding sustainability and effective community programming. The conference, sponsored by the Substance Abuse Action Coalition (SAAC) of Lancaster County and the Department of Health and Human Services Divisions of Behavioral Health and Public Health, with support from the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles Office of Highway Safety and the Nebraska Medical Association, is designed for Drug Free Community grantees, prevention professionals and community members from across the state to learn about the latest research regarding substance abuse prevention, receive CADCA training and learn about best practices throughout Nebraska.
Local coalitions play a strategic role in creating and maintaining safe, healthy drug-free communities. More than any other entity, community coalitions are poised to connect multiple sectors of the community, including businesses, parents, media, law enforcement, schools, faith organizations, health providers, social service agencies, and government. By acting in concert through the coalition, all of the partners gain a more complete understanding of the community's problems. Together, the partners organize and develop plans and programs to coordinate their anti-drug efforts. The result is a comprehensive, community-wide approach to substance abuse and its related problems.
CADCA Trainers Carlton Hall and Sally Zellers will provide in-depth training to conference attendees today. Local communities from across the state will showcase their prevention program successes from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. as part of a Responsible Hospitality reception.
The second day of the conference will feature a keynote address by Sally Zellers, Director of the Safe Streets Coalition in Topeka, Kansas, on The Power of Prevention. Other featured speakers include Joyce Schmeeckle, Ph.D. on program evaluation and Linda Major, Director of Student Involvement at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Capt. Joy Citta, of the Lincoln Police Department, who will highlight the successes of NU Directions, a local collaboration created to address binge drinking among college students.
The Substance Abuse Action Coalition was formed in 2002 as a response to the Federal Government’s call for prevention coalitions. Today over 200 people, from all sectors in the community, are very engaged in the SAAC process. The three teams representing prevention, treatment and criminal justice are, according to the data, beginning to make a difference.
