Representatives from Levittown Community Action Coalition (LCAC) and Levittown Young Organizers United to Help (LY.O.U.T.H.) joined nearly 4,000 substance use and misuse prevention specialists and advocates from January 29th to February 2nd, 2023 at CADCA’s (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s) 33rd Annual National Leadership Forum in National Harbor, MD.
Every year, CADCA’s National Leadership Forum brings together professionals from all backgrounds – including educators, law enforcement, individuals in recovery, parents, mental health professionals, public health professionals, treatment providers, youth and coalition leaders – to mobilize the country’s prevention champions. Top experts in the prevention field educated Forum participants on the latest science, news, and trends in substance misuse, as well as on new tools and strategies to tackle the issue of substance misuse in our communities. Over the course of four days, 160 workshops were offered to participants.
In addition to LCAC Project Coordinator, Hannah Moore, and two school staff members from MacArthur and Division Avenue High Schools, seven LY.O.U.T.H. members from the Levittown and Island Trees School Districts attended the event. Of the seven students, one participant received a full scholarship from CADCA to attend and two were sponsored by the National Youth Advisory Council (NYAC). The two students in NYAC were invited to participate in panels discussing the youth perspective on pressing substance misuse issues and strategies to address them. At the Forum, all students attended specialized youth leadership trainings.
CADCA’s Leadership Forum also marked a wonderful opportunity for both adults and youth to network with others working in the field of prevention and advocate for positive changes in prevention policy with our elected officials on Capitol Hill. Along with other coalitions and prevention workers in New York, LCAC and LY.O.U.T.H. members met with Senator Chuck Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand remotely to discuss the importance of prevention, the harms related to misuse, and the necessity of policies to prevent or reduce early initiation to substance use and substance misuse.
The information and tools provided at CADCA’s National Leadership Forum are invaluable to both LCAC and LY.O.U.T.H. in addressing substance misuse issues in the Levittown community. Both adult and youth coalition leaders are eager to use this knowledge moving forward in their prevention efforts.
About CADCA
The mission of CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America) is to strengthen the capacity of community coalitions to create and maintain safe, healthy and drug-free communities globally. This is accomplished by providing technical assistance and training, public policy advocacy, media strategies and marketing programs, training and special events.