Representatives from Rockville Centre are headed to Orlando, Florida to join nearly 2,000 substance use prevention and treatment specialists from around the world for CADCA’s (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America) 17th annual Mid-Year Training Institute. Ruthanne McCormack, Project Coordinator, will be attending the conference, along with Coalition Sector members from the Rockville Centre Police Department, Commissioner James Vafeades and Detective Nicholas DeLuca.

The week-long training, held at the Gaylord Palms, will teach participants how to address one of our nation’s biggest public health challenges – drug use. CADCA’s Mid-Year Training Institute is a one-of-a-kind intensive training opportunity, offering more than 95 ninety-minute and half-day courses geared towards helping participants find solutions to their community’s toughest substance use problems.

“The Mid-Year is a unique professional development opportunity for coalition leaders and key community stakeholders to learn about the latest research and effective strategies that will directly help them in their critical work of preventing substance use and misuse” said Pat Castillo, Director, National Coalition Institute and Vice President of Training Operations. “After four days of intensive training, leaders will return to their communities with new knowledge, skills, strategies, along with new ways to add to their existing roadmaps to continue to create environments where youth thrive – healthy and drug.”

The Rockville Centre Coalition for Youth has as its principal mission the reduction of substance abuse, with a primary focus on reducing youth substance abuse. Its mission is to plan and implement strategies to prevent and reduce youth substance use and its associated consequences.

CADCA’s Mid-Year will cover a wide range of topics – everything from how to prevent prescription drug abuse and reduce heroin use to how to create tobacco-free environments, reduce impaired driving and develop policies to reduce marijuana use, synthetic drug use and underage drinking.

The coalition has recently positively impacted the community by placing a billboard outlining the harmful effects of electronic cigarettes, or vaping. The Billboard can be seen near the Recreation Center in a high traffic location. This Billboard, a collaborative effort by many members of the Coalition, is the latest initiative to encourage a drug-free lifestyle and was designed to grab the attention of both youth and their parents.
The coalition representatives will hear from several federal leaders, including Deputy Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy Jim Carroll, and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Frances Harding.

Some coalition youth members will participate in CADCA’s Youth Leadership sessions and training events to help them become strong community leaders and change agents. The youth groups that are members of the Rockville Centre Coalition for Youth are: The RVC Youth Council, Inc., South Side Leos Club, SADD, Youth Decide, Dynamic Youth Community, as well as many other youths in Rockville Centre. Our youth members have attended Leadership Trainings and are actively involved in our prevention initiatives.

CADCA’s Mid-Year Training Institute will take place at the Gaylord Palms in Orlando, Florida, July 15 – 19, 2018. Visit the Mid-Year site for details about training sessions, speakers and special events at cadca.org/events/myti2018.

The Rockville Centre Coalition for Youth was formed in August 2014 by two key community groups with strong records of preventing teen substance abuse. Our coalition has the resources it needs to continue operating with our membership and structures in-tact for the long-term. The Rockville Centre Coalition for Youth has made a lasting impact on our community that will successfully continue to provide information and raise awareness regarding the dangers of youth substance use and abuse.

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.