November 2022
AC4C Monthly Roundtable
Join us at the
next AC4C
Retreat!

December 7 & 8
MCTC at Camp Dodge or on Zoom!

It's time for the AC4C Quarterly Work Retreat. We are trying to have all the retreats now on Wednesdays and Thursdays. For this retreat, there is no lodging available at Camp Dodge. If you are coming from a distance and need financial help with hotel lodging for Tuesday and/or Wednesday night, please contact Jennifer as soon as possible as AC4C will cover that cost as funds allow.
DAY 1, Wednesday, December 7
8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

8:30-9:00 am – Registration, coffee, and networking at MCTC or on Zoom
9:00-9:30 am – Introductions & business
9:30-10:15 am – New member orientation/current members – work on Why AC4C videos 
10:15-10:30 am - Break
10:30-11:00 am – Vision statement review
11:00 am-Noon – Capacity Assessment/Building Coalitions
1:30-3:00 pm – Advocacy 101 – Provided by Snyder Strategies (1.5 CEUs requested)
3:00-3:15 pm – Break
3:15-4:15 pm – Workgroup and Action Teams Updates and Collaboration
4:15-4:30 pm – Wrap-up, Highlights from Today, and Preview of Tomorrow

DAY 2: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
 
8:30-9:00 am – Registration, coffee, and networking at MCTC or on Zoom 
9:00-9:15 am – Introductions
9:15-10:30 am – State Partner Sharing
10:30-10:45 am – Break
10:45 am-Noon – State Partner Sharing Continued
Noon-1:30 pm – Lunch Break (Lunch on your own – time to network with others)
1:30-2:00 pm – Staff updates
2:00-2:30 pm – Year End Evaluation Report
 2:30-3:15 pm – What’s new in your coalition? Any resources needed? 
3:15-3:30 pm – Highlights of Retreat & Upcoming Events 

Register HERE!
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, please help connect them with Alaina Elliott-Wherry, our Youth Coordinator. They, or you, can send an email to: ac4cyouth@gmail.com
Mark Your Calendars!
Upcoming Events and Retreats:
 

  • AC4C Quarterly Work Retreat- December 7 & 8, 2022. See the agenda and other information in this newsletter. You can register HERE! A training on advocacy vs. lobbying will be held with 1.5 CEUs requested.

  • Next Year's AC4C Day on the Hill- February 23, 2023.

  • Tentative dates for 2023 Quarterly Work retreats:
-March 22 &23
-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...

 
 
 

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. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

For free help to quit smoking
call 800-quit-now.
Citizen-Science Project: Alcohol Home Delivery & Drinks To-Go in Iowa

Iowa was one of several states to relax alcohol control measures during the COVID pandemic, and the Iowa state code now allows home delivery of alcohol (for example, by Uber Eats or Grub Hub) and carry-out drinks from licensed establishments. These changes may increase alcohol misuse, including access to alcohol by underage minors. Rules are in place for these types of sales, but we do not yet know how they are working.
 
AC4C is seeking volunteers who are 21 years or older and who ordinarily purchase alcohol for a citizen-science project. Volunteers will record their experiences using an easy-to-use online tool, which is part of a multi-state effort to gather information about alcohol access after the COVID pandemic. If you’re interested in helping, please contact Yajaira at yajaira-bolanosflores@uiowa.edu. AC4C will gather information through December 31, 2022.

A recording of the August training session is available HERE.
Spotlight on the
Butler County Visions of Wellbeing Coalition!

BCVOW has been in existence for over 20 years as a non-profit community
planning group formed to maximize existing resources and partnerships to
better meet the needs of families in Butler County.

BCVOW serves as the:
 local child abuse prevention council,
 substance abuse prevention council, and
 tobacco prevention council for Butler County.

BCVOW believes in the value of meeting regularly to share information about
community resources. BCVOW members want to be prepared to help families
identify and access community resources. BCVOW meetings are open to the
public, but it primarily consists of helping professionals that serve Butler County.

BCVOW sponsors county projects to help fill needs at times when families with children may struggle to make ends meet.
These projects include: Back to School Supplies and Health & Hygiene Items, Coats for Kids Project, Christmas Cheer-Gift cards for households in need are provided, Kid Fest for Child Abuse Prevention Month, Transition Essentials-Gift baskets for youth graduating and/or aging out of the child welfare system with little to no family support.

(Thank you to Shawna Lebeck, Chairperson of BCVOW, for providing this information about their amazing coalition! Pathways Behavioral Services is a proud member of BCVOW.)
AC4C Prevention Conference was a Success!

Will Jones from Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) replaced the originally scheduled SAM speaker and his message was very well received!

The Youth Track was back. The adults loved hearing from the youth about what their natural highs are and why they are involved in their student advocacy groups. During their sessions, they talked about the biggest issues in their communities and what they want to do about those issues.

Thanks to all of the amazing speakers and to those who brought information and talked to attendees during the Resource Fair. There were so many positive comments from the evaluations. We thank everyone who attended and made it a great event!

VISION:

Connected Communities.
Effective Coalitions. 
Healthy Iowans. 

 Newly revised 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- December 5 @ 9:30

Marijuana Action Team
Next meeting- December 12 @ 9:30

Nicotine Action Team 
Next meeting- December 19 @ 9:30

Alcohol Action Team
Next meeting- November 28 @ 9:30 (No Alcohol Action Team meeting in December due to the holiday.)
_______________________________

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.

We are thankful for Taylor Householder for her years of service to AC4C, our Executive Board, and the Marijuana Action Team. Taylor is leaving CAUSE at the end of the year to pursue other important adventures. We wish her the best!
(Members, please consider a nominating yourself or others for the AC4C Board. Elections will be held at the March retreat.)
2022 AC4C Board
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
AC4C
319-462-4327 x661
ia.ac4c@gmail.com
https://ac4c.org/
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