Rescue 180 Honored at CADCA’S National Leadership Program

On Feb. 6, Rescue 180 was one of 160 community coalitions honored during a graduation ceremony at CADCA’s (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America) National Leadership Forum, just outside of Washington, D.C. The coalitions received a graduation certificate for completing CADCA’s National Coalition Academy, a rigorous training program designed to increase the effectiveness of community drug prevention leaders.

“We are so proud of our coalition for investing the time and resources to take advantage of the best community coalition training in the world. To graduate from this year-long intensive course is no small feat and Rescue 180 is more prepared today to be an effective, sustainable coalition because of this training,” said Rev. Debra Shultz. “We look forward to applying our knowledge and strategies to ensure the youth in our community live drug free.”

The coalition has recently been working on getting Narcan, a potentially life-saving drug, into the hands of law enforcement, fire departments, and volunteer organizations. Currently, they are providing training for recovery groups in Churches, while also working with other organization such as Drug (Recovery) Court, Quality of Life Foundation, Health Council, and Jefferson Joins, while continuing to provide prevention education throughout the county.

This year, the Coalition held two very important symposium’s, hosting Count it! Lock it! Drop It! as well as a Faith-Based Initiative for Churches.

The coalition is funded by the Tennessee Department of Mental Health – Division of Substance Abuse Services, who made the training available, and Rescue 180 has been in Jefferson County since 2008. It meets the last Thursday of every month at 3pm at the Dandridge Police Department.

“We have two Board Certified Prevention Specialists on staff, and work along with several organizations in our county providing evidence-based Substance Abuse Prevention education,” shares Shultz. “We are always looking for opportunities to educate and make a difference here in Jefferson County.”

CADCA’s National Coalition Academy (NCA) is a comprehensive, year-long training program developed by CADCA’s National Coalition Institute. The NCA incorporates three, week-long classroom sessions, a web-based distance learning component, an online workstation where participants network and share planning products and free ongoing coalition development technical assistance. To graduate, coalitions must complete a rigorous curriculum. They must participate in all components of the NCA and complete five essential planning products that serve as the foundation of their comprehensive plan for community change.

CADCA’s National Leadership Forum is a four-day event packed with opportunities to learn the latest strategies to address substance abuse and hear from nationally-known prevention experts, federal administrators, and concerned policymakers. The Forum brings together approximately 3,000 attendees representing coalitions from all regions of the country and internationally, government leaders, youth, prevention specialists, addiction treatment professionals, addiction recovery advocates, researchers, educators, law enforcement professionals, and faith-based leaders. It is the largest training event for the prevention field.