Earlier this week, I spent three days in Washington, DC participating in the 2010 Drug Free Communities New Grantee Training. The Prevention WINS coalition is one of 169 coalitions that were awarded DFC grants this year. Nationwide, 741 coalitions receive DFC funding and there are now 30 DFC coalitions in Washington!In addition to the workshops about managing the grant, I was fortunate to participate in other sessions that are of interest to many coalition members. I will blog about them over the next few days.
Here are a few things I took away from the training:
-- Coalitions across the nation have been successful in reducing youth substance abuse. Coalitions that include all community sectors are the most successful. Everyone has a role to play. Help individuals and organizations recognize their role.
-- Infuse prevention into all conversations about public health and safety.
-- Coalition coordinators are community facilitators and barrier removers whose job it is to support community members and their prevention activities.
-- Tell your community's story. Don't rely only on data but share with others what you see in our community.
-- Take advantage of CADCA materials and trainings.
-- Take advantage of the Above the Influence campaign materials.
-- Sugarland's Stand Up is catchy. Jack Claypool, the federal administrator for the DFC program, played it several times during the training and it didn't leave my head until I got on the plane back to Seattle.
