Hayward Youth Attended to CADCA's National Leadership Forum to Learn New Skills to Reduce Youth Drug Use

Hayward, CA, February 10, 2016 (Newswire.com) - ​Representatives from Hayward, CA visited Washington, D.C. area to join more than 2,700 substance abuse prevention specialists and advocates from throughout the country for Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America's (CADCA) 26th Annual National Leadership Forum.

“It was so exciting to be able to spend several days with other similar organizations from across the country, learning and honing our prevention skills so our community can be a better place, one that doesn’t suffer from the harms of drug and alcohol abuse,” says Thania Balcorta, Program Manager at Eden Youth and Family Center.

CADCA’s Forum covered a wide range of topics – everything from how to prevent prescription drug abuse and the abuse of synthetic drugs and marijuana to how to create tobacco-free environments and develop policies to reduce underage and excessive drinking. “We plan to come back reenergized with new strategies under our belts to tackle drug use in Hayward, CA,” says Robert Dousa, HCHY Coalition member.

Dalila Gomez and Karen Andrade, students at Tennyson High School, Jennifer Armenta and Nestor Diaz, students at Mt. Eden High School, and Sophia Espinosa, a student at Moreau Catholic High School, attended the youth portion of the conference called CADCA National Youth Leadership Institute and participated in the advance track called “Policy and Advocacy Course”. “Being surrounded with other young people that are as passionate about reducing substance abuse in their community was an eye opening experience that I will never forget,” says Dalila Gomez, a 16-year-old student at Tennyson High School.

The Coalition has recently impacted the community by developing Make your Mark, a youth coalition comprised of 27 youth from the community. The adults and youth have worked together to address unregulated alcohol servers at community events, speaking up around concerns of selling alcohol at a new theater and establishing a retail recognition program to share merchants’ stories of best practices of selling alcohol and tobacco. The youth members are particularly concerned with youth-friendly products in our retail environment and providing healthier options.

The attendees are excited about implementing newfound knowledge and skills. “Attending CADCA expanded my vision, by identifying other avenues to support the students and families I serve through Hayward Promise Neighborhood (HPN). My goals are to work with HPN's Drop Out Specialist at both Tennyson and Hayward High School, to share the wisdom about the avoidance of substance abuse and why it is important that we advocate for more preventive measures with our legislators,” says Janevette Cole, a passionate community member that attended the conference on behalf of the Hayward Coalition for Healthy Youth.

The Coalition heard from several federal leaders including Michael Botticelli, Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy, and Congressman Hal Rogers (R-KY), who received CADCA’s National Leadership Award at the event. The three Hayward Coalition members and five youth members from Hayward met with Congressman Eric Swalwell and with the offices of Senator Diane Fienstein and Senator Barbara Boxer at the CADCA Forum’s Capitol Hill Day event on Wednesday, Feb. 3. “Meeting with our legislators in Washington D.C. was an empowering experience,” says Jennifer Armenta, 16-year-old student at Mt. Eden High School.

CADCA’s National Leadership Forum is the nation’s largest training conference for community prevention leaders, treatment professionals and researchers, and SAMHSA’s 12th Prevention Day took place at the Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center Feb. 1-4. 

Hayward Coalition for Healthy Youth reduces substance abuse and improves the overall health of our youth.  We accomplish this by shaping environmental policies, educating, and mobilizing our community.

 

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