CADCA to Launch Ambassador Program at Mid-Year

Research conducted by CADCA found that while there are community coalitions actively working to reduce substance abuse in all 50 states, there are few located in economically disadvantaged communities, with some major large cities lacking coalitions all together. In response, CADCA's National Coalition Institute designed the Ambassador Program – a pilot to help increase the number of young adult coalition workforce leaders - specifically in economically disadvantaged communities. The CADCA Institute will officially launch the Ambassador Program at the 2009 Mid-Year Training Camp, held July 27-30, 2009 in Louisville, Ky.

A change leader program designed to enhance the capacity of coalitions by developing new leaders – the Ambassador Program will help balance the current generational and race and ethnicity gaps in the community coalition field. One goal for the program is to have a significant mass of new community coalition leaders in every state across the country that builds upon prevention’s core essentials to develop bolder prevention strategies, become stronger collaborators and contributors to their community, and increase the number of volunteers in this health sector.

“If we desire that prevention remains relevant to children, young and older adults, we need to invest in, and nurture new leaders in this field”, said Eduardo Hernandez, Ph.D., Deputy Director, CADCA’s National Coalition Institute.

The Ambassador Program allows community coalition leaders to take a proactive and No-cost approach to strengthening their workforce by identifying and nominating potential leaders to the program.

Participants will receive exemplary training specialized in substance abuse prevention. In addition to CADCA training, ambassadors will receive technical assistance and other opportunities to cultivate their passion for this work into viable career opportunities.

“The Ambassador Program adds to the continuum of training already in place by coalition leaders – we feel the program will play a part in maintaining the momentum they need to retain leaders already in their midst”, said Janine E. Payne, MPH, Manager of the Ambassador Program. “Ambassadors will become spokespersons on a national and local level for the work their community coalition is doing.”

A coalition leader whose nominee was selected for the program said the Ambassadors program is just what the coalition field needs to prepare the future generation of coalition leaders. “We need young folks in this field. Their perspective is critical to the success of the coalition as well as to the forward reaches of the coalition’s efforts,” said Maija Yasui, Coordinator for the Hood River County Prevention. “I am passionate about prevention, and will probably be buried with my boots on in the field. But knowing that there are young folks in the wings with new ideas, and creative approaches grounded in strong prevention practices makes my day.”

Join CADCA in congratulating the Ambassador-designees, and feel good about the future of the coalition field. For more information about CADCA's Ambassador Program, contact Janine Payne at jpayne@cadca.org.