Austin Positive Action Coalition (APAC) honored at national leadership forum

On Monday, January 31, APAC was one of 178 community coalitions throughout the United States honored during a graduation ceremony at CADCA’s (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America) 32nd Annual 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 substance use and misuse prevention leaders.

 APAC recently completed a 5 – year grant from the Minnesota Department of Human Services, Behavioral Health Division which focused on implementing a new approach to prevention called, Positive Community Norms (PCN). PCN focuses on the positive and the healthy choices MOST Austin students are making when confronted with substance misuse. In January 2021, APAC was awarded a Federal 5-year Drug-free Communities grant to continue its mission to reduce underage substance use.

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 were 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.