Eatontown, NJ – Representatives from the RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery are in Orlando, Florida, joining nearly 2,000 substance use prevention and treatment specialists from around the world for CADCA’s (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America) 17th annual Mid-Year Training Institute.
Attendees from the Institute for Prevention and Recovery include Michael Litterer, Director of Prevention and Recovery Programs; Andrea Zapcic, Community Prevention Manager; Roberta Rapisardi, Prevention Specialist; and Emily Iovine, Community Prevention Specialist.
The week-long training, held at the Gaylord Palms, will teach participants how to address one of our nation’s biggest public health challenges – substance use. CADCA’s Mid-Year Training Institute is a one-of-a-kind intensive training opportunity, offering more than 95 ninety-minute and half-day courses geared towards helping participants find solutions to their community’s toughest substance use problems.
Michael Litterer, Director of Prevention and Recovery Programs at the RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery, helped kick off the week by presenting a workshop on sustainability. “Prevention SustainAbilities: Creative Tips to Sustain Your Outcomes” focused on opportunities for Drug Free Communities Coalitions to collaborate with broader public health efforts. Opportunities included community-based adverse childhood experience prevention, community engagement focused on social determinants of health, and supporting non-profit hospital community health needs assessments. Litterer also encouraged prevention coalitions across the country to address the needs of youth living with family members impacted by substance use disorder, emphasizing the increased need caused by the addiction epidemic.
"The Mid-Year is a unique professional development opportunity for coalition leaders and key community stakeholders to learn about the latest research and effective strategies that will directly help them in their critical work of preventing substance use and misuse” said Pat Castillo, Director, National Coalition Institute and Vice President of Training Operations. “After four days of intensive training, leaders will return to their communities with new knowledge, skills, strategies, along with new ways to add to their existing roadmaps to continue to create environments where youth thrive – healthy and drug free.”
CADCA’s Mid-Year will cover a wide range of topics – everything from how to prevent prescription drug abuse and reduce heroin use to how to create tobacco-free environments, reduce impaired driving and develop policies to reduce marijuana use, synthetic drug use and underage drinking.
About CADCA
The mission of CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America) is to strengthen the capacity of community coalitions to create and maintain safe, healthy and drug-free communities globally. This is accomplished by providing technical assistance and training, public policy advocacy, media strategies and marketing programs, training and special events.
About the Institute for Prevention and Recovery
The RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery is a leader in the state for prevention, intervention and substance use disorder recovery services. Through comprehensive recovery programs, the Institute for Prevention and Recovery creates real change by facilitating effective, long-term recovery for individuals suffering from the disease of addiction. The Institute is also recognized for training and educational programs, serving schools, hospitals and communities throughout New Jersey. For more information, visit rwjbh.org/preventionandrecovery.