A Look Back to the Future
10.27.16 Each October, the Partnership holds an annual board meeting to elect new officers, reflect on our accomplishments and look to the future. Partnership started 28 years ago with a hand full of volunteers and has grown into a coalition that has definitely made an impact in the field of drug prevention.
Recently, the Partnership office received an email from the Coalitions of Anti-Drugs of America, (CADCA), requesting Partnership fill out a survey. It was a brief survey, with a few questions, but basically, they were trying to find out how many coalitions are still alive and well.
At one time Partnership was the recipient of an annual federal grant of $100,000 from the Office of National Drug Control. Because of that grant, we had nine staff members, a sustainability plan and proven successful programs.
Then, almost overnight, funding disappeared. Our programs and staff were cut to a bare minimum, however, we had a sustainability plan and continued to move forward regardless of the limited funding.
One of CADCA’s questions asked if our champions remained with us from the beginning. I think the answer was in the room with more than 75 attending the 27th Annual Board Meeting.
The City of Huntsville has been our lifeline and champion, as well as all of our law enforcement. Most everyone who believed in Partnership stayed; always ready to help out from finding corporate sponsors to making cotton candy at our annual Legacy Fun Day. So we told CADCA that yes, Partnership is still here, but sadly several coalitions around the country have had to close their doors due to lack of funds and community resources.
Despite the lack of funding, Partnership held on and presented programs to the community, always addressing the needs of the community, whether it was meth, spice, or cocaine. We accomplished this through monthly newsletters, forums, speaking engagements, and Take Back events. Now, we are facing the fastest growing drug epidemic in our country, prescription pill abuse and the resurgence of heroin.
How do we address this need?
How do we alert youth and adults about prescription pill abuse, heroin and fentanyl?
Why not use our powerful tools - education and awareness?
Today, we have developed a new youth advocacy program, Today’s Youth, Tomorrow’s Leaders, that is dedicated to prevent drug abuse among youth and their families.
We are entering our third year and have already trained more than 70 high school students from 11 high schools to speak out through a social media campaign and speakers bureau. It’s working. You can find them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and they have their own website.
The students are all committed to serving this community and we are fortunate because they are the voice of our future.
No matter the obstacles in Partnership’s future, we just keep on moving forward, just like the energizer bunny.
Partnership's Annual Board Meeting is also a time to celebrate the outstanding efforts of our area law enforcement and educators.
This year’s honorees included:
Recently, the Partnership office received an email from the Coalitions of Anti-Drugs of America, (CADCA), requesting Partnership fill out a survey. It was a brief survey, with a few questions, but basically, they were trying to find out how many coalitions are still alive and well.
At one time Partnership was the recipient of an annual federal grant of $100,000 from the Office of National Drug Control. Because of that grant, we had nine staff members, a sustainability plan and proven successful programs.
Then, almost overnight, funding disappeared. Our programs and staff were cut to a bare minimum, however, we had a sustainability plan and continued to move forward regardless of the limited funding.
One of CADCA’s questions asked if our champions remained with us from the beginning. I think the answer was in the room with more than 75 attending the 27th Annual Board Meeting.
The City of Huntsville has been our lifeline and champion, as well as all of our law enforcement. Most everyone who believed in Partnership stayed; always ready to help out from finding corporate sponsors to making cotton candy at our annual Legacy Fun Day. So we told CADCA that yes, Partnership is still here, but sadly several coalitions around the country have had to close their doors due to lack of funds and community resources.
Despite the lack of funding, Partnership held on and presented programs to the community, always addressing the needs of the community, whether it was meth, spice, or cocaine. We accomplished this through monthly newsletters, forums, speaking engagements, and Take Back events. Now, we are facing the fastest growing drug epidemic in our country, prescription pill abuse and the resurgence of heroin.
How do we address this need?
How do we alert youth and adults about prescription pill abuse, heroin and fentanyl?
Why not use our powerful tools - education and awareness?
Today, we have developed a new youth advocacy program, Today’s Youth, Tomorrow’s Leaders, that is dedicated to prevent drug abuse among youth and their families.
We are entering our third year and have already trained more than 70 high school students from 11 high schools to speak out through a social media campaign and speakers bureau. It’s working. You can find them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and they have their own website.
The students are all committed to serving this community and we are fortunate because they are the voice of our future.
No matter the obstacles in Partnership’s future, we just keep on moving forward, just like the energizer bunny.
Partnership's Annual Board Meeting is also a time to celebrate the outstanding efforts of our area law enforcement and educators.
This year’s honorees included:
- Daniel Golden Memorial Law Enforcement Award, Huntsville Police Department, Officer Micah Alexander
- Outstanding Law Enforcement Recognition Award, Huntsville Police Department, Officer Bradley Snipes
- Outstanding Law Enforcement Recognition Award, Madison County Sheriff’s Department, Agent Manuel Baca
- Outstanding Law Enforcement Recognition Award, Madison Police, Corporal Adam Beasley
- Outstanding Law Enforcement Recognition Award, Neaves-Davis Center, Juvenile Probation Officer Dixie Torbert
- Gayle Owen Memorial Award of Excellence, Educators Lisa Power, Tandy Shumate and Sharon Johnson
YAA Youth Advocates in Action - Middle- and high-school students are trained to be community advocates promoting anti-tobacco and anti-substance abuse. The forerunner to YAA was Teens Against Alcohol and Tobacco, a cable talk show with student hosts and student guests discussing current drug trends and family values. The Choice Players produced an original musical anti-drug production. This group also established the Partnership Youth Advisory Board.
Clergy Coalition - An alliance of faith leaders promoting drug-prevention education within religious communities.
At-Risk Youth Tutorial Program - A Madison County Schools tutoring program that gives at-risk youth the extra attention needed to help them succeed.
LifeSkills Training - A program for sixth-grade students that teaches life skills proven to reduce drug use (improves communications skills and fosters individual responsibility and anger and peer relationship management).
In The Know - A one-hour presentation designed to empower parents and caregivers with knowledge and awareness about ways drugs are used and the types of drugs being used currently in our community.
Kelly Bear to the Rescue - A program for preschool and kindergarten children teaching them skills for healthy behavior and how to avoid alcohol, tobacco, medicine and poisons.
Smoke, Choke, and Eventually Croak - Curricula for second-, third-, and fourth-grade students to educate them about the gateway drugs including alcohol, tobacco and inhalants.
Too Good for Drugs and Violence - A science-based program for high-risk students in grades 1 - 3, helping students cope with friends who use drugs, peer pressure, family conflict and a sense of social belonging (usually taught at after-school programs, churches, and youth groups).
Red Ribbon Campaign - Partnership initiated the first annual Red Ribbon Campaign in Huntsville/Madison County by wrapping the County Courthouse in Red Ribbon. Hundreds of young children helped wrap the courthouse in honor of Enrique Camerna. This continued to expand as the agency developed the Red Ribbon Poster Contest, with all Huntsville/Madison County elementary and middle schools being invited to participate. The winners of each school were recognized at a Red Ribbon Rally at Joe Davis Stadium. For the past few years, Partnership has recognized the contest winners and their families at a Red Ribbon Recognition Event dinner. Beginning in October 2013, the schools in Huntsville/Madison County and many community agencies now promote the Red Ribbon Campaign on an annual basis. Partnership has taken a step back as the Red Ribbon Campaign has now become a community-wide event.
Cultural Development Center - Butler Ninth Grade Students are given the opportunity to learn theatre techniques and to create a public service awareness campaign of their school.
Clergy Coalition - An alliance of faith leaders promoting drug-prevention education within religious communities.
At-Risk Youth Tutorial Program - A Madison County Schools tutoring program that gives at-risk youth the extra attention needed to help them succeed.
LifeSkills Training - A program for sixth-grade students that teaches life skills proven to reduce drug use (improves communications skills and fosters individual responsibility and anger and peer relationship management).
In The Know - A one-hour presentation designed to empower parents and caregivers with knowledge and awareness about ways drugs are used and the types of drugs being used currently in our community.
Kelly Bear to the Rescue - A program for preschool and kindergarten children teaching them skills for healthy behavior and how to avoid alcohol, tobacco, medicine and poisons.
Smoke, Choke, and Eventually Croak - Curricula for second-, third-, and fourth-grade students to educate them about the gateway drugs including alcohol, tobacco and inhalants.
Too Good for Drugs and Violence - A science-based program for high-risk students in grades 1 - 3, helping students cope with friends who use drugs, peer pressure, family conflict and a sense of social belonging (usually taught at after-school programs, churches, and youth groups).
Red Ribbon Campaign - Partnership initiated the first annual Red Ribbon Campaign in Huntsville/Madison County by wrapping the County Courthouse in Red Ribbon. Hundreds of young children helped wrap the courthouse in honor of Enrique Camerna. This continued to expand as the agency developed the Red Ribbon Poster Contest, with all Huntsville/Madison County elementary and middle schools being invited to participate. The winners of each school were recognized at a Red Ribbon Rally at Joe Davis Stadium. For the past few years, Partnership has recognized the contest winners and their families at a Red Ribbon Recognition Event dinner. Beginning in October 2013, the schools in Huntsville/Madison County and many community agencies now promote the Red Ribbon Campaign on an annual basis. Partnership has taken a step back as the Red Ribbon Campaign has now become a community-wide event.
Cultural Development Center - Butler Ninth Grade Students are given the opportunity to learn theatre techniques and to create a public service awareness campaign of their school.