Together for Youth Drug Free Coalition of Lyons Township

What is a coalition “A coalition is a formal[voluntary] agreement and collaboration between groups or sectors of a community in which each group retains its identity but all agree to work together through a community building process toward a common goal of building a healthier community.” Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America(CADCA)

Role of the Coalition in Achieving Community-level Change Impact a Defined Community Engage All Sectors of the Community Address conditions & settings in the community Promote Comprehensive Strategies Achieve Positive Outcomes

Ways Young People Can Help You are on the front line of the substance abuse problem Your knowledge of problems, fads, trends and what might work is vital to the Coalition Youth Inclusion & empowerment helps ensure success Youth Can Plan Youth Events (awareness, FR, education, Fun) Youth can Identify Strategies Youth Can Assist With Data Collection Other Youth May be More Candid With Another Youth Collecting Data Than With an Adult

Mission Statement As a grassroots community coalition, our mission is to build a healthy safe and drug free community. Our commitment through the Coalition is to change attitudes, encourage action, and mobilize stakeholders around the issues of underage drinking, impaired driving and substance misuse. We achieve this through education, advocacy, policy change and environmental change.

Vision To live in a safe, healthy drug free region, through a strong grassroots coalition.

Values Collaboration Research Knowledge Cultural and Linguistic Competency Prevention Harm Reduction Communication Stigma Reduction Transparency

Membership Membership in the Coalition is open to any Community member or organization in the LTHS region that wishes to participate in developing and implementing strategies to reduce substance abuse / misuse in Lyons Township region. To ensure a broad cross-section of local community representation, at a minimum...

The following sectors of the LTHS region will be represented: Youth representatives (under age 19) College /Young Adults ( years of age Parents Business community Media Schools Youth-serving organizations Law enforcement agencies Healthcare professionals State or local government agencies with expertise in the field of substance abuse Health and Human Service Organizations Other organizations or groups involved in reducing substance abuse Faith based & service organizations

Officers President:Cindy Frymark, Rotary Vice President:Jeanne Widing, LTHS Secretary/Treasurer:Sharon Flaim Fiscal Agent & location:Lyons Township Mental Health Commission (LTMHC) Executive Director:Ron Melka LTMHC

Formation June 2014 – LTMHC forms a Substance Abuse Task Force which meets monthly until November 2014 November – April – Cindy Frymark holds community conversation meetings resulting in a broader coalition, housed by LTMHC A Steering Committee is formed consisting of Greg DiDomenico, Cindy Frymark, Ken Grunke and Ron Melka June 2015 – The Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America provides Coalition Training, sponsored by LTMHC and the Community Memorial Foundation August 2015 – The Drug Free Coalition begins monthly meetings

Activities Of The Drug Free Coalition September 2015 – Name, Mission Statement, Vision and Values are developed, nominating committee formed October 2015 – Bylaws completed, Officers Elected, Committees Expanded November 2015 – Assessment Committee develops recommendations for initiating a Needs Assessment Process Solicitations of Consultants & Sponsors begin - $20,000 goal December 2015 – The Initial Phase of the Assessment begins with a Police Department Survey Process headed up by Eagle Scout Candidate and LTHS Senior Cole Smith December 2015 – CMF and Rotary pledge $5,000 each. January/February – Police Data Collection March 2016 – Youth Task force Formed

For Further Information... Go to: Click on the Tab Drug Free Coalition of Lyons Township