CADCA

Informational Summary
Community Anti-Drug Coalition Institute
Leader/Mentor Program

What is the Coalition Leader/Mentor Program?
The CADCA Community Anti Drug Coalition Institute is seeking experienced leaders of local community anti-drug coalitions to be enrolled in the Institute’s Leader/Mentor Program. Since its inception, CADCA has utilized coalition staff and volunteer leaders to provide training and technical assistance to other coalitions. The Institute’s strategic plan includes a strategy to formalize this approach. Specifically, the Institute will:

Create a simple application for leaders to complete to be enrolled in the leader/mentor program
Review each application, with the assistance of an expert panel, and select mentors based on objective criteria
Create a database of selected leader/mentors with information about each mentor
Match mentors with less experienced coalitions
Provide additional opportunities for mentors to enhance their leadership skills
Organize leader/mentors for state and local efforts to elevate the coalition field and support coalition-related policy initiatives.

What is the process for being selected to be a CADCA Leader/Mentor? Complete the leader/mentor application and submit to CADCA by April 15, 2003

What are the qualifications?
You must be a director, key staff member, board member or long time volunteer of an existing local community anti drug coalition. In general, you must have at least 5 years experience as a coalition leader of a recognized community coalition that has demonstrated its ability to mount and sustain strategies to reduce substance abuse with measurable results. You must have good communications skills, knowledge of substance abuse theory and be a good listener and problem solver.

What are the benefits?
Leader/mentors will be recognized as experts in the coalition field. Opportunities will be provided to participate in advanced training and leadership development activities. Mentors will become part of a formal network of other leaders with opportunities to share knowledge and exchange information. Individual leader/mentors will garner recognition for their coalition and will help increase support for coalitions on the national level. The CADCA Institute will cover travel costs and provide stipends of $375 per day.

What are the expectations?
Be available to participate in two, two-day group mentor meetings per year. Be available to assist other coalitions by phone, e-mail, on site and/or by conducting group coalition trainings and workshops. The Institute will be the “broker” for matching your to coalition requests for assistance. Advanced notice will be provided. You are not required to fulfill each request. You are expected to attend the two group meetings that will be announced at least two months prior to the date of the meetings.

In addition, some leaders/mentors will also be selected to provide intensive mentoring support for a one-year period to newly formed coalitions in economically disadvantaged communities (see application for, for more information).

Additional Information – Contact: Dr. Eduardo Hernandez-Alarcon, Deputy Director of Training and Technical Assistance – ehernandez@cadca.org - 703.706.0560, ext. 222

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