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Capitol Hill Day Forum XVI - Capitol Hill Day Success!Skip to: Hill Day Quotes Skip to: Forum XV Photo Gallery CADCA's Public Policy Department would like to thank all of the Forum XVI attendees whose enthusiasm and advocacy made Capitol Hill Day a huge success. Thanks to strong advocates across the nation, over 1,000 substance abuse prevention leaders visited Capitol Hill to discuss the impact and importance of community-based substance abuse prevention coalitions. Capitol Hill Day began with an inspiring plenary session where featured speakers included:
At the conclusion of the plenary session, over 1000 Forum XVI participants were transported to Capitol Hill, where they participated in a rally in support of the STOP Underage Drinking Act. Bright red stop signs waved as the participants cheered the impassioned remarks of key legislators of the bill including Senator Christopher Dodd, Congresswomen Rosa DeLauro and Lucille Royball-Allard, two brave youth, and a coalition leader. Then, by the hundreds, the participants
took their energy to the Congressional offices were they had the opportunity
to meet with Members of Congress and congressional staffers to demonstrate
the dramatic impact of community anti-drug coalitions across the nation.
Following the Capitol Hill visits, participants and Hill staffers attended
a congressional reception in the Dirksen Senate Office Building which
included remarks by Senator Charles Grassley, a strong
supporter of the field. Hill Day Quotes "Our visit to Capitol Hill is one of
the most favorite days for our attendees, because they all of a sudden
realize that their voice does count!" “Every year the staff tells us how important it is to stop by and let them know how we are using our federal dollars. This year we took a large group of Washington constituents to meet with Mary Frances Repko, Senator Cantwell's legislative director. Because the Senator will be introducing methamphetamine legislation this year, she asked our group to e-mail vignettes about how methamphetamine is impacting communities in Washington State . We were able to generate 35 stories from all across our state.” Julie Peterson of the Comprehensive Health Education Foundation in Seattle, Washington "As a first-time delegate, I was truly empowered by my CADCA experience. I found the afternoon on Capitol Hill to be of particular value. This experience provided a simple but powerful reminder. That reminder being this — with less than four months in my new position, I must always remember that I am an important link. Not only do I serve as a link of prevention and care for the students I work with — I am a critical link to our elected officials. I have more than a right to share the outcomes, initiatives and needs of our work — I have an obligation and a responsibility to do so. Call it a “Lesson 101 in American democracy,” but after the CADCA conference, I feel prepared and motivated to communicate, work and collaborate with elected officials on all levels. They need to hear my voice and now I will make sure they do." Gina Calcamuggio of S.H.A.P.E. in Holland, Ohio "I had a wonderful experience on CADCA's Capitol Hill Day. We also met with a staff person from both Representative Ney's and Representative Strickland's offices. We were very well received in all four offices. Everyone was very much concerned about the issues we brought to their attention and very interested and supportive of our work. Representative Ney's staffer was thrilled that we were willing to come in and share with him the issues we face in Jackson County around youth substance abuse. He was quite impressed with the community mobilization we have done around youth development as our response to these issues. He asked us to keep the office constantly informed about these issues and our progress in addressing them." Susan Wolford of the Jackson County Family and Children First Council Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition in Jackson County, Ohio "The National Leadership Forum is a wonderful opportunity to learn from peers around the country, and we always look forward to Capitol Hill Day. This year, we had a delegation of close to 40 people meet with the legislative assistants of our Senators from Ohio. Many in the delegation also met with staff members of their congressional representative. It was empowering to experience the democratic process in our nation's capital, and serves as a motivation for us in our advocacy efforts closer to home." Kristen Gish and Stephanie Beougher of Ohio Parents for Drug Free Youth "The representatives to Senators Voinivich and DeWine were very receptive to our large group. Attending in a large delegation was a first for me. Not only did we receive encouragement from the aides of the senators but we showed unity in our efforts as a group for the good of the whole. Together we can continue to support our awareness and prevention strategies in our communities against at-risk behaviors of our youth." Deb Chany of the Sylvania Community Action Team in Sylvania, Ohio "These meetings went extremely well...Since our legislators are already famililar with the Clatskanie Together Coalition, it was a good time to build on our relationship. There was a great deal of discussion on legislation regarding the meth crisis as well as continued funding for anti-drug coalitions in the future." Robin Fouche of the Clatskanie Together Coalition in Clatskanie, Oregon "We had a wonderful opportunity to meet and share information with the staff person for Representative Oxley. Our team of four appreciated the chance to work together to plan this visit and to begin a relationship with our representatives in Washington." Janet Chandler of Recovery and Prevention Resources in Mt. Gilead, Ohio Forum XV Photo Gallery
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