Connections

Henry Lozano, Arthur Dean, Snow Peabody in from of the Hart Senate Building where they met with Congressmen during the CADCA Reception.

Representing Teen Challenge International, Rev. Snow Peabody attended the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America’s (CADCA) 21st annual National Leadership Forum in Washington D.C., February 7-10, 2011.

During the four days, 2,800 community leaders representing community coalitions from around the nation connected with their peers and learned new community problem-solving skills.

Besides learning the latest strategies to prevent alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, the coalition heard inspiring words from a number of national leaders, such as Gil Kerlikowske, Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy; Howard Koh M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Secretary of Health for the U.S. Health and Human Services Department; and Gen. Arthur T. Dean, CADCA Chairman and CEO.

CADCA’s National Leadership Forum is the nation’s largest training conference for substance abuse prevention and treatment professionals and researchers, featuring more than 100 training courses to help community and state leaders prevent and reduce substance abuse and its related problems.

“As the Washington D.C. National Representative for Teen Challenge USA,” Rev. Snow Peabody reported, “I was able to highlight Teen Challenge’s Stay Sharp drug awareness, education and prevention program as well as our long-standing, 52-year recovery ministry. It was well received at the Forum.”

Rev. Peabody received a warm reception from Michele Leonhart, Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Pamela Hyde, J.D., Administrator for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).  Leonhart said she “really applauds the efforts Teen Challenge is making.”

The coalition also had the opportunity to meet and brief their state’s Congressional leaders on Capitol Hill about the importance of substance abuse prevention.  In addition, they took part in two federal Town Hall meetings, featuring experts from various federal agencies.

CADCA is a national membership organization representing more than 5,000 coalitions and affiliates working to make America’s communities safe, healthy and drug-free. CADCA’s mission is to strengthen the capacity of community coalitions by providing technical assistance and training, public policy advocacy, media strategies and marketing programs, conferences, and special events.