Arlington Youth Health and Safety Coalition Receives National Award

ARLINGTON, MA—Arlington’s Youth Health and Safety Coalition(AYHSC) was recognized on the national stage.

AYHSC was given the 2016 Chairman’s Award at the Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America’s (CADCA) 26th Annual National Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C. last week, according to a town announcement. The award is presented to a coalition each year recognizing their exemplary demonstration and application of core competencies and essential processes of effective community problem solving.

“We are so proud of our coalition for investing the time and resources to take advantage of the best community coalition training in the world,” said Ivy Laplante, Director of Arlington Youth Health and Safety Coalition said in a statement. “To graduate from this year-long course is no small feat and we are now better prepared to be an effective, sustainable coalition because of this training.”

The coalition was one of 178 community coalitions that completed a year-long training program at CADCA’s National Coalition Academy.

AYHSC, which was established in 2006, has hosted community forums on marijuana, opioids and mental health, and organized prescription drug take-back events with local organizations in town. The group also helped update Arlington High School’s substance abuse policy.

Photo via the Town of Arlington