Substance Use Prevention Coalition Academy

Group of people

May 8-9 in Columbia, MO at the Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center

The Academy model provides coalitions with clear, practical steps they can use right away to make their collaborative efforts more effective, essentially giving them a roadmap for improving their coalition work.

Schedule

  • May 8: 10am-7:00pm (breakfast at 9:30, lunch and dinner reception provided)
  • May 9: 8:00am-4:00pm (breakfast at 7:30, lunch provided)
Click here for the full agenda

April 14 (12pm-2pm)

Prework Webinar

  • Overview of Strategic Prevention Framework
  • Introduction to Assessment and Data Collection
  • Homework for In-Person Training 

May 8: Day 1 (10:00am-6:30pm)

9:30-10:00 – Breakfast

10:00-10:30 – Welcome/Introductions

10:30-11:30 – Assessment 

11:30-12:30 – Lunch and Networking 

12:30-1:30 – Continue Assessment 

  • Goal is to leave with data-driven priority problems and root causes

1:30-2:00 – Wellness Break 

2:00-4:00 – Capacity Building 

  • Goal is to leave with a resource assessment 

4:00-4:30 – Wellness Break

4:30-5:30 – Practical Coalition Items 

  • Agenda Setting 
  • Coalition Meeting Facilitation 

5:30-6:30 – Dinner and Speed Networking

May 9: Day 2 (8am-3:30pm) 

8:00-8:30 – Welcome and Reflections

8:30-9:30 – Planning

9:30-10:00 – Wellness Break

10:00-11:00 – Continue Planning 

  • Goal is to leave with an action plan including next steps for going home

11:00-12:00 – Lunch

12:00-1:00 – Practical Coalition Items 

  • Budgets 
  • Coalition Structure/Function

1:15-1:30 – Stretch/Bio Break

1:30-3:00 – Bringing It All Together/Next steps

June 10 (12pm-2pm)

Post Webinar

  • Review products created and how they have used it
  • Implementation and Evaluation 

During this FREE two-day event, coalitions will use a Strategic Action Planning approach to improve your coalition work.  Learn more about: 

  • Establishing priorities for assessment and problem identification
  • Building capacity for prevention
  • Coalition administration keys to success such as meeting facilitation, budgeting, and communication
  • Strategic planning of activities

Each coalition is encouraged to bring 2-4 participants who are active in the leadership of the coalition. 

Coalitions will participate in the two-day event along with a pre-Academy webinar and a post-Academy webinar.  These webinars are scheduled on April 14, 2025 from 12pm-2pm CT and June 10 from 12pm-2pm CT. 

This training will be facilitated by four national prevention field trainers. All four train for ONDCP’s National Coalition Institute, for CADCA’s signature events and webinars, as well as for the Opioid Response Network. Their dynamic energy and synergy, combined with their decades of experience in the prevention and non-profit fields will create a training that will leave you feeling encouraged, empowered, and educated! You will develop skills and practical tools to enhance your coalition’s substance use prevention efforts. 

Tools Coalitions will Leave the Academy with include:  

  1.  A data-driven priority problems and root causes (assessment)
  2. A resource assessment including 12-sector worksheet
  3. A strategic action plan with strategies/activities
  4. Tangible coalition tools for meeting facilitation, agenda-setting, budgeting, and sustainability

Continuing Education Units

The Substance Use Prevention Coalition Academy has been approved by the Missouri Credentialing Board for 10.5 contact hours.

CEUs for those with the CHES credential will also be available.

Missouri Institute of Mental Health (MIMH)

  • The University of Missouri-St. Louis, Missouri Institute of Mental Health will be responsible for this program and will maintain a record of your continuing education credits earned.
  • MIMH awards 10.5 clock hours or 12.6 contact hours (1.26 CEUs) for this program, including 0 clock hour(s) towards ethics, 0 clock hour(s) towards suicide prevention, and 0 clock hour(s) towards cultural competence.

Learn more about our speakers!

Kristina Clark is a nationally recognized expert in coalition building, nonprofit sustainability, and substance use prevention. As the President and Founder of KM Clark Consulting Group, she works with organizations across the country to enhance their capacity, improve their impact, and secure long-term sustainability. Her innovative strategies and evidence-based approaches empower communities to achieve transformative change.

Kristina’s career spans over 15 years of leadership in public health, prevention, and nonprofit management. As a Certified Prevention Specialist II, she is a trusted national trainer for CADCA, where she has guided hundreds of coalitions through the National Coalition Academy. Her work equips communities with the tools to prevent substance misuse and address public health challenges effectively.

Under her leadership, the Coffee County Anti-Drug Coalition achieved national acclaim, including multiple years of Drug-Free Communities funding and the prestigious National Got Outcomes! Coalition in Focus award. Her ability to mobilize communities and influence policy led to measurable reductions in substance use behaviors and the creation of sustainable prevention efforts.

Kristina is the co-creator of the groundbreaking Count It! Lock It! Drop It!® initiative, a prescription drug prevention campaign that has been adopted nationwide as a model for addressing prescription drug misuse. This program exemplifies her commitment to scaling local solutions for national impact.

In addition to her consulting and training work, Kristina serves on the executive board of the Prevention Alliance of Tennessee, advocating for policy changes that strengthen prevention efforts statewide. She is also a board member of The Healing Trust, a foundation dedicated to addressing health disparities and advancing equity in Tennessee. Kristina’s expertise spans nonprofit capacity building, strategic planning, policy advocacy, and program sustainability. Her work consistently bridges research and practice, empowering organizations to maximize their impact in the communities they serve.

A proud Air Force brat, Kristina brings her adaptive spirit and collaborative approach to every project. She resides in Tennessee with her husband, Michael, and their sons, Michael Joseph and Julian William, along with their adventurous black lab, Sammie “Trainwreck” Clark and little ball of trouble, Pounce the Shih Tzu. 

For more information about Kristina’s work, visit kmclarkcg.com or connect with her on LinkedIn.

Kym Laube serves as the Executive Director of Human Understanding Growth Services, Inc. (HUGS, Inc.), based in Westhampton Beach, NY. With over 35 years of experience in substance use prevention, Kym has dedicated her career to promoting innovative strategies that empower individuals and communities. Since stepping into the Executive Director role in 2002, she has spearheaded the organization’s efforts to deliver comprehensive prevention services and recovery supports, while passionately advocating across the continuum of care.

As a sought-after national trainer and speaker, Kym has collaborated with leading organizations such as CADCA, state associations, and corporate entities, bringing her expertise to diverse audiences. Her journey with HUGS, Inc. began in 1986, when she participated in the Teen Institute program as a high school student. This firsthand experience ignited her understanding of the program’s transformative impact on young people, preparing them to lead and inspire. From a student leader to Executive Director, Kym’s mission has remained steadfast: empowering individuals to realize their full potential and become catalysts for change.

Known for her dynamic, engaging, and interactive presentations, Kym connects deeply with audiences of all sizes, offering keynotes, trainings, and workshops that inspire action. Annually, she reaches over 35,000 individuals of all ages across the nation, leaving a lasting impression through her warmth and authenticity.

Kym’s commitment to making a difference extends far beyond her executive role. She actively serves on various local, state, and national boards and task forces, championing policy changes that impact families and communities. As a member of the NYS Governor’s Opiate Task Force, she helped shape state-wide reforms, including prescribing practices, extended treatment stays, and family support initiatives.

Celebrating over 35 years of her own recovery journey, Kym’s dedication to fostering positive change is both professional and deeply personal. She takes pride in encouraging others to “Make the space better”. When she’s not advocating for change, Kym treasures time with her husband, their two adult sons, soon to be first grandchild and an ever-growing pack of beloved dogs at their home in Westhampton Beach.

Rikki Barton has a passion for moving individuals and communities onward in their goals. She is the Founder/Lead Consultant of Onward Consulting and is a Certified Prevention Specialist. Rikki has 16 years of prevention field experience and currently serves as a consultant to assist organizations, coalitions, and state/federal agencies in the areas of substance use prevention, suicide prevention, and mental health promotion. She has extensive experience working with community coalitions, providing training, grant writing, managing funding sources, and leading a team of preventionists. Rikki trains for CADCA in their youth and adult training programs, for the National Coalition Institute, as well as for National Council for Mental Wellbeing as an Adult, Youth, and Teen Mental Health First Aid Instructor. Rikki holds a Bachelors degree from Pennsylvania State University and a Masters degree from Liberty University. In her free time, Rikki loves exploring the outdoors on hikes with her rescue dog, Oreo.

Angela Da Re is a nationally recognized expert in coalition leadership, substance use prevention, and community capacity building. As the founder of Lumen Collective Consulting, she partners with organizations across California, the U.S., and internationally to implement evidence-based prevention strategies, strengthen partnerships, and create lasting impact. Her expertise in strategic planning, sustainability, and community engagement has helped coalitions and nonprofits expand their reach and effectiveness.

With over 25 years of experience in public health and prevention, Angela is a sought-after national trainer for CADCA, guiding coalitions through the National Coalition Academy and providing technical assistance on environmental strategies, sector engagement, and long-term sustainability. She has led major prevention initiatives at the local, state, and national levels, helping organizations translate research into actionable, real-world solutions.

Angela’s leadership has influenced high-impact prevention efforts, including large-scale Strengthening Families Program implementations, crisis response planning, and community-driven prevention frameworks. Her ability to mobilize stakeholders, influence policy, and drive measurable outcomes has made her a trusted advisor in the field.

Beyond her consulting and training work, Angela is passionate about equipping prevention professionals with the tools they need to succeed. She is a mentor and thought leader, dedicated to bridging research and practice to create meaningful change. When she’s not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Bruno, and tackling new projects—including her latest venture into container gardening. She and Bruno also have grown children spread across the world, keeping their family connections strong across continents.

For inquiries, contact Angela at dare.email@gmail.com or connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/angeladare.

Application deadline is March 31 and coalitions will be accepted for the Academy on a rolling basis.  

For questions or to learn more about the Academy, please email Joan Masters at MastersJ@missouri.edu.