IADDA COMMUNITY FORUMS

Community Forums

Sponsor A Community Forum In Your Area

History and Purpose of the Community Forums

In 1987, the first community forum was held in Joliet. Twenty-three years later the impact and importance of such community forums has not been forgotten. In fact, the value and impact has grown. IADDA invites you to join this important initiative to expand community forums to reach every community in Illinois.

Community forums seek to empower communities by bringing together individuals, families, community leaders, public officials and other local and state stakeholders to bring awareness of and affect change around drug and alcohol trends and issues in the community. By bringing community systems together, we create an open dialogue about substance abuse in our communities and offer concrete solutions.

In 2009, 8 community forums were hosted by member agencies across the state. This year we are hoping to broaden our reach of community forums even further. Community forums are a critical component of IADDA’s 2010 legislative agenda. We need to ensure that we reach every corner of the state as we battle what is shaping up to be a challenging budget session in the face of an estimated $11 billion budget shortfall.

We hope you will join us and be a part of the solution in 2010 by hosting a community forum in your area. The staff at IADDA are available to help agencies coordinate community forums and we have put together resources on this website for your use. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to assist you.

Tools to Sponsor a Community Forum on Substance Abuse

Template FY11 Budget Request Letter to Legislators (MSWord)

The New Face of Heroin Addiction – Fact Sheet (PDF)

Addiction: An Equal Opportunity Disease for Women & Girls – Fact Sheet (PDF)

Prescription Drug Abuse by Teens on the Rise – Fact Sheet (PDF)

FY 11 Budget Fact Sheet (PDF)

Community Forum Commitment Form (MSWord) or PDF

Community Forum Flyer (MS Word) or (PDF)

Timeline of Tasks to Sponsor a Forum (MSWord) or (PDF)

Legislator invitation (MSWord) or ((PDF))

Public official invitation (MSWord) or (PDF)

Legislator/public official confirmation letter (MSWord) or (PDF)

Registration form to mail or fax (MSWord) or (PDF)

Service providers invitation ( MSWord) or (PDF)

Sample agenda for Community Forum (MSWord) or (PDF)

Template Press Release on Women & Treatment (MSWord)

Template Press Release on Youth Heroin Use (M SWord)

Template Media Advisory on Women & Treatment (MSWord)

Template Media Advisory on Youth Heroin Use (MSWord)

Letter to Editor on Women & Treatment (MSWord)

Letter to Editor on Youth Heroin Use (MSWord)

Tips for the Moderator of a Community Forum (PDF)

IL Legislative Calendar (PDF)

Sample Dialogue Questions (MSWord) or (PDF)

Media Guide click here

Sample Activities to Get the Message Out (MSWord)

Sample Call to Action Activities (MSWord) (PDF)

CEU Certificate (MSWord)

CEU Attendance Sheet (PDF)

Evaluation Form (MSWord)

PIRE Fact Sheet - Underage Drinking In Illinois, The Facts (PDF)

Facts on Youth - High School Students, Binge Drinking & Risky Behaviors (PDF)

Recent Daily Herald Articles on Heroin Use:

The following items are materials for planning a forum that involves youth and adult breakouts. It is suggested finding a school that is interested in conducting a forum in conjunction with a mandatory meeting of parents of athletes.

Agenda Breakouts (MSWord) or (PDF)

Breakout Guide - Parents (MSWord) or (PDF)

Breakout Guide - Youth (MSWord) or (PDF)

Facilitators/Timekeepers - Parents (MSWord) or (PDF)

Facilitators/Timekeepers - Youth (MSWord) or (PDF)

Task Chart (MSWord) or (PDF)