For the last 21 years, CADY has been dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth through innovative programming and evidence-based strategies that deter alcohol, tobacco and other drug use; that engage and strengthen families, schools and communities; and that promote healthy environments, resiliency building, and promising futures for our youth.
CADY builds youth resiliency through a three-tiered strategy of information, education and collaboration on positive youth development programming, educational opportunities, experiential learning, and connections to the community. As a result, CADY has developed many high-level partnerships including law enforcement, schools, healthcare providers, faith-based organizations, and youth-serving organizations.
CADY also serves a pivotal role in the well-being of children and youth in our region. First, we serve as the convener of the Central NH Substance Misuse Prevention Coalition for the NH Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Services. Through this role we partner with multiple stakeholders to develop a wide array of environmental strategies to reduce risk factors among youth, while increasing protective factors.
In addition, we are responsible for delivering direct service youth prevention and youth empowerment programming using strengths-based service models. Through all of our efforts, we seek to build on the positive capacities among our youth and our communities, to prevent harm to youth arising from family and social stressors, unhealthy choices, and risky behaviors. In the same vein, CADY is responsible for creating a multi-pronged strategic plan for the region in order to align regional prevention efforts with the goals of the state plan and the NH State Health Improvement Plan; build, maintain and sustain a regional network of professionals and community members who are concerned about substance misuse in the region; and leverage resources and provide technical assistance to promote best practices within six core sectors – Safety and Law Enforcement, Health and Medical, Education, Government, Business, and Community and Family Supports.
- OVERVIEW OF CADY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
- OUR STRATEGIC APPROACH:
- STRATEGY 1: Leadership – Develop leadership capacity, particularly among state lawmakers and policy makers, to improve understanding of the impact of alcohol and other drug misuse in our region; to increase awareness of effective policies, programs and practices to address misuse; and to cultivate champions for such efforts.
- STRATEGY 2: Financial Resourcing – Advocate for and support sustained financial investment of alcohol and drug misuse prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery supports.
- STRATEGY 3: Public Education – Increase public awareness of the harms and consequences of alcohol and drug misuse among youth and the broader community.
- STRATEGY 4: Training and Professional Development – Support broad-based training access for professionals and practitioners across various sectors of the community on alcohol and drug-related topics.
- STRATEGY 5: Collaboration – Foster partnerships among key community sectors, aligning efforts to support long-term stability and effectiveness.
- STRATEGY 6: Technical Assistance – Provide technical assistance to enhance the work of local coalitions, support coalition development in new communities, and strengthen the capacity of community partners to prevent and reduce youth substance misuse.
- STRATEGY 7: Data Utilization – Continue collecting and sharing data on the impact of substance misuse on individuals, families, and communities, using this data to inform effective prevention and recovery efforts.
- STRATEGY 8: Policy, Practice, and Program Implementation – Promote the use of evidence-based policies, practices, and programs through direct-service initiatives and community-level strategies that improve outcomes.
- TAKE IT TO THE BOX (Bristol and Plymouth)
- “CADY’S WORLD”