Earlier this year, James, Meghana, and Liz from PHIMC’s “Team Teen” — aka, our Department of Adolescent and School Health — attended CADCA’s 34th Annual National Leadership Forum in Maryland. The forum is a training event for substance use prevention professionals, community leaders, advocates, and experts to convene, share insights, and collaborate on innovative strategies to drive lasting and impactful community change.

Our staff was eager to participate.

In 2023, PHIMC launched Chicago’s Regional Substance Use Prevention Integration Center (RSUPIC), which increases the capacity of institutions, organizations, and providers to support youth in Illinois. RSUPIC programs facilitate the integration of substance use prevention strategies locally through collaboration, training, and support to improve the overall health and well-being of youth. PHIMC functions as the Chicago RSUPIC lead agency, using available data sources to understand local trends and provide support to youth-serving agencies in Chicago. Through the RSUPIC program, PHIMC provides access to resources, expertise, data-driven strategies, and a resource portal to enhance substance prevention efforts among Chicago youth. James Lones, Program Manager of RSUPIC, stated, “The RSUPIC program will help support many programs that need an extra push to provide substance use prevention services.”

CADCA’s National Leadership Forum attracted thousands of professionals from across the country, including many youth leaders from coalitions, high schools, and clubs. The young people at the forum brought an inspirational energy reminding the professionals there that they are the experts on their own community and autonomy. As Program Manager for the School Health Access Collaborative (SHAC), Liz does not have the privilege of regularly communicating with students about substance use and said, “Hearing young people from across the country express how substance use affects their lives and communities is an extra motivator to incorporate what I learned at the forum into my program.”

At the forum, James met program staff from other RSUPIC lead agencies across Illinois. “Getting to meet the other regional managers in person for the first time was amazing. We were able to discuss and connect and even go out for dinner! Having that personal interaction was great for networking further, as well,” said James.

Some workshops that James, Meghana, and Liz attended were For youth, by youth: Authentic partnerships with youth in research and prevention; Transforming youth discipline and justice with restorative practices; and Racial equity as a substance abuse prevention and methodology.

“I was encouraged and inspired to hear about the harm reduction approaches many workshops were highlighting. This is a shift in culture and mindset that is trauma-informed, acknowledges root causes for why someone may use substances, and can help reduce shame and stigma” said Meghana, Director of Adolescent and School Health.

The resounding message from the community was: Youth are the experts and education is prevention.

PHIMC strongly believes programs that center lived experience, promote education, use a non-punitive approach, and are responsive to evidence-based data on substance use initiatives that work for adolescents are the most impactful. We believe these programs should support young people in making informed decisions for themselves. Currently, PHIMC works with organizations like Lurie Children’s Hospital’s Connect 4 Youth program and UCAN, engaging youth to help inform the RSUPIC program. “Engaging a youth advisory board can be a catalyst for change, helping to raise the voices of youth. This helps us at PHIMC to make informed decisions based on the youth’s beliefs. It’s empowering to the youth!” said James.

PHIMC’s “Team Teen” also participated in Capitol Hill Day in Washington D.C. as part of the forum to talk to our Illinois legislators about substance use in our state and to advocate for increased funding resources. James, Meghana, and Liz witnessed youth coalition leaders from Illinois advocate with their state leaders to take action on this urgent issue.

View the legislative fact sheet co-created by Illinois coalitions for Prevention Day here.

James, Meghana, and Liz had an impactful time at the CADCA forum and are excited to share the information, resources, and insights gained from our communities to improve young people’s overall health and well-being across the state.

You can catch PHIMC’s “Team Teen” at CADCA next year!

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In the meantime, we encourage you to connect with us in Illinois:

• Chicago’s Regional Substance Use Prevention Integration Center (RSUPIC) increases the capacity of institutions, organizations, and providers to support youth in developing healthy relationships with substances. Learn more here.

• Chicago’s School Health Access Collaborative (SHAC), co-hosted by PHIMC and Healthy Schools Campaign, improves the school health services infrastructure so that Chicago students receive comprehensive, coordinated, and sustainable care. Learn more here.

• The Alliance promotes safety, support, and healthy development for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ+) youth in Illinois schools and communities through advocacy, education, youth organizing, and professional development. Learn more here.