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There is power in a name. Names define us. They are our identity. There is also meaning in a name. The Cortland Area Communities that Care Coalition is also known as the CACTC, and sometimes the CTC or the Coalition. Communities that Care (CTC) is a coalition-based prevention system that uses a public health approach to address problem behaviors in youth. The anti-smoking campaigns of the 1970’s and 1980’s are good examples of the public health model. The Surgeon General’s warning that “smoking causes lung disease, heart disease and emphysema” has been very effective in reducing smoking in Americans. The CACTC is also a coalition, an alliance of professional organizations, community members, and individuals, formed to pursue a common goal. It is a partnership. There are many partner agencies in the CACTC some of which include: Access to Independence, CAPCO, the Council of Churches, MICAH, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Cortland City Youth Bureau, Family Reading Partnership, Cortland City Schools, Cortland County Department of Health, Cortland County Mental Health, Cortland Regional Medical Center, Cortland County Youth Bureau, Habitat for Humanity, JM Murray Center, Homer Schools, Marathon Schools, McGraw Schools, Cincinnatus Schools, OCM BOCES, TC3, SUNY Cortland, Seven Valleys Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, and Seven Valleys Health Coalition. The majority of funding for the Coalition’s activities is through a federal grant from Drug Free Communities, in partnership with the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). Catholic Charities of Cortland County is the lead agency for the grant and oversees the day to day operations. During the first five years significant progress was made in lowering substance use of alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana in youth, grades nine to twelve. Now, it its 6th year the CACTC has two new main goals: Increase community collaboration and reduce substance use among youth. A rising concern for the Coalition is over the counter or prescription drug abuse in teens. Twelve sectors of the community are involved in the planning process so the CACTC can achieve its goals: schools, parents, students, civic or volunteer groups, youth service organizations, health care professionals, business community, law enforcement agencies, the media, state or local governmental agencies with expertise in substance abuse, religious or fraternal organizations, and other organizations involved in reducing substance abuse. The work of the CACTC involves planning prevention activities that help promote positive behaviors in the youth of Cortland County. Activities included in the Coalition’s work plan for this year are a 10th grade Youth Conference scheduled for May 24th, Drug Take Back Days scheduled for April 30th and September 25th, a Faith Summit planned for March, the Cortland County School Survey set for September 2011, and Red Ribbon campaigns in the Fall and Spring. All of these activities help the CACTC to meet its prevention goals. There is power in a name, but there is also power in a community when people work together to prevent substance abuse in adolescents. When more people care about changing problem behaviors, it will only improve the lives of Cortland county youth. If you would like to become a volunteer or a supporting member of the Community that Cares Coalition, please contact the CACTC office at 299-4910. Join us! There is also power in numbers. Michele Whalen is the Coalition Coordinator for the Cortland Area Communities that Care. She can be reached at
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