Capital Area Substance Abuse Council (CASAC)

'Like' us on facebook


Employment
2010 Priority Report
Technology Grant
Archives

Serving the towns of:
Avon, Bloomfield, Canton, East Granby, Granby, Farmington, Hartford, Hartland, Newington, Rocky Hill, Simsbury, Suffield, West Hartford, Wethersfield, Windsor, and Windsor Locks, Connecticut.

The Capital Area Substance Abuse Council (CASAC) is a Regional Action Council on substance abuse established by the Connecticut State Legislature in 1990. CASAC is a private/public partnership comprised of community leaders and citizens who develop and carry out strategies to reduce alcohol, tobacco, other drug use and risky behaviors in our communities. CASAC is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization funded in part by the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and private donations.

Mission Statement
In collaboration with our communities, the Capital Area Substance Abuse Council (CASAC) is a strategic catalyst to reduce substance abuse and other addictive behaviors. We advocate for comprehensive prevention education, healthy decision making, and high impact programming in service to our diverse constituencies.

Local Prevention Councils
CASAC partners with the 16 Local Prevention Councils (LPCs) in our region to promote substance abuse prevention and early intervention at the local level. The LPCs bring together volunteer community members including the local Youth Service Bureaus, parents, youth, educators, law enforcement personnel, legislators and other concerned citizens.

CASAC's Prevention Coordinator, Wende Cooper, attends LPC meetings providing guidance, support, and other technical assistance as needed. CASAC administers grants to the LPCs made available by the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Inc.

Presentations
CASAC provides interactive presentations about a host of topics to youth and adults. We seek to develop each presentation to meet the particular need of the individual community.

Newsletter
CASAC produces a quarterly newsletter showcasing our LPC's achievements in their communities, topics of concerns, current and helpful information. Our objective is to increase awareness and knowledge by providing accurate and up-to-date information.

CASAC as a Resource Center
CASAC disseminates current information about prevention and early intervention through the Local Prevention Councils, Youth Service Bureaus, schools, community groups and agencies within our region. Videos, DVDs, brochures, curricula are all available from CASAC's library. Contact us at 860.286.9333 for more information.

Surveys
CASAC has developed a student alcohol, tobacco and other drugs which is available to all schools in our 16 town region. The survey assesses students attitudes and actions in regards to alcohol, tobacco, drugs, problem gambling, and peer perceptions.

Board of Directors 2011/2012

President: Carla Marciano - Executive Director,

Farmington Valley Student Union
Vice President: Robert Skinner - Chief Administrative Officer,

Town of Canton

Secretary: Joan Biagioni - Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator,

West Hartford Public Schools

Treasurer: Marcus Fink - Concerned Citizen

Anna Chastain - RN, Saint Francis Medical Center

James DeLoughery - Mental Health Worker, Mount Sinai Hospital

Tracey G. Gove - Captain, West Hartford Police Department

Kevin Hauschulz - Concerned Citizen, Newington
Harriette Howard - State Investigator, Public Defenders Office

Jason Raines - Special Projects Officer, Farmington Police Department

Donna Zaharevitz - Peer Counselor, Wheeler Clinic