Women’s History Month: Champions for our Children

During this month of recognition, NACoA celebrates the amazing women of yesterday, today, and tomorrow who advocate for our children so they can be resilient and thrive. Women have historically been central to advancing children's health through advocacy, medical innovation, and grassroots activism, tackling issues like abuse, nutrition, and access to care. It takes strength, compassion, and courage, especially in the face of challenges with substance and alcohol misuse. At NACoA, we honor women’s crucial role in stabilizing families, and we remain dedicated to help them heal and guide them as they nurture healthier relationships with themselves, their families, and within their community.

It is a time to honor the strength and resilience of those who have faced adversity, including the many women who navigate the challenges of the disease of addiction and its impact on families in our communities and within their own families. The incredibly passionate and capable women who contributed to the creation of NACoA brought diverse experiences in their lives and careers that fueled the passion to change children’s lives through education and support. NACoA extends its deepest and ongoing gratitude, during Women’s History Month and all year long, to its founders for their contribution to improving the lives of children impacted by addiction: NACoA’s founders: Robert Ackerman, PhD; Timothy J. Allen, MA; Claudia Black, PhD, MSW; Timmen L. and Mary Brand Cermak; Phil Diaz, MSW; Cathleen Brooks Weiss; Julie D. Bowden, M.S.; Jael M. Greenleaf; Barbara Krovitz-Neren; Rokelle Lerner; Tarpley M. Long, LCSW; Ellen Morehouse LCSW, CASAC, CPP, ACSW, NCACII; Patricia O’Gorman, Ph.D.; Robert Subby, MA; Sharon Wegscheider-Cruse; Charles Whitfield, MD.

This session introduces Celebrating Families!, a culturally adaptable, trauma-informed, and evidence-based intervention educating and supporting youth 0-18, pregnant mothers, caregivers, and families impacted by FASD (fetal alcohol spectrum disorders), substance misuse, and substance use disorders. Participants will learn education/support strategies, interagency collaboration, and lessons learned from community-level prevention and advocacy through systems-involved care. FASD 2026 is the leading international conference dedicated to adolescents and adults with FASD.

Learn More>>

Peer recovery coaches play a vital role in supporting individuals and families impacted by substance use disorders. Yet many have had limited experience working directly with children and adolescents—or may feel uncertain about how to engage young people, especially around difficult or sensitive topics.

This interactive 1-hour session is designed to build confidence, increase comfort, and provide practical, trauma-informed tools for working with children and teens affected by the disease of addiction in their families. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how substance use impacts children, including common emotional and behavioral responses.

For more information on JBS International>>

NACoA has announced the 2026 Online Training Schedule for Celebrating Families! and the Children’s Program Kit. Dates for the new Law Enforcement curriculum will be announced later in the year. Curriculum is required to participate in these trainings. CEUs are available for these trainings – NACoA is a NAADAC education provider.

For more information>>
Contact nacoa@nacoa.org with any questions.

NACoA provides reading recommendations of timely news and published articles regularly in the NACoA Newsroom.

Recent Recommended Articles:

• Intoxication in Children From Opioids Prescribed to Family Members
• Young/Middle-Aged Drug Users Risk Stroke. New evidence explains recent increases reported for strokes in young drug users
• US Child Mental Health Care Need, Unmet Needs, and Difficulty Accessing Services
• Smoking Fentanyl, Cannabis, Methamphetamine, or Tobacco. Not safe for homes and families because of second- and third-hand exposure risks
• Cannabis Use Among US Adolescents
• The Unique Contributions of Adverse Childhood Experiences to Increases in Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms and Problematic Substance Use After Trauma Exposure

Each month NACoA publishes important blogs to help educate about the impact of addiction on children, how to help kids and teens heal, and what adults can do who are still struggling with the impact. Resilience is available for children of all ages, and NACoA provides information, education, and additional resources through these informative and reflective articles. NACoA Blogs are part of NACoA’s Resource section.

• When Prescriptions in the Home Create Hidden Risks for Children
• Spring Cleaning for the Soul: Embracing Renewal and Letting Go
• The Hidden Bracket: The Impact of Gambling During March Madness on Children
• The Growing Popularity of Online Gambling: Risks for Children in Vulnerable Homes
• Keeping Children Safe When Parents Drive Impaired

Social workers are fueled by passion and love for the children and families they serve. They are a bright beacon of hope as they intervene to re-establish safety, to remind that people care, and to connect families with resources to help make a difference in their lives. Thank you social workers for all you do to help families in need, so they can find their way to brighter days. We are so grateful for all you do.

To learn more about this invaluable role that social workers play, read What is the Role of a Social Worker Helping a Family Struggling with a Substance Use Disorder.

The next National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is Saturday, April 25th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time, offering free, anonymous disposal of unused or expired medications at locations nationwide, including many DEA-authorized sites like local police departments, pharmacies, and hospitals. To learn more about the importance of responsible medication disposal, see NACoA’s Parent’s Guide: Safe Medical Storage.