Remembering NACoA’s Voice for the Children: Sis Wenger
It is with a heavy heart and profound sadness that NACoA mourns the passing of “Sis” Loretta Wenger. For more than 35 years, Sis provided unwavering leadership to the National Association for Children of Addiction, serving as a steadfast advocate and tireless voice for children impacted by parental substance use. Her compassion and dedication became the guiding light of NACoA, illuminating the challenges faced by children and families while offering hope for healing and recovery.
Because of her decades of selfless service, deep compassion, and unwavering commitment, Sis leaves behind a remarkable legacy. Her influence lives on in the countless families who have broken cycles of intergenerational trauma and in the resilient children and adults now living healthier, hope-filled lives because of her work. While Sis may no longer be with us, her spirit will continue to inspire and strengthen NACoA’s mission to support children and families affected by addiction for generations to come.
To continue her vision and legacy, the Sis Wenger Memorial Fund has been created to guide and inspire future generations to support children and families impacted by parental substance use and develop programming for healing and healthier living. Additionally, this fund will help support the Faith Leader Institute, the newest version of The Clergy Education and Training Project® – comprehensive support for faith leaders that includes training manuals, handbooks and a seminary curriculum – which will be dedicated in her honor.
Working Together to Support Children and Families
Impacted by Substance Use
Federal funding priorities are creating real openings right now for organizations, communities, and Tribes supporting children impacted by parental substance use – and NACoA’s training and programs fit perfectly in those applications. One example is SAMHSA’s Strategic Prevention Framework – Partnerships for Success (SPF-PFS) grants for both states and for communities and Tribes, with applications due in mid-July – a strong match for an evidence-based program like NACoA’s Celebrating Families! and an evidence-informed program like NACoA’s Children’s Program Kits. Beyond SAMHSA, agencies including the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS Office), the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP), and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) regularly fund prevention, victim support and services, and youth-serving initiatives where NACoA’s training curriculum and programs adds real value to any proposal’s service model.
What sets NACoA’s training apart is that it is not one-size-fits-all. Our team tailors every training to the specific needs of the agency, community, or Tribe we are working with – whether that calls for a multidisciplinary approach bringing together child welfare, behavioral health, law enforcement, and education professionals, or a focused approach within a single discipline.
Learn more about partnering with NACoA during the grant process to bring meaningful programming to your community! Contact NACoA for more information.
Upcoming NACoA Trainings
September is right around the corner. It’s a great time to plan for fall programming. NACoA has training opportunities in September for Celebrating Families! – an evidence-based, whole family recovery program – and the Children’s Program Kit – an evidence-informed kit to guide your own customized programming. Curriculum is required to participate. CEUs are available for these trainings – NACoA is a NAADAC education provider. For more information>>
Celebrating Families!
2 ½ day training
September 15 -17
Children’s Program Kit
2 day training
September 30 – October 1
Customized trainings for these programs, NACoA’s Law Enforcement, or NACoA’s faith community programming can also be arranged for your team. Contact nacoa@nacoa.org for more information.
DEA Hearing on Proposed Marijuana Rescheduling
Begins June 29
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will host formal hearing proceedings regarding the proposed rescheduling of marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) will be held June 29 – July 14 at DEA Headquarters, Arlington, Va. Attitudes have ranged from support, requesting a complete descheduling, or opposing the entire process. The DEA received over 42,000 public comments regarding the matter and responded with the intention to arrange these proceedings to allow for a more detailed examination and discussion. The hearing will be open to the public and members of the media in a limited capacity. A finalized and corrected transcript will be published on DEA.gov following the conclusion of the proceedings.
For information about the impact of cannabis and the developing brain – which doesn’t fully develop until the age of 25 – visit CDC’s Cannabis and Brain Health.
NACoA’s Recommended Reading
NACoA recommends relevant articles, research findings, and published guidelines to help educate on important topics to support healthy living for children and families. NACoA’s Recommended Reading can be found in NACoA’s Newsroom.
Sun and Fun-Filled Summers for Families Affected by SUDs
Families affected by substance use disorders can thrive in the summer when spending quality time together and engaging in fun-filled activities that strengthen bonds and maintain safety for everyone! ACOAs – adults who were impacted by parental substance use as children – can celebrate being a kid again while providing great experiences for the entire family during the summer months!
Learn more by watching a recording of last year’s short presentation hosted by Rivers Bend President/Co-Owner Bruce Goldberg LMSW, ACSW, CAADC, SAP.
