DuPage County Prevention Leadership Team presents 2019 Changemaker Awards
The DuPage County Health Department and the Prevention Leadership Team announced that Commander Don Cummings and the Carol Stream Police Department and Dr. Aaron Weiner, director of addictions at Linden Oaks Behavioral Health, are recognized as the 2019 Changemakers for their dedication to youth substance use prevention.
The Changemaker Awards are presented annually to recognize individuals, communities and organizations who are leading-the-way in prevention efforts and going above-and-beyond to protect youth in DuPage County.
"Our intention with this award is to promote innovative prevention work in DuPage and to recognize and honor those important efforts in our community," said Karen Ayala, executive director of the DuPage County Health Department.
Commander Cummings and the Carol Stream Police Department were selected as the Organizational Changemaker for their commitment to youth substance use prevention through their adoption and enforcement of prevention policies including a newly adopted social host ordinance, which will help prevent adults from hosting or providing alcohol for underage drinking parties, as well as their enforcement of Tobacco 21 in Carol Stream.
Cummings also goes above-and-beyond to promote youth substance use prevention by being a prominent member of the Prevention Leadership Team, a countywide coalition working to prevent youth substance use throughout DuPage County.
Cummings also volunteers for youth prevention activities such as Sticker Shock, a youth-led, adult-guided underage drinking prevention campaign.
Dr. Weiner was selected for the Adult Changemaker Award for his dedication to youth substance use prevention. He has worked diligently over the past several years to educate policymakers on the impact of marijuana legalization on youth and continues to advocate for strong prevention policies to protect youth. He often volunteers to participate in educational events, board meetings and news conferences to promote youth substance use prevention.
"We are very fortunate to have individuals like Dr. Weiner and Commander Cummings and an organization like the Carol Stream Police Department leading the way in local youth prevention efforts," said Jordan Esser, project coordinator of the DuPage County Prevention Leadership Team. "They are truly making a difference in DuPage County."
If you know an individual, organization or community committed to youth substance use prevention, send a nomination for a PLT Changemaker Award to Jordan.esser@dupagehealth.org.