The OJJDP’s Underage Drinking Enforcement Training Centers (UDETC) held their 10th Anniversary National Leadership Conference (NLC) on August 20-23, 2008 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Under the theme of, “A Notable History: Forging the Future”. A record number , in excess of 2,200 participants, attended the conference. Included were representatives from the US Territories: American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Also there were 351 youth representing 36 States.
The conference, held in conjunction with the National Liquor Law Enforcement Association, included distinguished speakers such as OJJDP’s J. Robert Flores and NIAAA’s Dr. Ralph Hingson. The Underage Drinking Enforcement Training Center’s NLC brings out some of the Nation’s largest policy and public health funders including OJJDP, NHTSA, NIAAA, SAMHSA, DOE and the FTC. This extends UDETC’s reach nationally to federal, state and local agencies as well as their outreach to state and local communities through their relationship with 51 State Coordinators in each state and the District of Columbia and now to include the US Territories. The NLC is a gathering for States and communities with interest in enforcing underage drinking laws and in sharing of resources.
The conference included engaging Plenaries along with presentations by law enforcement, judicial members, youth, researchers and community leaders. The NLC stood up to its theme, “A Notable History: Forging the Future” and included conference highlights such as;
-Pre-conference activities for State coordinators,
-Experiential Learning Exercises,
-Leadership Institute
-Youth Track and Presentation and
-Law enforcement and Success Story Awards.
For additional information on the OJJDP’s UDETC and their resources contact 1-877-335-1287.