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By Emily Donohue
Published:
Friday, December 4, 2009
The Saratogian
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Judy Ekman, executive director of
the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention Council
of Saratoga County, will retire June 30 after 30
years at the nonprofit agency.
"I think it’s time for some new leadership and a
greater degree of energy at the Prevention Council,"
Ekman told The Saratogian Thursday evening.
The Prevention Council, as it is commonly called, is
a community-based nonprofit agency that provides
education, information and referral services on the
subjects of alcohol, tobacco, other drug and
violence prevention to individuals and local
communities, thereby diminishing the adverse effects
of substance abuse and violence. Ekman said she has
been most proud of the council’s ability to forge
relationships around the community with agencies and
individuals.
"The fact that the agency is a very good colleague
and partner may be one of the best things, and very
often our programs in schools or communities are
totally embraced," she said of her tenure.
Ekman said she has seen the problem of youth
substance abuse greatly evolve since 1979. At that
time teenage drug use, smoking and drinking reached
record levels. Since then teenage smoking has
dropped off greatly and trends in drug use have run
the gamut from marijuana to hallucinogens to crack
cocaine to prescription drugs — one of her biggest
concerns today.
Many youth have an attitude that "if it’s in a nice
clean bottle that I got from my medicine cabinet
then what’s wrong with it?" she said.
Ekman joined the Alcohol and Substance Abuse
Prevention Project in November 1979 as educational
coordinator, a post she held until 1993 when she
became executive director. In 1996, the Prevention
Project and the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Council
of Saratoga County merged under her leadership.
During her tenure, the agency, budget and mission
tripled in size. Prior to her tenure with the
Prevention Council, she helped to found the Saratoga
Center for the Family and served as its first
educational coordinator.
During the next six months, Ekman plans to do as
much training and mentoring of the Prevention
Council’s 26 employees and numerous volunteers as
possible. "I’ve accumulated a lot of knowledge of
the years," she said. "It’s important to get as much
of that into the common knowledge of the agency as
possible."
An eight-member committee has been formed to seek
Ekman’s successor. Joanne Dittes Yepsen of Coltivare
has been brought in as a consultant to assist with
strategic planning, and transition and succession
planning. She is also one of Saratoga Springs’
representatives on the county Board of Supervisors.
"Judy is one of the most dedicated and hard-working
members of the non-for-profit community. Under
Judy’s dynamic leadership over the past 27 years,
the Prevention Council has worked tirelessly to make
a difference in the lives of tens of thousands of
children, youth, and families. She is recognized for
her work not just regionally, but also at a state
and national level," said board President Brian
Backens in a press statement.
For the past 10 years, Judy has also served as a
trainer for the Northeast Center for the Application
of Prevention Technologies, a training arm of the
U.S. Center for Substance Abuse Prevention. She
served as a founding co-chair of the state
Prevention Credentialing Board, and was recognized
in 2008 for her contributions to the field of
addiction in New York state.
"Few people have the privilege of spending their
working life in one community, and being able to see
so many skilled colleagues and volunteers working to
realize their dreams. My dream is of a community
where children and youth can grow without having to
protect themselves from the constant pressure to be
too grown up too soon," Ekman said. "I see adults
all over the county give their time to build
community attitudes that are supportive of healthy
kids. Teenagers from every school use the skills
they’ve learned to help keep both their peers and
younger children safe and healthy. It’s very
gratifying to have played a role in helping this
happen."
James Lee, past president of the board, is chairman
of the search committee. "It is with mixed feelings
that the Search Committee begins its work," Lee
said. "Judy Ekman has led the agency with tremendous
passion and vision."
The search committee is made up of five present or
previous directors of the board and three staff
members.
"Judy is leaving the agency in a position of
strength and will provide support through the
transition to a new executive director in June
2010," Backens said.
For more information regarding the transition of the
prevention council, contact
PCExecutiveDirectorSearch@gmail.com.
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