LOCAL PREVENTION LEADERS HONORED AT STATEWIDE PREVENTION CONFERENCE

Kim Simmons, Director of Prevention at the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council, and Sharon Kruk, Executive Director of The Coalition, Inc., receive Community Partnership Award from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission recognized two Deep East Texas prevention leaders at its Annual Prevention Providers’ Meeting, a statewide gathering of prevention specialists dedicated to building healthier communities. Sharon Kruk, Executive Director of The Coalition, Inc., and Kim Simmons, Director of Prevention at the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council (ADAC), received the Community Partnership Award, which honors a partnership that has collaborated effectively to develop and implement a successful substance use prevention program or initiative.

The recognition highlights a joint effort between The Coalition, Inc. and ADAC to address the rising use of electronic nicotine products among youth in the Lufkin area. Using the Regional Needs Assessment produced by the Prevention Resource Center for Region 5, the pair identified a significant concern: youth vaping rates in Region 5 are higher than the state average (Texas School Survey, 2024). The City of Lufkin also had a high number of retailers selling e-cigarettes, in comparison with other localities across Texas.  "We know that availability to youth increases potential use and abuse," said Kim Simmons, Director of Prevention at ADAC.

Armed with the data, Simmons and Kruk shared the information with local stakeholders, including officials from Angelina County and the City of Lufkin. The findings led to a series of meetings and the development of a City Planning and Zoning ordinance to address increased access to vaping products. The ordinance passed unanimously after a public hearing where more than 20 coalition members and youth from both agencies testified in support. “We commend the City of Lufkin for prioritizing youth safety by limiting access to harmful and addictive e-cigarettes,” commented Sharon Kruk, Executive Director at The Coalition, Inc.

Those who nominated Kruk and Simmons for the Community Partnership Award described the partnership as a model of community-driven collaboration, “Instead of working separately, The Coalition, Inc. and ADAC chose collaboration and joined forces to address a pressing community need.”

ADAC and The Coalition, Inc. are independently funded organizations, each with their own focus and structure. By combining their respective strengths, the two organizations reinforce and amplify drug education and prevention efforts throughout the region. The 2026 Community Partnership Award reflects what is possible when dedicated organizations unite around a common goal: keeping youth safe and communities informed.

Kim Simmons, Director of Prevention at ADAC (left) and Sharon Kruk, Executive Director at The Coalition, Inc. (right), receive the Community Partnership Award from Maria Caldera, Community Development Specialist at the Texas Health & Human Services Commission.