OLD TOWN – The River Coalition has been awarded the opportunity to help strengthen its local organization by attending the National Coalition Academy.

Two delegates from the River Coalition will attend the academy, which includes classroom, distance learning and Web-based instruction to teach communities about sustaining effective anti-drug coalitions. The local organization is one of about 20 coalitions nationwide selected for the yearlong intensive training program.

“It gives us the opportunity to strengthen our infrastructure,” Michael Crooker, River Coalition executive director, said Friday. “Part of that is being able to maintain and build new partnerships in the community.”

The River Coalition is a nonprofit organization that focuses on children and their families in the river communities of Alton, Bradley, Greenbush, Milford and Old Town. It also collaborates with the Penobscot Indian Nation to help serve the Indian Island community.

The organization applied to attend the academy last May. Coalitions were selected to participate based on their structure and efforts and success regarding drug prevention and health improvement in their community.

Crooker and Cathy Paul, the coalition’s American Indian specialist, will attend three one-week sessions at the National Coalition Academy in Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa.

“[Paul’s] hoping to be able to use the information to help out here with her efforts,” Crooker said.

In addition to ensuring that the coalition is sensitive to cultures in the area, Paul assists in collaborating programs between the organization and services offered on Indian Island.

Coalitions participating in the academy learn about creating and maintaining partnerships, sustainability, cultural competency, assessment, prevention planning and implementation, and evaluation.

“There is no cost to it other than our travel to and from,” Crooker said, noting that housing and food are paid for. “It’s really a minimal cost to our organization.”

He estimates that travel costs will be between $3,000 and $4,000 for the three trips made to and from the academy throughout the next year. The first session is from Oct. 31 to Nov. 4.

Community partners and coalition board members also will have a chance to participate in portions of the academy through the distance learning videoconferencing and Web-based portions of the training. One of Crooker’s goals is not only to make the coalition a sustainable organization for the long-term, but to educate the community and increase involvement.

“As part of [the academy], it gives us an opportunity to do community assessment,” Crooker said. “The effects of that are really going to be felt throughout the area.”