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The Southwest Coalition on Substance Abuse Issues began as an 'offshoot' of the Mental Health Consortium in 1976. The Consortium was a group of service providers that met monthly to coordinate and support each other's services.

The original name was the Alcoholism Coalition. At the time, alcoholism and illicit drugs prevention and treatment services were organized and funded in two seperate systems.

The Will County Health Department, Silver Cross Hospital, and Saint Joseph Hospital were among the first organizations, together with several individual members, to form the Coalition.

Shortly after formation, the Drug Coordination and Information Council joined the group. From there it grew into a 'substance abuse' treatment and prevention focus.

The Coalition had a Will County focus.

The Coalition membership was highly cooperative, collaborative, and mutually supportive.

Training was provided as part of monthly meetings, and eventually, an annual workshop was organized and presented.



BYLAWS
05/21/02

ARTICLE I. NAME AND MEMBERSHIP

The name of this organization shall be the Southwest Coalition for Substance Abuse Issues. Herein, This will be referred to as the Southwest Coalition or SWC.

The boundaries of the SWC roughly cover the southwest counties of metro Chicago. Membership shall consist of all interested parties who provide services or prevention work for the people who reside in the area.

ARTICLE II. MISSION AND PURPOSE

The mission of the SWC is to maintain a network of publicly and privately funded treatment and community based prevention providers offering the highest quality services in the geographical area. Through collaboration and education, the SWC stays abreast of current issues in the substance abuse field and advocates for sound public policy among local, state, and national policy makers. Specifically, the SWC:

  1. Conducts a monthly meeting open to all agencies, organizations, or individuals who provide or receive such services.

    A. Establishes a format by which the membership may communicate on common concerns.

    B. Aides one another in areas of organization, public policy, finance, clinical and preventative techniques, research information, etc.

  2. Advocates for a full spectrum of services for clients and communities while seeking to prevent duplication of services.

  3. Provides clinical, preventative, and other factual information to membership, the field in general, and the community.

  4. Elects a liaison person to sit on other groups when their activities pertain to the mission of the SWC.

ARTICLE III. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

  1. Chairperson. The monthly meetings shall be conducted by the chairperson who will be responsible for providing an agenda. The chairperson shall be responsible for contacting new providers in the area of the SWC. The chairperson shall have the responsibility of writing a letter of support on behalf of the organization at the bequest of the membership. A copy of such letter will be presented at the subsequent meeting. The chairperson shall not vote except in cases of tie. The chairperson shall also be an ex-officiary member of all committees, except the nominating committee.

  2. Vice President. A vice-chairperson shall be elected. The vice chairperson will have the responsibilities of chairing whenever the chairperson is not present, as well as to assist in running the meeting. Vice Chairperson will also assist in other responsibilities of the chairperson.

  3. Secretary. A secretary will be responsible for taking and distributing minutes of each meeting prior to the next meeting.

  4. Treasurer. A treasurer shall be responsible for the collection of dues and any monies that are generated by the SWC. The monies shall be maintained in a bank account. The year end operating budget must be submitted to the chairperson and to the membership for approval to open the upcoming fiscal year. The chairperson and the treasurer shall be authorized to make withdrawals and deposits. Primary responsibility lies with the treasurer. In the absence of both chairpersons, the treasurer shall conduct the meeting.

  5. Elections. All officers shall be elected annually by a simple majority. A nominating committee will be formed to produce a slate of candidates. With prior consent from the nominated individuals, nominees shall be announced on meeting prior to election. The nominating committee will be elected by the membership in the month of February so election can be held in the month of April. New officers will be installed in June and will assume responsibility on July 1.

  6. Education Committee. The Education Committee shall be appointed by the September meeting. This committee's primary responsibility will be to develop seminars, workshops, and conferences.

    An educational presentation on substance abuse-related issues will be provided during the first hour of each monthly meeting. The business meeting will be conducted during the second hour of the meeting after which certificates will be issued for one IAODAPCA CEU to dues-paying attendees. No organization or individual will be eligible for CEU’s unless dues are paid. For agencies with organizational memberships, participation at the educational presentations is limited to five individuals. In the event that multiple members of a given agency attend, only one is required to represent the agency at the business meeting.

  7. Community Forum Committee. Members of this committee shall be appointed by September. This committee's primary responsibility shall be to develop the annual educational forum for providers, service recipients, legislators and the community at large.

  8. Ad Hoc Committees. These committees shall be formed and dissolved by membership present during monthly meeting.

  9. Vacancies. Vacancy of any office shall be formed and dissolved by membership present during the monthly meeting.

  10. Voting. There will be organizational and individual membership. Organizations with more than 2 members, whether they are an individual or an organizational member, will only be allowed 2 votes on any issue. The 2 eligible to vote may be declared at the time of the vote. No organization or individual will be eligible to vote unless dues are paid. The outcome on votes shall be determined by a simple majority of those present.

  11. Bylaws. These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting by a two-thirds majority of the membership. First however, these bylaws must be presented for a discussion and put in final form at the previous meeting, or at least 30 days prior to being voted upon. Wording must be exact and is to appear in the minutes for all membership to review.

  12. Dues. Dues will be $20 per individual and $50 per organization annually payable by July 1, the beginning of the fiscal year.

  13. Dissolution. Upon dissolution of the SWC any funds in the treasury shall be donated to an organization(s) doing substance abuse prevention and/or treatment work in the area served by the SWC. The organization(s) to be selected by a vote of the membership.