About Us
Mission
The mission of Families Changing America, Inc. is to save lives and families from the devastation of substance abuse by changing attitude, perception, and policy through education and advocacy.
Board of Directors
Families Changing America is overseen by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of individuals dedicated to the organization's vision of saving lives. Learn more about FCA Board Members.
Background
On June 8, 2006, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) hosted the Vigil for Lost Promise (www.nationalparentvigil.com), planned and sponsored by the families of eight young people who lost their lives to substance abuse. More than 500 people attended the Vigil, showing support and demonstrating the need for a national family organization to address the problem of substance abuse.
Following this event, individuals interested in creating a national network of families impacted by substance abuse met for two days, September 28th and 29th, and in that short length of time were able to name the organization and craft vision and mission statements.
Families Changing America, along with the DEA Museum Foundation will continue the Vigil for Lost Promise as an annual event to raise awareness of the devastation that substance abuse causes to families and communities. Our primary goal is to save lives and save families.
Commitment
Families Changing America operates under the assumption that our collective experiences and voices can be used to save lives. We believe that had we been armed with certain, specific information about substance abuse, prevention, intervention, and treatment, that we would have had a much better chance to save the lives of our lost loved ones. “If we only knew then what we know now” is a common sentiment among all of us. That’s why we want to share with others what we now know. As families who have suffered the ultimate loss, we are committed to preventing substance abuse, as well as restoring the lives of those at risk of succumbing to the ravages of addiction by:
- Disseminating information relating to methods and strategies for identifying risk factors for, and signs of, substance abuse
- Providing leadership for the advancement of effective intervention and treatment and increased availability of these services
- Supporting families by providing vital and emerging information about illegal drugs, prescription drugs, alcohol, suicide risks, co-occurring mental health disorders, genetics, peer pressure, and other related factors
- Raising awareness of the devastation that substance abuse causes families and communities
- Changing attitudes, perceptions, and public policy through education and advocacy
Families Changing America / PO Box 182 / Franklin Park, NJ 08823 / mail@FamiliesChangingAmerica.org