The County Longford Drug and Alcohol Forum is comprised of organisations drawn from the statutory, community and voluntary sectors which have a remit around the area of problem substance use in County Longford (for the purpose of this Constitution, ‘substance’ includes illicit drugs, alcohol, nicotine, prescription medications and other chemical intoxicants).
The Midland Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force (MRDATF) has a remit around drugs and alcohol and the workplan that is developed and delivered by County Longford Drug and Alcohol Forum in relation to the funding given by the MRDATF can only be in line with initiatives around drugs and alcohol.
The purpose of the County Longford Drug and Alcohol Forum is to work in a proactive partnership in order to provide a strategic and coherent response to problem substance use issues in County Longford.
The work of the Forum is structured around the actions within the National Drug Strategy 2017 – 2025 – ‘Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery’.
Regionally the County Longford Drug and Alcohol Forum is guided by the Midland Regional Drug and Alcohol Taskforce Strategic Plan.
The County Longford Drug and Alcohol Forum will work within the catchment area of county Longford.
Membership is open to all relevant organisations and key interest groups drawn from the statutory, community and voluntary sectors in Co Longford, that are prepared to make a commitment to the CLDAF and its work.
The membership of County Longford Drug and Alcohol Forum are drawn from the following sectors/agencies:
This membership is due for renewal at the AGM and new membership forms will be submitted to each of the agencies detailed below for the nominations.
A representative from the Midland Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force sits on the management committee in an advisory role only ie they are not part of the management committee and do not have a vote. As determined by the sitting committee
The Chairperson of CLDAF will issue correspondence and a membership nomination form to each member agency or project to nominate a primary representative to the forum. The nominating body will be required to complete the membership nomination form and return it to the Chairperson of the forum.
Membership applications will be discussed and decided at the quarterly meetings of the Forum.
The agency/project undertakes to input the perspective of the agency/project into the Forum, and to communicate the outcomes of the Forum meetings back to his/her agency/project.
The term of office for each member of the forum is two years. This term is renewable once the appropriate re-nomination procedures are considered by the nominating agency. Each nominating agency will be contacted by the Chairperson after the two year period, requesting the name of the person(s) they wish to represent their sector/agency on the forum.
Each new member will be given the following induction support to enable them to become familiar with CLDAF policies and practices:
For a meeting to occur a quorum of 50% plus one of the memberships of CLDAF is required to conduct the business of the forum. It is not acceptable for proxies to attend on members behalf.
CLDAF will meet every quarter (or more often as required). The schedule and venue of meetings for each calendar year will be agreed at the first meeting held each year.
Absence from three meetings in a row without prior apologies will assume resignation of the representative(s). Where a member does not attend three consecutive meetings, their nominating organisation will then be contacted, requesting them to nominate an alternative representative. Notification of non-attendance at a meeting should be made in advance to the secretary of CLDAF. Attendance at meetings will be recorded by the secretary.
If a member of the forum issues a second apology (in a row) to a scheduled meeting, the secretary of the forum will issue correspondence to that particular members nominating body to make them aware of their non attendance.
Agendas will be drawn up by the secretary in conjunction with the Chairperson. Members who wish to place an item on the agenda must submit it to the Secretary at least 10 days prior to the forum meeting. This is to facilitate the circulation of an agenda to all members one week before the date of the meeting for which the agenda is drawn up. Important items that require inclusion at a meeting after the drafting of the formal agenda can only be dealt with under “any other business”. These items must be submitted to the secretary in advance of the meeting.
Minutes must be documented for all forum and any Sub-Committee meetings. Minutes must be typed, proposed and seconded at the next meeting of either the forum committee or sub-committee meeting and signed and dated by the Chair of the subsequent meeting. The secretary will have the responsibility of ensuring that an accurate record is kept of all the meeting. Sub-Committee minutes must be forwarded to the secretary to ensure that all minutes of meetings are available on file for review by the forum members at all times.
Standard template will be used for recording minutes. Minutes recorded will be action based. Minutes of previous meeting will be circulated by the secretary to the committee within ten days of the meeting.
All decisions will be reached by discussion and consensus. If voting is required to resolve or to decide on a particular issue, each member of the forum present at the meeting will have a vote. Where a consensus cannot be reached on a particular issue a majority rule will apply.
Structure of the County Longford Drug and Forum
The CLDAF Forum consists of the main Forum body, which meets quarterly. Each year, there will be an Annual General Meeting at a time and place agreed by Forum members. Resolutions and amendments to the Constitution must be submitted in writing to the Forum Secretary 30 days prior to the AGM. The AGM will proceed as long as 50% + 1 Members of the Forum attend.
The forum committee will ensure that the stated aims and work-plan of the Forum are met and implemented. The purpose of the Administration sub-group is to progress the work of the Forum between meetings. Election to the Administration sub-group will take place at the AGM. The Forum Chair, Secretary and Treasurer will automatically be appointed members of the Administration sub-group.
The ethos of the Forum is based on principles of equality and democracy of process, flexibility, collaboration and non territoriality of approach of its members, and actions which are evidence and needs based. Members recognise that building a successful partnership requires trust, honesty and a generous sharing of skills, knowledge and resources.
The Forum emphasises action and results. It aspires to a ‘can do’ philosophy with a common understanding that problems and challenges arising from the process of partnership can be solved. It will therefore promote can do values and continuous improvement in supporting the achievement of its purpose.
The County Longford Drug and Alcohol Forum recognises that the development of a non-blame culture promotes effective functioning. Its preferred way forward will be one of ‘fixing the problem not the blame’. This involves a common understanding of problems and their causes and working together in a solution focused environment.
The Forum will achieve its purpose through three core aims:
Aim 1: To increase countywide knowledge, awareness and understanding of good theory and practice around problem substance use
Aim 2: To influence policy and practice relating to problem substance use
Aim 3: To promote positive alternative activities to problem substance use
In relation to the funding allocated from the Midland Regional Drug and Alcohol Task Force the aims and objectives of the forum are as follows:
Each year the full Forum will develop a work-plan for the forthcoming year. The annual work-plan will be needs-based and will be guided by the principles and aims as detailed in the terms of reference of the forum. The work-plan will also include a specific work-plan and funding application in relation to Midlands Regional Drugs Task Force (MRDATF). Work-plan activities will be discussed and agreed by Forum Members at the quarterly meetings of the forum. Full committee must review and recommend the workplan for approval before being submitted to the MRDATF for review and approval.
The Forum is committed to the principle of confidentiality as a core right of every citizen, and to safeguarding the confidentiality of all data/information provided to, and by, Member agencies/projects. The Forum expects all data/information to be handled sensitively and confidentially by Forum members. Confidential or privileged material discussed at Forum meetings should only be discussed outside the Forum with the agreement of the Forum.
Sub-Committee/working group structures can be established to deal with specific issues and recommend actions to the forum committee for review. Although each Sub-Committee determines their own terms of reference, each agreed action is subject to approval at forum Committee meeting level. The recording of Sub-Committee/working group minutes should be in line with the guidelines outlined above. A written Sub-Committee/working group summary report is presented at every forum committee meeting. This report should provide a brief outline of any action progressed through the Sub-Committee/working group as well as the recommendation to be decided upon at forum Committee meeting level. Sub-Committee/working group reports should be sent to the forum secretary at least 10 days prior to the forum meeting, to facilitate circulation to forum members.
All media queries in relation to the forum must be referred to the Chair of the forum. Responses to media queries by the Chair must follow a process of consultation with forum members. Where a consensus cannot be reached a majority rule will apply.
Proposed amendments to terms of reference require notification to the Chairperson two weeks in advance of a forum meeting. This is to ensure that members have adequate time to be informed of any proposed changes / amendments. A 50% + 1 majority of the forum is required to amend the terms of reference.
National Drug Strategy – Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery 2017 – 2025
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/4e5630-reducing-harm-supporting-recovery-2017-2025/
Healthy Ireland Framework 2019 – 2025
https://assets.gov.ie/7555/62842eef4b13413494b13340fff9077d.pdf
Substance Misuse Education and Policy, Department of Public Health, Midland Health Board (1999)
Midland Regional Drugs Task Force Action Plan – Midland Regional Drugs Task Force
National Alcohol Policy (2018)
https://www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/89335d-healthy-ireland-alcohol-policy/
National Drug & Rehabilitation Framework
National Health Promotion Strategy 2000-2005, Department of Health & Children, Stationery Office Dublin (2000)
Strategic Task Force on Alcohol Second Report (2004)
https://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/5083/1/472-STFAinterimreport.pdf
Close to Home – A Study on the Misuse of Drugs and Alcohol in the Midland Region – Midland Regional Drugs Task Force 2010
