We invite you to join other concerned parents in creating a healthy, drug free lifestyle for youth by signing the Parent Pledge. 
Call Mary at 686-0295
About the Coalition
Vision Statement
The Coalition will facilitate and take collective action resulting in conditions where youth can become healthy, safe, resilient and can thrive.
Mission Statement
The Santa Ynez Valley Coalition to Promote Drug Free Youth is a collaboration of volunteer community leaders dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles and preventing and reducing alcohol and other substance abuse among youth and ultimately adults. The Coalition focuses on advocating for the implementation of research based best practices, policies and prevention programs.
Who We Are
The Santa Ynez Valley Coalition to Promote Drug Free Youth is a group of community volunteers who came together in 2005 because we share the same concern – how to make a change in the attitudes and behaviors of teens who are abusing drugs and to prevent young people in the Valley from ever starting to experiment with substances. The goal is to promote a safe, healthy and supportive environment where young people can be successful and they transition through adolescence.
What We Do
In 2007, the Coalition was awarded a five-year Drug Free Communities grant by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, a division of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. The focus of the grant was on environment strategies designed to change the norms and conditions of the community that support underage use.
The Santa Ynez Valley Coalition to Promote Drug Free Youth is working on several initiatives including:
- Educating parents and the community about topics related to underage abuse of alcohol and other drugs, new drugs of abuse and new research about the dangers associated with underage use.
- Informing parents and community in many ways such as public forums, media, brochures and fact sheets, speakers for various groups and messages delivered by youth.
- Providing parents with strategies to prevent substance abuse.
- Promoting policies that change settings and consequences for underage substance abuse such as a Social Host Ordinance, a Sheriff’s “Party Patrol” and hotel and motel policies.
- Providing social support for youth such as mentoring and Youth Programs.
- Collaborating with the local business communities and schools to insure that barriers are in place to prevent youth access to alcohol.
- Helping parents to identify other parents who have signed a Parent Pledge that supports an alcohol and drug-free lifestyle for their youth
Membership
Membership is open to all members of the community that are dedicated to the Vision and Mission of the Valley Coalition. Coalition Members include volunteers from the following community sectors:
*Schools *Media *Youth-serving organizations *Business community *Law enforcement agencies
*Civic and volunteer groups *Healthcare professionals *State, local or tribal governmental agencies
* Religious or fraternal organizations *Other organizations involved in reducing substance abuse
* Parents *Youth
The Youth Action Advisory Council is comprised of High School youth which serve as a youth advisory board to the Coalition. On going projects provide opportunities to positively impact their peers and the community in which they live. The Youth Action Council's involvement in a variety of teen and community activities will demonstrate the valuable role youth play in helping to prevent underage substance abuse.
Coalition Leadership
| Coalition Officers: | |
| Chairman | Michelle Bradley |
Vice Chair Youth Action Council President Youth Action Council Vice President |
John Greer Sage Perry Nick Kennedy |
| Coalition Project Director | Lois Craig |
| Coalition Coordinator | Mary Conway |