Broad-based community groups in two areas of San Mateo County are taking action to reduce adolescent drug use. These groups — the Coastside Youth Development Partnership and the North County Youth Partnership — are identifying environmental factors that contribute to drug use and implementing projects to address them.

As part of the Coastside Youth Development Partnership, the Youth Leadership Institute provides training and technical assistance to new Friday Night Live member groups at Half Moon Bay High School and Moonridge Housing YMCA. YLI also coordinates and trains the Coastside Family Coalition, a youth-parent coalition working on a community action plan to reduce adolescent drug use.

Through the North County Youth Development Partnership, YLI offers training and assistance to new Friday Night Live member groups at four high schools: Westmoor, Oceana, Terra Nova and Jefferson. YLI also provides annual training programs to faculty and parents at each high school, thus helping adults to support the work of member groups.

Both the Coastside and North County Youth Development Partnerships are supported by a grant from the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Program. For more information about these groups' activities, contact us.