The Marin Prevention Network (MPN) is working to reduce underage substance use and its impacts on our communities through city and county-level policy change. Consisting of nearly 20 organizations, the Network represents local organizations, along with youth, school, government and nonprofit stakeholders from communities across the county.
yli serves as the liaison between MPN and the Novato Community Coalition for substance use prevention to support the dissemination of information to community members and implement localized and county-wide initiatives.
In prior years, yli youth have helped lead the process, developing monthly meeting agendas, facilitating meetings and trainings (including the annual retreat), and creating a youth engagement assessment tool to measure each member’s success in engaging youth. This last year the Marin County Youth Commission’s Disability Justice, and Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs subcommittees came to train the coalition members.
yli youth from Friday Night Live, the Marin County Youth Commission and the Marin Prevention Network played a key role in the passage of Social Host Ordinances in the City of Novato and County of Marin, providing a restorative justice approach for youth caught drinking and/or using illegal substances and extending adult accountability to party buses and rental facilities. The policy win was covered in this Marin Independent Journal article and this yli blog post.
Interested in Joining?
Come out to our general body meetings! We are now in the process of developing action plans to address:
- Vaping
- Cannabis
- Raising the Bar (keeping youth-focused events substance free)
- Responsible Retail
- School Prevention Resources
General body Coalition meetings are held every month from 4:30-6:00 pm on the third Monday. These meetings are held via zoom but this year we are hoping to hold some events in-person as well.
Visit the Marin Prevention Network website for more details about our activities and coalition partners.