COALITION

LifeSteps: Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition

Our Youth coalition Website for Drug Free Williamson County

Who: Parents, youth, nonprofits, counselors, faith-based community, civic, city and county representatives, the recovering community, educators, State, County, and City law enforcement, judicial, health professionals, and media – sharing concern for protecting youth.

Mission: To reduce and prevent youth substance abuse and underage drinking through education and collaboration for community level change.

Vision: Texas -- a state where youth have the information, confidence, skills, and adult environmental support needed to live a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.

LifeSteps: Coalition on Underage Drinking formed in September 2004 to reduce underage drinking. In January of 2009 our Coalition became the Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, so that we would be able to have an even greater impact across Williamson County. The coalition includes representatives from all communities and multiple sectors -- youth, parents, law enforcement, business, faith-based, educators, counselors, social services, and other community organizations. It has also established partnerships with statewide underage drinking prevention efforts, including the Mothers Against Drunk Driving and Texans Standing Tall.

Coalition members believe that local people are in the best position to solve specific local problems. People are more likely to support what they help create, and change is most likely to occur when the process engages many facets of a community in a collaborative approach. The Coalition is committed to raising public awareness of the risks and consequences of underage drinking and drug abuse, educating spokespersons, partnering with school districts, building liaisons with decision-makers, parents, the medical and faith communities as well as law enforcement. Working together, citizens can nurture social and environmental changes to make Williamson County a safer and healthier place, brightening the future of our children, youth and families.

“Environmental change” works on systems rather than the individual – it changes the world our kids are growing up in. We believe concerned citizens in Williamson County working together can create an environment that increases the quality of life and protects the health and safety of our children, youth and families- protecting their future and ours.

Resources for Parents

Documents:

Alcoholic Energy Drinks - 133 KB .pdf
Student Alcohol Use and Academics - 249 KB .pdf
5 Minute Alcohol Energy Drink Presentation - 445 KB .ppt
Teen Driving Fact Sheet - 38 KB .pdf
Effects of Alcohol for Youth - 28 KB .doc
Parents & Underage Access To Alcohol - 3.3 MB .pdf
Talking to Teens: Underage Drinking - 388 KB .pdf
Talking to Teens: Prom, Graduation, and Alcohol - 884 KB .pdf
Alcohol and the Teen Brain - 36 KB .doc

Internet Links:

I Think My Child Is Drinking and Using Drugs
Have a Conversation Not a Confrontation

To become involved in this powerful movement please contact:

Bebe Johnson, Director,

LifeSteps: Youth Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition

311 S. Main Georgetown
512-930-5351

2111 N. Mays Round Rock
512-246-9880

bebej@lifestepscouncil.org