AOD Prevention & Early Intervention Services

The Services We Provide

Our mission is to mobilize the community to affect change and reduce substance use and our goal is to reduce youth access to alcohol and other drugs and to increase supports and opportunities for youth

Prevention Services & Youth Development

The Drug Free Communities Program has been a part of JUHSD since 2005. It consists of two community coalitions: Pacifica Prevention Partnership and the newly formed Daly City Prevention Collaborative. This model involves individuals from key sectors including schools, law enforcement, youth, parents, healthcare, media and others. These groups have deep connections to the local community and serve as a catalyst for reducing local substance misuse rates. Community coalitions are not traditional prevention programs that provide direct services, rather they are directed by sector representatives who have a genuine voice in determining the best strategies to address local problems. Environmental prevention strategies that address social norms, laws and policies and media messaging are implemented throughout the community.  Strategies include:

• Community education presentations: cannabis, vaping, alcohol

• Alternative to suspension program in Jefferson Union High School District.  Youth who have been reprimanded for vaping on school campus have the option to attend a special program that allows youth to learn about the effects of vaping, to recognize triggers and create a plan to stop vaping.

• Responsible Alcohol Merchant Awards Program

• Cannabis merchant education and training

INSPIRE - INnovative Strategies for Presenting an Intervention through Restorative Education

Youth who are identified as using substances (marijuana, alcohol, tobacco, vapes, etc.) on school campuses can face disciplinary action. These youth have the option to attend INSPIRE, which is an alternative to suspension program that allows youth to learn about the effects of their substance use in order to recognize triggers and create a plan to address it. INSPIRE helps students have an in-depth understanding of the dangers of their use, optimize decision-making skills, develop better communication skills, increase emotional control and self-awareness. This program utilizes three 30-45 minute sessions, including brief interventions, that help to assess the students readiness to change. All information in INSPIRE sessions is confidential.

INSPIRE is also available to youth who self-identify as needing support around substance use. Currently, this service is available to all JUHSD students, with hopes to grow our capacity in the future.

For any questions about INSPIRE please email Miguel Duenas.

For JUHSD students who would like to self-refer to INSPIRE please fill out this form.

Be The Change Youth Coalition (BTC)

BTC, the youth component of the program, has successfully advocated for policy change based on their own youth-led research. Youth led advocacy allows the voice of young people to be recognized by local decision makers. Current programs include the following:

• Youth-led research (Youth Access Survey)

• Community based research, surveys and focus groups

• “It’s Always Something Podcast”

• Youth Civic Empowerment Training

Please tune in to support the —> It’s Always Something Youth Podcast <—

Videos & Resources