Friday Night Live (FNL) engages young people in prevention activities on school campuses and in community-based organizations. Under the guidance of an advisor, youth focus on making an impact in the areas of substance abuse prevention and other concerns that affect their schools and communities.
The program encourages young people to take responsibility by creating and coordinating activities and service projects that benefit their peers, schools, and communities. This youth-driven model develops competencies in the areas of leadership, communication, team building, and problem solving. In addition to building these important life skills, students become more connected to their peers and build positive relationships with adults in their communities.
FNL chapters can be formed in schools and youth-serving community organizations. Youth in the program are in grades 4-12. Typically, the program is implemented as a club where students take the lead on running meetings and implementing activities. The program can also be embedded into an existing leadership class or program to strengthen youth-led substance use prevention efforts.
For more information about FNL or if you would like to establish FNL at your school or organization, please contact Elke Petras, Coordinator at epetras@ocde.us or 714-966-4458.
