A Santa Ynez Valley nonprofit is putting teenagers in charge of tackling one of the most persistent challenges facing their generation.
People Helping People has launched the People Helping People Youth Coalition, a new program that brings local high school students together with educators, parents, businesses, healthcare providers, law enforcement and community organizations to address underage drinking, marijuana use and opioid misuse in the valley.
The coalition marks a shift for the organization, which previously ran separate youth and adult prevention programs. Under the new model, students will take a leading role — presenting at local schools, participating in community policy discussions and developing outreach campaigns tailored to their peers…