Quick look: Backed by a new three-year contract from the Orange County Health Care Agency, OCDE’s Friday Night Live program is expanding its youth-led efforts to prevent underage substance use across local schools. Operating in 37 schools, the program empowers students from grades four through 12 to promote healthy lifestyles through peer mentoring, leadership development and campus-wide prevention activities.
The saying goes “More money, More problems,” but the Orange County Department of Education’s Friday Night Live program is setting out to prove the opposite — using new funding to reduce underage drinking, prescription drug misuse and marijuana use among young people.
Following strong participation across local campuses, the program recently received a three-year contract from the Orange County Health Care Agency to expand its outreach. FNL operates as a school-based club for students in grades four through 12 and currently supports 37 schools across 14 districts.
Each club is led by a school staff member but centers on youth-led efforts to prevent substance use. At the elementary level, clubs promote healthy habits and positive character traits, while middle and high school students focus more directly on preventing alcohol, drug and vape use.
“I choose to advise FNL because it gives me the chance to connect with students in a way that goes beyond traditional classroom teaching,” said Shannon Bennett, an FNL club advisor of over 12 years at Santiago High School in the Garden Grove Unified School District. “Through peer mentoring and leadership development, I get to see my students grow into confident, capable leaders all while focusing on projects and efforts to positively impact our campus and community.”
To support these efforts, OCDE’s FNL staff provide free training, resources and ongoing assistance throughout the year. After club members discuss topics of concern and strategize solutions, the clubs are given the flexibility to choose their own prevention activities — from one-on-one mentoring sessions to larger campus events and presentations.
“The club has shown a lot of enthusiasm and passion for what it has done and a lot of people come over to check out our awesome events,” said Pearl Ta, a junior at Loara High School in the Anaheim Union High School District. “I am proud of the dedication of the club members.”
OCDE has provided FNL services since 1992 and is available to all public, private and charter schools. To learn more about the program and how to start a club, contact Elke Petras, Youth Development Programs Coordinator at (714) 966-4458 or epetras@ocde.us.