SHEPHERDSVILLE — The members of Bullitt County Partners in Prevention are always working to increase community awareness and safety through education. And part of that plan includes a pro-active approach.
Partners in Prevention is a local coalition of civc officials, business representatives, educators, media, and other citizens who work toward drug and alcohol awareness and prevention.
PIP founded its Youth Coalition program in March 2022, first created as a superintendent’s district student advisory team.
“It started as a student voice,” said PIP Drug-Free Communities Coordinator Allison Robinson. “It was a way to find out what the students needed in their own perspective, in a more comfortable climate and culture, as opposed to speaking up to administration.”
The PIP Youth Coalition currently includes 27 members representing all three Bullitt County high schools as well as Riverview Opportunity Center. Robinson said participants were selected via application process.
“They have to be willing to commit to do it,” she said. “They meet once a month, usually at the Central Library. It began as a way to allow a student voice, but now it’s about the betterment of the community. Making Bullitt County healthier and happier is the main goal.”
The Youth Coalition provides unique opportunities for students, such as a recent trip to Washington, DC, for a Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) Conference. The students prepared an educational presentation and spoke with U.S. Rep Brett Guthrie.
The conference provided experience and training skills while helping students learn various skills toward community prevention.
“Right now we’re working on letters to retailers,” said Robinson. “We’re working on a partnership with retailers who sell vapes, asking them to agree not to sell those products to minors.”
Youth Coalition members include chair Jayden Holbrook (Bullitt Central), vice-chair Demi Peterson (North Bullitt), secretary Elijah Williams (Bullitt East), treasurer Caden Taylor (Bullitt Central), and tech coordinator Jazmine Cooper (Bullitt East).
Robinson said the ideal coalition features a similar amount of students from each school, as well as each grade level. She said the variety helped to cover all bases of issues that needed to be addressed.
“They are aware of the problems,” she said. “Peer-to-peer mentorship is what we’re missing out on. Our students are go-getters, they’re all advocates that are making their way.”
Robinson added that students selected for the coalition were “all-inclusive” and that different perspectives were beneficial. The only requirement was that the student had passing grades.
“We’re adamant about that,” she said. “Behavior is not necessarily going to keep you out. You can’t have a student voice without all student voices. That’s really important for us. All the kids who come to us with an idea of how to make things better are important to me. The kids we’re failing to reach… I need their opinion.”
Robinson praised the student advocates that presented to Guthrie, noting that the team found it more important to work as a group rather than as individuals.
“The kids on that trip were not necessarily our (Very Important Partner) poster kids but they all shined bright,” she said. “This part of the coalition is my pride and joy.”
(Very Important Partner (VIP) students are selected to participate in a promotional poster program, with their images on posters alongside their personal commitments to remain drug and alcohol-free.)
Robinson praised Youth Coalition members for working with the Bullitt County Health Department to provide Narcan training at the schools. Other planned programs focused on related topics such as healthy technology use, bullying, and suicide.
“A lot of it is about good decision making,” she said. “So many things go hand-in-hand. We are all things prevention and awareness, including educational awareness. We have the kids implement awareness components at their schools. We utilize Council and VIP kids to properly educate peers.”
One idea that came from the Youth Coalition was to provide a safe countywide event for all Bullitt County students, which became the Beach Bash. In 2023 the Coalition planned and hosted its first event at the Bullitt County Fairgrounds, featuring fun games and activities.
“Last year we had 500 kids,” Robinson said. “Ultimately this event was created from parents saying there was nothing safe for kids to do. We listened, and last year was the first district-wide event. And that idea also came from the kids.”
According to Robinson, students wanted to have something to do with friends at other high schools, rather than just rivalry events like football games.
“It’s a night that kids can come to it and not worry about the pressures of drugs and alcohol, and just have fun,” she said.
The free event will feature a DJ, food, the popular 9-Square volleyball-related game, a photo booth, and a silent disco where students wear headphones and dance to music. Robinson said part of the fun was that three songs with different rhythms played simultaneously in different headsets.
Swag bags and door prizes will also be part of the event. Robinson mentioned that Coalition members were preparing and sending donation letters to area businesses seeking monetary sponsorship for door prize items.
“I tasked the kids with a lot of this,” said Robinson. “People are more receptive to children.”
The 2024 Beach Bash is scheduled for Friday, May 10, 7-10 pm, at Paroquet Springs Conference Centre. Robinson stressed that the event was free to all Bullitt County high school students, while reminding that no drugs or alcohol will be allowed on the premises.
For more information on Bullitt County Partners in Prevention or the Bullitt County Youth Council, or to make a donation to the Beach Bash, call (502)869-8000.