Kids on fire

Youth Nexus, a Butte County youth council made up of students ages 15-20 that provides grants for youth-led projects, is one of only four programs in the nation to be selected by—take a deep breath here—the National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors for the Exemplary Substance Abuse Prevention Award for Innovative Program (whew!).

Youth Nexus is housed in the county’s Department of Behavioral Health Community Services Division, which is also home to three other programs that have won the same award: Butte County Friday Night Live, Club Live and Friday Night Live Monitoring. All four programs are focused on helping kids avoid lifestyles based on drug and alcohol use.