Engaging Youth in Prevention Advocacy

Straight Up is a Ventura County, California youth development project for ages 12-25 that promotes social change regarding underage and binge drinking, impaired driving, marijuana, prescription and over-the-counter drugs, HIV/AIDS prevention, and other concerns using improvisation and interactive techniques to engage discussion, explore issues, and develop personal and community solutions to these issues.

Straight Up also provides resources to parents through our Let's Talk program.

Straight Up is made possible through funding from Ventura County Behavioral Health Department, Alcohol and Drug Programs.

About our Programs

Our activities include:

A range of options for interactive classroom workshops
Youth leadership development and spokesperson training
Reality Parties for Parents – After seeing teen actors portray scenes from a simulated drinking party and voice their concerns about trends in youth alcohol use, parents explore what adults can do to make a difference and keep their kids safe
Community assessments – Identifying problems & potential solutions
Guidance and support for planning & implementing your own prevention projects
Training in Reality Improv and social change theatre techniques
Video production – Webcasts & public service announcements
Community discussion through the Straight Up blog
Straight Up audio podcast
Let's Talk - Promoting open and healthy dialogue between parents and teens about tough issues such as underage drinking, sexuality, HIV/AIDS and the prevention of STDs

Announcements

2012 Video Contest

Congratulations and thank you to everyone that entered the 2012 "Make a Difference" Straight Up video contest! We will be postin the winning works over the next few weeks.

Winner, 1st place:
"PSA 2012" by Camilo Alvear (24) and Sean White (21)
Ventura

2nd place:
"Peer Pressure: Positive or Negative?" by Marisa Zaremba (16)
Simi Valley

3rd place:
"Take a Stand" by Giuliana Petrocelli (15)
Simi Valley

Go to the contest page

New Blog Posts

Definitions -- "Tears don’t always mean you’re upset. They’re not always signs of giving up. The tears that pour from my misty eyes could be hope; Hoping that maybe, just maybe, one day you’ll stop." Read more
Marijuana use on the rise, again -- According to the Associated Press as reported by The Partnership at Drugfree.org, 27% of teens have recently reported using marijuana in the past month, an 8% increase since 2008. Read more