Be Bothered
CCP creates safe spaces for young people to explore their own questions, solutions, and opportunities to make healthy decisions. CCP focuses on building knowledge and self-agency, especially among youth of color and to increase the protective and supportive factors that contribute to young people’s ability to thrive. We implement activities that connect young people to their own power and purpose through experiential learning and conversations based on their lived experience.
As part of Sacramento’s county-wide prevention efforts, CCP facilitates the Be Bothered campaign to provide free programming to prevent underage drinking and marijuana use; including coordinating activities of Prevention Advocates, attending outreach events, and offering prevention education workshops. A popular activity is CCP’s Wheel of Prevention, a carnival like game that serves as a fun conversation starter to explore facts and myths about alcohol and marijuana use.
Prevention Advocates are youth ages 12-20 along with parents and other caring adults who meet regularly to:
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Learn about substance/alcohol abuse prevention
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Lead community campaigns to prevent underage drinking and drug use
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Gain leadership and advocacy skills by conducting research and making presentations
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Have fun working with other young people and caring adults
CCP works in partnership with other prevention providers and the Sacramento County Coalition for Youth with funding from the Sacramento County Department of Health Services, Behavioral Health Services Division, Substance Use Prevention and Treatment Services.
The Be Bothered Movement evolved from CCP’s signature approach: creating space for people to come together and develop ways to improve health for vulnerable populations. Examples of projects lead by the Be Bothered network of youth and adults include:
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The Be Bothered Scholarship Program for college-bound youth through an essay and art contest. Youth and adults worked together on program outreach, contest applications and selection criteria. The program culminated with a red-carpet virtual event to announce and honor award recipients.
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A partnership with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office and California Highway Patrol to host and sponsor a COVID safe graduation parade and celebration to honor high school seniors from schools throughout Sacramento County. CCP provided educational materials for safe and sober graduation. As Project Assistant Sandie Burgess shared: “We didn't just sponsor a T-shirt, we showed up. It was emotional for them, for their parents and for us,” says Project Assistant Sandie Burgess. “This will impact them forever; they won't forget how they were celebrated.”
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Underage drinking and marijuana use prevention workshops for youth and parents in partnership with local churches, schools, family resource centers, and community based organizations. Workshops and trainings are offered in-person or virtually depending on need.
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Outreach activities to bring attention to youth substance use/misuse through community events, especially events focused on engaging communities historically impacted by the war on drugs such as Martin Luther King, Jr. day of peace and civic engagement and Juneteenth.
As the pandemic dragged on, it became clear that many young people would miss out on traditional graduation activities. CCP knew it was a key moment to follow through on their connection and invest in youth. In less than two weeks, CCP partnered with law enforcement, printed 1000 quarantine-branded graduation T-shirts, and invited the community to participate in a Covid-safe parade. To mark the occasion of graduating in a pandemic, youth also received a bag filled with prevention messages and support for self-care.
The Be Bothered Movement has made other adjustments to accommodate the physical distancing required by Covid-19. The alcohol and marijuana prevention trainings are all online now, including information about how to increase parent engagement.