Frequently Asked Questions About YIA

1. Why should I start a Youth In Action group in my community?
   
   
2. How old do you have to be to be a YIA member?
   
   
3. Does there need to be a MADD Chapter in my community in order to start YIA?
   
   
4. Is Youth In Action a SADD group?
   
   
5. Why should I work on Youth In Action projects?
   
   
6. How much does it cost to work on Youth In Action projects?
   
   
7. How much time does it take to work on Youth In Action projects?
   
   
8. Can I do Youth In Action projects by myself?
   
   
9. What do I need to start a Youth In Action group?
   
   
10. What resources are available to me to help?
    

Q: Why should I start a Youth In Action group in my community?
A: Alcohol is the No. 1 drug of choice among youth, killing more teens than all other illicit drugs combined, and youth alcohol use costs society $61.9 billion annually! This is a problem! Youth In Action partners young people with community adult leaders to work towards environmental prevention strategies focused on strengthening enforcement of underage drinking laws and policy change.

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Q: How old do you have to be to be a YIA member?
A: Youth In Action is a program for High School Students. If you are in grades 9-12, you can be a Youth In Action member.

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Q: Does there need to be a MADD Chapter in my community in order to start YIA?
A: No. A MADD Chapter would definitely help with support and adult partners, however if there is no MADD Chapter in your county, you can still have Youth In Action. Just make sure you have a committed Adult Coordinator working with your group.

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Q: Is Youth In Action a SADD group?
A: No. SADD and MADD are not affiliated. MADD Youth In Action focuses solely on the prevention of underage drinking and is not typically organized through school groups.

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Q: Why should I work on Youth In Action projects?
A: Youth In Action takes an environmental approach to underage drinking prevention. This unique approach affects EVERYONE in the community, not just the underage individuals. Studies show that environmental strategies are much more effective in creating change, than individually targeted prevention efforts. YIA projects have been proven to be effective in limiting youth access to alcohol.

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Q: How much does it cost to work on Youth In Action projects?
A: This depends. Your group can invest a lot of money in a project or you can get by on a small budget. There are many companies that are willing to donate resources and materials to non-profit/volunteer groups. There are many supplies that your group can make on your own. The majority of the Youth In Action projects do not cost much money.

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Q: How much time does it take to work on Youth In Action projects?
A: When planning a project, it takes one to three meetings to get the projects organized and planned, such as the date, time, location, and participants involved in the project. The actual projects usually take around 2 hours to complete. Some YIA projects take a shorter amount of time, and some longer.

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Q: Can I do Youth In Action projects by myself?
A: For liability purposes, and for the safety of the involved youth, there needs to be an Adult Coordinator present for all Youth In Action projects. Some projects require the assistance of a law enforcement officer as well.

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Q: What do I need to start a Youth In Action group?
A: You will need a committed Adult Coordinator who has passed a MADD Criminal Background Check and a few youth committed to reducing underage drinking in your community. MADD National occasionally provides scholarships to new Adult Coordinators to attend a YIA training.  Your state MADD office may have a Youth In Action Coordinator who can provide training and resources to your team.  Youth In Action also has an Adult Coordinator Training DVD that will outline all of the details necessary to start a group and provide resources to conduct these projects.  It is necessary that the Adult Coordinator has cleared the MADD Criminal Background Check before receiving the DVD.

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Q: What resources are available to me to help?
A: The MADD National Office, State MADD Offices, MADD Chapters, Law Enforcement, and other adult leaders in your community are available to you. Many times, the Police Department in your community is looking for youth willing to conduct compliance checks in the area. This would be a perfect opportunity to build a partnership!

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