The SADD chapter is comprised of youth from across Athens-Clarke County that commit to making a difference. Previous leadership experience is preferred, but all youth are welcome to apply. Applicants must have reliable transportation to all meetings and events and be able to communicate with The Council on Alcohol and Drugs (TCAD) staff via email on a regular basis.
 
TCAD will call upon members for advisement on various aspects of leadership and prevention programming. Throughout the school year, SADD members take part in monthly meetings and help plan events like peer education prevention programs designed to reduce alcohol, marijuana, and other drug use.
One SADD member will be asked to serve as the Youth Sector Representative for the Drug Free Communities grant. Additionally, all SADD members have leadership opportunities available to them such as staffing community-wide events and accepting officer responsibilities within the organization. SADD members develop and practice key leadership skills such as public -speaking, group facilitation, networking, decision-making, program planning, organization, and time management.
 
The SADD coordinator is Tonya Knox. Please direct all questions and concerns regarding -participation with SADD or about attendance for meetings/ events to tknox@livedrugfree.org or 678-590-0095.

How do youth join the SADD?
• The SADD will be the youth voice for Athens-Clarke county students in the schools, community, and statewide.
• Teens are recruited through connections with school counselors, teachers, and principals from all over Athens-Clarke County.
• Teens are selected through an application and interview process.
 
SADD meetings
• Take place on a monthly basis
• Meetings no more than 1.5 hrs long
• This does not include events they may be participating in.
• Other than first meeting, the teens set the meeting schedule and location based on their calendars (done at the first meeting)
• Members plan and lead the meetings. The President will create the agenda (using a template) for each meeting and submits it for approval 1 week ahead of time. At the first meeting, members sign up for different responsibilities throughout the year.
• SADD has officers with different responsibilities (President, Vice President, Secretary, as well as Committee Leaders and School Representatives)
• Meetings follow Roberts Rules or other common meeting rules.
• Teens are expected to provide their own transportation to meetings and events. However, The Council on Alcohol and Drugs helps to facilitate conversations between members and parents to assist with ride sharing.
• Teens are expected to be on time to all meetings and events and stay for the entirety of the meeting. If the SADD member will be tardy or absent, they must notify the SADD Coordinator via email or phone with an explanation of the absence at least 48 hours prior to the meeting unless the situation is an emergency or unexpected event.
• The members set the rules and consequences. For instance, attendance is important to meetings; members decide what the consequence will be for not attending or incentives for attending.

What do SADD members do?
• SADD members receive training on environmental strategies. This helps them to understand what they are doing and why.
• Members present information at Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition (SAPC) meetings.
• Implement activities of Athens-Clarke County “SADD Shines Day” (February)
• Attend Statewide conferences (including Georgia Teen Institute)
• Serve as a Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) Chapter
• Sticker Shock (twice a year)
• National Alcohol and Drug Facts Week (March)
• Red Ribbon Week (October)
• Share information at health fairs and events
• Share information with classmates.
• Create several projects throughout the year. Example: Boo Bags for Halloween. Candy filled bags that read “Say Boo to Drugs.”
 
Committees
The SADD chapter is comprised of two committees: Youth Leadership and Engagement (YLE) and Collaboration and Environmental Strategies (CES). SADD members may choose which committee they would like to participate on and elect their own chairperson.
• YLE advises on youth programming for Athens- Clarke County. SADD members will have to opportunity to design programs and community-wide campaigns, events, and opportunities. Youth leadership and community service are the focus of this committee. The YLE is responsible for all awareness months and tabling events.
• CES advises on effective youth outreach strategies and peer-focused campaigns. SADD members will have to opportunity to design community-wide campaigns, events, and additional opportunities for youth and families of Athens- Clarke County. Prevention, policy and social norms are the focus of this committee. The CES committee is responsible for Sticker Shock, Positive Social Norms, and Social Host Liability.
• Both YLE and CES committees work on the topics and discussions for the podcast recordings.
 
SADD Expectations
• Participate in most of the SADD meetings and events
• Participate and engage in all discussions and activities
• Communicate with the SADD Coordinator any concerns or questions about SADD
• Arrive on time for meetings and events
• Check email several times daily and respond within 24 hours of receipt
• Coordinate transportation prior to each meeting and event
• Bring required materials requested by SADD Coordinator to each meeting
• Sign and abide by attendance and social media policies
• Youth Sector Representative (YSR) will attend the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Athens (SAPCA) meetings and report on SADD updates.
• YSR must also participate and give input on decisions that affect the youth of Athens- Clarke County at the SAPCA meetings.