Pledge for Life Partnership

In September, 2015, the Partnership was awarded a five-year Drug-Free Communities Support Program grant by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, in cooperation with the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The grant serves Kankakee County. The goals of the project are to1) reduce the percentage of parents and other adults that provide alcohol to underage individuals; 2) increase the perception of risk among middle and high school students of harming themselves from smoking marijuana; and 3) reduce the perceived ease with which middle and high school students can obtain prescription drugs not prescribed to them.

Since 1992, the Pledge for Life Partnership in collaboration with the I-KAN ROE has sponsored an annual Best Practice Contest for the nearly 450 teachers who participate in the Life Education Center programs in Kindergarten-6th grade. The contest recognizes the efforts of classroom teachers to reinforce the lessons taught by the LEC educators. The lesson may be delivered pre or post their classrooms LEC visit. The lesson must address at least one of the Illinois Learning Standards. Monetary awards are provided at each grade level for creative, practical lessons that other teachers can replicate. Awards are made in the amount of $100 first place, $50 second place, and $25 honorable mention. Through 2023, nearly 500 awards have been given.

For 30 years, in collaboration with the Iroquois-Kankakee Regional Office of Education (I-KAN ROE), the Partnership has supported two mobile classrooms which deliver unique substance abuse prevention curriculums to teach students the skills needed to choose healthy lifestyles, supporting social and emotional development, and avoiding the dangers caused by abusing alcohol and other dangerous substances, including prescription drugs. Nearly 10,000 students in kindergarten through middle school from almost 50 public and private schools in Kankakee and Iroquois Counties participate in the Life Education Center programs every year.

Student leaders representing high schools across Kankakee County collaborate as agents of change to help our community become safer and healthier. The Youth Advisory Council (YAC) increase youth representation in partnership planning and policy activities focusing on underage drinking, marijuana use, and youth prescription drug abuse. The youth create communication campaigns using billboards, positive social norms messages with memes, and radio public service announcements. These young leaders educate and inform elected officials at the local and state level about substance misuse issues prevalent among their peers. Youth Advisory Council students collaborate with other local and state youth groups partnering on initiatives that make a difference in our communities.