LowCountry Alliance for Healthy Youth

Mission: To bring together all sectors of our community to identify and implement strategies that promote positive youth development by addressing substance use/abuse and related risk behaviors Vision: Uniting the Community to Promote Positive Choices Purpose: The LCAHY brings together representatives from the community sectors (see Community Board) to develop a comprehensive solution to preventing and reducing youth substance use and abuse and related risk behaviors by: 1) identifying the causes/conditions that put our youth at risk and 2) identifying protective factors/strategies that will prevent our youth from engaging in substance use/abuse and related risk behaviors. History: The LowCountry Alliance for Healthy Youth (LCAHY) was established in 2012 in response to numerous alcohol-related tragedies involving our youths. Over the past years, a perceived increase in the use of marijuana and misuse of prescription drugs and low perception of harm has generated concern.

LCAHY, a community prevention coalition, encompassing the communities of Bluffton and Hilton Head Island, S.C. includes representation from: Youth, Parents, Media, Business, Schools, Youth Serving Organizations, Law Enforcement, Civic/Volunteer Organizations, Religious/Fraternal Organizations, Healthcare Professionals, State/Local Government, and Substance Abuse Organizations. Our purpose is to develop a comprehensive prevention plan to prevent/reduce youth substance use and related risk behaviors.