About The
Milton Youth Coalition
MYC serves youth and families who reside in the School District of Milton, a population of approximately 18,900. The goals of the Coalition are to establish and strengthen community collaboration in support of local efforts to prevent youth substance use. The Coalition works to achieve these goals by implementing strategies to reduce underage drinking and youth vaping nicotine such as providing information, enhancing skills, providing support, enhancing access and reducing barriers, changing consequences, and altering physical designs in the community.
Strengthen community collaboration in support of local efforts to prevent youth substance use.
At the end of 2021, the City of Milton and the Milton Youth Coalition (MYC) were awarded a Drug-Free Communities Support Program grant in the amount of $125,000 annually for five years by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, in cooperation with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Our Story
How We Got Started
In May 2019, the coalition refocused because the community was again seeing an increase in the rates of youth substance use. The group recommitted to the prior mission of making a positive difference in the lives of Milton’s youth, but added the following objectives to the mission: 1) increasing the number of Milton youth who avoid using illegal substances; 2) improving the mental health and wellness of Milton youth; 3) promoting appropriate and safe use of social media to reduce cyberbullying and the sending and receiving of sexually explicit photos.
Since May of 2019, the Coalition has worked on building its capacity by bringing in community members from several different sectors, including parents, youth-serving organizations, healthcare, media, business, law enforcement, and more. MYC worked closely with area coalitions and organizations to distribute medication lock boxes and alcohol bottles locks, created a vaping cart to display at community events, put up three road-side billboards on the deceptiveness of edibles, supported the production of a music video by two high school students to raise awareness on mental health issues, and made educational information available at community events and at the local library.
Where We Are Now
With Drug-Free Communities grant funds, the City of Milton was able to hire a Project Coordinator to further carry out the Coalition’s goals. In April, the City and MYC welcomed Megge Casique. Casique brings with her eleven years of coalition work specifically around substance misuse. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Community Health Education from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
Staff
- Project Coordinator – Megge Casique
- Project Director – Ashlee Kunkel
Coalition Executive Board
- Chair – Chris Ramos
- Vice-Chair – Sharla Walker
- Secretary – Carleigh Felstead
- Board Member – Anissa Welch
Become a Volunteer Today
Every forest grows bigger by the trees which take root within.Every kind action, big and small, makes a big difference in the life of another.
Lifting Lives & Building Families Since 2012
Approx. Milton School Population
Grant Money Raised
We've raised over $600,000 to support our community.
Drug and alcohol addiction happens for many reasons. We aim to find those root causes and take action to educate the community, encourage the victims, and enrich the futures of our children. With your help, we can reach every child and family in need of support.
Get in Touch. Get Involved.
Strong communities are made so by the people within them who get involved and stay involved. Come be a part of something big with simple small actions of involvement.