20 Years Strong: Building Hope, Connection, and a Healthier Gratiot County

This year marks 20 years of the Gratiot County Substance and Suicide Prevention Program – a milestone that reflects not just time, but transformation. What began as a small, passionate group determined to tackle substance use issues in Gratiot County, has grown into a countywide coalition leading comprehensive efforts in prevention, harm reduction, and community well-being.

Over the past two decades, GCSSPP has built bridges between schools, parents, law enforcement, healthcare providers, and countless community partners. Together, we’ve brought evidence-based education to classrooms, distributed life-saving Narcan, and introduced change in our community. We’ve seen real progress – less stigma, more resources, and a shared understanding that prevention is possible when we work together.

As we celebrate this milestone, our focus is not only on what we’ve accomplished, but on where we’re headed. The next chapter is about continuing the mission – empowering youth, supporting families, and creating a community where hope and health are not exceptions but expectations. Our work has never been about one program or one moment in time; it’s about carrying forward the belief that every action, every conversation, and every partnership can make a difference.

We invite you to be part of this ongoing story. Whether by attending a coalition meeting, volunteering at an event, or simply spreading awareness, your involvement helps build the future we’ve been working toward for two decades – a future where prevention is a shared commitment, and every voice matters.



To learn more about the Gratiot County Substance and Suicide Prevention Program and Coalition efforts, contact the Program Director, Emily Rayburn at emily@childadvocacy.net. 

Above the Influence Evolves: Welcome to The Youth Coalition

For years, Above the Influence (ATI) has been a recognizable name in youth prevention efforts across Gratiot County in all six school districts, encouraging teens to think critically about the influences around them and make healthy, independent choices. While that message remains an important part of our work, our team recognized that it was time for a change – one that better reflected the growth of our program and its alignment with our broader community coalition efforts.



After careful discussion, The Gratiot County Substance and Suicide Prevention Program (GCSSPP) decided to transition Above the Influence to The Youth Coalition. The new name creates a clearer connection to our GCSSPP’s Coalition and reflects the collaborative spirit that drives all of our prevention work. Rather than existing as a stand-alone campaign, The Youth Coalition is part of a larger, unified effort to build a healthier, safer Gratiot County through partnership, leadership, and shared vision.

We also wanted a name that captured what prevention truly stands for today. We are not just teaching youth to stay against negative influences – we’re supporting youth standing for something greater. The Youth Coalition focuses on building positive influences: promoting mental health, kindness, substance-free fun, and community involvement.

Though the name has changed, the mission remains the same: empowering youth to make healthy choices, develop leadership skills, and strengthen their communities. The Youth Coalition represents the next step in that journey – a connected, forward-thinking movement rooted in hope, belonging, and the power of collective action.