Our History

Our organization began with a small, determined and dedicated group of volunteers in Larkspur and Corte Madera – and later in the Ross Valley community – who came together as leaders in addressing the local conditions that lead to underage substance use in Marin.

Twin Cities Coalition for Healthy Youth (TCC4HY)

In 2011, a group of concerned parents brought the issue of excessive underage substance use to the Central Marin Police Authority. Collaboratively, they then applied for a county grant through the Marin County Health and Human Services department. The Twin Cities Coalition for Healthy Youth then received funding to pursue a work plan to combat these issues locally in the Corte Madera and Larkspur Cities.

Ross Valley Healthy Community Collaborative (RVHCC)

In 2014, Ross Valley Healthy Community Collaborative began as a grassroots effort in San Anselmo and Fairfax. This coalition was led by local school administrators, parents and the government officials that all wanted to address underage substance use in the community. With guidance from the TCC4HY, RVHCC developed the foundation of their coalition.

The Coalition Connection

TCC4HY and RVHCC worked together on several projects because the substance use issues spanned across the close proximity of the cities. In 2017, the coalitions joined forces working under the umbrella of The Coalition Connection. The Coalition Connection applied for the federal Drug-Free Communities grant from Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) – monitored and supported by Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Together they created a more dynamic coalition while maintaining grassroots connection to the individual communities.

Marin Healthy Youth Partnerships

Becoming Marin Healthy Youth Partnerships in 2019 was the final step in becoming a single organization covering the area from Ross Valley to the Twin Cities – as well as working in partnership with Marin Prevention Network on a number of countywide initiatives – with a shared mission of promoting healthy youth.