The Piatt County Mental Health Center is looking for teens to be a part of a special group that is targeting drinking at the middle school level and marijuana use at the high school level.

Tony Kirkman says they received a five-year grant from Washington, D.C. that will create a coalition and a youth advisory board. He says with school right around the corner, they are trying to rally Monticello youth to join them.

While Monticello youth comes in under the state average for youth drinking and marijuana use, Kirkman believes being proactive only helps minimize the numbers as low as possible.

With legalized marijuana coming to Illinois, Kirkman says one of the primary goals of their coalition will be to get out ahead of that and make sure youth and teens know just because it is legal, doesn't mean it is safe to use.

Kirkman also says to look out for their booth at Monticellobration in the fall.

If any youth in Monticello are interested in joining their student advisory board, you can contact Kirkman at 217-762-5371 or find them on Facebook by searching Piatt County Mental Health Center or Impact Coalition.