Dartmouth’s new Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) program is looking for youth members.

Dartmouth Youth Advocate Jennifer Cabral is spearheading a Dartmouth chapter of the nationwide program dedicated to finding solutions to issues and problems that teenagers face. Cabral said she became interested in bringing the program to Dartmouth schools after a friend mentioned that Westport has its own SADD chapter.

Cabral said Dartmouth already has several programs dedicated to tackling many of the issues SADD addresses, such as the Community Offering Prevention & Education (COPE) program which helps to tackle the opioid epidemic, but that they’re geared towards an the adult audience,.

“I felt that [SADD] is exactly what our town needs,” said Cabral. “I felt that it’s a perfect way to incorporate all of those programs for Dartmouth’s youth.”

Cabral hopes to create boards led by students to tackle each one of three core issues Cabral has identified: substance abuse, mental health, and traffic safety. Each board will be completely student-led, and will be tasked with creating events and developing ways to spread their message and inform the greater community about their topic.

“We want [the kids] to create programs and events based on what the kids feel that they want to bring to the community,” Cabral said. “The students would take on a leadership role.”

Cabral began looking for kids interested in the program at Dartmouth High, Bishop Stang High School, and Dartmouth Middle School last year. Over the summer, she attended a conference in Pittsburgh, where she learned about the program and the best ways to implement one in Dartmouth.

Previously known as Students Against Drunk Driving, the campaign name changed to address more than just drunk driving. Many cities, towns, and schools have created peer-led SADD chapters, whose mission is to help educate their peers with healthy solutions to everyday challenges, according to the organization’s website.

Seventh through twelfth grade students with an interest in joining the program can contact Cabral for more information at 508-951-9551. The first meeting is currently scheduled for September 22 at 2:30 p.m. at Dartmouth Town Hall, room 118.