WMLL has proudly partnered with Raising The Bar (RTB), a local initiative focused on keeping our league events as substance free environments for our kids!



Please see below for a letter from RTB describing our partnership, as well as some frequently asked questions about RTB.

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

West Marin Little League partners with the Raising the Bar Campaign, a county-wide initiative dedicated to keeping youth events substance free. Research shows that parents have a significant influence on their children’s decisions regarding alcohol. By working together to prevent underage alcohol consumption, we can have a direct impact on the health of our local youth and decrease the short and long-term consequences to adolescents, families, and our community as a whole.

Raising the Bar, a Marin Healthy Youth Partnerships program, collaborates with the Marin Prevention Network, Marin County Office of Education, Marin Health and Human Services, schools, local coalitions and youth organizations to shift the norms of substance use and encourage modeling of healthy choices to create a healthier environment for all Marin County youth.

We ask that all parents and caregivers abstain from using alcohol, tobacco, marijuana and other substances and youth-focused events, sports competitions and team celebrations.

Please join us to ensure the well being of our youth by promoting healthy modeling at all events in person or virtual.

For more information, please visit raisingthebarmarin.org.

Sincerely,
West Marin Little League

1) What is Raising the Bar (RTB)?

Raising the Bar is a Marin county initiative that aims to shift the norms of substance use and encourage modeling of healthy choices by keeping youth events substance free. This important initiative was created in 2017 when the California County Health Rankings released data showing that Marin County ranked higher than 80% of all counties in California for excessive adult drinking. Higher than average rates
were also similar in the youth data.

2) Marin County Data:

• Between grades 7 and 9 current alcohol use increases by 433%.
• 35% of Marin County 7th graders report that it is fairly easy or very easy to access vaping devices.
• 28% of Marin County 7th graders perceive only slight harm to no harm to daily marijuana use.
• 41% of Marin County 9th graders have used alcohol or other drugs to get high.
• 31% of Marin County 11th graders reported that they have either driven in a car after using alcohol or other drugs, or been driven by a friend who has used alcohol or other drugs.
• Marin County 11th graders current BINGE DRINKING rate is double the state average (2X)
• Parents have a significant influence on their kid’s decisions regarding alcohol. By working together to prevent underage alcohol consumption, we can have a direct impact on the health of our local youth and decrease the short and long-term consequences of substance use for adolescents, families, and our community as a whole.

3) How can parents support their youth and Raising the Bar, Keep Youth Events Substance Free?

• Refrain from using or offering alcohol or other substances at all youth-centered events.
• Practice healthy parent modeling. It’s important for youths to see that all - adults and youths alike - can have a good time without drinking or using substances when participating in youth-centered events.

4) What if I host a party at my house and it's adults only?

We are primarily interested in keeping youth-centered events substance free as a way to model healthy behavior in their presence. When youths are not present, serving alcohol is at the discretion of the host.