notMYkid provides youth substance use prevention

notMYkid is a nonprofit focused on substance use prevention, recovery, and teen mental health.

The organization provides youth, families, and schools with early prevention programs and prevention education. Sarah Grado is the newly appointed CEO and has been with the organization since 2009, spending her career advocating for breaking down stigmas and empowering others.

Grado has brought her own personal experience with addiction struggles and expertise to every aspect of the organization’s programs, which fuels her mission to help youth in need.

Grado, CEO of notMYkid, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss more about how the organization has grown over the past 25 years, and what services they offer students and families.

“Our focus is prevention and behavioral health with teens,” Grado said, “…it was a grassroots prevention organization, and it has evolved over the past 25 years to become a statewide behavioral health provider…we do prevention, and we’ve evolved to do early intervention, and treatment for kids now.”

Grado emphasized how she is very connected to the mission of ensuring every kid thrives by inspiring positive life choices through some of their own personal experiences. Grado originally came to the organization when she was struggling with addiction as a young adult.

“…I would do a lot of presentations in schools all over Arizona for many years,” Grado explained, “…to try to help kids know you’re not alone. If you felt this way, here’s what you can do…I’m very excited to lead this team, and to be able to provide services to this next generation of parents…I understand how difficult it is in the world that we’re living in today, and there is help and hope out there.”

According to Grado, social media and screen usage have played a role in mental health. She discussed that a lot of the teens they work with who are struggling with depression or anxiety have phones or social media that are connected to toxic messaging or influence.

“It’s this new age that parents these days are having to navigate,” Grado said, “…and a lot of it does center around devices.”