A Brief History:
Friday Night Live, Club Live, FNL Kids,
& FNL Mentoring

The California Friday Night Live (FNL) Program was developed in 1984 in Sacramento by the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs (ADP) and the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). It began as a pilot program dedicated to reducing the number of deaths and injuries caused by teen motorists driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs. During the first years of the program the youth involved were organized into high school-based student action groups, later renamed FNL Chapters. The success rate was so great that in 1988, the California State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs established a statewide office to facilitate the expansion of the program to youth throughout California. By 1990, the number of counties with the FNL Program had increased 300% and the main focus of the program began to shift from one of preventing drinking and driving among teens to one of promoting healthy lifestyles free of alcohol, tobacco, or other substance abuse among youth.

Due to the overwhelming success of Friday Night Live, a middle/junior high school component was developed in 1988 by the Tulare County Office of Education (TCOE). By 1991, this component had been expanded statewide by the State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs and named Club Live (CL). In 1990, the Tulare County Office of Education developed the Friday Night Live Kids (FNL Kids) Program, which focused on youth in the 4th through 6th grades. By 1994, 48 counties had also implemented the CL Program and /or the FNL Kids Program. The chapter locations had also broadened from school campus-based programs to recreation facilities, housing projects, youth centers, and youth in detention centers, reaching nearly one million youth throughout California.

In March of 1996, the California State Department of Alcohol and Drug Programs, through the requestfor proposals bid process, formed California Friday Night Live Partnership to assume the responsibility of providing leadership and field support to FNL/CL/FNL Kids programs in counties throughout the state. The Partnership incorporates the geographical and structural strength of the Tulare County Office of Education and the innovative spirit and philosophical ideology of Teenwork, Inc. to meet the demands of a statewide project.

In 1998, the partnership began a pilot process for FNL Mentoring. The five original counties had great success and within two years had developed the FNL Mentoring Model. Today, a total of 26 funded Mentoring counties exist.

The FNL/CL/FNL Kids/FNL Mentoring Programs are continually evolving and adapting to the latest trends and issues affecting youth, responding to current prevention and youth development research, and addressing the unique needs of each community served. Membership reflects the diversity of California’s population and the program has been implemented in nearly all of California’s 58 counties.

The primary focus of the FNL/CL/FNL Kids/FNL Mentoring Programs is to form youth/adult partnerships with young people, providing programs rich in opportunities and support, so young people will be less likely to engage in problem behaviors, more likely to achieve in school, and more likely to attend higher education or secure a full-time job. FNL’s vision is to work hand-inhand with young people so they are both problem free and fully prepared.

California Friday Night Live Partnership Structure

The California Friday Night Live Partnership provides the leadership and field support needed for continued growth and enhancement of FNL/CL/FNL Kids and FNL Mentoring. In March of 1996, the California Friday Night Live Partnership (CFNLP) was formed in response to the Friday Night Live systems need to support the following goals:

• To provide guidance and leadership to the 55 Friday Night Live Partnership counties
  
• To build alliances in support of youth development

The CFNLP office and staff are housed in the Tulare County Office of Education (TCOE) located in Visalia, California. County Superintendent of Schools Jim Vidak is a committed partner of the organization. Led by Administrator Dr. Jim Kooler, the Partnership is committed to the belief that a youth development framework, which is inclusive, comprehensive, youth-driven, and founded on current research, will improve the lives of young people and the communities in which they live.

Consequently, the mission statement: “Builds partnerships for positive and healthy youth development which engage youth as active leaders and resources in their communities” was developed.