NCADD Youth Advisory Board Application

Thank you for your interest in joining the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence of the Central Mississippi Area Inc.’s (NCADD) Youth Advisory Board (YAB), grades 9-12.

Prior to completing this form, please familiarize yourself with NCADD’s mission, vision, and board expectations. If you are emailing your application, save this document with your first and last name added to the file name and send it to YAB@ncaddms.org. You can also drop off your application or mail it to NCADD (401 East Capitol, Suite 400, Jackson, MS 39201). 

All applications must be submitted by (including postmarked) 11:59 PM on Friday, September 19, 2025. Interviews will be conducted and led by Regional Compliance Coordinators on September 23 – 30, 2025. An NCADD team member will contact you to schedule your interview. 

Youth Advisory Board Expectations

By completing this application, you indicate your understanding of each commitment expected from you as a Youth Advisory Board Member.

• Attend the annual training and retreat. 

  • *Retreat will be a maximum of two days. Accommodations will be provided. 

• Attend and/or support one (1) Drug Take Back Day. 

  • Drug Take Back Days are held in April and October. (This event is mandatory.) 

• Develop and present a minimum of one (1) peer-led presentation or participate in a minimum of one (1) community event with the goal of information dissemination and collaborative impact. 

• Attend monthly hybrid meetings and turn in activity reports (if applicable). You’re expected to attend at least 8 out of 10 meetings. Missing a meeting without giving at least 24 hours’ notice will lead to a deduction in your stipend. 

• Work with the YAB team to have a professional headshot done by October 17, 2025.

Parent/Guardian Information:

Checklist for Getting Started

• I am a high school student in grade 9th-12th within the state of Mississippi. 

• I possess a GPA of 2.75 or higher and have downloaded a copy of the GPA verification form to take to my school counselor for verification and signature. 

• My values align with the mission of the NCADD. 

• I believe that I can make a difference in the state of the opioid crisis. 

• I am prepared to write a 500-word essay. 

• I have requested a letter of recommendation from a teacher, mentor, or pillar of the community. 

• I have solicited support from an adult to obtain the required support documentation AND to review my application to ensure completion. 

• I have reviewed and agree with the expectations of a youth advisory board member. 

How will you be championed? 

• NCADD team members will be readily available to provide support. 

• Members will be provided with the tools to cultivate the skills for positive change. 

• Youth will have the support of advisory board peers. 

• Earn an educational stipend for your leadership efforts

Essay Requirements (Attach Separately) 

Please type a 500-word essay, double-spaced on the following topic: Why are you interested in providing community service in the capacity of a youth advisory board member?

Recommendation Letter Requirements 

This is a crucial step in the application process, as recommenders can provide valuable insight into a student’s academic or professional potential. The essential requirements for all recommendation letters are included here, along with additional advice for enhancing their usefulness to the admissions committee. Applicants are strongly recommended to get acquainted with these standards and to explicitly communicate them to those sending letters on their behalf.

Any letters that do not meet these criteria will not be accepted: 

• Must include the recommender’s hand-written signature. 

• Must include the date on which the letter was written. 

• Must clearly explain how the recommender knows the applicant, in what capacity, and for what length of time. 

• Must be submitted on the recommender’s official letterhead. 

• Must include the recommender’s contact information (including email address, if any).

The letter may be sent in one of the following ways:

• The recommender may send a hard copy of the letter directly to: 

  The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence of the Central Mississippi Area, Inc. (NCADD) 

  401 East Capitol, Suite 400 

  Jackson, MS 39201 

• The applicant may forward the recommender’s sealed letter to The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence by mail (we cannot accept it if the original letter has been opened), or 

• The recommender may send a PDF of the signed and dated letter on official letterhead to The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence by email to YAB@ncaddms.org (this is the preferred method, and by far the fastest.) 

Before you submit: 

You must download and file the GPA Verification Form (to be completed by your High School Counselor). You may download it at this link.