January is Mentoring Month and one of Long Island’s strongest advocates of underage drinking prevention is Judi Vining, executive director of the Long Beach Coalition to Prevent Underage Drinking. Vining recently signed a mentoring agreement with Rockville Centre Youth Council after receiving a $27,500 grant from the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services.

Under Vining’s leadership the coalition will help the RVC group assess its resources, bolster community involvement and build its capacity.

Last year, Vining received the Commissioners’ Lifetime Service Award for Prevention from the NYS OASAS for
her continued leadership, commitment and dedication to the field of addiction services. Vining is also co-chair of the New York State Environmental Task Force and a member of the Community Anti-Drug Coalition of America’s National Social Host Advisory Board.

In 2006, Vining and the Long Beach Coalition helped the city become the state’s first to enact social host laws. This past summer she was a driving force behind a unanimous vote to up the fines for violation of that law.