Helping Starke County's young people grow up strong.
Most substance use starts in adolescence — which means the teenage years are also our biggest chance to prevent it. Youth prevention isn’t about lectures and scare tactics. It’s about building the connections, skills, and opportunities that help young people choose a healthy path and thrive.
Prevention tips the balance.
Every young person carries some risk factors — things that make substance use more likely. Prevention works by stacking up protective factors on the other side.
Protective factors
- A caring connected adult
- A sense of belonging
- Skills to handle stress
- Purpose & opportunity
- Clear healthy expectations
- Positive peers & activities
How we build those protective factors.
Education that respects youth
Honest, evidence-based prevention education — the facts young people need to make their own healthy choices, without fear or judgment.
Youth voice & leadership
Young people are the most credible messengers to their peers. We create space for them to lead prevention efforts, not just receive them.
Positive connections
We help link young people to caring adults, mentors, and activities — the relationships that protect against risk more than anything else.
Data-driven focus
Guided by the Strategic Prevention Framework, we use local data to focus on what Starke County’s young people actually face — not guesswork.
Schools & community together
Prevention sticks when it’s everywhere — so we partner with schools, families, and local groups to surround youth with support.
Skills that last
Beyond substances, we help young people build coping, decision-making, and refusal skills that serve them for life.
There's a role for you.
- For young people
Lead the way
Join youth-led prevention efforts and help shape the message for your peers.
Build leadership skills that look great on applications — and feel even better in real life.
Make real friendships doing something that matters for your community.
Have a say in what happens in Starke County — your voice carries weight.
- For parents, mentors & educators
Support the mission
Be that caring, connected adult — the single biggest protective factor there is.
Volunteer or mentor with the coalition’s youth prevention work.
Bring prevention education to your school, team, or group.
Start conversations at home — our resources make it easier.
Good to know.
What is youth prevention, exactly?
It’s the work of reducing the chances that young people develop substance-use problems — not by scaring them, but by strengthening the protective factors (connection, skills, purpose, belonging) that research shows make the biggest difference. It’s proactive, positive, and youth-centered.
Isn't it too early to talk to kids about this?
Age-appropriate prevention actually works best when it starts early — long before risky situations come up. It’s less about “the drug talk” and more about building healthy habits, open communication, and coping skills over time. We help families find the right approach for each age.
How can a young person get involved?
Youth are welcome and wanted in prevention work — as peer leaders, volunteers, and voices that shape the coalition’s efforts. The best first step is to reach out through our Get Involved page or call us, and we’ll help you find a role that fits.
How is this different from the Programs and Resources sections?
Youth Prevention is our overall focus on young people. Our Programs (like Prevention Education) are the specific ways we deliver that work, and our Youth Development resources point families and teens to support. They all connect — this page is the big picture.
Do you work with schools?
Yes — schools are key prevention partners. We collaborate with local schools on education and youth engagement, because prevention is strongest when young people hear a consistent, supportive message across home, school, and community.