Youth-Led Substance Abuse Prevention

The Ohio Youth-Led Prevention Network (OYLPN) consists of youth-led substance abuse prevention providers and youth across the state who are committed to the cornerstones of youth-led prevention, peer prevention, positive youth development and community service. The OYLPN fosters partnerships and collaborations among these youth-led prevention programs throughout Ohio.

The project was initiated in the summer of 2011 by the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services (ODADAS), Drug-Free Action Alliance and the three largest youth-serving organizations in the state of Ohio: Ohio Teen Institute Youth to Youth International and PRIDE Youth Programs

Youth-led represents a sound prevention investment through meaningful youth involvement in community prevention efforts. Ohio has a proud history as the birthplace of two of the country’s longest-standing and most widespread youth-led prevention programs, Teen Institute and Youth to Youth. In addition, Ohio has hosted many PRIDE World Drug Prevention Conferences and has many PRIDE Teams as a result. The OYLPN now adds the newest chapter in the story of Ohio’s commitment to youth-led prevention.

The OYLPN was formed to build upon and expand partnerships between youth-led substance abuse prevention programs in order to develop and strengthen Ohio’s youth-led substance abuse prevention efforts at both the state and local levels.

OYLPN Youth Council

Recently, the first members of the Youth Council were identified. These nine youth leaders represent each of the three main programs, Ohio Teen Institute, Youth to Youth and PRIDE, and hail from across Ohio. The inaugural Youth Council had its first meeting on December 3 & 4, 2011 to begin a strategic planning process. Stay tuned for more news about the activities of these emerging leaders and how you can be involved.

OYLPN Adult Council

Currently, the Adult Council is made up of representatives from the headquarters of each of the three main programs, Ohio Teen Institute, Youth to Youth and PRIDE; as well as representatives from ODADAS and Drug Free Action Alliance. Eventually, like the Youth Council, the Adult Council will be expanded to include other representatives of youth-led prevention programs from local programs throughout Ohio.

Formed with the intention that adults will have a limited role, the Adult Council’s main role is to make it possible for youth to assume key leadership responsibilities and authentic ownership of youth-led substance abuse prevention throughout the state of Ohio. As such, their role is more supportive and will focus on the infrastructure of the OYLPN.

Directory of Youth-Led Prevention Programs

One of the first projects of the OYLPN is to develop a complete Directory of Ohio’s Youth-Led Prevention Programs. If you have a youth-led prevention program here in Ohio, please be sure you are included in our Directory of Youth-Led Prevention Programs by contacting Kim Workman at: kim.oylpn@gmail.com.

If you have questions or suggestions regarding the OYLPN, please contact Kim Workman at: kim.oylpn@gmail.com.

To stay in touch about key issues impacting youth-led prevention, join the OYLPN’s facebook page.