2100 Sherman Avenue, Suite 102
Cincinnati, OH 45212
PreventionFIRST!, Center for Prevention Action
PreventionFIRST! is a non profit organization, founded in 1996, as a comprehensive effort to address youth substance abuse in the tri-state region where Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky converge. PreventionFIRST! operates through three Centers - the Center for Prevention Science, the Center for Community Engagement, and the Center for Prevention Action. The investment in children/youth was a very important part of the Center for Prevention Action's success last fiscal year, allowing PreventionFIRST! to be the driving force behind effective drug prevention.
With Dater Foundation funding, PreventionFIRST! provided 20 youth mini-grants to regional schools to promote best practices for substance abuse prevention with their school community. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, PreventionFIRST! (PF!) was unable to host the 2020 Coaches, Kids, and Chemicals. Instead, PF! hosted a virtual leadership bootcamp for high school students. Students attended a one-hour session, twice a week. A few topics included: Prevention 101, Leadership Skills and How to Develop Them, and Communication 101. The Annual Youth Summit was implemented for 200 high school students across 11 area high schools. 20 high school leaders from four area high schools planned and implemented the Annual Youth Summit. While COVID impacted the ability to engage with community and school partners in a face to face format, virtual platforms proved effective. PreventionFIRST! hosted targeted events and impacted youth that participated.
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