Our youth-focused prevention initiatives include educational and skills training programs that give teens the resources they need to navigate a healthy life.

D-FY

Drug-Free Youth is an organization of peers who share the commitment to make positive choices and live a healthy, drug-free life. Members are eligible to receive local discounts, attend special D-Fy events, and opportunities to receive volunteer hours, graduation cords, hiring preferences, and internships. We are proud to announce that as of March 2020 SCF-CS has 100% of their Youth In Action club as D-FY Members! Congratulations SCF-CS! If you are in Youth In Action, D-FY membership is a rewards program for your positive decision-making. Please ask your advisor or contact Drug Free Manatee to sign up.

Joining D-Fy is FREE! Applicants must be ages 13-18 (or still in school) and must complete a membership application at sign-up events. The application includes the student’s commitment to be alcohol, tobacco (including E-cigs), and drug-free. Members validate this commitment through a confidential drug screening when they join, and verify their commitment to STAY drug-free via random screenings throughout their membership. Once the application is validated, members receive a photo ID card. This card allows them to gain entrance to member-only events and receive discounts at local businesses and retailers.

YIA

YIA begins each year in September with a CADCA-led National Youth Leadership training for 90+ students and faculty advisers from 9 area high schools. Drug Free Manatee currently oversees Manatee H.S, Bayshore H.S, SCF-CS, Southeast H.S, Lakewood Ranch H.S, Braden River, Palmetto H.S, Parrish Community H.S, MSA YIA clubs.

Using the Strategic Prevention Framework each school is responsible throughout the school year to develop strategies to impact youth, create school-specific media campaigns, events, etc. Starting in 2020, Southeast High School is partnering with the UNIDOS Now College readiness club to ensure that all prevention initiatives are culturally competent and impactful to a diverse population. YIA clubs hold regular meetings after school and can earn community service hours for some events that they participate in. Drug Free Manatee holds a Mid-Year Training Day for all area high school YIA teams to collaborate, learn new prevention strategies, and HAVE FUN! Youth in Action is a safe place to empower you to make positive decisions and help others along your journey.

Future Me

Drug Free Manatee has implemented the “Future Me” initiative in the effort to educate, inspire and engage middle school, high school, and college students. High School students will educate and mentor middle school students, college students will educate and mentor high school students as to how they can manifest their future self that is positive, happy, healthy & drug-free.

The goal of this program is to cultivate a community where the students feel a sense of responsibility, belonging, and purpose to help others. The “Future Me” program can empower young people from middle school through college to make educated and healthy decisions