National Youth Leadership Initiative

The Experience:
Throughout the world, young people are heavily involved in youth-led civic change movements in their communities.  To support leadership development, CADCA designed the National Youth Leadership Initiative (NYLI) to equip youth and their adult advisors with the essential knowledge and skills needed to make significant community-level change.  If you are in search of training that will give youth and adults the tools necessary to address problems and goals that they are striving to affect—the NYLI is it!  

The NYLI Experience incorporates team teaching by youth and adult trainers, experiential and applied learning in both the classroom and community context.  Participants learn about the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF), logic models, strategic planning, developing interventions, advocating for change, evaluation, and sustainability.

Youth and young adults trained by CADCA are assuming leadership roles in their community as evidenced by:

1. Youth have taken on decision-making positions in coalitions/local organizations
2. Local organizations are more responsive to youth needs and inclusion in community problem solving
3. Youth are supported and actively involved in youth-led civic engagement
4. Systems changes required to impact social consequences are happening
5. Identified community problems decline

An independent evaluation conducted by Michigan State University, found that participants trained by the NYLI led to an increase and significant change in the following aptitudes:

   ✓  Leadership Competencies
   ✓  Community Organizing
   ✓  Problem-Solving Abilities
   ✓  Current and Future Civic Activism
   ✓  Civic and Political Engagement
   ✓  Youth-Adult Partnerships

To meet the demand of young leaders in the field, the NYLI offers two separate courses; same profound impact! 

• NYLI Key Essentials
  This initial course gives youth foundational knowledge and skills to become “change agents” within local communities while building youth and adult partnerships.  To support training transfer, participants are encouraged to take action via “Youth-In-Action” Projects.
   
• NYLI Advanced
  The Advanced course was designed to enhance and apply community problem solving skills developed in the NYLI Key Essentials experience. A primary focus is placed on cultivating Youth Advocates for substance abuse prevention and/or other social issues. 

Here’s where you can feel the NYLI Experience
The NYLI is offered at two of CADCA major events—The National Leadership Forum every February in Washington, DC and the Mid-Year Training Institute that visits different locations every July. 
We also offer fee-for-service NYLI Trainings where we come to YOU!

Interested in learning more about the NYLI and
how to bring the Experience to your community?
Contact CADCA Youth Programs:
nyli@cadca.org or 1-800-542-2322 x270