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CADCA Youth Leadership Initiative  
Youth are an essential part of the coalition building process. Youth bring critical insight to what they are facing each day in their communities. CADCA’s mission is to build the capacity of community coalitions to create safe, healthy and drug-free communities, and one of the ways CADCA accomplishes its mission is through the development of youth leaders.  

CADCA-trained youth leaders accomplish great things in their communities. Youth leaders have changed local parks from risky places to clean, family-friendly environments. Youth have changed local ordinances and testified at state hearings on powdered alcohol regulation. That is why CADCA will be offering two separate tracks to meet the needs of youth leaders from around the nation.    

Breakout Session Track  
The first track is an independent slate of topical and relevant breakout sessions for young leaders to learn about the latest advances in prevention science, coalition capacity building, policy & advocacy, sustainability and best practices. CADCA Youth Leadership sessions are singular, interactive training sessions targeted to young coalition leaders who are looking to be more engaged in their coalitions. This track features experts from the field and youth leaders training youth on prevention development skills. Youth attendees will learn how to identify and address substance misuse issues in their community and amongst their peers, including underage drinking, prescription drug misuse and marijuana use.   

Key Essentials Express Track 
The second track offered is a condensed version of our flagship “Key Essentials” training, which takes youth through the fundamentals of the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) and inspires them to be change agents in their communities. This course trains young leaders through a peer-to-peer learning model on the fundamentals of the SPF and how to be effective change agents. Upon the conclusion of Key Essentials, youth will be equipped and inspired to address substance misuse in their communities. Youth must attend every session in this track, and it is recommended that an adult advisor attend this track with youth from the coalition. 

Youth Parent Consent Form
This form is required for all registered youth 18 years old or younger.