Douglas County

Youth Empowerment and Prevention

About the program

Youth Empowerment & Prevention! (YEP!) is a youth-led organization with the goal to promote positive change within our schools and communities. Our group consists of youth chapters in Baldwin, Eudora, Lawrence, and Perry Lecompton middle and high schools. YEP! provides opportunities for youth to learn more about leadership development, substance misuse prevention, suicide prevention, teen dating violence prevention, and mental health promotion.

What does YEP! do?

Youth get trained in substance misuse prevention, suicide prevention, mental health, relationship violence prevention, and leadership.

Chapters develop and implement special projects to promote healthy lifestyles.

Youth engage in several opportunities to connect with like-minded youth from other schools in the county throughout the year.

Watch this!

Recent projects and campaigns


Eudora High School shared that on April 8th they were hosting their annual Drunk Goggles event. Here, students have the opportunity to raise awareness for Alcohol Awareness Month (April). Students who participated in the event went around to multiple stations doing various tasks, such as putting toothpaste on a toothbrush, Pictionary, riding a scooter, and a sobriety test with LEO, with different levels of drunk goggles on. This is to demonstrate to students how difficult even the simplest tasks can be when under the influence. In addition to that, Eudora Middle School YEP! is preparing to have lunch with local LEO on April 28th to build rapport with them.

Baldwin High School shared that they had just wrapped up one of their most popular events, which was the Positive Clip event. This activity was created by students as a way to show their appreciation for their peers. Students were given the opportunity to write positive and meaningful messages on clothes pins and then clip them on to other students. Similar to that, Baldwin High School also stated that during Easter week they planned on hosting a positive message Easter egg hunt. Here, students fill Easter eggs with positive and meaningful messages and hide them around the school for their peers to find a sweet and kind surprise.

Perry-Lecompton Middle School shared that they are preparing to make an informative video regarding mental health for Mental Health Awareness Month (May). Students will help share the importance of mental health and how it affects our well-being. Perry-Lecompton High School then shared that they are in the process of planning an activity for Alcohol Awareness Month (April), which includes students coloring letters that spell out “Say No to Alcohol.” This event is intended to last the entire month of April to raise awareness for Alcohol misuse.

Awards & Recognition

Perry-Lecompton High School

2025 Chapter of the Year

YEP Events

YEP Kickoff Event
September 23, 2025 - 11AM - 1:30PM
Springhill Suites Downtown Lawrence

First County Meeting
October 21, 2025 - 11AM - 1:30PM
Springhill Suites Downtown Lawrence

YES Summit
November 11, 2025 - 8AM-2:30PM
Burge Union

Second County Meeting
February 3, 2026 - 11AM - 12:30PM
Eudora High School

Third County Meeting
March 3, 2026 - 11AM - 12:30PM
Location TBD

Fourth County Meeting
April 4, 2026 - 11AM - 12:30PM
Location TBD

End of Year Celebration
May 5, 2026 - 11AM - 1:30PM
Location TBD

Toolkit to Plan and Host Positive, Drug Free Activities

Find tips, information, and resources to plan your own youth-led positive activities in this handy toolkit.

If you or your organization are interested in being involved with YEP! send us a message!

 For questions about YEP!, please contact Alexandria Garcia.

agarcia@dccca.org

785-830-8238
1739 23rd St Lawrence, KS 66046