Youth
24th Annual
MID-YEAR
Training Institute
July 20-24, 2025 | Gaylord Opryland Nashville, TN

Youth Leadership

Youth FAQsYouth Schedule

Youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow—they are leading today! Now is the perfect time for young people to step into leadership roles within their coalitions and address the pressing issues facing their communities.

Building partnerships with stakeholders at the community level is the foundation of the coalition model. To achieve true sustainability and long-term impact, we must empower youth to be catalysts and sustainers of community change. CADCA’s Youth Leadership training courses provide young people with skills and tools to help their coalition drive community-level change. Designed for youth ages 13-19, these trainings encourage participants to take youth-led civic action. Coalitions nationwide are enrolling their youth in these exciting courses to help them work together more effectively.

At this year's Mid-Year Training Institute, CADCA is offering two tracks for youth attendees:


Key Essentials is a foundational training that equips participants with tools to address community challenges related to substance misuse, vaping, underage drinking, prescription drug misuse, and other social challenges using the Strategic Prevention Framework.

Pathways to Prevention Track is designed for youth who have already completed the Key Essentials training. This advanced track offers a selection of prevention and coalition-related skill-building workshops.
 
BEFORE YOU REGISTER:
  1. Coalition adult advisors are required to attend Key Essentials alongside their youth participants. Please confirm which adult advisors from your coalition will attend and participate alongside your youth.
  2. A parent consent form is required for every youth participant.
  3. If your youth are attending the Mid-Year Training Institute for the first time, register for Key Essentials and include the number of youth and adult advisors attending. 
  4. Youth who have already completed Key Essentials are encouraged to register for the Pathways to Prevention track. 
  5. The Breakout Track sessions are first-come, first-served. Most sessions will be repeated throughout the week, so if you miss one, you'll have another chance to attend. 

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