In June 2025, middle and high school Youth Action Teams from across Georgia came together at Georgia Teen Institute (GTI) to build leadership skills, lift up youth voice and plan impactful prevention projects for their local communities. During the week, these young leaders engaged in the Strategic Prevention Framework planning process, learning how to assess local needs, set goals and implement strategies with a special emphasis on addressing underage drinking and other substance use. Their hard work, creativity and commitment to making a difference are on full display in the inspiring projects they developed—each one a reflection of the power of youth-led prevention.
Check out the what each Youth Action Team plans to accomplish during the 2025-2026 school year:
Anchored Junior Board will hold a rally at the beginning of the school year to raise awareness among teens around healthy relationships, laws around sex and sexual assault.
AVPRIDE plans to create a council learning safe space in order to promote youth voice in administration, with the overall goals of including the excluded, decreasing substance use and increasing mental wellness.
Bartow and Floyd YATs aim to reduce underage drinking, teen pregnancies and school dropouts. The youth will host a community education night for parents and teens and utilize local experts to educate attendees on the harms of underage alcohol consumption and how it leads to risky behaviors such as unprotected sex. Additional discussion will include teen pregnancy and STI prevention.
CAT Stewart County will create a social club bringing together teens and adults to ultimately reduce substance use and gang affiliation. They will include a teen talk, leadership and parenting workshops, engaging activities and a reward system.
Cherokee County Youth Council plans to create a peer-led support group and host kickbacks with food, music, games and workshops for 6th-12th graders as a fun way to hang out without alcohol, marijuana or vaping.
Crisp County Youth Advisory Council will host a motivational assembly to change thoughts on vapes, alcohol and other drugs in partnership with local law enforcement and celebrity NFL players.
Early County Bobcats plan to host an event in their community where they raise awareness about substance use and provide natural high alternatives.
Georgia Teen State Executive Council will advocate for change among the Newton County Board of Commissioners on the topic of zoning laws for ATOD shops and their accessibility to youth, with special emphasis on how substance use affects youth mental health.
GUIDE, Inc. Youth Advisory Board will host a wellness event to provide information and advocate against underage drinking and promote healthy alternatives by sharing skill-building resources and activities among youth ages 9-21.
Jared’s Heart Of Success will address the lack of awareness around mental health resources for youth and adults through hosting a summit. They aim to draw attention to how parents/guardians can utilize mental wellness tools and give youth more PCEs so they don’t turn to substance use.
Power Through Prevention YAT will host afterschool activities to educate the community on underage drinking and drug use, with special attention to the ways in which trauma can lead individuals to engage in substance use.
The Soaring Eagles will host various Red Ribbon Week activities to provide information, engagement and sustainability in the community with the goal of reducing underage drinking and vaping.
Spalding Youth Advisory Council members plan to address the problem of easy teen access to drugs by raising awareness through “Cooking Food, Not Meth,” as well as provide information about the harms of substance use.
SSYP Teen Council will address drug usage caused by peer pressure and stress through a puppy therapy project. They hope participants will feel at ease and comfortable speaking about their problems in a safe space.
Team Up Mentoring and SOS Youth Action Team (Youth In Bloom) plan to hold a Halloween event to engage the community in fun activities while providing mental health and substance use prevention resources.
Teen Explosion will gather local community organizations (the school system, DPH, Young Life, Legacy, etc.) to provide stress-reducing activities for youth to have fun and engaging alternatives to substance use.
Teen On the M.O.V.E./Teen Empowerment plan to implement a TikTok campaign that combines dancing with sharing information about the effects of underage drinking and smoking.
V2 will educate about the dangers of substance use by creating an interactive brochure on alcohol and other drugs that provides impactful, age-appropriate information to guide youth in making informed decisions.
Warren County Teens in Action will host their Annual Youth Prevention Retreat in Warren County where they will teach the SPF to their peers and invite other local organizations to speak on various prevention topics.
Follow us on social media @guidegti as we highlight the successes of these teams throughout the year!