Youth Wellness & Prevention Initiative
Youth Wellness and Prevention Initiative Builds Resiliency:
The Youth Wellness and Prevention Initiative strives to promote healthy behaviors, provide leadership opportunities, and reduce substance use for the youth in the Greater Manchester Region. We do this through the Youth Wellness and Prevention Collaborative, networking events such as the Youth Wellness & Prevention Showcase, professional development and trainings for professionals and parents, and leadership opportunities for youth. These efforts all help to build resilient youth, families, and communities.
Youth Wellness and Prevention Collaborative (YW&PC) Brings Members Together:
Formed in partnership with Amoskeag Health in 2024, the YW&PC brings together youth serving organizations and community sector representatives in the city of Manchester. Focused on our 18 and under population, the YW&PC is dedicated to promoting wellness, preventing substance misuse, and building life skills for healthier, more resilient youth, families, and communities. The collaborative has thrived since its inception, with members creating a strategic plan, attending monthly meetings, and participating in events and trainings.
Want to attend a meeting or learn more? Contact us at [email protected].
Youth Wellness & Prevention Showcase Highlights Connections:
In collaboration with Amoskeag Health, Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), and youth serving organizations in the Manchester region, Makin’ It Happen hosted a Youth Wellness & Prevention Showcase. The showcase brought over 50 professionals from 28 organizations together and provided a platform to connect and learn about each other’s programs. YW&PC members chose ten organizations to present at the event, and throughout the day participants networked and learned how the organizations can work together to improve the services provided to youth and families and strengthen our communities.
Professional Development Provides Learning Opportunities:
YW&PC members have taken part in professional development opportunities such as The Mandt System training and Boundary Spanning Leadership. The Mandt System training is a holistic, evidence-based training to reduce workplace violence. It teaches prevention and de-escalation concepts as well as conflict resolution to help people safely manage behavior so that everyone can be safe in their environment. YW&PC members also attended Boundary Spanning Leadership, a training offered by our partner Amoskeag Health. This training focuses on encouraging new ideas, collaboration, and teamwork while bridging divides among different groups.
Get involved with us! Reach out to us at [email protected] to see how you can participate in professional development opportunities.
Raising Resilience/Botvin LifeSkills Training Engages Caregivers:
We offer Raising Resilience: A Family Workshop Series, a training that focuses on effective family communication, substance use awareness and prevention, and general life skills. The workshops are based on the evidence-based Botvin LifeSkills Training Parent Program, a powerful prevention program designed to strengthen communication and prevent youth from using substances. Raising Resilience is a dynamic, engaging program that empowers caregivers to help raise resilient children.
Interested in attending a Raising Resilience training or scheduling one for your organization? Contact us at [email protected].
Additionally, Amoskeag Health is offering Botvin LifeSkills Trainings for youth through partnering with youth-serving organizations in Manchester. Interested in learning more about these engaging youth trainings or schedule one for your organization? Visit Amoskeag Healthor email[email protected].
Youth Leadership Opportunities Teach Skills to Youth Advocates
In addition to the many youth leadership opportunities Makin’ It Happen provides, we offer a Dynamic Trainers Workshop for Youth, focused on teaching youth advocates the skills and confidence needed to deliver effective presentations to their peers and younger students. Participants become certified youth facilitators in three of Makin’ It Happen’s key curricula including our own Tobacco and Vaping Awareness presentation, Gizmo’s PAWSOME Guide to Mental Health developed through the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Curriculum, and Over the Counter Medicine Safety provided by Kenvue in partnership with Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA). The Dynamic Trainers Workshop is available to all high school youth within the Greater Manchester Region.
Would you like to become a youth facilitator or volunteer with us? Reach out to us at [email protected].
Want to get involved or learn more?
Makin’ a Difference
Schools have participated in youth leadership and mental health trainings in 2024-2025 to date
Participating youth-serving and partner organizations supporting Manchester youth
Hours of professional development members have benefited from through the YW&PI in 2025 to date
What They’re Saying:
“Being a part of this amazing resilient group of professionals has opened up doors I didn’t think possible, and without the support of other members in the collaborative and the community, the amount of support we are able to give our patients would not be what it is today.”
“I’m a part of the YWPC because I want to provide more resources for the youth in my care at Webster House. Substance misuse is a rising issue for the youth of Manchester, and it is our responsibility as providers in this city to work together to effectively address it.”
Check out our Resource Guide to learn about the many supportive partner, community, state, and national resources to help you stay healthy and to prevent, treat, and recover from substance abuse disorder.
