Prevention & Education Programs
Building Safer Communities To Stop Violence Before It Starts
Healthy relationships don’t happen by accident. YWCA Clark County’s Prevention Program works alongside youth, families, and educators to build the skills, confidence, and community support that help prevent violence before it starts. We focus on education, connection, and early intervention — because prevention is a shared responsibility.
Why Prevention Matters
Violence often begins early, and many young people experience harmful relationship behaviors before they have the language or tools to recognize them. Prevention education helps young people:
• Recognize red flags and unhealthy patterns early
• Build communication, boundary-setting, and decision-making skills
• Develop respect for themselves and others create safer schools and communities.
When youth are supported, entire communities become safer.
Who We Serve
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Youth & Teens
Interactive, age-appropriate programs that help students explore:
• Healthy vs. unhealthy relationships
• Boundaries, consent, and communication
• Digital safety and media literacy
• Self-confidence and leadership
Our sessions are designed to be engaging, inclusive, and rooted in real-life situations youth face today. -
Parents, Caregivers, & Adults
We support the adults who support youth by offering education that helps caregivers:
• Start meaningful conversations about relationships
• Recognize warning signs of dating violence
• Respond with care, respect, and resources
Prevention works best when young people aren’t navigating these conversations alone. -
Educators & Community Partners
YWCA partners with schools, youth organizations, and community groups to deliver:
• Classroom presentations and workshops
• Staff trainings and professional development
• Customized prevention education based on community needs
Together, we create environments where healthy relationships are the norm.
What Makes Our Approach Different?
Multi-level Impact:
We use a social-ecological approach to create change at both individual and systemic levels.
Youth-centered Spaces
We work with middle and high school students in peer-driven groups that encourage open, supportive conversations about relationships.
One Step At A Time
Each group helps shift school culture by empowering youth to question norms and influence their peers.
Supporting Adults & Systems
We equip caregivers, educators, and service providers with tools to create safer environments and stronger support systems for youth.
Our Impact
Prevention education creates ripple effects that last far beyond a single workshop. Participants leave with:
We use community data to understand needs and measure how our work is making a difference.
Participants value having a space where they can openly discuss personal experiences and explore topics like consent and healthy relationships.
Youth leave with ideas and language they can share with friends, family, and others in their lives.
Impact can be subtle, but building comfort and confidence to talk about these topics is a powerful first step.
Program Services
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Where We Grow is a community-based violence program designed especially for middle school-aged youth ages 11-13. Through a multi-session curriculum, participants build knowledge and skills that support healthy relationships. Exercises are hands-on and build on youth strengths in order to increase successful learning.
Students explore age-appropriate topics such as:
Exploring values
Respectful communication
Healthy break-ups and boundaries
Media impact on the culture of violence
Where We Grow is available in school and community settings. A Where We Grow group is also available for youth who have been affected by domestic violence/dating violence.
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Where We Thrive is a violence prevention program for high school students ages 14-18. This trauma-informed programming focuses on empowering youth to advocate for themselves in relationships of all kinds, develop critical thinking and communication skills, and lead efforts to prevent violence in their peer groups and communities.
Students discuss various topics such as:
Root causes of violence and warning signs of abuse
Boundaries, consent, and communication
Media literacy and culture
Becoming leaders in their communities and advocating for change
Where We Thrive is hosted in high schools all around Clark County, and can be scheduled for your school, after-school club, or youth group upon request.
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Where We Lead is a multi-session prevention curriculum designed for adults who work with youth ages 11–18, including teachers, counselors, case workers, and other youth service providers. The program builds confidence and skills to engage young people in meaningful conversations about healthy relationships, consent, boundaries, and teen dating violence. By addressing the root causes of violence—such as systems of oppression and trauma—Where We Lead equips adults to create protective, trauma-informed environments that foster trust, safety, and connection. The ultimate goal is to reduce youth violence while strengthening community support and social connectedness through empowered, informed adult allies.
Key focus areas:
Building skills to discuss healthy relationships, consent, and teen dating violence
Understanding root causes of violence, including oppression, trauma, and power dynamics
Creating protective, trauma-informed environments for youth
Strengthening adult–youth relationships to increase trust and safety
Promoting community connectedness and violence prevention through skill-building -
YWCA Clark County’s 2023 Racial Equity Community Needs Assessment found that there is a lack of safe community spaces for BIPOC youth. As a trusted community resource and in collaboration with our community partnerships, YWCA Clark County’s Prevention Program is in a unique position to provide those spaces. Therefore, each year we collaborate with multiple community partners to host the annual BIPOC Youth Summit.
The BIPOC Youth Summit was founded by the Prevention Program in 2019 as an identity-specific space that allows for youth to build community connections, enhance peer relationships, and explore cultural identity. The summit is a continuation of our Prevention Program’s efforts to educate about healthy relationships, empower youth, and build cultural community connectedness.
Each summit features keynote addresses and workshops led by local BIPOC leaders, interactive activities, and sessions on personal development, social justice, leadership, self-care, and community care. Past workshop topics have included: “Cultural Awareness”, “Shift Your Theory”, “Paper Plate Coasters: Building Joy Through Motion”, “Joy, Justice, and Health: How to Care & Advocate for Your Health and Health of Your Community”, “Finding Hope & Joy in Youth Organization”, and “Relationship Remix”. Over the course of two days we also provide youth lunch, swag bags, prizes, and have community resources tabling.
At YWCA Clark County, our Prevention program is dedicated to a transformative mission: to eliminate violence before it begins. Empowering our youth is key to creating a safer, more equitable community. Our annual BIPOC Youth Summit serves as a vital platform for middle and high school students, equipping them with the tools and support they need to become true agents of change. By fostering community resilience, we empower youth to advocate for themselves and their peers.
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YWCA Clark County’s 2023 Racial Equity Community Needs Assessment found that there is a lack of safe community spaces for BIPOC youth. As a trusted community resource and in collaboration with our community partnerships, YWCA Clark County’s Prevention Program is in a unique position to provide those spaces. Therefore, each year we collaborate with multiple community partners to host the annual BIPOC Youth Summit.
The BIPOC Youth Summit was founded by the Prevention Program in 2019 as an identity-specific space that allows for youth to build community connections, enhance peer relationships, and explore cultural identity. The summit is a continuation of our Prevention
Program’s efforts to educate about healthy relationships, empower youth, and build cultural community connectedness.
Each summit features keynote addresses and workshops led by local BIPOC leaders, interactive activities, and sessions on personal development, social justice, leadership, self-care, and community care. Past workshop topics have included: “A Pride Time Capsule”, “Transforming the Narrative: Stories of Trans Joy, Pride, & Belonging”, “You are Enough”, “Becoming You: A Journey of Self-Discovery & Belonging”, “Our Stories for Each Other”, and “Guided in Color: Painting Queer Joy Together”. Over the course of two days we also provide youth lunch, swag bags, prizes, and have community resources tabling.
At YWCA Clark County, our Prevention program is dedicated to a transformative mission: to eliminate violence before it begins. Empowering our youth is key to creating a safer, more equitable community. Our annual BIPOC Youth Summit serves as a vital platform for middle and high school students, equipping them with the tools and support they need to become true agents of change. By fostering community resilience, we empower youth to advocate for themselves and their peers.
Join the Prevention Effort
Get Involved
Whether you’re a student, caregiver, educator, or community partner, there’s a place for you in prevention work
Partner With Us
Collaborate to support youth and strengthen community safety.
Request A Program
Bring prevention education to your school or organization.
Learn More
Have questions? We’re here to help.
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