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Student‑led Drug Free Cecil coalition reports outreach to 5,318 youth; Youth Empowerment Source recognized
Summary
Drug Free Cecil presented program activities and outcomes to the Board of Education of Cecil County, reporting 5,318 youth reached countywide last year, 37 student leaders, and large outreach events including a 1,486‑person pledge drive and multiple billboard campaigns.
The Board of Education of Cecil County recognized Youth Empowerment Source (YES) and heard a presentation from the Drug Free Cecil Youth Coalition on Aug. 6, 2025, highlighting student‑led prevention activities that reached thousands of young people across the county.
Beth Creek, executive director of Youth Empowerment Source, joined student leaders at the board podium and received a certificate of appreciation for partnership work. A Drug Free Cecil presenter told the board the coalition and its partners — which the presenter listed as the Elkton Alliance, the Cecil County Health Department, the Cecil County Sheriff's Office, Youth Empowerment Source and Cecil County Public Schools — collectively reached 5,318 youth last year through peer‑led prevention programming.
Key figures and programs presented - Student leaders: 37 "AT YES" student leaders were selected from all five county high schools to lead prevention activities and clubs. - Pledge program: 1,486 people signed a year‑long pledge to remain substance‑free (under‑21 pledge includes alcohol, tobacco and marijuana); many pledges were collected at the county fair and the group planted trees and placed a bench as a physical reminder of the pledge work. - Events: Teen Summer Sendoff (53 attendees); an annual trunk‑or‑treat and drug take‑back event (about 1,600 attendees reported for the year); a youth prevention rally (143 community members); and an eighth annual Youth Leadership Summit (82 high‑school students trained, followed by prevention instruction delivered to 115 middle‑school students). - Outreach materials: student‑created media campaigns produced billboards, posters and PSAs (the presenter noted many billboards are posted along Route 40) and posters were distributed to all public schools in the county. - Training trips: 32 student leaders attended CADCA mid‑year training and the national forum (CADCA is described by the presenter as a national prevention organization).
Student presenters and adult staff emphasized the peer‑to‑peer model. The coalition’s content and engagement specialist, Emily Bell, translates student artwork into printed posters after student approval, the presentation said. Board members praised the students’ work; one board member said the program is “going to make a difference.”
The recognition and report concluded with the board thanking Youth Empowerment Source, Drug Free Cecil and the student leaders for the coalition’s countywide prevention work.
