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 Drug Free Youth In Town or “DFYIT” is a youth substance abuse prevention and leadership-training program. High School Drug Free Teen Leaders trained as Peer-to-Peer educators teach middle school students, drug prevention skills, team building, and life skills. DFYIT members obtain these skills at an annual three-day, two-night Leadership Training Institute and continue to be trained throughout the school year at monthly meetings. DFYIT club members facilitate peer-to-peer sessions at middle schools and Mini-institutes. They also participate in drug free alternative events and community service projects. High school members help middle school students stay committed to being drug free.
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To encourage and support youth in substance abuse prevention through peer to peer education, leadership training and by taking action within their communities.
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| To create and sustain a Drug Free Youth Population in Broward County .
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DFYIT LEADERSHIP TRAINING INSTITUTE – Want to learn more about being a Leader?
 The Institute is a free leadership training opportunity for high school Drug Free Teen
Leaders from across Broward County. Each year a total of 200 teens between the ages of 13 and
17 are nominated to attend this three-day (overnight) program. Youth are selected from
high school DYFIT Clubs, graduating 8th graders from the middle school Clubs,
and the Underage Drinking Youth Coalition.
 Through a selection process, students are chosen to participate because they have been identified as having the capacity to influence their peers, have participated fully in their DFYIT club activities or the county wide coalition. They all aspire toward a drug free life and continue to prove it through volunteer drug testing. Youth who have participated in a previous Institute come back to develop, plan and put into place all parts of the Institute including selecting the theme. They organize workshops, select potential speakers, and develop fun activities such as a dance and talent show.
Applications are usually available in February. If you want more information or to get an application, contact Shahara Jaghoo at sjaghoo@unitedwaybroward.org
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| Monthly meetings are organized and run by Club Officers, school sponsors, and DFYIT program coordinators where members plan community service events and fun drug free alternative activities within their school (such as dances) and in the community (bowling, movie-night or skating parties)
Peer-to-Peer Education Sessions
- High school members are trained as leaders and group facilitators. Members learn how to make effective presentations, how to best project their voice, the importance of body language, visual contact, etc. They go on to learn to use these skills by learning and providing the DFYIT Peer-to-Peer Curriculum to their middle school peers on a monthly basis. This fun, interactive learning curriculum helps students to learn more about the negative consequences of drug use and learn skills (decision and problem solving skills) to help youth stay drug free.
Mini-Institutes
• Are held once a year for each high school and feeder middle to spend the better part of a day together at a local park to learn from each other and learn more about leadership & drug prevention.
• Mini-Institutes include fun, interactive stations which the high school students run, guest speakers, food, music and of course, lots of learning. Return to Top |
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 DFYIT clubs in middle schools meet with high school members once a month. You get to interact with the high school students in fun activities, watching videos and doing lots of role plays that teach about drug prevention and leadership. You will learn how to be a stronger person, which will help you to become a strong leader.
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• You will have the opportunity to develop your leadership skills and make our community a better place to live.
• You can receive community service hours.
• You will teach middle school students about the importance of being drug-free and make a difference in their lives.
• You will have visible proof that you do not use drugs and be recognized for your positive choices.
• You will be part of a large group of other students who also choose to be drug-free.
• You will meet and make friends with other students who share the same attitudes about being drug free.
• You will be able to participate in a county-wide, 3 day, 2 night Annual Leadership Training Institute held each summer
• You will be able to participate in fun, drug-free alternative activities.
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• Complete and sign a DFYIT Membership Contract.
• Your parent (Guardian) must sign the DFYIT Parent Contract.
• Pass a drug screen and agree to random re-screening.
• Agree to participate in community service projects individually or with other club members.
• Agree to abide by DFYIT Club rules.
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• You will have the opportunity to develop your leadership skills and make our community a better place to live.
• You will learn how to organize and participate in fun community service activities.
• You will have visible proof that you do not use drugs and be recognized for your positive choices.
• You will be part of a large group of other students who also choose to be drug-free.
• You will meet and make friends with high school students and learn from them
• If you are a graduating from 8 th grade, you can apply to attend a county-wide, 3 day, 2 night Annual Leadership Training Institute held each summer
• You will be able to participate in fun, drug-free alternative activities.
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• Complete a DFYIT Membership Application
• Agree to participate in monthly club meetings and community service projects, as organized by your club.
• Agree to abide by DFYIT Club rules*
* Even though Middle school students are not drug tested, it is expected that members are drug free and are willing to learn more about being drug free and how they can increase their leadership skills. Return to Top |
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 This hands-on, action coalition is made up of youth leaders from across Broward County who work in action teams with the goal of helping change the community perceptions about underage drinking. Teen leaders (open to both middle and high school students) can choose to join action teams that will work on important projects and initiatives.
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• Fill out an application
• Attend by-monthly coalition meetings
• Participate on no more than 2 actions teams
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Alcohol is still the most commonly used drug among Broward County students (2004 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey) and binge drinking is more common than either tobacco or marijuana use. High school students disapprove of cigarettes and marijuana more than they do alcohol. This leads to the conclusion that the community needs to work on more environmental strategies that will address “ norm shifting” if we intend to reduce alcohol consumption by young people. Under the leadership of the UWBCCSA, a local community collaboration has begun to focus their efforts on reducing youth drug use (specifically alcohol) and enforce underage drinking laws with a special emphasis on underage drunk/drugged driving.
The Task Force also oversees a "SIDNE" (Simulated Impaired Driving Experience) ( www.fatalvision.com ) program. This "high-tech go-cart" demonstrates the hazards of drunk driving without the harmful repercussions. For more information about using the SIDNE in community demonstration, please contact the Commission at (954) 760-7007. Finally, in follow-up to the state produced CAN (Changing Alcohol Norms) report, (
http://www.myflorida.com/myflorida/government/governorinitiatives/drugcontrol/pdfs/2004-04-00-changing_norms.pdf ) the Task Force is working with the Office of Drug Control Policy, helping to guide the state (from a community perspective) of what is working in the field and set strategic plans for the future.
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