Youth prevention program

Every day at Forstter, I see what happens when young people don’t have enough safe places, steady adults or honest information at the moment they need it. Most of our work starts after something has already gone wrong. This year, I wanted us to do more of the work that comes before.

That’s why I’m excited to share Upon This Rock Youth Prevention Partnership, a new partnership between Forstter and Peter’s Rock Ministries here in Salina. Over the next year, we’ll offer free prevention sessions for teens, mentoring, leadership opportunities and monthly Family Nights for parents and caregivers.

Why prevention, and why now

Saline County residents have been clear about what they want. In the 2025 Saline County Opioid Community Needs Assessment, 94% of community members supported underage substance-use prevention, the highest-rated priority in the survey. Families also told the assessment that stigma, fear of judgment and not knowing where to go for help keep people from reaching out.

Our answer is simple: meet young people and families in a trusted, welcoming place, give them real skills and real relationships, and connect them to help early, long before a crisis.

How Forstter and Peter’s Rock will work together

Each partner brings what it does best. Peter’s Rock Ministries, led by Pastor Charles Scott and Co-Pastor Kawanis Scott, will host the program at its Salina facility, recruit and support volunteer adult mentors, and bring families and other congregations together. Forstter will lead and manage the project: trauma-informed structure, safety and consent, training, data and reporting, and warm hand-offs to local behavioral-health resources when a young person needs more support.

We’re not building another program on an island. We’ll coordinate with Salina schools, prevention partners and behavioral-health providers so families can find the right help faster.

What youth will do

• Weekly prevention sessions using Botvin LifeSkills Training, a well-researched program that builds decision-making, refusal and coping skills and separates myths from facts about alcohol, marijuana and vaping. There are two age groups: ages 12–14 on Tuesdays and ages 15–20 on Wednesdays, starting the first week of December 2026.
• Youth Leadership Council: about 12 young people will help shape our messages, lead outreach and plan service projects. Youth aren’t just attending; they’re helping lead.
• Mentoring and service: caring adult mentors, community service projects and activities that build belonging and confidence.
• Saline County Hope Sunday in spring 2027: a countywide community prevention resource fair with a youth-led presentation.

Family Nights for parents and caregivers

On the first Thursday of each month, starting December 3, 2026, caregivers are invited to Family Nights with practical, judgment-free tools for talking with kids about substances, stress and healthy choices, plus local resources you can actually use.

Everyone is welcome

“You do not have to be a member of Peter’s Rock, or of any church, to take part.”

The program is open to youth ages 12–20 across Saline County regardless of religious background, and no young person will ever be required to take part in worship or religious activity to join. Sessions are free. If getting there is the problem, families who face a transportation barrier can ask about fuel-card or bus-pass assistance.

How to join

We’re enrolling youth and families now. Call us at (785) 833-2473 or email info@forstter.org and tell us your young person’s age. A parent or guardian signs up anyone under 18. Sessions take place at Peter’s Rock Ministries, 256 S. 8th Street, Salina.

If you’re an adult who would like to mentor, or a congregation that wants to join our Faith Prevention Circle, we’d love to hear from you too.

Prevention works best when it’s built on trust. Our name says we’re here to foster, protect and help young people grow roots. Upon This Rock is how we’re taking that promise outside our doors. I hope your family will join us.

— Emanuel Ashiedu
Contributor, Forstter