YFS' Western Prevention Resource Center (WPRC)

The WPRC seeks to divert or delay those we serve from substance use and other high risk behaviors to promote choices/behaviors resulting in lifelong mind and body wellness.

Contact Western Prevention Resource Center

Stop in at our location

Youth & Family Services
Western Prevention Resource Center
202 East Adams St.
Rapid City, SD 57701

Call Us

605-342-1593

Send Mail

Youth & Family Services
WPRC
PO Box 2813
Rapid City, SD 57709-2813

Fax Us

605-399-0833

 

Service Area and Population

The WPRC primarily focuses prevention support services to stakeholders in South Dakota’s 22 westernmost counties, but often serves an even broader audience. The WPRC's services include providing education, technical assistance, training and other support to prevention service providers, youth, parents, educators, community groups, social service providers, health/wellness agencies, chemical dependency service providers, law enforcement and other community wellness stakeholders.

Prevention Services and Presentations

WPRC staff can provide community education and information on a broad range of prevention topics. These topics include:

  • Individual drugs (alcohol, nicotine, vaping, marijuana, methamphetamine, fentanyl, etc.)
  • Trends in drug use
  • Over the counter drug misuse
  • The science of chemical dependence (brain and body)
  • Risky behavior marketing
  • 988/211 Help Line usage

We are always adding to the menu of highly customizable presentations we offer. If there is a topic of interest you would like to learn more about but do not see listed here, please contact us. It is possible your topic could be added.

Upcoming Trainings/Events

Libraries

The WPRC maintains a traditional library of books and other media relating to prevention, health and wellness. Further, the state’s PRCs maintain an e-library of similar materials.

The traditional library and the e-library are free of cost and open to anyone. Accounts for the traditional library can be set up at the WPRC office at 202 E Adams Street in Rapid City. To create a personal account to access the e-library, click here and follow the steps.

Additional Resources

Prevention Resource Centers of South Dakota Marijuana Toolkit

Prevention News Updates

The PRCs produce and disseminate a monthly newsletter, The Prevention NewsLink, that highlights prevention news, training, events and other prevention-associated items of interest. The current and past editions of The Prevention Newslink can be found here:

The WPRC also produces a weekly prevention news update that is sent via email to stakeholders concerned about substance abuse prevention, suicide prevention, and other aspects of community health and wellness. These updates—usually disseminated each Friday—include recent news, research findings, funding opportunities, upcoming training opportunities, prevention and health events, and links to other resources. If you would like to receive the Prevention News Updates, please email to: wprc@youthandfamilyservices.org.

 

Evidence-Based Programs (EBP) Provided by the WPRC

There are a number of no-cost EBPs that the WPRC provides directly. Our staff are credentialed program instructors for the following programs:

Interactive Journaling

Interactive Journaling was designed to answer the question, “If all change is self-change, how do we engage people more in their own recovery?” The result is a structured and experiential writing process that motivates and guides participants toward positive behavior change. Participants engage in eight to ten one-hour sessions to complete this course. The instructor’s time with participants is conducted in person.

QPR: Question, Persuade & Refer

The QPR mission is to reduce suicidal behaviors and save lives by providing innovative, practical, and proven suicide prevention training. The signs of crisis are all around us. We believe that quality education empowers all people, regardless of their background, to make a positive difference in the life of someone they know. This course is delivered in a virtual or in-person format in approximately one hour.

Natural Helpers

Natural Helpers is a nationally recognized program where middle and high school aged students help their friends. Students who become Natural Helpers are recognized amongst their peers as being natural leaders. Natural Helpers aren't professional therapists, but are expert listeners and attempt to help their friends figure out their own issues by talking them through. Students naturally talk with their peers before adults on issues relating to academic stress, boyfriend/girlfriend issues, or situations occurring at home. Every Natural Helper receives training to help them recognize when they can help their friends, and when and where to ask for help for issues beyond their comfort level. This training can be provided in a virtual or live format. (There is a strong preference for delivering the instruction in person.) The class ordinarily requires a complete school day (6.5-7 hours). After students and staff receive the initial training, further instruction, education, or other support will be offered based upon the needs of each school.

Youth Mental Health First Aid

Youth Mental Health First Aid is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (ages 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addiction challenge or is in crisis. Youth Mental Health First Aid is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for how to help young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including ADHD), and eating disorders. This class requires approximately seven hours or one complete workday. It can be delivered in a virtual or in-person format.

Teen Mental Health First Aid

Teen Mental Health First Aid teaches teens in grades 10-12, or ages 15-18, how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among their friends and peers. This class requires approximately 2 hours of online pre- and post-class work. The in-person instruction can be completed in six 45-minutes sessions or three 90-minutes sessions. This course can be delivered in a virtually or in-person.

Mental Health First Aid for Adults

Mental Health First Aid for Adults teaches people how to recognize signs of mental health or substance use challenges in adults (18+), how to offer and provide initial help, and how to guide a person toward appropriate care if necessary. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, psychosis, and addictions. This class requires approximately seven hours or one complete workday. It can be delivered in a virtual or in-person format.

Substance abuse Prevention Skills Training (SAPST)

The goal of the SAPST is to develop the basic knowledge and skills needed by substance misuse prevention practitioners to plan, implement, and evaluate effective, data-driven programs and practices that reduce behavioral health disparities and improve wellness. The SAPST is intended as an introductory level course. SAPTS is generally offered once or twice each year. It can be offered in a virtual or in-person format. Each class requires four full days of instruction and approximately 3 hours of pre- and post-class, self-guided study.

CATCH My Breath

CATCH My Breath is a peer-reviewed, evidence-based youth vaping prevention program developed by The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health. The program provides up-to-date information to teachers, parents, and health professionals to equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to make informed decisions about the use of e-cigarettes. CATCH My Breath utilizes a peer-led teaching approach and meets national and state health education standards. The curriculum is typically delivered in a classroom setting and requires four 30-40 minutes sessions. The instruction is available to students in grades 5-12.

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

The curriculum includes information across three domains: neuroscience, the Adverse Childhood Experiences study, and resilience. Participants will learn what ACEs are, how they impact youth and adults, and what steps can be taken to mitigate effects. The ACEs course is intended for adults and is especially helpful to anyone with children or who provides services to children.

Evidence-Based Programs (EBP) Supported by the WPRC

The WPRC supports a number of EBPs. We provide technical support, consultation, logistical, and occasionally financial support to the following EBPs:

State and Regional Partners

YFS' WPRC is one of three prevention resource centers (PRC) in South Dakota. The Northeast Prevention Resource Center is located in Watertown and the Southeast Prevention Resource Center is located in Sioux Falls.

Each PRC is embedded within a non-profit organization that serves as its fiscal agent. For more than 20 years, Youth & Family Services has fulfilled this role for the WPRC. Further, the PRCs are associate sites of the South Dakota Prevention Network which includes the South Dakota Department of Social Services and Department of Health.

Regional Partners

The WPRC provides technical and logistical support to many community-based prevention entities within the western South Dakota catchment area. These organizations include: 

Current/ Active Supported Prevention Campaigns