Helping Middle Schoolers Find Their Vibe
Starting Prevention Earlier: Supporting Middle School Students and Their Families
YES is expanding prevention education to reach youth earlier than ever before, giving middle school students the knowledge, skills, and support they need to make safe, healthy decisions as they grow.
For years, YES has offered the Alcohol Drug Education Class (ADEC) for high school students and their families. Now, that same proven model is being adapted for middle schoolers through a new class called VIBE, short for Values, Influence, Beliefs, and Education.
Responding to What Youth Are Experiencing Today
Created by YES’ Substance Use Prevention and School-Based Services teams, VIBE was developed in direct response to what counselors are seeing in local schools. Middle school students are navigating increasing pressures around social media, vaping, and early experimentation with substances.
“We want to meet kids where they’re at, before problems begin,” says Jennifer Klee, YES counselor and VIBE facilitator. “By starting these conversations early, families can build the trust and skills they need to navigate bigger challenges together.”
Learning Together as a Family
VIBE brings middle school students and their parents or caregivers together to learn, listen, and grow. In each session, families explore how substances affect the developing brain and body, practice healthier coping skills, and learn how and where to find support if they or a friend ever needs help.
What makes VIBE especially impactful is the shared learning experience. Youth gain tools to resist pressure and make confident choices, while caregivers learn how to have open, judgment-free conversations about topics that are often hard to approach. Families leave better equipped and more connected.
What Families Have Shared About ADEC
Families who have attended the high school ADEC program often describe it as eye-opening and deeply meaningful:
“Thank you for the class. It had so much information. You are a blessing for these kids, more than you can ever imagine.”
“Hearing students honestly describe their experiences with drugs and alcohol, and how they felt afterward, was more powerful than reading statistics.”
Because these programs are built from real trends counselors observe in local schools and communities, families receive timely, relevant information that reflects what youth are currently facing.
Accessible Education for Our Community
Through partnerships with the Lake Washington, Bellevue, and Issaquah School Districts, programs like VIBE and ADEC are offered at no cost to families. This ensures access to prevention education without financial barriers.
By starting prevention earlier, YES is helping families build stronger communication, healthier coping skills, and lasting foundations for well-being that extend into schools and neighborhoods across our region.
To Register for ADEC or VIBE:
Please email Andrea Frost at andrea.frost@youtheastsideservices.org and include either ADEC (high school class) or VIBE (middle school class) in the subject line.
Programs like VIBE and ADEC are only made possible through the generosity of supporters like you. Please consider making a gift today to continue providing children, youth, and families with the services and programs that support their mental health and recovery.
Thanks to donations like yours, no family is turned away because they can’t afford to pay for services.
