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Arizona Youth Partnership cultivates healthy foundations to build stronger families through youth and family programs. 1/6 Arizona Youth Partnership Empowering Youth to Harness Their Strengths to Live Healthy and Purposeful Lives Arizona Youth Partnership (AZYP) works to build brighter futures for young people across Arizona. We partner with schools, families , and communities to provide evidence‑based programs that support healthy decision‑making, strengthen family relationships, and create safe, resilient environments where youth can thrive. Our team serves both rural and urban communities, ensuring every young person has access to the tools, resources, and support they need to succeed. Join us in creating safer, stronger communities across Arizona. Explore our programs , connect with our team , or get involved to support youth and families statewide. WHAT WE DO Building Solid Foundations for Arizona Youth OUR EVENTS See what's coming up in near future events in your area OUR PROGRAMS Learn about our programs and the difference they make GET INVOLVED Empower Youth Throughout Arizona Programs That Create Real Change AZYP offers a wide range of youth programs designed to meet real needs. From prevention education and leadership development to crisis support and family strengthening , each program is built on proven strategies that help youth grow with confidence and purpose. We also support parents and caregivers through classes and resources that encourage communication, stability, and connection at home. Our community coalitions bring together local leaders, educators, and partners to address challenges unique to each region. By working collaboratively, we reduce risk factors, increase protective factors, and build healthier communities for everyone. Whether a young person needs a safe place to stay, a family needs support, or a school is looking for effective prevention programming, AZYP is here to help. Youth Leadership & Life Skills Read More > Substance Use Prevention Read More > Shelter & Direct Support Services Read More > Family & Parenting Support Read More > Mental Health & Wellness Education Read More > News & Success Stories Arizona Youth Partnership Presents Innovative Maternal SUD Program at National Rx and Illicit Drug Summit in Nashville. Building a Foundation for the Future: Why "Love Notes" is Essential for Our Local High Schoolers Celebrating 35 Years of Impact: AZYP’s 2024–2025 Annual Report See All Support Life‑Changing Programs Every donation strengthens programs that keep young people safe, supported, and connected. Donate

A Hand UP Drop In Center For Youth up to the age of 24 A Hand UP Drop In Center is currently located at 1902 Pacific Avenue, Kingman, AZ 86401. We offer much needed services to the youth in the Kingman area. Services Offered Basic Needs (Self-care, toiletries, harm reduction, etc.) Showers Clothing Food/snacks Computer and charging stations Service Providers (AZ@Work, Health care and SNAP, Mental health) What we do - Outreach: Sharing AZYP programs through community awareness (schools, gov. And non-profit agencies, etc..) Reaching youth through direct outreach (snacks, water, communication) Invitation to the drop-in for further resources and services What we do - Drop In: Providing a safe, clean and unbiased atmosphere for unaccompanied homeless youth Provisions of basic needs and clothing Provisions of resources and electronics to better outcomes Follow Us Contact: Trent Chambers 928.352.2073 Trent@AZYP.org

Join Arizona Youth Partnership for the Empowering Minds Conference—a one-day, high-impact event delivering suicide prevention education, gatekeeper trainings, and community-led sessions to equip over 200 Arizonans with tools to support mental health and save lives. 2nd Annual Conference Empowering Minds Conference HOSTED BY ARIZONA YOUTH PARTNERSHIP About the Conference The 2nd annual Empowering Minds Conference, hosted by Arizona Youth Partnership, is a one-day, high-impact event designed to bring together over 200 Arizonans in a unified effort to address suicide prevention through education, training, and community engagement. By combining evidence-based gatekeeper trainings, dynamic speakers, and diverse breakout sessions, Empowering Minds equips participants with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to make a meaningful difference in their families, schools, workplaces, and communities. Gatekeeper Trainings Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in one of three powerful, evidence-based trainings that help build stronger safety nets for youth and adults: SafeTALK A practical, hands-on training that empowers participants to recognize when someone may be thinking about suicide and connect them to life-saving help. No prior experience required, just a willingness to help others and be a proactive part of a safer, more supportive Arizona. Be-A-Link Yellow Ribbon Training This compassionate, stigma-reducing training encourages every participant to “be a link” in the chain of support. Learn how to recognize warning signs, reduce barriers to conversation, and build a culture of mental wellness across your personal and professional circles. QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) A research-backed training that teaches participants three simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Like CPR, QPR is designed for everyday people, not just mental health professionals, empowering communities to act quickly and confidently. Breakout Room Topics Details on this year's breakout sessions are coming soon. Check back for updates on topics, presenters, and more! Who Should Attend Parents and Caregivers Teachers, School Counselors & Staff Nonprofit & Youth Program Leaders Healthcare Providers First Responders & Law Enforcement Veterans, Military Families, and Advocates Anyone committed to mental wellness and suicide prevention Why It Matters Every life is worth protecting. Suicide is preventable when communities are equipped with knowledge, resources, and connection. The Empowering Minds Conference is your opportunity to be part of a statewide movement to uplift mental health, strengthen support systems, and save lives. Become a Sponsor The Empowering Minds Conference is made possible through the generous support of community partners and sponsors. By sponsoring this event, your organization will play a vital role in advancing mental health awareness and suicide prevention across Arizona — while gaining meaningful visibility with a dedicated, mission-driven audience of 200+ attendees. Premier Partner- $12,000 • Exclusive Title Sponsor Recognition: "Empowering Minds Conference sponsored by [Your Company Name]". • Logo Placement: Prominent logo placement on all print materials, website, signage, and promotional items. • Speaking Opportunity: Opening session address to attendees (5-8 minutes) to highlight your business’s active partnership in supporting and addressing mental health. • Exhibit Space: Premier tabling and exhibit space at the conference venue. • Media Exposure: Recognition in press releases and media coverage. • Social Media Promotion: Highlighted posts on AZYP’s social media channels leading up to and during the event. • Thank You Recognition: Custom plaque presented at the event acknowledging your support of mental health awareness and community support. MindSpace Breakout Room Sponsors- $2,000 • Logo Placement: Logo placement on Breakout Room conference materials. • Social Media Promotion: Mention in AZYP’s social media channels related to Breakout AC• 2-3 minute Welcome to Breakout Session to roughly 90 participants during the event. • Thank You Recognition: Sponsorship recognition in Breakout Room Catalyst Sponsor - $6,000 • Logo Placement: Logo placement on conference program and website • Tabling Space: Premier tabling space at the conference venue • Media Exposure: Recognition in press releases and media coverage • Social Media Promotion: Featured posts on AZYP’s social media channels • Thank You Certificate: Custom framed certificate presented at the event Center Piece Sponsor- $1,500 • Logo Placement: Logo placement on all center pieces and website • Social Media Promotion: Mention in AZYP’s social media channels • Thank You Recognition: Sponsorship recognition during the event Tabling Partner - $150 • Tabling Space: Dedicated table space at the conference venue with one 6-foot table and two chairs • Lunch for the 2 team members who are tabling the event *nonprofit organizations, please contact us directly before signing up.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 5, 2026 AZYP's Linking Actions for Healthy Mothers and Babies Program Draws Nationwide Praise at Premier Addiction Conference GLOBE, AZ — Arizona Youth Partnership (AZYP) is proud to announce its participation in the 2026 Rx and Illicit Drug Summit, held April 6-9, 2026, in Nashville, Tennessee. The annual summit is the nation’s premier gathering for stakeholders committed to addressing the opioid and addiction crisis – bringing together voices from federal agencies to advance evidence-based solutions in prevention, treatment, and law enforcement. About the Rx and Illicit Drug Summit The Rx and Illicit Drug Summit is where solutions are formulated, stakeholders from federal to family convene, and change begins. The Summit plays a vital role in addressing the ongoing addiction crisis by fostering collaboration across sectors and promoting evidence-based solutions – equipping attendees with the latest knowledge, tools and connections needed to drive meaningful change in their communities and organizations. AZYP Presents the LAHMB Program Julie Craig, Director of Community Impact at AZYP, and Charlene Becker, Senior Program Manager, co-presented on AZYP’s Linking Actions for Healthy Mothers and Babies (LAHMB) Program — a groundbreaking initiative designed to support pregnant mothers experiencing Substance Use Disorder (SUD) in Gila County, Arizona. Julie Craig opened the presentation with a compelling overview of the opioid epidemic’s devastating toll on Arizona and Gila County specifically, citing sobering statistics on opioid-related deaths. She also provided an educational breakdown of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) and Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS), explaining how these conditions affect newborns and the urgent need for targeted, compassionate intervention programs. Charlene Becker then detailed the LAHMB program’s holistic, wrap-around model of care. The program integrates healthy pregnancy and childbirth education classes with individualized case management and peer support — creating a judgment-free environment where mothers with SUD can find community, strength, and hope. The program’s guiding philosophy is to meet mothers where they are: helping them feel accepted, supported, and empowered in their journey through motherhood rather than isolated or stigmatized. “Our goal is to help these mothers feel accepted and supported,” said Charlene Becker. “We want them to be with peers and find solace in motherhood, rather than feeling shame or being singled out. Every mother deserves that dignity and belonging.” Program Impact and National Recognition To date, the LAHMB program has successfully connected 10 mothers with the critical resources needed to support themselves and their babies through withdrawal — a milestone that reflects the program’s life-changing potential in one of Arizona’s most rural and underserved counties. The presentation was met with overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees and HRSA representatives present at the Summit. The response was so enthusiastic that multiple participants inquired about the possibility of expanding the LAHMB model to other counties across Arizona and replicating it in states throughout the country — a testament to the program’s transferable, evidence-informed design. “We are incredibly proud of what this program represents and what it has already accomplished for families in Gila County,” said Julie Craig. “The interest we received from HRSA and our fellow grantees was inspiring.” About Arizona Youth Partnership (AZYP) AZYP is a statewide nonprofit dedicated to building healthy, resilient youth. Through innovative evidence-based prevention programs and community driven initiatives like LAHMB program, AZYP empowers youth to harness their strengths to live healthy and purposeful lives. ###

Posted By: Mireya McPhee What is Love Notes? Love Notes Risk Avoidance Adaptation (SRA) is an Evidence-Based Program (EBP) that studies these matters through skill-building and knowledge to foster positive relationships in all forms (romantic, friendship, familial, educational, and professional). How Love Notes Applies to High Schoolers The high school years are crucial for making decisions. Love Notes empowers teenagers to safeguard their future. The Program Assists High Schoolers by: Setting Healthy Boundaries Understand the distinction between a healthy relationship and an unhealthy one. Selecting Partners Learn how to pick partners and friends who share similar visions and align with their long-term goals. Sexual Risk Avoidance Accentuate the value of excluding sexual behavior in youthful relationships, enabling them to concentrate on self-development and academic achievements. Trusted Connections Incorporates exercises which help in connecting the youth to their parents or other trusted individuals, initiating essential discussions on matters relating to life and romance. What’s Happening in the Classroom: A Look at the Lessons It starts by looking inward before looking at a partner. Students don’t just read a textbook. Instead, they engage in activities along with journal activities designed to reveal their own social patterns. Understanding Personality Colors: One of the most popular segments involves students discovering their own personality types. By identifying their traits, students can learn... Self-Awareness:  Why they react the way they do in stressful situations. Compatibility:  How to navigate a relationship with someone who has a completely different personality vibe. Empathy:  Recognizing that a friend or partner isn't being difficult -they just process information differently. Master Classes in Communication: In the how it applies phase, students move into the Evidence-Based Communication portion of the program. They move away from “you-statements" (which cause defensiveness) and learn the power of "I-statements." Specific skills taught include... The Speaker-Listener Technique:  A structured way to ensure both people feel heard without being interrupted. Conflict Management:  How to "time out" during an argument so a disagreement doesn't turn into a "red flag" situation. How High Schoolers Are Engaged If you were to walk into a classroom at Walden Grove or Sahuarita High School during a Love Notes session, you won’t see students staring blankly at a screen. You’ll see them engaged in real talk. High schoolers are leaning into this curriculum because it respects their autonomy. They aren't being told what to do - they are being taught how to think through their choices. Students are actively participating in shaping their own social and emotional intelligence. Testimonial After sitting through the lessons on healthy boundaries and the "Red Flags" of toxic behavior, a 9th-grade student realized that a relationship she was currently in didn't align with the values she was learning. A 9 th grade student at Sahuarita High School found the courage to end that toxic relationship because of what she learned in Love Notes. Kourtney Kazakos brought these lessons to life by creating a judgment-free zone where students feel safe enough to audit their own lives.

Arizona Youth Partnership is proud to share our 2024–2025 Annual Report , highlighting a year of resilience, growth, and unwavering commitment to youth and families across Arizona. Despite statewide uncertainty in nonprofit funding, AZYP continued to expand impact through prevention education, youth wellness programs, and community partnerships. This milestone year also marked our 35th anniversary , a testament to decades of showing up for young people with compassion, consistency, and purpose. In the past year alone, AZYP: Distributed 1,483 naloxone kits  to save lives Reached over 1,000 students  through drug prevention assemblies Supported 51 youth in shelters , 19 in transitional living , and 35 youth & families  in court‑related programs Trained 677 individuals  in Youth & Adult Mental Health First Aid Empowered 1,200 community members  through literacy and resilience‑building events Ensured that 84¢ of every dollar  directly supported youth and family programs This report also celebrates the retirement of Shirley Lamy , AZYP’s CFO of 14 years, whose leadership helped sustain and strengthen our mission. We invite you to explore the full report and see the powerful difference your support makes in communities across Arizona. Don’t forget that your support qualifies for the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit, allowing you to give back while reducing your tax burden. QCO code 20953. www.azyp.org/donate .