SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – October 31, 2025 - The Emily’s Hope Youth Prevention Coalition is hosting a free Parent and Caregiver Workshop: Not MY Kid – Understanding Youth Substance Use Risks & Prevention on Monday, November 3, 2025, from 6:00–8:00 PM at Lincoln High School in the Auditorium. The workshop will provide parents and caregivers with practical tools and knowledge to understand youth substance use risks and strategies to prevent it.
The workshop will feature expert speakers, including Angela Kennecke, founder of Emily’s Hope, who will share her personal story of losing her daughter, Emily, to fentanyl poisoning. She will let parents know about the current risk in the illicit drug market for teenagers. Additional speakers include a representative from the DEA, who will provide insight into drug trends, and Tiffany Kashas, Licensed Addiction Counselor and Certified Prevention Specialist, who will share strategies for prevention and communication. The event will also feature Artica Franklin from Through Young Voices at LSS, a young adult with lived experience whose parent struggled with substance use disorder. The evening will conclude with a panel discussion and Q&A, giving attendees the opportunity to ask questions and engage with experts and individuals with lived experience.
“The risks associated with youth substance use are real, and parents and caregivers play a critical role in prevention,” said Angela Kennecke, CEO and founder of Emily’s Hope. “This workshop is designed to equip families with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to have meaningful conversations with their kids and protect their well-being.”
Topics covered during the workshop include alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, methamphetamines, fentanyl, and other illicit drugs. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to strengthen family relationships, identify early warning signs, and help teens make informed, healthy choices.
Not MY Kid is free and open to all parents, caregivers, and community members. The workshop is hosted by the Youth Prevention Coalition, a collaborative initiative from Emily’s Hope that brings together local leaders across 12 sectors to prevent youth substance use in Sioux Falls. Those interested in attending can register here.
About Emily’s Hope
Emily’s Hope is a nonprofit organization working to eliminate the stigma surrounding substance use disorder and to save lives through evidence-informed education, compassionate support, and financial assistance for recovery. Founded by award-winning journalist Angela Kennecke after the tragic overdose death of her daughter Emily, the organization has become a national voice for prevention and hope. Emily’s Hope offers a K–12 substance use prevention curriculum used across the country, the Grieving Out Loud podcast, and on-the-ground initiatives such as naloxone distribution, a Post-Overdose Response Team, and a Youth Prevention Coalition in South Dakota. The organization also provides treatment scholarships to help individuals access care. Learn more about Emily’s Hope at emilyshope.charity.
For additional media information, please visit emilyshope.charity/media.