Prevention Programming

The programs that EMPOWERR provides are designed for middle school and high school aged youth and emphasize abstinence as the safest choice while also informing participants about contraceptive methods, condom use, and decreased substance use. These programs are provided in partnership with community organizations such as the SC Department of Juvenile Justice, Charleston Police Department's Camp Hope, Charleston County School District, and other youth-serving organizations. If you are a part of a youth serving organization and are interested in integrating our programs into your services, please contact us or complete our request for services form. 

EMPOWERR offers the following evidence based programs (EBP's):

Sexual Health

Making Proud Choices (MPC)

  • 8-10 age appropriate sessions lasting from 60-90 minutes each.
  • Medically accurate information regarding STIs, HIV, pregnancy, condoms, and contraception methods.
  • Skill building activities to identify goals and dreams, delay sexual activity, communicate with peers/romantic partners, and to make healthy decisions.

Sisters, Informing, Healing, Living, & Empowering (SIHLE)

  • 4, 3 hour sessions, or 8-10, 60-90 minute sessions 
  • Designed for African American teen girls with a focus on gender and ethnic pride
  • Medically accurate information regarding STIs, HIV, pregnancy, condoms, and contraception methods.
  • Skill building activities to identify goals and dreams, delay sexual activity, communicate with peers/romantic partners, and to make healthy decisions.
  • Visit SIHLE Web for an online version of SIHLE

Advocates for Youth (AFY) Rights, Respect, & Responsibility 

  • Various 50 minute sessions for middle and high school students that can be packaged to fit the needs of the audience
  • Medically accurate information regarding STIs, HIV, pregnancy, condoms, and contraception methods.
  • Skill building activities to identify goals and dreams, delay sexual activity, communicate with peers/romantic partners, and to make healthy decisions. 

Substance Use

CATCH My Breath

  • 4 modules, 1hr each, designed to prevent and reduce the use of nicotine and/or marijuana e-cigarettes and other vaping devices.

  • Information on how e-cigarette use can affect their future goals as well as their mental and physical health and the highly addictive nature of nicotine and marijuana.

  • Stress management strategies that do not include substance use.

  • Refusal and help seeking/offering behaviors.

Keepin' it REAL

  • 10 modules, 45 min each, created to teach teens about refusing, explaining, avoiding, and leaving substance use situations. This a general program that covers all substances.
  • Information on risks and potential harms of situations involving substance use.
  • Skills to verbalize and take action on preferences that are not popular.
  • How to identify healthy choices and understand what it means to value themselves.

Case Management Services

  • Transportation to and from program sessions
  • Referrals and transportation to and from testing facilities

To make a referral for one of our programs or to request that we bring a program to you, fill out our Prevention Programming Referral Form. For any questions, email us at