Student Leadership Services Inc

Student Leadership Services, Inc. (SLS) is a Michigan-based non-profit dedicated to ensuring our youth remain safe, healthy, and alcohol and drug free. SLS accomplishes this through innovative student-led prevention programs, trainings and events for students and adults. Since its inception in 1982, SLS has empowered students and adults to create safe, supportive, interactive and engaging student-led environments so that they can lead change in their communities.

ABOUT US

SLS has developed a nationally recognized, comprehensive, whole-child approach to prevention programming for students ages 11-19. Students Leading Students (SLS) for high school students and Students Taking a New Direction (STAND) for middle school students. Research shows that prevention programs with long-term investment and repeated exposure to ideas delivered in different settings over time have better results than single awareness-raising or discussion sessions. Our model serves to provide an inclusive, safe, environment with the guidance needed to promote student autonomy and develop confidence in their own abilities to lead change in their school. With adult support, the Chapter meets regularly, and students select and plan culturally sensitive, evidence-based activities to address the specific prevention needs in their schools with a multi-method approach to promote positive youth development and prevent substance use. SLS is primary prevention. SLS is properly implemented to reduce alcohol, tobacco and marijuana use. Youth drug use adversely impacts core educational goals. That is why SLS is vital to have in schools.

HISTORY

Since 1982, SLS has worked as an authentic partner with student groups across Michigan as they lead health, personal safety, driving safety, and drug education programs in their schools and communities. Students also support positive mental health, stress management, overcoming family struggles, and developing leadership skills in themselves and others. We believe that students can be equal partners in saving lives. They want and need to help and can reach their peers in a way that adults cannot.

IMPACT

In the 2023-2024 school year:

• SLS directly trained 3,000 students which then impacted more than 15,000 students from 42 Michigan schools along with one Boy Scout Troop and Boys and Girls Club through multiple SLS trainings and activities throughout the year.
• SLS trained students in how to resist (say “no”) alcohol, other drugs, vaping, risk taking driving actions, and self-harm behaviors.

When it comes to student-led prevention and youth development, we focus relentlessly on three key strategies.

1. Listen to students. Above all, youth voice matters. Students want to make their schools and communities better. They want to help their friends stay safe and they undoubtedly know what the most pressing problems are. We ask, then listen. 
2. Engage students. SLS students aren’t helpers in adult-created projects. They decide what is meaningful to them and create their own projects, seeking adult guidance and expertise as needed. 
3. Coach students in leadership skills and then let them lead. Youth have the desire, the capacity and the passion, but they don’t yet have all the knowledge and skills. Therefore, we work alongside students to provide them with the education and tools they need to bring their projects to life. Then, we give them a platform to implement their ideas and we get out of the way and let them lead.