About us

YESS Academy

The YESS Academy is the official learning center for the YESS Institute, a non-profit organization located in Denver, CO. Since its origin in 2001, YESS Institute has provided Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) programs for middle and high school students through for-credit classes. That's right - students get to learn critical SEL skills during the school day and receive credit to do so. YESS Academy is our social enterprise endeavor which aims to expand our reach into new communities and offer our services, expertise, and curricula to a broader audience.

YESS Academy offers 3 areas of expertise:
  1. Healthy Lifestyles Youth Drug Awareness & Education Courses
  2. The YESS Academy Classroom Model
  3. Professional Development & Leadership Trainings for Educators

All YESS programs align with standards of:

  • Program Quality Assessments (PQA)
  • Social Emotional Learning (PEARSON)
  • Colorado Department of Education
  • National Health Education Standards
  • Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration
  • Collaborative for Academic, Social, & Emotional Learning (CASEL)
(1) Healthy Lifestyles
YESS Healthy Lifestyles was designed with the mission of reaching youth at a critical developmental period in their lives, and equipping them with the knowledge, tools, and resources to develop healthy life skills. Healthy Lifestyles is focused on educating students about topics relevant in their classrooms and communities. At present, our biggest efforts are being poured into courses related to Cannabis, Vaping, and Opioid awareness and education.
Course highlights
  • Flexible curriculum that is self-paced or can augment in-class instruction
  • Social-emotional learning training built in to each lesson
  • Lessons provide relevant & engaging activities to build life skills
  • Attendance-tracking & assessments integrated into and Learning Management System
  • Voiceovers, animations, captions, and interactive lesson layouts
  • Detailed facilitator guidebook with lesson extension options
Healthy Lifestyles course offerings for youth:
Cannabis
Awareness & Education
Vaping
Awareness & Education
Opioid
Awareness & Education
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(2) The YESS Academy Classroom
The YESS Academy Classroom model builds inclusive learning communities that empower under-estimated and under-resourced youth with social-emotional and leadership skills so they can develop their identity, agency, and belonging in pursuit of lifelong wellness. 

YESS’ programming is informed by leading research and best practices in Positive Youth Development, Developmental Relationships Framework, educational instruction, and cultural competency to reduce high school drop-out rates and increase opportunities for post-secondary success, particularly among BIPOC youth and youth from families with low incomes. Research shows that the type of social-emotional learning that underpins YESS’ programming has both immediate and long-term benefits. Students receiving evidence-based SEL demonstrate immediate improvements in mental health, social skills, and academic achievement.

The success and effectiveness of the program is evident in the results and outcomes achieved since its inception. On average 71% of YESS students show increased SEL skills year after year, and those same students were seven times more likely to also increase their perception of the importance of graduating. For the past four consecutive years, 100% of YESS seniors graduated high school on time, and 100% of those who applied to a college were accepted.
Classroom Model impacts
  • Improved SEL skill development
  • Improved academic performance
  • Decreased behavioral/conduct problems
  • Increased graduation rates among BIPOC students
  • Increased enrollment of first-generation college students
  • Increased opportunities for socioeconomic success
  • Improved behavioral and mental health
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(3) Professional Development & Leadership Trainings
At YESS, we pride ourselves on our commitment to delivering excellent customized training programs that meet the unique needs of each client. With over 20 years of experience, we have developed a proven track record of success in providing high-quality leadership training to a diverse range of clients.
Our expert trainers have trained 5,000+ mentors, teachers, parents, non-profit teams, police officers, and other community leaders, enabling them to enhance their leadership skills and achieve their goals. 
Highlights
  • Real-life skill development
  • Catered to your precise needs
  • Quality training by YESS experts
  • In-person or virtual training options

Expert curricula

Interactive lessons

Easy evaluations

Positive impacts

Comprehensive training

Why choose YESS?

With over 20 years of experience, we have developed a proven track record of success in providing high-quality leadership training to a diverse range of clients.

Our expert trainers have trained 5,000+ mentors, teachers, parents, non-profit teams, police officers, and other community leaders, enabling them to enhance their leadership skills and achieve their goals. 

At YESS, we pride ourselves on our commitment to delivering excellent customized training programs that meet the unique needs of each client.
"Leadership is the key to success in any organization, and leadership training is the key to effective leadership."
- Brian Tracy (Author and Motivational Speaker)

Our Mission:

  • Empower students with knowledge to make healthy decisions
  • Provide accurate information with real-world applications
  • Combat rising trends in addiction & addiction overdoses
  • Teach SEL skills within drug awareness e-Learning programs
  • Provide training & materials for teachers, parents, students
  • Reduce negative consequences associated with substance abuse

Our Qualifications:

  • More than 20 years experience working directly with at-risk youth
  • Courses designed and gamified by experts
  • Curriculum developed in collaboration between schools, students
  • All programs beta-tested in 1000+ students
  • Peer leadership and SEL course development research
  • Supported by schools around the country  

Are your students struggling with Cannabis, Vaping, or Opioid abuse?

You're not alone, and YESS can help.

Why choose YESS?

At YESS Academy, we understand what it's like to face difficulties with Cannabis use behaviors by students. That's why we developed YESS Healthy Lifestyles Cannabis Awareness & Education Curriculum.

Our program is a series of in-depth, interactive and engaging courses that will provide youth with the most advanced and up-to-date knowledge in the most useful and actionable ways. Our goal is to help you, your students, and your community in as many ways as possible so that you can feel confident in the future leaders of our world.

YESS Academy provides comprehensive, self-paced e-Learning program that allows youth to expand their SEL toolkit. Our programs not only teach students how to make responsible decisions, but they explain why responsible decision-making matters.
The most effective adolescent drug education programming should be designed based on the individual realities of a school.
Let us show you the possibilities.
Research-backed lessons

Courses developed by experts

Designed by researchers, academics, students, and teachers, YESS Academy's e-Learning courses are the most effective way to expand the knowledge base necessary for students to make healthy decisions for themselves. Our programs are built to support the unique needs and goals of your school, allowing students to learn at their own pace and at a time that is convenient for class schedules.
“YESS Academy provides accurate, evidence-based resources that allow for safe discussions in the classroom."

Dr. Walter Balser

RadSchools Course Developer

Real-world, sensible knowledge

YESS Academy e-Learning was developed with the intention to provide accurate information about substance use to youth.

Wide-reaching goals for
youth

We aim to reduce prevalence of substance misuse among youth, decrease negative health, social, & educational consequences associated with substance misuse.

Education that meets your schedule

Our courses are 100% online and self-paced, which allows you to start and stop at any time and as often as necessary to accommodate your schedule.

Unlock learning in multiple fields

YESS Academy helps students make healthy, positive decisions by educating them about the history, biology, legality, and social factors related to drugs and drug abuse. Subscribe to our weekly blog to learn more.
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YESS Academy is the product of collaboration between YESS Institute, RadSchools, and Denver Afterschool Alliance, along with feedback from community agencies and youth experts. We are grateful to our many community supporters and participants who have helped make our resources streamlined, effective, and available to you in multiple modalities.

YESS Institute

YESS Institute

RadSchools

Radschools

DAA

Denver Afterschool Alliance
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