DEFY (Drug Education for Youth) is a preemptive prevention program and a catalyst for increasing community participation and commitment to youth. DEFY works with 9 to 12 year olds and helps them develop character, leadership, and confidence to engage in positive, healthy lifestyles as drug-free citizens. It is a multi-phased 1-year program consisting of four integrated components: Summer Training Camp, Mentoring, Parent Engagement, and Outplacement. DEFY is programmed to strengthen protective factors and reduce risk factors that scientific research has directly linked to adolescent alcohol and drug abuse, school failure, delinquency and violence. It focuses on 9 to 12 year old youths because the primary exposure to high-risk behaviors occurs during the middle school years.