First Lady Casey DeSantis announced the launch of a free substance abuse curriculum for schools in the form of a ‘School Assemblies Toolkit’ through Florida’s The Facts. Your Future. campaign. This program directly engages youth in Florida to improve their understanding of the effects of drug abuse.

The ‘School Assemblies Toolkit’ provides schools with free content to engage in Florida’s The Facts. Your Future. initiative through interactive, hands-on elements that can be incorporated throughout the school year. The toolkit contains materials such as fact sheets, conversation maps, and a school assembly template to guide schools in hosting their own events. Schools are encouraged to partner with local law enforcement and others in their communities to host dynamic, multimedia assemblies that will share real-life scenarios and science-based facts about substance abuse.

“With the heartbreaking overdose death statistics we’re witnessing across the country, and as a mom of three, I want Florida’s youth to know they have the power to resist and overcome drug use and abuse,” said DeSantis. “Our The Facts. Your Future. initiative is reinventing the way substance abuse prevention is taught in our schools. It’s not “Just Say No” — it’s “Just Say No and Here’s Why.” Together with community partners, schools can use this toolkit to give kids proper context and perspective on the dangers of drug use.”

Schools will be provided the resources to host their own assemblies, alongside campaign materials to continue essential conversations throughout the school year. By engaging with peers directly through schools, parents, and educators, The Facts. Your Future. focuses on direct interaction between educator and student to better emphasize the notion of personal choice.

The initial launch of The Facts. Your Future received bipartisan support: “I believe the Governor’s direction on The Facts. Your Future. is just the type of thing we should be doing for the good of our children, which ultimately benefit the state of Florida. That is what we call good policy!” said Senator Shevrin Jones.

In November, The Florida Department of Health partnered with the Florida Department of Education to invest $5M toward the launch of the drug aversion program. The announced curriculum marks the first step in its implementation in Florida’s schools.

“First Lady Casey DeSantis has devoted much of her time and effort traveling across the state speaking to parents, students, and survivors to better understand how Florida can help provide their children with opportunities for a better future,” said Commissioner of Education Richard Corcoran. “This toolkit is a direct result of her dedication to Florida’s 2.9 million K-12 public school students and will be a valuable resource for our schools to utilize in their efforts to educate students regarding the dangers of drug abuse.”