Lee’s Summit CARES

Teen Advocacy Group

We are working to build resilient teens in Lee’s Summit who check in on their peers and prioritize mental and overall well being to create a community that is safe.

Ages 8th-12th Grade

Make an Impact

Peer to Peer Support

Teen Advocacy Group (T.A.G.) is the City-wide congress of teens combating Substance Abuse and Risky Behaviors in Lee’s Summit & Eastern Jackson County.

The Teen Advocacy Group (TAG) comprises eighth-grade and high school students from the Lee’s Summit and Eastern Jackson County area who are empowered to provide activities and advocacy to promote a healthy and youth-friendly community.

Serving in this group will help students develop leadership skills and positively impact peers, family, and the community surrounding youth substance use and teen violence.

TAG engages and trains students through advocacy and leadership activities so they can educate their community about youth health and safety in Lee’s Summit and Eastern Jackson County.

When does T.A.G. meet?

TAG meets every 3rd Monday of the Month (September – May) from 7PM – 8PM.

Location: University of Central Missouri – Lee’s Summit (Missouri Innovation Campus)

1101 NW Innovations Pkwy, Lee’s Summit, MO 64086

T.A.G. students core initiatives

Advocate for youth health and safety issues

Develop and implement community awareness projects

Represent youth voices in community decisions

Receive training in leadership and advocacy skills
Collaborate with peers from across Lee’s Summit and surrounding schools
Serve as positive, drug-free role models in your school and community
Earn community service hours for your participation

Apply Now

Donate to TAG

Certifications & Curriculum

Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) is a training program that creates a safe and supportive environment for teens and teaches them how to support a friend or peer during mental health challenges. In this multi-session training, teens learn how to help each other through hard times, covering topics including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, bullying, social media, substance use and ADHD.

This evidence-based program empowers high school students to recognize warning signs, respond appropriately when peers are struggling, and connect friends with professional help when needed. Teen Mental Health First Aid gives young people the tools to support each other and create a more caring community environment.

What is Too Good?

Too Good is a comprehensive family of substance use prevention, violence prevention, and nutrition education curricula designed to build protection within the child to mitigate the risk factors associated with risky behavior and promote the protective factors associated with healthy decision making.

Too Good develops a foundation of self-efficacy and interpersonal skills to establish and promote setting reachable goals, making responsible decisions, communicating effectively, identifying and managing emotions, and bonding with pro-social peers in addition to peer pressure refusal, problem solving, conflict resolution, and media literacy.

Too Good builds the basis for a safe, supportive, and respectful learning environment.

Become a Member!

We accept members all year round!
Meetings begin in the Fall and go throughout the school year.

Who can join and how?

We are seeking Lee’s Summit teens in grades 8–12 who are:

Diverse and talented
Creative and engaged
Open-Minded
Eager to create change
Health-Oriented
Able to commit to living an alcohol and drug-free lifestyle

IN ORDER TO APPLY, TAKE THE FOLLOWING STEPS:

Complete the application, answering all questions and providing all requested information.
Please have your parent/guardian complete the section provided for them.
We’ll be in touch to discuss your membership!

Apply Now!

If you have questions, please reach out to Lee’s Summit CARES Program Director at 816-223-2642 or Email Us

Events Coming up in the 2025-2026 School Year

Youth Wellness Day

Youth Wellness Day is a free, family-friendly community event hosted by Lee’s Summit CARES and our Teen Advocacy Group (TAG). The event will take place on Saturday, November 8th from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM at Bernard Campbell Middle School and will feature snacks, bouncy houses, games, prizes, and interactive activities.

The purpose of Youth Wellness Day is to promote health and wellness in every area of life—physical, mental, emotional, and social—while providing families with fun, engaging resources.

Friendsgiving