CAST Trainings

CAST color logo
What is CAST?

Coping and Support Training (CAST) is an evidence-based prevention program for middle or high school-aged youth. It consists of twelve interactive, 55-minute lessons and is used by schools, community centers and other youth-oriented agencies all over North America. The CAST Program combines a positive peer group culture with skills training in four essential areas:

  • Building Self-Esteem 
  • Decision Making
  • Personal Control
  • Setting Goals and Monitoring Progress

What are the goals?

The goals of the CAST program are to build coping skills, increase time spent in healthy activities, and enhance social support resources. The intended outcomes are:
  • Decreased suicide risk behaviors (i.e., decreased depression, anger/aggression, anxiety, hopelessness)
  • Increased school achievement (i.e., grades, credits earned, attendance, school bonding), and
  • Increased drug use control (i.e., staying drug free or decreased drug use, drug use control problems and adverse drug use consequences).

How does it work?

This program combines skills training and group support (6-7 students per class). Students meet twice per week for six weeks or once per week for twelve weeks. Students work together to learn and practice skills to enhance self-esteem, decision making, anger management, reinforcement of coping and help-seeking behaviors, and increased access to social support.


Who can Participate?

CAST is designed to serve middle & high school-aged youth who:

  • Are having a poor school experience,
  • Are behind in credits, have slipping grades,
  • Are skipping school or at risk of dropping out, and
  • Report depressed mood and/or have had thoughts about suicide

Pay-Offs...

CAST works to reduce suicide-risk behaviors, depression, hopelessness, anxiety and anger, reduce drug involvement, and increase school bonding and social resources (family support).

  • Increase Mood Management – depression, hopelessness, anxiety, and anger.
  • Decrease Drug Involvement – alcohol, marijuana, and hard drug use, drug use control problems and adverse drug use consequences.
  • Decrease Suicide Risk Factors – global suicide risk behaviors, ideation, threats, attempts and positive attitudes toward suicide.
  • Increase Protective Factors– personal control, problem-solving and coping, family support, and decreases in school problems (dropouts, absenteeism, and dissatisfaction with school).

CAST Training Road Map

We have a robust training framework, based on the latest adult learning science, for all members of your prevention/intervention team, with the aim of program sustainability in your school, district or agency. We are eager to customize your training experience to your needs. If you have questions, please contact us.
Training Framework

Date Tue, Mar 10 2026 5:00 pm GMT-7 (America/Los_Angeles)
End Date Tue, Mar 10 2026 6:30 pm GMT-7 (America/Los_Angeles)
Registration Start Date Thu, May 18 2023 12:00 am GMT-7 (America/Los_Angeles)
Individual Price $40/adult
Attachment RY Inc. Programs and Resources_3-pg.pdf
$40
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