Mission Statement

The Youth Gambling Awareness Program (YGAP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and empowering young people with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to understand the risks of gambling, develop healthy decision-making habits, and build resilience against gambling-related harm through prevention-focused education and community engagement.

Primary Activities

YGAP conducts evidence-informed educational and prevention programs designed to reduce youth exposure to gambling-related harm. Core activities include:

• Developing and delivering age-appropriate gambling awareness and prevention curriculum for middle and high school students
• Hosting in-school, after-school, home-school and community-based workshops focused on financial literacy, risk awareness, and responsible decision-making
• Providing digital and virtual educational resources for students, parents, and educators
• Training youth leaders and peer mentors to promote healthy behaviors and informed choices
• Collaborating with schools, community organizations, and public agencies to expand prevention outreach
• Conducting awareness campaigns that address emerging risks such as online gambling, sports betting, and gaming-related gambling behaviors

All activities are educational and preventative in nature and do not involve gambling promotion or treatment services.

Population Served

YGAP primarily serves:

• Middle and high school students and young adults (ages approximately 8-24)
• Youth from underserved, at-risk, or disproportionately impacted communities
• Parents, educators, and youth-serving professionals seeking prevention resources and education

Programs are designed to be inclusive, culturally responsive, and accessible regardless of socioeconomic background.