Operation Snowball is a substance abuse prevention program that focuses on leadership development to empower youth to lead drug-free lives. It provides conferences, materials, research, resources, training and technical assistance to help youth develop leadership skills and make healthy decisions. The program utilizes a youth-adult partnership model and peer support to create a positive atmosphere and clear message that it's okay to say no to drugs. It has various program models tailored for different age groups from preschool to seniors. The goal is to recognize youth as part of the solution and support their social and emotional learning and development into competent adults.

1. Leadershipdevelopmentempoweringyouthtoleaddrug-freelives!
Operation Snowball, Inc.
937 South 2nd Street
Springfield, IL 62704
217/528-7335
Email: info@os-cgti.org
www.os-cgti.org
www.operationsnowball.org
Leadershipdevelopmentempoweringyouthtoleaddrug-freelives!
How Can You Help?
Your contribution helps to ensure the ongoing success of our
work to provide conferences, materials, research, resources,
training and technical assistance.
You can help to advance and strengthen these important efforts
by making a tax-deductible contribution. Whether you are an
individual, business or organization you can choose to make a
general, memorial, or even monthly donation online.
Please visit http://www.os-cgti.org/donate/ to make a donation or
call 217.528.7335 or assistance.
Snowball is a place where I can be me, and help others be
themselves. Going as a participant changed me for the better,
and going as snow-staff made me an infinitely richer person in
my personal ability to lead, to listen, but most importantly to
understand. ~Sasha Cohen, Teen Participant
Participating in Snowball has boosted my self-esteem like
crazy. I feel important and that I can still be who I want to be
and still be accepted by my peers. Snowball introduced me to
things I thought I would never understand it. Snowball is
simply amazing. ~Kylie Minick, Teen Participant

2. Mission Statement
Through the development of leadership skills,
Operation Snowball shall be a youth and adult
partnership, providing awareness and prevention
of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use, while
encouraging healthy decision-making in an active
community of caring.
Operation Snowball
What is Operation Snowball?
Operation Snowball is a substance abuse prevention program
focusing on leadership development to empower youth to
lead drug-free lives. The name originates from the idea that
“If I have a positive impact on you, you can have a positive impact
on someone else and the effect snowballs.” Out of this concept
emerges “A Community of Caring” - the success of
Operation Snowball.
Operation Snowball is founded on the belief that youth and
adults can make responsible decisions when provided with
factual information and an opportunity to develop an under-
standing of one’s self and motivations.
A Comprehensive Prevention Program
 A clear message that it is OK to say no!
 Program is adaptable to community and school settings
that fosters a youth/adult partnership.
 Uses the powerful energy and influence of youth to
create an atmosphere of positive peer support.
 Recognizes youth as part of the solution, not the
cause of the problem.
 Supports Social Emotional Learning and youth
develop attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and cognitive skills
that create healthy and competent adults.
 Utilizes the Strategic Prevention Framework in
developing the infrastructure needed for a community-
based, public health approach.
How
Can
You
Help?
Your
contri-
bution
helps to
ensure
the on-
going
success
of our
work to
provide
confer-
ences,
materi-
als, re-
search,
re-
sources,
Program Models
Operation Snowball has two types of chapters: school-based
and community-based. The following program models are
used:
 Operation Snowflurry
Preschool and elementary age youth
 Operation Snowflake
Middle school and junior high school age youth
 Operation Snowball
High school age youth
 Operation Segue
Young adults age 18–24
 Operation Blizzard
Families and adults
 Operation Snowcap
Senior citizens
Each program model focuses on the issues resulting from
substance abuse in a manner appropriate for each age group.
The concept of peer helping is an integral part of the
Operation Snowball program. Each model follow the same
principles and guidelines that may include the following:
 Weekly meetings
 Weekend retreats
 Drug-free alternative activities
 Peer Helping/Role Modeling
 Youth and Adult Partnership
 Community Change Agents
Support
Operation Snowball is funded in part by the Illinois
Department of Human Services and the Cebrin
Goodman Center an affiliate of the Lillian and Larry
Goodman Foundations.
Statewide Leadership Opportunities
Operation Snowball works in cooperation with its sister
program, the Cebrin Goodman Teen Institute (CGTI).
CGTI is a prevention and leadership conference for youth
and adults held annually every summer.
CommunityofCaring