Sioux Falls Nonprofit Makes Strides In Substance Use Prevention

When Sioux Falls journalist Angel Kennecke lost her daughter, Emily Groth, to fentanyl poisoning in 2018, her world changed forever. Out of that tragedy, she created Emily’s Hope, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing other families from experiencing the same heartbreak.

Dakota News Now is reporting that this fall, Emily’s Hope reached a milestone with the launch of its K-8 Substance Use Prevention Curriculum, now available to schools nationwide.

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The program, recently published in several peer-reviewed medical journals (South Dakota Medicine, International Journal of Addiction Research, and American Journal on Addictions), takes a proactive approach to educating children before they are ever faced with tough choices about drugs or alcohol.

“Our mission has always been to save lives by getting upstream—preventing substance use before it begins,” Kennecke said. “We’re now proud to offer schools a full K–8 curriculum grounded in science, compassion, and real-world impact.”

The lessons grow with students. Young children in grades K-2 learn about their bodies, healthy habits, and medication safety. By grades 3-5, the focus shifts to decision-making, brain development, and empathy. Middle schoolers dive deeper into peer pressure, brain science, and understanding substance use disorder as a disease.

Built from a successful pilot year, the program represents both healing and hope—turning loss into a powerful tool for change.

You can learn more about the Emily's Hope Substance Abuse Curriculum here.

Sources: Dakota News Now and Emily's Hope