A Proactive Community Approach to Youth Development

Healthy Communities That Care is a project of the Genesee Valley Health Partnership, Inc 

The following communities are involved in HCTC;

• Avon (ACE: Avon Community Engaged) since April 2003
• Geneseo (GO: Geneseo Opportunities) since September 2003
• Wayland-Cohocton (CTMT: Caring Today Matters Tomorrow): since December 2004
• Dansville: Since October 2005
• Dalton-Nunda (Keshequa Family Life Opportunities: KFLO): Since September 2005
• Livonia Area: (Communities Together For Youth- CTFY): Since March 2004
• Mt. Morris: Since May 2007

What We Do

Healthy Communities That Care (HCTC) brings together parents, youth, and community partners to:

þ Build positive, safe environments for all youth.

þ Increase protective factors, also called assets, while reducing risk factors, to minimize adolescent involvement in problem behavior. The more assets children have, the less likely they are to participate in risky behaviors, such as drug or alcohol abuse, early sexual activity and violent or criminal behavior.

þ Enhance youth connectedness to school and community.

þ Strengthen community collaboration.

How We Do It

þ Engage and educate key community leaders on HCTC; work with 2 HCTC Regional Coalitions.

þ Assess community risk and protective factors; prioritize prevention planning needs and positive youth development efforts.

þ Identify effective prevention strategies and create a community action plan.

þ Implement most appropriate prevention strategies based on knowledge of existing community resources

What can HCTC do for you and your Community?

Educate community leaders, school district, parents and youth on youth development and building assets in youth

Give tips and insight for dealing with youth behaviors including:

• How to talk with your teen and improve communication
• Why they act that way – the latest research in adolescent brain development
• Teenage drinking and keeping youth drug free
• Setting clear boundaries, appropriate rules and expectations
• Provide insight on the latest research regarding and issues and trends in youth behavior
• Assist communities and schools in developing a comprehensive plan to address school/community specific needs to prevent such problems as teen pregnancy, substance abuse, delinquency, and school drop outs
  • Plans can include school based programs and/or family workshops/programs provided by Livingston County agencies
  • Assess needs through youth surveys, parent surveys, youth interviews, youth focus groups
  • Assist with community mapping and creating resources and publications specific to your community and needs
  • Help to engage and empower youth and create youth leadership opportunities such as youth councils
  • Assist with organizing asset building youth and family activities

  HCTC Regional Coalitions

  þ 2 Coalitions: Northern HCTC and Southern HCTC

  o Northern HCTC Coalition: Representatives from: Avon, Geneseo, Livonia, York and Caledonia (pending)

  o Southern HCTC Coalition: Representatives from: Mt. Morris, Keshequa, Dansville, Wayland-Cohocton

  þ Groups meet 6 times per year (February, April, June, August, October and December) to follow timelines/plans for each regional group and to plan for events /activities /programs/strategies according to needs assessment data collected

  þ Each Regional group consists of 4-6 representatives from each community

  þ Representatives will work with Rachel on implementing plans/events/strategies in their school and community according to set timelines

  þ Meetings start with a youth development/coalition mini-training

  þ The regional groups acts as “catalysts and champions” in implementing County wide strategies targeting underage drinking. These include: Parents Who Host Lose the Most, Project Sticker Shock, Not in R House (guides for school staff, coaches, PTSAs, parents to prevent underage drinking)

  þ The regional groups also act as catalysts and champions in implementing County wide asset promotion through schools, businesses, parents, and congregations