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YEAR ONE ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Development of the Gwinnett County Youth Health Risk and Asset Survey Factbook that provides the results of the health compromising and asset building behaviors of the county youth. Over 2,000 Factbooks have been distributed. This acts as a tool for communication between community members, schools, youth, parents and county organizations.
The goals identified by the community, the Gwinnett Coalition for Health and Human Services and the Safe and Drug Free Schools/Care Team program reflect a common focus: increasing assets among Gwinnteeís families and youth.
Over 225 schools staff, parents, community members and representatives from county organizations, private/not for profit agencies came together for a county-wide two day conference entitled "Together We Can Build: Healthy Youth, Families, Community". Attendees received information and skills provided by the SEARCH Institute and their national trainer. 93% of the participants plan on continuing their involvement with their cluster team.
Twelve cluster teams have been formed and have submitted "result focused" action plans that include strategies for risk reduction and asset building within their community. Each cluster team has expanded their membership including youth who are active participants.
A position has been created by a community agency that will provide the coordination, support and technical assistance for the Community Cluster Care Teams.
Various sectors have called upon the teams to make sure their organizationís initiatives align with the community cluster action plan.
YEAR ONE LESSONS:
Buy-in from across the community is imperative for true systemic change to occur. (1) names of community experts were given to the media as resources for the coverage of the youth survey results; (2) partner agencies brainstormed how to disseminate the information and invitation for the county-wide training; (3) county key stakeholders were instrumental in designing the training agenda; (4) each cluster community care team has decided how they will mobilize their efforts to build healthy youth, families and community; and (5) the cluster community care team coordinators will be the advisory council to the project directors.
Get youth involved immediately!
You canít rush improvements. In order to achieve an effective and quality product sometimes taking a step back and reevaluating is necessary. Deadlines are important but not at the expense of an important initiative. If everyone is not "onboard" or by delaying an activity- the end result will be better---- reconsider taking things slower.
The media can be an asset to the community!
Personalize trainings to the needs and goals of your community.
YEAR TWO OUTCOMES/OBJECTIVES:
Objective I: By the end of the project year, all twelve Community Cluster Care Teams will have implemented their action plans, using the impact or achievement indicators as the benchmarks for success. This information will be included in their mid-term and annual reports.
Objective II: By the end of the project year, all Community Cluster Care Teams will have collected impact/achievement data, continued planning and modifying their action plans to respond to the impact data collected. Each team will have purchased resources required for completing their action plans.
Objective III: By the end of the project year, the planning and intervention skills of over 240 Community Cluster Care Team members will be increased through a county-wide conference and networking meetings. Agendas for these trainings will be developed by the Community Cluster Care Team Coordinators.
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