|
|
Youth Development through Community Capacity Building - Making Good Citizens not Drug Dealers
| Name | Barbara A. Brown | | Situation | Citizens across the Sumter Empowerment Zone cite drug use and dealing as significant problems in their neighborhoods. Whether the problem is children being approached by drug dealers as they get off the school bus or elderly residents who fear that they will be victimized every time they go to the grocery store, church or community meetings, safety also is a primary concern for these residents. Data from the recent CTC
Youth Risk Survey (2003) indicates the following: 35% of 10th graders indicate substance abuse within in the past 30 days of the survey, and 23% of 10th graders reporting having attacked someone with the intent to harm within the past 30 days of the survey. | | Response | The county agent has served as the Communities That Care (CTC) Coordinator, at the request of the County Administrator, for the past several years. CTC uses community capacity building processes aimed at reducing youth risk factors and increasing protective factors. Additionally, the county agent serves as the Co-PI of a Drug Free Community grant project aimed at building the capacity of the Sumter Citizen's Coalition to resolve community drug and violence problems. The
Sumter Citizen's Coalition is an outgrowth of a previous grant project aimed at promoting positive change in the community for Children, Youth and Families At Risk (CYFAR), also managed by the county agent. The Citizen's Coalition meets monthly and, along with Clemson Extension, sends mailings to over 200 coalition members. Additionally, ongoing community development projects are implemented aimed at drug and violence reduction. | | Impact | The 5th year Drug Free Community renewal grant was submitted. (Recent information indicates an additional five years of funding is possible.) Efforts have progressed with implementing the Communities That Care process. The Coalition has partnered with the Sumter Prevention team, "best practice" programs have been identified, community partners have applied for a major gang prevention grant, and a commitment has been made by both school districts to once again do the CTC Youth Risk Survey in the fall of 2005. The Sumter Citizen's Coalition, through coaching,
mentoring and training from the county Extension agent, has been able to open a 4-H afterschool center, located adjacent to a public housing area. The center serves from 10 to 40 children. Recent projects included making signs combating drugs and violence for use at a Peace Rally at a nearby community park. Children attending are being provided a safe environment and encouragement not to use drugs. Some teens assigned to the program through the Solicitors Arbitration Program have chosen to return, volunteer and stay involved in positive arts activities after their required arbitration hours are concluded. |
Last update10/5/2007
This website is maintained by Tiffany Rodgers.
|
