Positive Youth & Family Development was identified as a Core Health Improvement Area (CHIA) by the Partnership during its 2003 strategic planning process. This CHIA recognizes three critical points:

1. families are the cornerstone of a healthy community,
2. our youth represent our future, and
3. all community members should be involved as youth role models and mentors, as “it takes a village to raise a child."

Positive Youth & Family Development focuses on children ages birth through adolescence, and on the roles of parents, other adults, front-line professionals, and on the progress of children in specific areas.

In Maryland we are fortunate to have the Local Management Board (LMB) system to identify priorities and target resources for each jurisdiction. According to the Governor's Office for Children, “The major focus of LMBs is to increase local authority to plan, implement and monitor children and family services. LMBs serve as the coordinator of collaboration for child and family services. They bring together local child-serving agencies, local child providers, clients of services, families and other community representatives to empower local stakeholders in addressing the needs of and setting priorities for their communities.”

The excellent, highly collaborative Carroll County LMB is uniquely equipped to lead this CHIA. In 2007, the Carroll County LMB unanimously voted to simultaneously serve as the Work Group for Positive Youth & Family Development. LMB members fulfilling that role will be the members of the LMB's School Readiness Team Subcommittee for 2007, 2008, and 2009.

Goals & Objectives:

Maryland and the Carroll County LMB have chosen eight areas to describe child well-being in our community:

• Babies Born Healthy
• Healthy Children
• Children Enter School Ready to Learn
• Children Successful in School
• Children Completing School
• Children Safe in Their Families & Communities
• Stable & Economically Independent Families
• Communities that Support Family Life

The Carroll County LMB has prioritized “Children Entering School Ready to Learn” and “Children Safe in Their Families & Communities” as result areas for focused efforts in 2007, 2008, and 2009.

Accomplishments:

1. PAT (Parents as Teachers) – a program designed to assist new parents in their role as their child’s first teacher.
2. Books for Babies – started in March 2004, community partners provide parents of newborns with a book and early literacy information.
3. Folders Project – provides information for parents about guidelines for child development and resources for families.
4. 2006 Strength and Needs Assessment
5. Community Awareness Campaign – School Readiness Team educational exhibit at Carroll County’s Largest Baby Shower.
6. Get Connected Resource Center – opened in September 2007, this organization helps families work with systems of care to advocate for their children.
7. Healthy Communities • Healthy Youth (HC-HY) – The Search Institute has developed a framework 40 developmental assets which are positive experiences and personal qualities that young people need to grow up healthy, caring, and responsible.
8. Teen Scene – In 2005 The Partnership established an annual event supporting and showcasing and supporting youth. Starting in 2008, this initiative will partner with other established events in Carroll County to host a youth segment to provide entertainment, activities, exhibits and games for the 11-18 age group.
9. Volunteer Carroll Youth Program – Volunteer Carroll offers many volunteer opportunities for youth and families.
10. Mentoring Project – The Mentoring Connections Team completed an assessment to identify the best model for mentoring children in the county. It was determined to be through a school system approach, similar to existing volunteer coordination. The Carroll County Public Schools applied for a U.S. Department of Education grant for mentoring programs last fall and was not awarded funding.

Because mentoring programs have been shown to improve academic performance and decrease school dropout, each school has continued to see the importance mentoring plays in improving interpersonal relationships among families and reducing juvenile delinquency. The Mentoring Connections Team continues to research sources of funding for a comprehensive mentoring program.

Community Support / Partners:

These organizations contribute to local efforts for Positive Youth & Family Development:

• Carroll County Circuit Court
• Carroll County Core Service Agency
• Carroll County Department of Juvenile Justice
• Carroll County Department of Social Services
• Carroll County Health Department
• Carroll County Local Management Board
• Carroll County Public Library
• Carroll County Public Schools
• Carroll County Youth Service Bureau
• ChildCare Choices
• Developmental Disabilities Administration
• Families and Children’s Services of Central Maryland
• Get Connected Family Resource Center
• Granite House, Inc.
• Head Start of Carroll County
• Human Services Programs of Carroll County, Inc.
• Junction, Inc.
• PNC Bank
• Villa Maria Continuum
• Westminster City Police Department

Contact Information:

For more information or to join in community efforts supporting Positive Youth & Family Development, contact:

Lexi Schafer, CHIA Specialist
School Readiness Team of Carroll County LMB