Highlighting America’s 100 Best Communities for Young People
The 100 Best Communities for Young People competition honors outstanding efforts on behalf of young people by multiple sectors of communities. In cities, suburbs, small towns and counties across the country, this annual competition is leading communities to assess their efforts, work more effectively together for young people, and share best practices. Each week one of the 2007 100 Best Communities will be highlighted in the America’s Promise Bulletin and on our web site.
Lenawee County, Michigan
By Christopher Epps
With a population of just over 100,000, residents of Lenawee County, made up of small towns in southeast Michigan, realized over a decade ago that something more had to be done for their children. Things were good for the county’s kids; however, they could be better. So, taking to heart an early life lesson—if you want something done, do it yourself—they got busy.
Youth Serving Organizations has existed for a while in this county; its purpose: to bring together representatives of organizations that provide services to youth to ensure coordinated service delivery in the county, discuss and share issues of importance, and to advocate on behalf of young people.
Within a two-year span, community leaders and residents organized a Big Brothers Big Sisters program, a Boys and Girls Club and two Communities In Schools programs to jump-start a movement to improve their youth-support systems. They began holding a series of Youth Summits to engage young people in discussions regarding issues affecting them, focus on resources for youth and engaging the community at large, and how to bring the desired results to life. Almost immediately they started making improvements, founding a pre-school support program for children birth through five so that each would enter kindergarten prepared to learn.
The adults working alongside the youth during the summits discovered they were actually getting a lot out of the process, and vice versa. “As a youth experienced in the art of being a rebellious teenager, the incredible devotion on behalf of the adults to listen impartially to what I thought was spectacular,” commented one Lenawee teen. “It truly made me feel that my ideas meant something.”
In 2005 Healthy Lenawee, a county-wide task force, was formed to promote and educate the community about proper nutrition and exercise through a variety of means with a particular interest in promoting healthy nutrition and exercise for families. The state of Michigan has required all school districts to have a school Wellness Committee consisting of community members, students and school staff to monitor their wellness activities. Over 50 percent of the nearly 200 licensed child care providers in the county participate in themed Michigan or Child and Adult Care Food Programs, focusing on ensuring that healthy meals and snacks are served to the children in care.
In Lenawee County young people’s opinions are constantly sought. As a result of a county-wide poll during the 2005-2006 school year, students' concern for school safety is being addressed by a county-wide Anti-Bullying Task Force, developing ways to educate the schools and community about the issue, bring in trainers to address it, and develop ways to combat it.
Other great initiatives of this 2007 100 Best winner include:
CHILD
was coordinated by the Intermediate School District over four years ago to ensure all children enter kindergarten ready to learn. Playgroups highlight teachable moments for parents and children and offer home visits as featured components of the program. Through this effort, 11 of 12 school districts established a Family Resource Center to afford parents opportunities to obtain resources pertinent to the growth of their children from birth up until high school-aged youth.
Family Support Task Force
exists to promote and support the maintenance of a child in his or her home community by using a community-wide, multi-service delivery system to meet the individual needs of children in danger of residential placement. Existing for over 10 years, the task force’s services are designed to include the needs of the family. Involved partners include nonprofits, court systems and Community Mental Health Partnership of Southeastern Michigan.
Lenawee Community Collaborative
(LCC) grew from a statewide initiative to promote cooperation among human service agencies at the local level. The collaborative’s mission is to provide leadership and enhance partnership in the planning, implementation and evaluation of human services. Through its efforts, LCC strives for better outcomes for children and families. The organization’s membership consists of the chief professional officers of funding organizations including the Mental Health Authority, United Way and Mid-South Substance Abuse, among others. Last year, LCC began working on opening a health clinic and developing low income housing.