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.
Wicomico County/City of Salisbury, Maryland
By Christopher Epps
Salisbury Maryland, founded in 1732, is the largest city on the Eastern Shore of Maryland and the county seat of Wicomico County. Salisbury is located at the head of the Wicomico River, the navigable waterway that leads to the Chesapeake Bay.
Wicomico County/Salisbury keeps youth as the focus of programs, agencies, and community members, seeking “innovative solutions for community challenges” through collaborative partnerships with local government, public agencies, private non-profits, business, faith community, families, and youth.
Wicomico Partnership for Families and Children (WPFC) is composed of 25 members from child-serving agencies, businesses, and community funds. Its 47 programs serve more than 1,000 youth on annual basis in partnership with private, non-profit, faith-based, and public agencies. WPFC works with Governors Office for Children to fund and implement quality programs for Wicomico County children and families.
Through the Chamber of Commerce and Greater Salisbury Committee, the business community is engaged as mentors, provides internship opportunities for high school students and dropout programs, and support families through workplace policies that give time and priority to family life responsibilities.
Providing quality education, after school programs, and safe communities has a high priority in local and State government. The City of Salisbury Mayor’s Office and WPFC advocate for a healthy community for youth and seek funding for programs such as after school programs, education, and safe housing.
Creating a “Caring School Environment” is the theme for training throughout the public schools started in Spring 2006 with national trainers from Search Institute. To extend the school day and provide safe places for children, the school system successfully competed for a 21st Century Grant to establish twelve after-school sites.
Other initiatives that led Wicomico County/Salisbury to be twice named one of 100 Best Communities for Young People include:
Wicomico Mentoring Project:
Pairs an underserved child with a caring adult and is supported through the Board of Education budget and local fund raising efforts. Piloted in 1994 with 27 mentors at three schools, the program now has 642 mentors in 25 schools. Recruitment efforts reach out to members of civic organizations, faith and business communities. Success of Wicomico Mentoring Project seen in 2006 with 57% of the children with mentors improved their grades 99.8% improved attendance 57 % fewer office referrals.
Youth Leadership Academy:
Launched in August 2006, it is the start of engaging youth more fully in our community as the policy makers as well as service providers. Seventy youth participated and created lasting foot prints in the community including a 14-foot positive message graffiti mural on display at a local sports center, a public service announcement aired in cable TV promoting healthy habits, and a community poster denoting Safe Communities.
The Kid’s Café:
A collaboration of organizations that sponsor meals, as well as education on topics of interest to the at-risk population; including homework help, art, dance, music, peer mentoring, and hygiene.
In 1999 and 2005, WPFC completed a Five-Year Strategic Plan. The four strategic goals are Children Enter School Ready to Learn, Children Safe in Families and Community, Children Successful and Completing School, and Stable and Economically Independent Families. As Wicomico/Salisbury looks to the future, each committee is charged with expanding partnerships to create community and cross-sector collaborative efforts in order to develop strategies to improve outcomes for their specific focus area.