What Is the Wakulla County Coalition for Youth?
The Wakulla County Coalition for Youth is a growing body of people who promote healthy youth development by preventing problem adolescent behaviors such as substance abuse, suicide, violence, delinquency, school drop-out, and teen pregnancy. The Coalition fosters collaboration and cooperation among all providers and agencies serving Wakulla in order to leverage efforts and better serve the needs of Wakulla youth, and thereby, families. In practice, this collaboration means Coalition partners listen intently and with respect to reports from the Department of Juvenile Justice or the School District or the Health Department or the Sheriff's Office or from the YMCA or Extension Office or from the Mental Health or Substance Abuse provider networks or Parks and Rec or County Commission as they report their respective efforts in healthy youth development. In these meetings, gaps are sometimes revealed and the Coalition responds by shoring up – to greatest extent possible – holes in needed programs or services. It is a dynamic process that has resulted in genuine collaboration, and shared leadership toward a shared vision for Wakulla Youth. Meetings are held monthly, the first Wednesday of the month at 12:30 p.m. at the TCC Wakulla Center. The public is invited and the WCCY looks forward to your participation and increased participation by Wakulla Clergymen and women, and by middle and high school youth who want to become change agents. There is a place at the table for everyone genuinely committed to positive youth development. Recent Coalition projects include: Publication of a Resource Directory – the culmination of eight months of work led by Shelley Swenson of the Extension Office and Volunteer WAKULLA leader Ken Gambill, and aided by all Coalition leaders to include Commissioner Artz who insured that Health Care needs were also included. The guide lists services available in Wakulla County and it is currently being distributed to people in places of referral; ie, enforcement officers, EMS, Firefighters, Health, BOCC, School Guidance and a host of others who are daily asked the question "who do I call, or where do I go for… HELP WHEN NEEDED.." Ultimately the Guide will make way to the WakullaCoalition.com web site for constant update and correction. The web site too is a new initiative, now being designed and developed by the Wakulla High School web design class. Another current effort by the Coalition is the Be the Wall social marketing campaign designed to remind parents and all adults to "Be the Wall" between alcohol and their kids. Wakulla takes seriously its responsibility to promote healthy youth development. Underage drinking is not a right of passage, and while most Wakulla youth do not drink, the consequences when they do drink are serious. Across the nation, throughout Florida, and in Wakulla County prevention planning by Coalition Leaders has led to reduced levels of risky behaviors by youth through focus on positive development of children and youth. It's a process that studies behaviors, attitudes and beliefs, actions and consequences that leads to the greatest of outcomes… happy, healthy, thriving young adults. If you are interested in knowing more, come to a Coalition meeting, or call 528-7137 to learn more.

What Is the Wakulla County Coalition for Youth?

The Wakulla County Coalition for Youth is a growing body of people who promote healthy youth development by preventing problem adolescent behaviors such as substance abuse, suicide, violence, delinquency, school drop-out, and teen pregnancy. The Coalition fosters collaboration and cooperation among all providers and agencies serving Wakulla in order to leverage efforts and better serve the needs of Wakulla youth, and thereby, families.

In practice, this collaboration means Coalition partners listen intently and with respect to reports from the Department of Juvenile Justice or the School District or the Health Department or the Sheriff's Office or from the YMCA or Extension Office or from the Mental Health or Substance Abuse provider networks or Parks and Rec or County Commission as they report their respective efforts in healthy youth development. In these meetings, gaps are sometimes revealed and the Coalition responds by shoring up – to greatest extent possible – holes in needed programs or services. It is a dynamic process that has resulted in genuine collaboration, and shared leadership toward a shared vision for Wakulla Youth.

Meetings are held monthly, the first Wednesday of the month at 12:30 p.m. at the TCC Wakulla Center. The public is invited and the WCCY looks forward to your participation and increased participation by Wakulla Clergymen and women, and by middle and high school youth who want to become change agents. There is a place at the table for everyone genuinely committed to positive youth development.

Recent Coalition projects include: Publication of a Resource Directory – the culmination of eight months of work led by Shelley Swenson of the Extension Office and Volunteer WAKULLA leader Ken Gambill, and aided by all Coalition leaders to include Commissioner Artz who insured that Health Care needs were also included. The guide lists services available in Wakulla County and it is currently being distributed to people in places of referral; ie, enforcement officers, EMS, Firefighters, Health, BOCC, School Guidance and a host of others who are daily asked the question "who do I call, or where do I go for… HELP WHEN NEEDED.." Ultimately the Guide will make way to the WakullaCoalition.com web site for constant update and correction. The web site too is a new initiative, now being designed and developed by the Wakulla High School web design class.

Another current effort by the Coalition is the Be the Wall social marketing campaign designed to remind parents and all adults to "Be the Wall" between alcohol and their kids. Wakulla takes seriously its responsibility to promote healthy youth development. Underage drinking is not a right of passage, and while most Wakulla youth do not drink, the consequences when they do drink are serious.

Across the nation, throughout Florida, and in Wakulla County prevention planning by Coalition Leaders has led to reduced levels of risky behaviors by youth through focus on positive development of children and youth. It's a process that studies behaviors, attitudes and beliefs, actions and consequences that leads to the greatest of outcomes… happy, healthy, thriving young adults.

If you are interested in knowing more, come to a Coalition meeting, or call 528-7137 to learn more.

The VIEW: Shared Services Network and the Wakulla Coalition for Youth
For those who haven't heard, the Shared Services Network of Wakulla County has spent the last two years working to address the needs of at-risk children and youth of Wakulla County. This organization emerged as a result of a partnership between the Wakulla County School Board and the Wakulla County Juvenile Justice Council. The School Board was awarded a Shared Services Planning Grant by the DOE in March 2003 to build an infrastructure designed to bring about a high level of coordination and collaboration between various community organizations that work to address the needs of at-risk children and youth. Coming together in a major demonstration of collaborative spirit, the Shared Services Steering Center joined with the Juvenile Justice Council and the Children's Coalition to form a larger and stronger county coalition now known as the Wakulla County Coalition for Youth. It is a coalition of coalitions composed of approximately 55 members representing 30 agencies, service providers and community organizations that worked collaboratively to achieve common goals. In an attempt to fulfill its mission and to address the identified issues of substance use and unhealthy lifestyles, the Wakulla County Coalition for Youth-Shared Services Network wrote and received funding for several grants. Two smaller grants from DISC Village helped fund "Welcome Back" and "Spring Break" get-togethers for teenagers at the Impact Zone, a newly formed teen center. Two major grants from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice and the Florida Department of Children and Families, each for $100,000, funds the All Stars after school program for at-risk middle school students at the YMCA Camp Indian Springs. Other projects have been the printing and distribution of two documents designed to provide families with important information about services and programs in Wakulla County. A Family Resource Directory was completely updated and produced in several versions. Nine hundred copies of a reduced version were printed and distributed to schools and service providers. A second printing was done after the recent hurricanes because the directory proved to be of great use to families hurt by the storm. Additionally, a committee of coalition members compiled a Family Fun Guide. Six hundred copies were printed and distributed for use as a reference for finding recreational activities for children and families. Both of these documents were linked to the Wakulla County Health Department's website. Partners from the Wakulla Health Department report that these documents have already been downloaded thousands of times. Coalition partners participated in the Health Department's Step Up Florida Program to promote awareness of physical activity and obesity. They also participated in the local assessment of the public health system. These activities link back to one of the earliest projects of the coalition which was the distribution of pedometers that teachers used in a variety of ways to bring attention to maintaining healthy lifestyles. The Wakulla County Children's Coalition, another strong partner, has formed a Birth to Five Task Force and is currently planning a countywide diaper drive. They are also working to revise the Wakulla County Profile which describes all aspects of life in Wakulla County. The Wakulla County Sheriff's Office (WCSO), also a major partner in the Wakulla County Coalition for Youth-SSN, also recently received several new grants that target at-risk youth behavior. The WCSO was one of ten organizations in the state to be awarded a grant from the Florida Department of Transportation for alcohol education. The Simulated Impaired Driving Experience (SIDNE) is a specially designed go-cart that simulates for the driver what it would be like to drive while intoxicated. SIDNE has been used for demonstrations at each of the middle schools, the high school, and many civic organizations in Wakulla County. It has appeared on several TV news spots and has traveled to neighboring counties for similar demonstrations for students. The Governor's Office of Drug Control also awarded a grant to the WCSO for Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws. Funds from this project have been used to provide off-duty deputies for "party patrol." - The Wakulla Coalition

The VIEW: Shared Services Network and the Wakulla Coalition for Youth

For those who haven't heard, the Shared Services Network of Wakulla County has spent the last two years working to address the needs of at-risk children and youth of Wakulla County. This organization emerged as a result of a partnership between the Wakulla County School Board and the Wakulla County Juvenile Justice Council. The School Board was awarded a Shared Services Planning Grant by the DOE in March 2003 to build an infrastructure designed to bring about a high level of coordination and collaboration between various community organizations that work to address the needs of at-risk children and youth. Coming together in a major demonstration of collaborative spirit, the Shared Services Steering Center joined with the Juvenile Justice Council and the Children's Coalition to form a larger and stronger county coalition now known as the Wakulla County Coalition for Youth. It is a coalition of coalitions composed of approximately 55 members representing 30 agencies, service providers and community organizations that worked collaboratively to achieve common goals.

In an attempt to fulfill its mission and to address the identified issues of substance use and unhealthy lifestyles, the Wakulla County Coalition for Youth-Shared Services Network wrote and received funding for several grants. Two smaller grants from DISC Village helped fund "Welcome Back" and "Spring Break" get-togethers for teenagers at the Impact Zone, a newly formed teen center. Two major grants from the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice and the Florida Department of Children and Families, each for $100,000, funds the All Stars after school program for at-risk middle school students at the YMCA Camp Indian Springs.

Other projects have been the printing and distribution of two documents designed to provide families with important information about services and programs in Wakulla County. A Family Resource Directory was completely updated and produced in several versions. Nine hundred copies of a reduced version were printed and distributed to schools and service providers. A second printing was done after the recent hurricanes because the directory proved to be of great use to families hurt by the storm. Additionally, a committee of coalition members compiled a Family Fun Guide. Six hundred copies were printed and distributed for use as a reference for finding recreational activities for children and families. Both of these documents were linked to the Wakulla County Health Department's website. Partners from the Wakulla Health Department report that these documents have already been downloaded thousands of times.

Coalition partners participated in the Health Department's Step Up Florida Program to promote awareness of physical activity and obesity. They also participated in the local assessment of the public health system. These activities link back to one of the earliest projects of the coalition which was the distribution of pedometers that teachers used in a variety of ways to bring attention to maintaining healthy lifestyles. The Wakulla County Children's Coalition, another strong partner, has formed a Birth to Five Task Force and is currently planning a countywide diaper drive. They are also working to revise the Wakulla County Profile which describes all aspects of life in Wakulla County.

The Wakulla County Sheriff's Office (WCSO), also a major partner in the Wakulla County Coalition for Youth-SSN, also recently received several new grants that target at-risk youth behavior. The WCSO was one of ten organizations in the state to be awarded a grant from the Florida Department of Transportation for alcohol education. The Simulated Impaired Driving Experience (SIDNE) is a specially designed go-cart that simulates for the driver what it would be like to drive while intoxicated. SIDNE has been used for demonstrations at each of the middle schools, the high school, and many civic organizations in Wakulla County. It has appeared on several TV news spots and has traveled to neighboring counties for similar demonstrations for students. The Governor's Office of Drug Control also awarded a grant to the WCSO for Enforcing Underage Drinking Laws. Funds from this project have been used to provide off-duty deputies for "party patrol."

- The Wakulla Coalition