Communities That Care
www.lynnctc.pbwiki.com

The Communities That Care system takes a practical, research-based, outcome-focused approach that involves the whole community in promoting positive youth development by reducing risk factors and enhancing protective factors.  The Communities That Care system can help our community use prevention science research to enhance how our community, schools, families and youth groups operate to prevent youth behavior problems and promote healthy development.  It can also help us use our money, efforts, and energy efficiently and effectively, by using objective data to determine priorities, by implementing programs that have been shown to work, and by giving us the tools to measure and track results.

Project COPE serves as the lead agency for the Lynn Communities That Care coalition which was established in 2004, but works collaboratively with multiple local agencies including Girls Incorporated of Lynn, City of Lynn Health Department, the Lynn Police Department, the Lynn Public Schools and other diverse providers with a vested interest in reducing risk factors for Lynn youth and promoting healthy family and neighborhood development. The coalition includes a large and active youth subcommittee.  Originally focused on substance abuse prevention in youth, the coalition has expanded its initiatives to include the prevention of fatal and non-fatal opiate overdoses, teen suicide, teen pregnancy, bullying and violence, and obesity.  The coalition currently relies on a combination of Federal and state funding and private donations to manage ongoing prevention activities.

Sustaining a successful Communities That Care effort will need the commitment of dedicated community leaders like you, representing all the significant segments of our community.  Community leaders have been identified from education, local government, law enforcement, juvenile justice, social services, health services, parent groups, students, religious and business leaders, the media, and other important stakeholder groups.  If you are interested in participating in this coalition or know of someone who would, please contact Wendy Kent at (781) 584-8490, ext. 102, for more information or to confirm your interest or e-mail wkent@projectcope.com