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ECCP: Ellis County Community Partnership |
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"Local People Solve Local Problems"
The Ellis County Community Partnership's Mission:
To join together in a common effort to build a healthy and safe community reducing the risks while promoting healthy attitudes and behaviors in Ellis County.
In Ellis County, citizens concerned about the healthy development of young people are addressing problems of substance abuse. The Ellis County Community Partnership is involved in preventing problems from arising and dealing with issues already facing our community. Research shows a connection between adolescent substance abuse, delinquency, school dropout, teen pregnancy and violence. The Partnership is asking questions such as, "What is putting our community, families and children at risk?" and "What is protecting them?"
In Ellis County, risk includes:
Easy access to alcohol, tobacco and other drugs
Adults providing alcohol and tobacco to youth
Community events that include alcohol
Attitudes and polices of the community
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To make a difference, people need to be involved in prevention efforts at all levels of the community: parents, youth, law enforcement, businesses, schools, faith, etc. This process is exciting, challenging and rewarding. We are moving toward a common vision of a healthy caring community.
The Partnership Goals:
To establish healthy community policies and practices
To increase community, school, family and youth involvement in implementing prevention programming
To involve and support youth in Ellis County
To initiate parent and family education skill building programs
To promote and provide activities which encourage healthy beliefs and clear standards
How to Join the efforts of the Partnership??
For more information and meeting times contact The Regional Prevention Center by calling 1-800-757-2180 or 785-625-5521 or email officemanager@media-net.net to be contacted by the prevention consultant that covers Ellis County.
ECCP's History
In 1992, a number of concerned community members met immediately after participating in a STAR Baseline training, to organize a group to resolve community problems, particularly those resulting from alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse. Thus, the Ellis County Community Partnership (ECCP) was developed. ECCP has been actively involved in implementing the CTC Model since 1992.
The fall of 1995, ECCP became one of the four sites funded through the Communities that Care State/Regional Prevention Coalition. Since receiving the CSAP grant, ECCP grew to include more active members, created a logo, and developed an action plan. The subcommittees meet monthly to implement action steps that assist in achieving goals and outcomes. Beginning in 1998, ECCP was funded for three years through the State Incentive Cooperative Agreement ($205,208). The Partnership continuously looked for sustainability funding and successfully received grant funds through the Drug Free Communities Support Program sponsored by the Office of Juvenile Justice Delinquency and Prevention in 1999 ($204,490). This grant offered a five-year eligibility, ending September 2004. SICA funding ended in the fall of 2001. Therefore, the Partnership searched for additional funding opportunities in efforts to maintain the successful preventative programs and activities that community members have come to expect from the Partnership. In 2004, ECCP applied for funding from KDHE through the partnership of the Ellis County Health Department in the Chronic Disease Risk Reduction Grants, to assist with tobacco cessation opportunities. ECCP is the acting Juvenile Justice Authority Committee for Ellis County and over the years assisted with securing mini-grant funds for juvenile delinquency prevention efforts. Efforts specifically focused on Intensive Tutoring facilitated at the Northwest Kansas Juvenile Intake Program and mentoring through Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ellis County.
Over the years, ECCP has experienced the following successes: USD 489 School Board was prompted to adopt a smoke free grounds and buildings policy; the Hays Recreation Commission was encourage to reinstate the smoke free grounds policy for areas where youth participate (ECCP provided signage to both entities to post policies); Alcohol Free Family Fun Day at the Fair are held and supported by the Ellis County Commission and the Ellis County Fair Board; ECCP began the establishment of two mentoring programs (Big Brothers Big Sisters and YouthFriends), and ECCP continues to support both programs through Ellis County's Promise. In 2003 Ellis County Community Partnership joined the efforts of the 5-year Community Youth Development Study in which parent education programs and a consortium of tutoring programs were offered. The CYDS funding ended in 2008.
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Chronic Disease Risk Reduction Project |
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The Ellis County Community Partnership was awarded an enhancement grant from CDRR through the KDHE Tobacco Use Prevention Program. The enhancement grant allows ECCP to continue the opportunity to expand existing tobacco prevention education and programs. Three identified strategies will be utilized to implement the comprehensive plan including: Community Mobilization, Media and Policies/Community Norm Change.
Identified Program Goals:
Prevent initiation of tobacco use among young people
Promote quitting among youth and adults
Reduce exposure to second-hand smoke
Reduction of disparities as it relates to tobacco use
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Ellis County Big Brothers Big Sisters |
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Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters helps boys and girls, most of whom are considered at risk and live in single-parent homes, achieve their full potential through long-term personal relationships with carefully screened and caring volunteers.
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