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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 of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs 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??
Call 785-625-5521 or email rpcheather@media-net.net to be added to ECCP's mailing list. There are many avenues a person can participate with efforts, just call to find out more.
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 Partnership works through the sub-committees: ATOD Policies, Alternative Activities, Opportunities for Kids, and the Advisory Board. The subcommittees have evolved through the years, to better equip the Partnership in addressing community issues.
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.
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CYDS: Community Youth Development Study |
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The Community Youth Development Study is a 5-year intervention study designed to determine the effectiveness of the Communities That Care (CTC) system in promoting healthy youth development and reducing levels of youth drug use, violence, delinquency, teenage pregnancy, and school drop out. CTC is a strategic framework for planning and managing prevention activities at the community level. It endorses the use of community-specific data on risk and protective factors to guide the selection of science-based prevention programs.
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The study is a collaborative effort between SDRG and the state prevention or substance abuse agencies in seven states (Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Oregon, Utah, and Washington). Twenty-four communities in these states were randomly assigned to receive training and technical assistance in CTC, or to act as control communities who will continue to implement their current prevention system. SDRG will monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the CTC process in the experimental communities through ongoing communication with local coordinators, surveys of adolescents in grades 6 through 12, and interviews of local key leaders and service providers regarding their prevention activities. A longitudinal panel survey of the Class of 2011 will also be conducted each year of the study in order to obtain information on changes in risk factors, protective factors, and youth behaviors.
Since 1992, the mission of the Ellis County Community Partnership (ECCP) has been to reduce alcohol, tobacco, and other drug abuse among youth. In support of that mission, ECCP is participating in the Community Youth Development Study. The CYDS project will aid ECCP in strengthening the community's ability to identify, prioritize and address substance abuse problems. The following two programs are a part of ECCP's plan to reduce risk in the city of Hays:
The Consortium of Tutoring Programs of Hays - Five tutoring programs in Hays have joined forces to promote positive youth development. The Consortium of Tutoring Programs of Hays will help strengthen and enhance existing tutoring programs by providing networking opportunities within the community.
Currently, the five tutoring programs involved with the Consortium are:
1.) The Academic Assistance and Mentoring Program at Northwest Kansas Juvenile Services
2.) FHSU Reading Service Center Tutoring Program
3.) Project REACH AmeriCorps Program
4.) YouthFriends
5.) READ Hays, Public Library
Guiding Good Choices is a parent program offered to all parents and caregivers with children ages 9-14. Guiding Good Choices is an interactive workshop geared towards strengthening family bonds and preventing the risk of children becoming involved with alcohol and drugs.
Studies have shown that when children are bonded with both family and community, the risk for defiant behavior decreases. This program is tested effective and has shown a decrease in delinquent behaviors in other communities.
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Kansas Action for Children Report Card of Ellis Co. |
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The Kansas Children's Report Card is part of a 10-year project funded by the Kansas Health Foundation to provide a regular, consistent measure of how Kansas children are progressing toward becoming healthy and productive citizens. The report card evaluates the quality of life for Kansas children in five categories: Safety and Security; Health; Education; Teen Years; and Child Care.
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Taking a closer look at the issues affecting our children, the Regional Prevention Center (RPC) of Northwest Kansas at Smoky Hill Foundation is collaborating with Kansas Action for Children Inc. to present the fourth annual Ellis County Children's Report Card. Receiving an overall grade of B, Ellis County has taken proactive measures to ensure a safe and healthy environment for our youth. With a goal of educating and motivating individuals who influence our youth, the RPC provides a structural framework to communities through consultation and technical assistance to implementing tested and effective prevention programming that enhances positive youth development. In order to effectively impact the youth in our community, we must work towards providing an environment for children to have opportunities for success, the skills to succeed at those opportunities and recognition for their contributions. Please join us in our efforts to create a strong and safe community. To view the Ellis County Report Card http://www.kac.org/crcard.html
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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. As well as, increase healthy nutritional eating habits and physical activity among youth in Ellis County. 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
Reduction of sedentary routine and obesity among youth
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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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Youth Access Prevention Partnership |
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The Youth Access Prevention Partnership is a collaborative effort of the Regional Prevention Center, Russell law enforcement, Barton law enforcement, and 8 long-standing county community coalitions in Barton, Ellis, Graham, Norton, Phillips, Rooks, Russell, and Trego counties. The Partnership will establish a coordinated effort in 8 counties to reduce risk factors and implement effective prevention programs in 8 neighboring rural counties. To achieve the goal of reducing underage drinking, the Partnership will implement the following strategies:
1.) Community-based process to enhance the ability of communities to more effectively implement research-based prevention programs.
2.) Education programs for parents, businesses, and youth including retailer identification trainings and community forums to reduce youth access.
3.) Environmental programs consisting of increased law enforcement training, Cops In Shops, and saturation patrols.
4.) Media campaigns, including a youth developed newspaper entitled "Youth Talk About Underage Drinking and Drug Use", and a community leader-driven broadcast media campaign.
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