Nebraska City Community Foundation/People United for Families, Inc. is the fiscal agent for the Otoe County Coalition for Children, Youth, and Families Coalition. The coalition serves Otoe County, Nebraska, a rural area with a population of approximately 15,396. The goals of the coalition are to: 1) reduce substance abuse among youth and, over time, among adults by addressing the factors in a community that serve to minimize the risk of substance abuse; and 2) strengthen the collaboration among communities, governments, and private non-profit organizations to support community coalition efforts to prevent and reduce substance abuse. To achieve these goals, the coalition will implement the following strategies:
1) implement and sponsor alternative activities, notably community service, to increase the involvement and connectivity of Otoe County youth with their community;
2) provide asset development programs for youth such as tutoring services (Study Buddies) and school-based mentoring programs, and work to increase active participation and the number of youth receiving these services;
3) offer education and training programs, notably a juvenile diversion program for 11-17 year old youth and resistance skills training of 10-14 year old youth, that empower youth and reinforce healthy choices by youth and their families;
4) implement a countywide marketing campaign geared at increasing personal responsibility of Otoe County citizens for reducing youth use of alcohol, access to alcohol, and drinking and driving;
5) expand the coalition's comprehensive plan from a three-year to a five-year plan that addresses all key community sectors; and
6) strengthen the community coalition by recruiting and developing multi-sector membership.
CA/NCF
