Southern West Virginia Community/Teen Center Development Program

Community Connections will utilize the expertise and experience of the staff/volunteers from thir local Teen Center (Planet Xtreme) within Mercer County, and reach out to the neighboring county of Wyoming to collectively aid in the expansion and outreach of each County's Teen Center. They will share developmental resources, produce a comprehensive / proactive marketing and outreach campaign to attract local youth, coordinate parental training activities, assist with tutoring and instructional services, utilize each facility as an after school center, expand technological capabilities within designated computer labs, and house quarterly town hall meetings to educate the local population about the harmful effects of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. In addition, with the help of each local Family Resource Network, the centers will increase community collaboration and expand the capacity of the local community coalitions. Using the community based education model set forth by America's Promise, the program will allow the Centers to focus on being a 'Safe Place' for youth to gather. They will also use the facilities as a community wide hub for the promotion of the other promises for youth: a healthy start, an effective education, an opportunity to serve others, and relationships with caring adults. NCA/NCF