Dear Community Partners,

The WCCP is pleased to bring you this edition of the "Partnerships E-Newsletter" and invites you to read about the exciting community collaborations occurring in Washington County.

Sincerely,
Stephanie Stone, WCCP Director

Vendor: W.C. Interagency Committee on Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention and Parenting (ICAPPP)

Awarded: $500.00 for a project in support of activities to recognize National Teen Pregnancy Prevention Month in May

Project: The ICAPPP, in collaboration with the Washington County Teen Pregnancy Prevention Task Force, is promoting the National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy on May 3, 2006. Raising community awareness about this event will encourage parents and teens to take the National Day Quiz. The purpose of the National Day is to focus the attention of teens on the importance of avoiding teen pregnancy and other serious consequences of sex. On the National Day, teens nation-wide are asked to take a short, online quiz that asks them to reflect on the best course of action in a number of tough sexual situations. Taking the quiz helps teens to be more prepared to handle these tough real life scenarios. For additional information, log onto www.teenpregnancy.org.

The ICAPPP will purchase promotional materials (posters and wrist bands) and place print ads to promote this day. The W.C. Health Department will purchase banners to place on the main overpass downtown. Washington County Public Schools will use posters and wristbands to promote the National Day at all the public High Schools. Also, a Proclamation will be made to the Washington County Board of County Commissioners on the day’s activities and purpose.

The ICAPPP will use the $500.00 to support their promotional efforts to raise awareness about the National Day, May 3.

Vendor: The Mental Health Center of Western Maryland, Inc.

Awarded: $500.00 for a project in support of activities to recognize National Mental Health Month in May

Project: The Mental Health Center of Western Maryland, Inc. will develop and publish a flyer to send to Parent-Teacher Associations, pediatricians, organized children’s clubs/groups, sports leagues, scouts, after school programs, etc. The flyer will not only proclaim that May is Mental Health Month, but focus the content of the flyer on childhood depression – that it is real – that it is common and that it is treatable! The flyer will also promote early identification.

The funds will enable the Mental Health Center of Western Maryland, Inc. to send 500 flyers to targeted recipients who serve or advocate on behalf of children.

• National Youth Gang Center
  
  
• OJJDP Strategic Planning Tool
  
  
• National Alliance of Gang Investigators Associations
  
  
• Hot List of Resources
  
  
• Assessing Community Needs and Resources

Five Washington County Community Partnership for Children & Families (WCCP) staff attended aha! Process, Inc.’s “Bridges Out of Poverty” trainer certification March 6-8, 2006 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. “Bridges Out of Poverty” gives government officials, churches, and social service agencies lessons in serving impoverished individuals and families. Topics include increasing awareness of the differences in economic cultures, how these differences affect opportunities for success, developing action plans to improve services to customers and improving retention rates for impoverished new hires. This seminar is based on the book "Bridges Out Of Poverty: Strategies for Professionals and Communities," a collaboration between Ruby K. Payne, Phillip DeVol, and Terie Dreussi Smith. It is specifically designed for employers, community organizations, law enforcement, counselors, health care and social service providers.

The WCCP’s plan is to engage in several months of self-study and practice, which will involve completing the trainer-suggested readings to increase the trainers’ understanding of the material and practicing presentations to the training team. During this timeframe also, the WCCP will be developing a two-hour, a half-day and a daylong training of the material. The first presentation will be made to the full WCCP Board during their retreat in October. Following the presentation to the WCCP Board, a subcommittee of the Board will be given the task of developing a timeline of trainings to be provided to the community.