Kamiah Community Partners Coalition (KCPC) Youth Activity Implementation Project
Kamiah Community Partners Coalition works to create change in our community that will reduce the amount of alcohol & substance use by youth. Kamiah borders the national forest and lies within the Nez Perce Indian Reservation. The project builds partnerships for positive & healthy youth development engaging youth as active leaders in their community. The project fosters prevention leadership development. After all our youth are the future of our community.
About You
About You
First Name
Christine
Last Name
McNall
Website
Organization
Kamiah Community Partners Coalition
Country
United States
About Your Organization
Organization Name
Kamiah Community Partners Coalition
Organization Website
Organization Phone
208-935-2290
Organization Address
PO Box 1397
Organization Country
United States, ID, Lewis County
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Your idea
Name Your Project
Kamiah Community Partners Coalition (KCPC) Youth Activity Implementation Project
Country your work focuses on
United States, ID, Lewis County
Describe Your Idea
Kamiah Community Partners Coalition works to create change in our community that will reduce the amount of alcohol & substance use by youth. Kamiah borders the national forest and lies within the Nez Perce Indian Reservation. The project builds partnerships for positive & healthy youth development engaging youth as active leaders in their community. The project fosters prevention leadership development. After all our youth are the future of our community.
Website URL
Innovation
What makes your idea unique?
KCPC Youth Activity Implementation Project is innovative because we are the only organization in our region that provides service to the youth substance abuse prevention. Youth within two counties, and the Nez Perce Indian Reservation benefit from the project. The community benefits from partnerships and the reduced substance use as well. The Kamiah Community Partners Coalition gathers sponsoring partners in businesses, volunteers, and youth within the region working together to provide youth in our community a safe, drug and alcohol free venue to have cultural and social experiences. The project includes Friday Night Alive, YouthFest, BBQ Days Alcohol Free Zone, and the Y.E.S. Club (which is slated to start 2011).
The community norm is drinking alcohol at all gatherings and family events. We hope to change this community norm by incorporating our youth into the solution. Youth will be engaged in service providing and learning leadership skills necessary to promote positive change for a healthy community. The youth will be the future business owners of our community, thus partnering businesses are investing in the sustainability of our town. Just working together towards a common cause makes a community stronger.
KCPC feels that the best people to solve youth problems, are the youth themselves. They are engaged in the total process. The youth help plan and implement activities. They develop media campaigns, as well as help implement and a quarterly town hall meeting. They are taught leadership in prevention skills as well as earn trips to various leadership/prevention conferences.
Do you have a patent for this idea?
No
Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
What impact have you had?
Impact from the (KCPC) Youth Activity Implementation Project is very noticeable. Change that has occurred as a result of the KCPC Youth Activity Implementation Project includes:
• Local businesses expect to participate in a Friday Night Alive activity, a YouthFest attraction or Alcohol Free Zone activity either by hosting the activity or providing in-kind or cash contributions.
• Community acceptance of and expectation to utilize a lending kit that prevents underage drinking at community events and beer gardens. The lending kit contains signage, fencing and wristbands.
• Expectation that YouthFest will occur to educate the community.
• Community members give hundreds of hours of service for the youth.
• Community Organizations pitch in together to benefit the youth.
• Community norms are shifting.
The KCPC Youth Activity Implementation Project creates change by offering activities to youth and their families as an alternative to partying, drinking alcohol or using illegal substances. Activities within this project are:
• Friday Night Alive – Family fun or youth activities almost every Friday Night provides an alternative to going to alcohol parties.
• YouthFest – Innovative Town Hall Meeting that teaches alcohol/substance use prevention.
• Alcohol Free Zone and related activities during the Kamiah BBQ Days Celebration - provides a place where youth and families can participate in the Kamiah BBQ Days community wide celebration and avoid exposure to the alcohol use of others.
• Y.E.S. Club (Youth Enaged in Service) will provide a safe after school haven for at risk youth to foster prevention leadership development.
The activities impact/serve 600-800 youth from age 5 to 21 annually.
Problem
In the Kamiah area children as young as 7 years old have reported that they have had their first fill drink of alcohol. The national average is 12 years old. Needless to say alcohol use by our youth is an issue. The KCPC Youth Activity Implementation Project addresses part of this problem by providing substance free activities for youth as an alternative to drinking alcohol or using other substances. The Friday Night Alive activities provide opportunities for youth and their families to play in alcohol/substance free venues. The YouthFest educates the community about alcohol/substance use, and the Alcohol Free Zone is teaching community leaders awareness of alcohol issues at community events, (such as moving the teen dance away from the beer garden and utilizing fencing and wristbands at the beer garden), while providing an alcohol free area for families during the community event.
Actions
The actions taken by the Kamiah Community Partners Coalition ensure success include:
• Building membership that is from 13 different community sectors,
• Creating partnerships with community businesses and leadership organizations,
• Call to action of community volunteers,
• Social networking, e-newsletters, etc.
• Evaluation of coalition programs to determine what is working, what needs improvement, as well as gathering data to determine a baseline, increase or decrease in alcohol/substance use.
• Apply for funding via grants.
• Conduct activities that generate revenue to become self sustaining.
• Continue training of coalition members.
The following will prevent our success:
• Lack of dedicated leaders,
• Lack of funding to continue project,
• Letting roadblocks stand in our way.
Overall we feel the coalition is greatly successful and we are noticing change in community attitudes regarding underage drinking.
Results
When completing the above stated actions the following results are expected:
• Increased community participation in coalition projects,
• Sustained or increased partnerships with community businesses who contribute financially to coalition projects.
• Sustained/Increased volunteerism,
• Community wide communication, education and conversations regarding coalition activity,
• Determination of coalition direction base upon results of surveys and evaluation of programs and projects,
• Sustained funding via donations, awards and grants,
• Sustained activities as a result of revenue generated form said activities,
• Increased/sustained leadership skills of coalition which in turn will contribute to coalition sustainability and community change.
What will it take for your project to be successful over the next three years? Please address each year separately, if possible.
We must know which options, or strategic actions, complement or advance its mission so that it can continue to deliver needed services to the community. We will seek/invite as many segments of the community as possible to invest in the work, but not to become dependent on any one or two sources of funding. Donations, whether from individuals, organizations, governments, or grants are not entitlements. Donors come with a high level of expectation of responsibility and accountability.
Year 1:
• Clarify a Communication Strategy for Sustainability- Social media, newspaper, word of mouth,website, e-letter, etc.
• Strategic Planning - Action and Strategic Plans, Logic Model, and Evaluation;
• Seek resource sharing/hosting for Activity Implementation Project: Friday Night Alive; Youth bowling; Cultural field trips; Family Game Night; Movie Night; Rafting trips.
Year 2:
• Expand KCPC funding and resources - Task the Coalition to source new funding streams
• Become a 501(c)3 charitable corporation;
• Adopt a tiered dues structure for membership sectors;
• Attempt to become a sustained part of county, city, and Tribal budgets;
• Seek resource sharing/hosting for Activity Implementation Project;
Year 3: KCPC Future Actions
• Seek resource sharing/hosting for programs and cultural activities;
• Consider redefining the Coalition geographic area of impact;
• Continue to build a strong and compelling communication campaign;
• Continue results-oriented evaluations and prevention services or practices;
• Increase relationships with private agencies and organizations.
• Continue to meet the multiple interests, emotions, motivations of KCPC volunteers and donors;
• Leverage additional resources;
• Research barriers to fund development and develop strategies to overcome the barriers;
• Develop methods to recognize the value all donors regardless of gift size;
• Continue to assess what changes must happen – and why.
What would prevent your project from being a success?
There is not much that would prevent Kamiah Community Partners Coalition (KCPC) Activity Implementation Project form being successful. However there are factors that could become barriers towards success. They include:
• Loss of coalition momentum in the community;
• Lack of funding (economic depression);
• Loss of credibility among partners;
• Loss of excellent leadership.
If the coalition continues to follow the action plan, logic model and sustainability plan and if the leadership continues to lead effectively, there is little chance the project will fail.
How many people will your project serve annually?
1001‐10,000
What is the average monthly household income in your target community, in US Dollars?
$1000 - 4000
Does your project seek to have an impact on public policy?
Yes
Sustainability
What stage is your project in?
Operating for 1‐5 years
Is your organization a
Not registered
Is your initiative connected to an established organization?
Yes
If yes, provide organization name.
Upper Clearwater Community Foundation, 501c3 non profit
How long has this organization been operating?
1‐5 years
Does your organization have a Board of Directors or an Advisory Board?
Yes
Does your organization have a non-monetary partnerships with NGOs?
Yes
Does your organization have a non-monetary partnerships with businesses?
Yes
Does your organization have a non-monetary partnerships with government?
Yes
Please tell us more about how these partnerships are critical to the success of your innovation.
Currently, the Coalition is supported by a vibrant mix of Coalition members, volunteers, community organizations, businesses, law enforcement, health professionals and prevention specialists, government entities including the Nez Perce Tribe, faith-based and fraternal groups, schools, parents, and media. These partners make the Coalition what it is and without them, there would be not be a Coalition and without the coalition there would be no KCPC Youth Activity Implementation Project.
The partnerships fostered with the Kamiah Community Partners Coalition are the life blood of the organization. These partnerships help us with referrals, volunteerism, funding, and the sheer ability in meeting our mission of "Promoting Positive Change For A Healthy Community".
Partnering with businesses is an important part of our work. The kids working with the local businesses in planning the activities is in a sense a mentoring for our youth. Our community business leaders are mentoring the youth to be our future business leaders. This gives both business leaders and ownership in the sustainability of our community.
What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization?
The three most important actions needed to grow the Kamiah Community Partners Coalition are:
1. Funding – The KCPC Youth Activity Implementation Project requires funding to pay for venues, transportation and activities for youth to participate. The coalition will continue to seek sustainable funding sources to endure the project is successful.
2. Human Capacity- KCPC relies heavily on volunteerism. Kamiah may not be rich with money, however the community is rich in its volunteer spirit.
3. Continued planning- The coalition needs to have clearly defined goals, actions, strategies, desired outcomes and evaluations. These actions need to be ongoing to ensure its success.
The Story
What was the defining moment that you led to this innovation?
While developing the Kamiah Community Partners Coalition mission, and plan of action it was discovered that youth felt like there was nothing here for them to be a part of. Focus groups and study circles indicated that youth activity implementation should be a necessary part of the coalition action plan. Friday Night Alive was the one project that we really got this ball rolling. These activities provide an alternative to the weekend keggers that occur quite often. The KCPC Youth Activity Implementation project builds partnerships for positive and healthy youth development which engages youth as active leaders and resources in our community.
Once the Friday Night Alive activities were underway, then YouthFest, Alcohol Free Zone, Y.E.S. Club and more are falling into place.
Tell us about the social innovator behind this idea.
At one point in her life Sharlene Johnson came to the awful truth, that one of her own children was using Meth. As a loving mother she overcame her own anger, hurt and surprise and became very proactive assisting her son to find full recovery. During that time she vowed that she would do everything in her power to make sure other families did not suffer what her own family had suffered through.
It was not just a passing notion, born of a hard situation. Sharlene planted herself firmly into a role of education and leadership within her community as someone who wanted to see the community come together and see the issues families and youth face, and to deal with them head on. She frequently is reminding folks that it is not about her, or her choices but about the community as a whole, the children and the solutions they can work together to create.
Living in a very rural area, Kamiah faces many extra challenges that other communities do not. There is more than one county in the area, and there is also tribal land in addition to having the limits of a small community base. This means there is a lot of extra work in identifying the leadership and bringing them together to work on solutions; never shifting the blame but instead working as a cohesive team.
Some leaders might see that as too daunting of a challenge and try to whittle it down to a smaller piece to work on; but not Sharlene! Instead she continues to encourage the different agencies to work together, the communities to work together, the businesses and parents and the school to come together and work together towards actual solutions. This core leadership belief that it is not about her, but is about a healthier community and empowering folks to learn and to be a part of the solution is a rare trait and is one that she personifies.
Currently she is the Program Director of the Kamiah Communities Partners Coalition. With her leadership this organization has not only secured federal funding but also federal acclaim for the work they have done on their goals of reducing youth substance abuse in the community and in strengthening community collaboration to build a strong coalition that can sustain the efforts long term.
How did you first hear about Changemakers?
Friend or family member
If through another, please provide the name of the organization or company
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| FNA_Rafttrip.jpg | 4.92 KB |
| FNAFLoattrip.jpg | 4.94 KB |
| FNAShocktrip.jpg | 5.48 KB |
| FNAYouthswim.jpg | 5.17 KB |
| fridayalive1.jpg | 5.07 KB |
| YouthFEst.jpg | 6.37 KB |
| Logo.jpg | 6.36 KB |
| alcoholfreezone.jpg | 5.63 KB |
| CADCA_Award.jpg | 113.02 KB |
 | 144 weeks ago Christine McNall said: Thanks to all those who commented asked questions. We appreciate your interest in the Kamiah Community Partners Coalition. Please ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 145 weeks ago Debbie Gray said: The Kamiah Community Partners Coalition is a model program for engaging youth and adults in community building. Kamiah Community ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 145 weeks ago Christine McNall updated this Competition Entry. |
| 145 weeks ago Christine McNall updated this Competition Entry. |
| 145 weeks ago Christine McNall updated this Competition Entry. |
| 145 weeks ago Christine McNall updated this Competition Entry. |
| 145 weeks ago Christine McNall updated this Competition Entry. |
| 145 weeks ago Christine McNall updated this Competition Entry. |
| 145 weeks ago Christine McNall said: I have updated our entry. Please feel free to comment on how the youth involvement in decision making or planning is so important to us ... about this Competition Entry. - read more > |
| 145 weeks ago Christine McNall updated this Competition Entry. |
