Butler County United Way Impact Areas , 2007 - 2008

Butler County Youth Grow into Successful Adults

ASSET DEVELOPMENT: Methods will focus on developing internal (commitment to learning, positive values, etc) and external (support, empowerment, boundaries, etc) assets to achieve results. Individual: an individual's competencies are increased and enhanced Positive Peer Pressure, to include: > Positively influencing existing norms* by marketing or broad-based community-wide outreach (social norms)** > Specific/targeted activities designed to foster positive interactions in a safe and supervised environment Family Involvement, to include: > Parenting Education: parent(s)/guardian's skills are increased to better respond to the challenges related to raising healthy children learning how to interact with positive and growth enrichment methods > Parent(s)/guardian's involvement in the child's educational experience in a supportive and collaborative manner with the educators > Social Interactions: parent(s)/guardian's awareness and positive promotion of positive peer support system Community Involvement: external interventions to achieve a safe environment for the child *Norm: a standard, model or pattern regarded as typically the middle class norm of two children per family. **Social norm: expected form of behavior in a given situation.

Summit Generates 33 Ways to Help Youth Grow into Successful Adults
Group to meet in March to discuss next steps

Photo courtesy of JournalNews, photographer Cameron Knight

Teen involvement in the community and cross student mentoring are just some of the ways Butler County youth can grow into successful adults.

Those are two of the 33 ideas generated from the ‘Butler County Youth Grow into Successful Adults’ summit that took place earlier this month.  More than 100 participants gathered at the summit eager to share their ideas.

 “The summit proved to be an energizing process where many facets of the community came together to focus on the goal of youth becoming successful adults,” said Maureen Noe, President/CEO of Butler County United Way .

Representatives and students from seven area school districts also participated in the summit.  Those districts included Talawanda, Hamilton , Ross, Lakota, Fairfield , Middletown and Butler Tech.

Butler County United Way teamed with United Way of Oxford, Ohio & Vicinity; United Way of Greater Cincinnati - Middletown Area; Butler County Family & Children’s First Council to put together the summit.

“I am pleased that Butler County United Way ’s board of trustees and volunteers has taken a leadership role in this process,” said Craig Rambo, chair of the Community Action Plan division.  “We are dedicated to the goal of ‘Butler County Youth Grow into Successful Adults’ for the next eight to 10 years.”

In late March, community leaders will meet to discuss the 33 ideas generated and decide how to best support the ideas as they develop into sustainable results.

Although the summit is over, members of the community can still share their ideas.

“It’s not too late to get involved,” said Maureen Noe.  “Anyone can still share their ideas on how to help youth grow into successful adults by calling Butler County United Way .”

If you are interested in partici pating , cont act Butler County United Way at (513) 863-0800.

The 2007 summit was funded by the Butler County Commissioners.

Project led by Butler County United Way in partnership with the Butler County Family & Children's First Council; United Way of Oxford, OH & Vicinity; and United Way of Greater Cincinnati - Middletown Area

Click here to read artciles about the Youth Summit from the JournalNews.