Creating Social Change? YorIT!

It’s time again for 2012 YorIT Social Venture Challenge.  Never heard of YorIT? Spread the word! YorIT, an initiative of the York County Community Foundation,  is a group of community members  who wish to challenge the residents of York County to get out there an make a difference through social action and philanthropy.  YorIT challenges community  members to think creatively and come up with unique ideas and solutions  that will encourage residents  of York County to BE the difference they wish to see in their community.
This year’s Social Venture Challenge calls on community members to come up with a creative media presentation about a program, initiative or service that they offer that will ‘create innovative solutions that contribute to social good that will be self-sustaining; thereby shaping a vital York County’. The winner of the Social Venture Challenge will receive up to $20k in funding for their initiative. Please watch YCTPI’s entry for the 2012 Social Venture Challenge on Youtube by clicking HERE. If you approve of our message, please ‘Like’ us (located directly under the viewing screen) and feel free to post and share our video on Facebook and Twitter. What a difference $20k in funding could make for our initiave!

The True Cost of a High School Dropout

Did you know only 21 states require students to attend high school until they graduate or turn 18? In his latest State of the Union address President Obama said that making school attendance compulsory in ALL states is a step in the right direction, but may not be enough keep kids in school and off the streets. According to Henry M. Levin and Cecilia E. Rouse, authors of this week's Op-Ed piece in the New York Times, the key to keeping students in school is to engage them at a very early age.

Levin and Rouse argue there is rigorous evidence that proves we need shift our focus from older children and start with the youngest students when they enter preschool. Studies show that 3 and 4-year-olds who are part of a meaningful small group setting, one where children are being taught and fed together by the same caregivers/teachers each day, have a much greater chance of graduating high school down the road. Part of this model includes regular home visits by teachers, group meetings with parents, smaller class sizes in early grades and increasing salaries for K-12 teachers.

While some might argue that these types of early childhood programs are far too expensive to implement, Levin and Rouse claim that the cost of NOT implementing these programs will far exceed them. Studies show that high school graduates will seek higher employment and earn 50-100% income in their lifetimes than their drop-out counter parts. High school graduates are also less likely to draw on public money for health care and welfare, and they are more likely to contribute to tax revenues in general rather than being a tax burden. The authors have calculated a return of $1.45-$3.55 for every dollar that is invested in implementing meaningful early childhood education programs. That's over a $127,000 net benefit to taxpayers over the lifetime of a graduate. The overall benefit to taxpayers is said to be nearly $90 Billion dollars per year and over $1 Trillion dollars over 11 years.

Levin and Rouse call on Liberals and Conservatives to leave behind the ethical debates on how to best educate young people and instead rally together to create meaningful early intervention programs that will raise long term economic growth to the tax payer as much as 3 times the cost of the programs themselves.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/26/opinion/the-true-cost-of-high-school-dropouts.html

Straight from their Own Mouths

Here's what some of York County's youth had to say about the challenges and solutions to attendig school.

Their  biggest challenges to coming to school were:

- No baby sitter (or unreliable child care)

- Illness of self or child

- Family issues/drama

- Just plain tired

The solutions they came up with were:

- Better access to quality daycare

- Go to sleep earlier to help with exhaustion and better health

- Better access to medical and mental health services

- They recognized they needed to stay motivated to attend

The rewards they came up with if they obtain their short and long term goals:

-personal satisfaction with graduation

- personal satisfaction by staying focused

- better stipends

- use of cell phones during lunch (this was a huge hit!)

- choosing better lunch options (they are not happy with the food)

The Fortitude Crew

Following our second group mentor/mixer activity of a Pancake and Bacon Breakfast held Thursday, December 15th in partnership with the CA Active Living Senior Center, I sat back and just thought, "I am truly fortunate."  It is an exciting and yet overwhelming privilege working with the Crispus Attucks YouthBuild High School students. They are a phenomenal group of young adults ranging in age from 16 to 21 years old. Not a day goes by that I am not belly laughing over some dished out, razor-witted banter. Or awed by the tender parenting displayed for one of their own, young children. Sad to say though, those amusing and touching moments are often balanced by the heartbreaking experiences our young people live day in and day out.

But if you look up "resiliency" in the dictionary, you would find pictures of most of our students. They truly define "bouncing back". One of the keys to sustaining their "bounce" is to partner them with a caring adult, a mentor, who is able to help them navigate their high school experience along with the transition into post-secondary training or the job market. The time commitment we are asking is 4 hours a month for approximately 15 months.

We have 45 students (and counting!) who agree with that statement and have signed up to participate in our mentoring program called, Fortitude Crew. Anxious and responsible does not begin to describe how we feel about recruiting capable mentors to fulfill their expectations. As we reach out into our York City community for adults who are energized but understandably patient, we are hoping you will want to join us in this journey. Please, contact Dawn Squire at Crispus Attucks YouthBuild for more information about being a mentor. phone: 848-3610 ext 243 or email: dsquire@crispusattucks.org

A Day On, Not a Day Off

Join United Way of York County for our MLK Day Project, “Downtown Positive Art Initiative” on January 16, 2012 from 10AM-2PM (longer if needed).  Artists are needed to create banners or concepts to be painted on windows downtown that will incorporate MLK’s message along with the importance of community involvement and United Way’s message to LIVE UNITED. 

Window Mural: If planning to design something for a window, art must be submitted to United Way of York County by January 11 at 4:30 for review. 

Banner: If you are interested in creating a banner but are unable to make it to the event we ask all work to be to our office by Friday January 13.  Banners can be made from any form of material from paper to cloth and can be anything from ink to mixed media.

Pieces can be dropped off at 800 E. King St. York, PA 17403 Mondays-Fridays between 8AM and 4:30PM

Realizing that it will be cold, the plan is to have artists sketch directly on the window with washable marker or on a clear sheet to go on the outside then coming inside to paint the piece.

Those interested in participating may contact Kristen, Youth Volunteer Initiatives Coordinator at clineburgk@unitedway-york.org or 717-771-3823.

Youth Courts in Pennsylvania

A Snapshot of Pennsylvania Youth Courts

Assembled by Hannah Klein with support from Gregg Volz, Stoneleigh Fellow.

Through previously acquired  information and word of mouth, but primarily due to new inquiries, we have assembled a snapshot of youth courts in the Commonwealth. Some of these courts have been open for years while others are just starting. Several youth courts have closed-particularly in Philadelphia. Although some new youth courts were uncovered during this review, others may have escaped notice. This report highlights the history, structure, types of offenses, and dispositions rendered in each of the active youth courts.

            

Youth courts occur in both school and community settings. It appears that during the 20101-2011 school year there were 10 school-based youth courts functioning in Pennsylvania but approximately 24 are planned for this year. Last year there were 7 juvenile justice courts functioning and this year  8-9 will operate. Hence we anticipate the total number of Pennsylvania youth courts will double this year-a remarkable development in light of the economic crisis. Of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties, 9 had youth courts last year, 11 will have youth courts this year, and 6 counties have expressed an interest in starting a youth court. Youth courts are growing in popularity in Pennsylvania.

Map of Current Youth Courts in Pennsylvania

Adopt A Family

Donate or Sponsor Adopt a Family

Download a Sponsorship Form

What is Adopt A Family?

Getting involved with the annual Adopt A Family program is a fun, easy way to build team spirit in your workplace or community. Working together with your friends or peers to help a family in need will make this holiday season brighter for all of us.

The winter holidays are an especially difficult time for many families living in poverty, as parents feel pressure to create a festive atmosphere while still struggling to meet basic needs. Last year, our generous community adopted 33 families and 84 children in York who are victims of domestic violence and sexual violence. This year, we are expecting even more applications. Please consider participating in this program. Even one person can make a huge difference for a family in need. Please complete a sponsor form now. You may also make an online donation to the Adopt A Family Fund.

How does it work?

When you sponsor a family through the YWCA's Holiday Adopt A Family Program, you receive information about the family including first names, ages, sizes, and gift ideas. You then shop for  'your' family. By including a grocery store gift certificate with your gifts, you can help make a special holiday dinner for the family you have sponsored. Please note that the agency adheres to strict confidentiality guidelines, so we do not permit Adopt A Family donors to present gifts to their "adopted" family in person. You will receive, however, a personal thank you letter from the family whose holiday you helped brighten.

Who does it serve?

The families who sign up to receive holiday assistance are those living in our domestic violence shelters in York and Hanover. They have been forced to flee their homes to the safety of our shelter. These families are on the road to self-sufficiency and are receiving assistance with housing, counseling, and other services. They are working to imrpove their lives!

Your generosity provides affirmation to our residents that they are not along and that people in our community care about them and their children.

For more information, contact Katie Mahoney at 717.434.1760.