Valley United Way’s Youth Leadership Members Allocate Funding to Community
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Students at the end of a grueling session making funding decisions.
Since 1990, Valley United Way Youth Leadership members have distributed small, venture grants to community organizations in the Valley area. These grants are aimed at helping to fund new and/or expanding programs that serve the needs of Valley Youth. On February 8, 2009 members of the program reviewed Request for Proposals applications and determined which requests were granted.
This year, $2,000 was available to allocate to programs they felt most worthwhile and met the needs of Youth in the community determined by their annual needs assessment. The following areas were identified as of critical concern to teens in the Valley: drugs and alcohol, bullying, self help (includes suicide, eating disorders, counseling, bullying and gambling), stress/anxiety, domestic violence, and physical and mental health.
The Youth Leadership members approved the following programs to receive venture grant funding:
*Parent Child Resource Center - was awarded $750.00 for toolboxes for their IMPACT (Intensive Mentoring Program for Adolescent and Child Treatment) is a therapeutic mentoring program that matches children between the ages of 4 and 16 with serious emotional and/or behavioral problem with a trained caring adult who assists them in reaching therapeutic goals while undertaking fun activities at locations in the community. Mentors receive a small stipend so that they can engage children in activities that support the children’s therapeutic goals. The toolbox is equipped with games, art supplies, outdoor equipment and tickets to movies, videos etc.
*Valley Substance Abuse Action Council, a program of Birmingham Group Health Services, will receive $500.00 for their “Drug Take Back Program”. The Program was held at 3 elderly housing complexes where an abundance of pain killers, narcotics and other forms of medication were collected. VSAAC will hold the Take Back Program in the city of Shelton with assistance from the Shelton Police Department.
*Seymour High School, will receive $350.00 for their Take a Stand” program – a day long presentation for the Junior Class students to participate in. The program creates awareness about the responsibility of driving and the consequences when mixing drugs/alcohol and driving. Students participate in group lectures, discussion, hands on activities with several outside agencies and witness several mock mass casualty multi-vehicle extrication.
*Shelton Youth Service Bureau will receive $400 to conduct life skills workshops and seminars for youth between the ages of 10-13. These workshops and seminars will be offered to prepare the youth with the tools needed to guide them through adolescence. The workshops will target the changing body, healthy relationships, the power of peer pressure and the effects of alcohol and drugs on the body, how the media influences youngsters and challenges young people have to face in today’s society. A healthy meal with be included to promote health eating habits.
