Greenfield Partnership for Youth Survey

GREENFIELD, Mass. (Mass Appeal) -  The Communities that Care Coalition recently found that drugs and alcohol use  among teens in Franklin County is down dramatically.

Mass Appeal visited Greenfield High School and talked to some of the students and faculty about this study and how it made  them feel about their school and their community.

Community Coalition for Teens
278 Main Street
Greenfield
(413) 774 - 1194

About The Communities that Care Coalition:

The Communities That Care Coalition was formed in 2002 in Franklin County, Massachusetts, when a group of community members came together to address alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use among local youth. CTC provides a structure for community members to coordinate their work around a common data-driven and evidence-based plan. That is, CTC uses data about the status of local young people to identify needs and measure the success of programs. And CTC stays current with prevention research and selects strategies that have been proven effective in reducing risky youth behaviors.

Our Values:

• We strive to build connections in and among families, schools and communities to decrease substance abuse and violence and improve academic success, mental health, and general well-being.
   
• We think beyond preventing harmful behaviors to promoting youth positive development. We focus on building resilience in young people and increasing the protective factors that support them.
   
• We use approaches that are tested by research and nationally recognized as effective. We choose strategies appropriate to Franklin County, based on current local data.
   
• We do not use blaming and fear-based approaches, which research has shown to be ineffective in preventing harmful behaviors.
   
• We involve all sectors of the community, and build our collective capacity to support sustainable, long term changes.
   
• We work to create a safe, inclusive place for all members of our community, understanding that intolerance, injustice, and inequality are public health issues that affect all people.
   
• We recognize that young people make choices in an environment shaped by their families, peers, schools and communities.

For more information visit www.communitiesthatcarecoalition.org.