Reconnecting Youth Inc. Newsletter

Spring 2011 

RY Inc. posts grant announcements on Facebook

Youthful Offender Prevention Initiative uses CAST to help teens cope

In June 2010, educators in La Crosse County completed Coping and Support Training (CAST) Leader training funded by a 3-year grant from the Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance.  This grant focused on reducing truancy, alcohol and drug abuse, violence and gang participation in high school students.  Over 63 local high school students completed a CAST group in the 2010-2011 school year.  Project Coordinator, Angie Weigel, says of CAST, "Many of the students I have worked with have struggled with attendance but at the end of our 12 sessions I was able to give some group members a reward for perfect attendance. What an accomplishment for them!"  Read more about the impact CAST is making...

Center for Child Success sees results with CAST!

Center for Child Success (CCS), in Hannibal, MO, works in collaboration with the Hannibal Public School system to provide mental health services to students, through a grant provided by The Missouri Foundation for Health.  Grant objectives include increases in academic achievement, as well as reductions in school discipline problems, and the number of students reporting depressive symptoms, and a desire or need to use alcohol or drugs. According to Jennifer Scholes, a counselor with CCS, CAST is a perfect fit:  "CAST addresses these objectives using a fun way to educate students on how to make healthy choices!" Read about the positive results seen in Missouri CAST students...

Reconnecting Youth helps students and economy

The Evansville Courier & Press reported on the success of Youth First Inc. who partners with a dozen Evansville, Indiana high schools to bring them the Reconnecting Youth (RY) program.  The focus of the article is on the importance of graduation to future earnings and, ultimately, to local and national economic growth.  We salute the good work being done by Youth First Inc., and commend them for all of their hard work in delivering RY with fidelity, in order to give their students the best chance at graduation and economic success.  Read the full article... 

 Everyone loves hearing your success stories! Let us know if you have an inspirational RY or CAST story you'd like to share, and we may be able to include it in a future newsletter.

After a Suicide: A Toolkit for Schools 

Support teen health by increasing school achievement

A new study by the University of Florida, published in the March issue of Prevention Science, found that disadvantaged students who attend schools that have better academic results are less likely to be involved in drugs, alcohol, and other risky behaviors.  RY and CAST help schools not only increase academic achievement, but improve individual students' healthy behaviors, as well.  You can use this information in your next grant application!  Read more about the study here.

Striving to Reduce Youth Violence Everywhere

Striving to Reduce Youth Violence Everywhere (STRYVE), a national initiative led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), takes a public health approach to preventing youth violence. "At a time when resources are extremely limited and there is great competition for those limited resources, it's absolutely essential that...[we] take full advantage of what is known about what really works."  RY and CAST are listed by multiple agencies as evidence-based strategies that work!  Visit the STRYVE website.    

Reconnecting Youth Inc.

425-861-1177

www.reconnectingyouth.com