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Berkshire Youth Development Project (BYDP)
Berkshire County has three regional community coalitions to address community issues that impact youth. The leadership of the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition, the Pittsfield Prevention Partnership, the Railroad Street Youth Project, and the South Berkshire Youth Coalition were invited by the Berkshire County Legislative Delegation in January 2006 to consider a Berkshire County project that would support youth programs in each region and serve as a catalyst for countywide approaches to broader social issues. The Berkshire Youth Development Project is a collaboration that includes the Berkshire United Way, Berkshire Health Systems and the Berkshire County District Attorney's Office.
Partners of the BYDP meet monthly to discuss program goals, share best practices, analyze data from the Berkshire County Prevention Needs Assessment Survey for program implementation, and discuss opportunities and funding for countywide initiatives. The BYDP also works with youth and youth-serving organizations to sponsor an annual countywide youth development conference, and a youth worker summit.
The BYDP also partnered with UMASS/Donahue Institute on a successful application for a Compassion MA grant to build the capacity of small faith-based and community organizations that provide positive youth development. Funds are used for organizational assessments, training and capacity building grants.
Berkshire United Way is the fiduciary and convener of the central county coalition, the Pittsfield Prevention Partnership (PPP).
Pittsfield Prevention Partnership
Alcohol and drug use by youth is a problem in Pittsfield as it is a problem in many communities throughout the country. The Lodestar Survey conducted by Berkshire United Way in 2004 identified substance abuse as a priority and important factor contributing to many of the region’s health and social problems. The study made it clear that Pittsfield residents believe that their youth are at risk.
To address this issue, Berkshire United Way and Berkshire Health Systems convened a Leadership Forum on substance abuse. The Forum talked about treatment options and noted that while there were prevention options existing in the community, there was not an entity for prevention programs to talk together. At the same time, an opportunity to assist Pittsfield in building a prevention coalition came from the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition (nbCC).
In October, 2004, the Pittsfield Prevention Partnership (PPP) was formed. Thanks to the support of a Federal Mentoring Grant from SAMHSA, the nbCC was able to provide a program to guide the PPP in its first year and to help prepare the PPP in its second year to become an independent prevention coalition. Features of the PPP Mentoring Project include :
A community forum attended by many Pittsfield residents that provided opportunities for parents to learn strategies they can use to keep their kids safe and alcohol and drug free.
Information to parents that went out through the local schools to help provide support for keeping their children safe and drug free through the prom and graduation season.
A visioning process led by Voissoir, Inc that led to the writing of the Vision for the PPP. This vision was adopted by the PPP in September, 2005.
A plan for the PPP that has at its center an assessment of youth risk and protective factors and a commitment to proven methodologies and science based practices.Coalition Steering Committee meetings every month. Steering Committee members include representatives from Berkshire United Way, the Gladys Allen Brigham Community Center, the Berkshire County District Attorney's Office, Berkshire Health Systems, and others.
For more information about the Pittsfield Prevention Partnership, contact the PPP Coordinator at 442-6948 x 15 or visit the PPP web site at http://www.totallyfreeberkshires.org
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