YouthCount

For several years, various grant makers and leadership organizations partnered to identify a strategic initiative that would have a long term effect on the quality of life in our local communities. 

In 2005, thanks to a challenge grant from the Indiana Association of United Ways, and funded by the Lilly Endowment, seven community partners provided challenge match contributions which resulted in the acquisition of both planning and implementation grants to advance and achieve local community impact.  The seven partners are Caesars Foundation of Floyd County, Community Foundation of Southern Indiana, Floyd County Step Ahead Council, Floyd Memorial Hospital and Health Services, Interfaith Community Council, Metro United Way of Floyd County and Your Community Bank.

After extensive planning, which included both community-wide and youth forums, these diverse partners collaboratively organized You^th Count, a county wide initiative to create a community where youth are valued, investments are made in their well-being and all youth have the opportunity to succeed.

Through a Partners’ Network, this initiative will engage community businesses, schools, civic and faith-based organizations, youth programs and individuals in building awareness of and promoting Asset Building for youth in Floyd County. 

Principles of the action plan for this initiative include a focus on:

• Strengths instead of risks or deficits
• Engagement with youth instead of simply providing services for youth
• Relationships instead of programs
• Unleashing the power of asset building instead of trying to control or direct it
• Adults and youth in the entire community instead of relying on only professionals and parents
• Long-term objectives instead of looking for a quick fix

In 2004 Interfaith Community Council, Inc., in cooperation with the New Albany-Floyd County Schools, conducted the Search Institute’s Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviors survey for nearly 700 students in grades 6 – 12.  The results of that survey will serve as the baseline data for the You^th Count initiative.  Through a subsequent survey in 2008, we will measure the progress of asset development of our youth.

The You^th Count initiative is based on building the 40 concrete, positive experiences and qualities called “Developmental Assets” as identified by Search Institute, the nationally recognized youth development organization.  The 40 Assets have tremendous influence on young people and are the “building blocks” to help youth make wise decisions, choose positive paths, and grow up competent, caring, and responsible.