Communities That Care & C6: A Coalition of Caring Communities

What is Communities That Care? What is C6: A Coalition of Caring Communities? What is this all about? What does this have to do with me? Huh?

Over the past nine years I have answered the above questions. . Communities That Care, also known as CTC, is the umbrella under which C6 is organized. Yes, CTC is nine years old in Pemberton, Mt. Currie, N’Quatqua and the Lower Lake Bands.  No, you did not miss the birthday party. We may have one yet!

C6 stands for the six communities which make up the coalition of caring communities in the northern part of this corridor. They are Pemberton, Mt. Currie, N’Quatqua, Skatin, Douglas and Samahquam. WE are the “coalition of caring communities”. You can be part of this organization too!

What we are about is supporting all the people – children, youth, adults and elderly alike- in their efforts to lead healthy and productive lives.

How did we get into doing this you ask? Nine years ago a group of concerned people noticed that some students and families were experiencing problems. This group represented a wide range of people in all the communities from community leaders, recreation leaders, health care workers, religious leaders, and educators. One of the key members at that time was Rob Smith from the Ministry of Children and Families who told us about a program called Communities that Care which Squamish had used to address similar concerns. The rest is history.

With the permission of the school board and parents students in grade 6 – 12 were administered a survey which asked questions about their lifestyle, family, community, peers and school. The results of this survey told us about their strengths or protective factors as well as their weak areas or risk factors.

The survey results showed that strengths buffering our grade 8, 10 & 12 students’ from risk, known as protective factors, averaged out over the three grade levels seven years ago were

–          A belief in moral order (what is right and wrong)

–          School recognition/reward for pro-social involvement

–          Family opportunities for pro-social involvement

–          High protection youth

–          Community recognition/reward for pro-social involvement

–          Family recognition/reward for pro-social involvement

These strong protective factors help kids be resilient when they are faced with challenges or problems.

Weaknesses or risk factors were

–          Early and persistent antisocial behaviour

–          Academic failure beginning in late elementary school

–          Family history of problem behaviour

–          Family management problems

–          Family conflict

–          Extreme economic deprivation

When weaknesses are high in the above areas, there is an increased likelihood that youth will develop health and behaviour problems.

Once these strengths/protective factors and weaknesses/ risk factors were known, a small group broke off from the big C6 committee to look for programs which could address these concerns. This small committee returned with recommendations to implement a number of programs each of which were aimed at different groups of people –toddlers, youth, families, students. These programs were High Scope for pre-school children; Parenting Wisely for parents; Strengthening Families for all members of the family; Positive Action for students and for communities.

Five years later we are looking to determine the effectiveness of these programs. CTC has come full circle! We are now looking at the results of a second student survey which was administered in October. A committee of community Key Leaders will be receiving the report from a committee of local leaders who believe this work is vital to healthy communities.

My next blog will highlight the results of the most recent survey. I will look at what the data says about whether the programs were successful in addressing 2007 risk factors; at the data which will identify protective factors; and at the new risk factors.

Addressing the main conditions which make  the development of healthy youth more difficult will improve the health of children and families. Can you help us do that?

 

Pat MacKenzie

Champion, CTC – C6: A Coalition of Caring Communities

If you have any questions or would like to find out more about us I can be reached at patandmac@hotmail.com. Or you can contact Christine Buttkus, Facilitator for CTC Sea to Sky, at a1a50054@telus.net.