Program Overview

We are presently developing and implementing programs to strengthen existing organizations within Delaware County, as well as programs that are not yet offered in the county. Some examples include:

Sites of Promise: A key strategy for Community of Promise success is establishing Sites of Promise. Sites of Promise are partners or locations that coordinate services and resources among agencies and partners where kids are each day, in school clubs, congregations and recreation centers. This dramatically increases the depth, breadth and frequency of resources delivered. The Community of Promise pairs sites where children and youth live, work, play and worship with service-providing programs. Programs delivering specific promises operate at the sites where youth are present with volunteers from the community.

Schools of Promise: School leaders today understand that before students are able to achieve high academic standards, they must come to school healthy, feeling safe and cared for, and ready to learn. Creating Schools of Promise will help make that happen. A School of Promise collaborates with community stakeholders from all sectors to provide the Five Promises through the local Community of Promise effort. The Five Promises provide a structured approach to help schools achieve their mission and vision. Together, the stakeholders work to ensure that the Five Promises are fulfilled for students so they develop into productive, healthy adults. A School of Promise adopts the Five Promises framework to ensure that students benefit from all Five Promises through services and programs offered either at school or through school-community partnerships. School leaders use the framework to assess which resources, services and programs are already provided to their students. Where there are gaps, they work either through their Community of Promise or directly with community partners to make additional resources available.

Congregations of Promise: A Congregation of Promise is a local, faith-based site that makes a commitment to fulfill all Five Promises for a specific number of children and young people within the congregation's membership and/or the wider community. Individual congregations will provide some of the Five Promises in their programming for young people, and through other avenues, provide all Five Promises for the young people in their communities.

Universities of Promise: Colleges and universities act as a force-multiplier for Communities of Promise because of the wide array of programs they offer. DCYI will partner with Delaware County’s colleges and universities to gain access to research resources, interns, volunteers, experts in various fields, shared space for programs, and other important resources.

Future Business Leaders of America – Delaware County: Few things encourage the development of healthy life skills like a real-life experience with business. Operating a business requires innovation, a sense of responsibility, integrity, and leadership, among other skills. Practical, hands-on experience and interaction with successful business people through this program will encourage aspiring young entrepreneurs to develop life skills while learning important aspects of running a business. DCYI will provide links with the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce and other organizations in southeastern Pennsylvania to provide exciting, motivational, and worthwhile programs for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Web Site Development for Non-Profit Organizations: Non-profit organizations that support youth in Delaware County may find it difficult to go through the process of having a web site developed. However, in a time when much of the information our nation’s youth absorb comes from the Internet, it is essential that youth-serving organizations be able to reach their audience effectively. DCYI will offer free or low-cost web sites for Delaware County organizations to help promote their programs to youth and raise overall public awareness.

Drug Demand Reduction: A fundamental part of the “War on Drugs” is to reduce the demand for alcohol, illicit drugs, and tobacco. The most effective approach in reducing the demand is to replace the desire for those substances with the desire for something healthier, such as volunteerism. DCYI will strategically develop programs in cooperation with existing organizations that will reach large numbers of Delaware County youth and appeal to various interests. As a result, youth will find themselves giving up on unhealthy lifestyles in exchange for exciting, unique, and healthy alternatives. In addition to the “healthy alternatives” approach, straightforward drug education will provide youth with a realistic perception of the consequences of substance abuse.

Civic Leadership Academy: DCYI will offer an exciting learning experience for youth who are considering careers in public service. Through a one-week behind-the-scenes program in Washington, D.C., Delaware County youth would have the opportunity to meet key politicians, learn about the democratic process, build up leadership skills, and develop a deeper appreciation of the American political process.

Program Model Development: DCYI, with a wide array of programs, will be in a unique position to develop and offer program materials for Delaware County organizations and others worldwide. DCYI will develop “Best Practices” materials based on its programs and use those materials to help improve other organizations throughout Delaware County and the world.

Domestic Violence Prevention Program: Domestic Violence is a major problem in America today. DCYI will develop curricula and programs to educate youth about domestic violence and convince schools to integrate those programs into the school curriculum. In addition to educating youth about domestic violence, such a program would create awareness among youth who are experiencing domestic violence and need help, and would ideally encourage those youth to seek help.

“Night Out” and Community Block Party Program: DCYI could encourage neighborhoods throughout the county to host block parties and other events to develop relationships among neighbors and discourage crime. Many people are unfamiliar with people who live around them simply because they have never bothered to talk to them. Community events such as these will encourage local involvement in neighborhood concerns and meet the needs of youth by beginning to build caring communities.

Volunteer Link: According to the National Assembly of Health and Human Service Organizations, youth participating in community-based organizations are: 26% more likely to be recognized for good grades, 20% more likely to plan on graduating, likely to have higher self-esteem and self-efficiency, and two and one-half times more likely than peers to value community service. DCYI will provide links to volunteering opportunities that will develop our county’s youth and deepen their appreciation for community service. America’s Promise (2001) reports that youth gave the following reasons for not being more involved in community service: “Not enough time” (64%); “Don’t know how to get involved” (34%); “Nobody asks me” (32%); “Can’t get there” (14%). DCYI can fill those gaps and integrate the Congressional Award and Presidential Freedom Scholarship.

Red Ribbon Campaign: The annual Red Ribbon campaign conducted every October is an intensive weeklong effort to raise community awareness of drug prevention efforts and to address the problems of drug abuse with youth. At present, many school districts do not currently integrate this program into the school program. DCYI will facilitate an annual campaign in which schools, churches, and other organizations will participate in this worthy program and develop long-lasting, innovative approaches to drug abuse prevention.

Theater Program: DCYI will develop a theater program in conjunction with local theater companies to offer summer and year-round stage programs throughout the county, particularly in areas that do not yet have such programs for youth.

New Residents Welcome Program: DCYI will establish relationships with real estate firms in Delaware County that will position DCYI to introduce its services to new or recently relocated residents, as well as youth programs in the new resident’s area.

Police Department Partnership: Police departments will be trained in the asset model and how they can integrate the 40 assets into their work with youth in the schools and in the community. DCYI will: (1) Research and develop positive policies and approaches to work with young offenders. (2) Structuring more time in the schools to intentionally have positive contact with all youth.

Camps: DCYI will offer camps during the summer for youth. These camps will include leadership programs, skill building, and asset building activities.

Retreats: DCYI will host retreats for youth and adult leaders to focus on specific community needs, and allow participants to return to their organizations or communities with new and innovative ideas.

Publications: DCYI will develop publications to be distributed to organizations in Delaware County and beyond that impact youth directly. Such publications will help organizations to develop programs and integrate proven methods into their existing programs.

Community Resource Web Site: DCYI will offer a Community Resource Web Site with a “best practices” resource to allow existing organizations to further their programs through proven strategies. In addition, this web site can provide information about existing programs for youth, including scholarships and volunteering opportunities.

Career Preparation: DCYI will offer a multi-faceted approach to preparing youth for careers. In partnership with local businesses and non-profit organizations, DCYI will offer internships, familiarization days, training, and other programs that will prepare youth for specific career paths, as well as develop skills that can be applied to practically any career path.

Annual Youth Recognition Banquet: DCYI will host an annual banquet to recognize the achievements and contributions of youth in Delaware County. The banquet program will include recognition from government and community leaders.

Rally Around Youth: DCYI will host a countywide youth conference with speakers, entertainers, survey results, ceremonies, an interactive panel of youth and community leaders, etc.

Teacher Professional Development Program: DCYI will present in-service workshops to school teams to begin integration of asset building into the daily school environment. Professional development in asset building can become part of the teachers required training. In addition, DCYI can receive authorization from the Pennsylvania Department of Education to grant teachers continuing education credits (“Act 48”) for attending DCYI seminars and training.

School Improvement Program: DCYI will help schools to use the Five Promises and 40 Developmental Assets as goals for school improvement planning projects. DCYI will establish School Asset Teams, groups of students and staff that create action plans for their schools and guide the asset-building process at every level. DCYI will take a four-part approach to improving schools: youth empowerment, parent involvement, community involvement and professional development.

Data Collection: DCYI will collect and report annually the following data profiling youth within Delaware County to help guide governmental and community efforts: (1) age of onset of any drug use (including alcohol and tobacco), (2) frequency of use in the last 30 days, (3) perception of risk or harm, and (4) perception of disapproval of use by peers and adults.

Youth Assets Survey: DCYI will conduct comprehensive surveys of the needs of youth in Delaware County with the assistance of the school districts and colleges & universities. This information will help DCYI and others to better implement programs in Delaware County. In order to get accurate survey results, DCYI will have volunteers lead discussions about the assets, how it would be used to find ways to support youth, not document what is wrong with youth, and that the results are for everyone, especially youth.

Choose To Lead Conference: DCYI will host an event centered on youth effecting change within the school environment. The objective is to gather to talk about ways to help their schools become more caring and connected places to belong. The goal of the conference is to inspire students to form task groups in their schools with the purpose of identifying changes they would make at their school and carry them out.

National Days of Service Projects: DCYI will coordinate National Days of Services programs within Delaware County to promote volunteerism and involve youth in more long-term community involvement. These include: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service (January), Groundhog Job Shadow Day (February); National Youth Service Day (April); Join Hands Day (June); Make a Difference Day (October); National Family Volunteer Day (November).

Scholarship Foundation (long-term goal): DCYI will eventually offer higher education scholarships for Delaware County students. Due to rules set by the Internal Revenue Code, as well as the hefty annual costs of awarding scholarships, this will be a long-term goal for the organization.

Project grants for organizations (long-term goal): DCYI will provide mini-grants to teachers, schools, and organizations to develop innovative programs to help children and youth in Delaware County. Due to rules set by the Internal Revenue Code, as well as the hefty annual costs of awarding mini-grants, this will be a long-term goal for the organization.

Suggestions Welcome!