Table of Contents >
Part A. Models for Promoting Community Health and Develop... >
Chapter 2. Some Other Models for Promoting Community Health ... >
Section 8. Communities That Care >
Tools & Checklists - A checklist that summarizes the major points contained in the section. >
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| Contributed by Phil Rabinowitz Edited by Bill Berkowitz |
Checklist
Here you will find a checklist summarizing the important parts of the section.
What is Communities That Care?
__ Your community focuses on one or more of the five youth problem behaviors:
- Substance abuse
- Delinquency
- Teen pregnancy
- School drop-out
- Violence
__ You attend to all four domains in which risk factors occur:
- Individual/peer
- Family
- School
- Community
__ You encourage the three protective factors:
- Individual characteristics
- Bonding
- Healthy beliefs and clear standards
Why would you want (and not want) to adopt the Communities That Care approach?
You use CTC because
__ CTC is grounded in theory and practice.
__ CTC is inclusive and participatory.
__ CTC takes a community perspective.
__ CTC involves training at every step.
__ CTC provides a menu of best practices to choose from.
__ CTC is adapted to the needs of each community.
__ CTC includes evaluation and adjustment as an integral part of any effort.
__ CTC seems to work for most problem behaviors.
You see disadvantages to CTC in that:
__ The CTC approach is only inclusive and participatory for certain people.
__ CTC allows the choice of only a finite number of approaches.
__ Choosing from among best practices may encourage communities merely to follow directions, rather than throwing heart and soul into the effort.
__ CTC is narrowly focused on youth and specific behaviors.
__ CTC is, to a certain extent, based on assumptions.
__ CTC has a service to sell.
Who should be involved in Communities That Care?
You strive to involve:
__ Those most directly affected by the problem behavior(s).
__ Those indirectly affected by the problem behavior(s).
__ Those who deal with the consequences of the problem behaviors in the community.
__ Concerned citizens.
__ The media.
How do you employ the Communities That Care approach?
__ You gauge the awareness of the community.
__ You provide community education about the problem behaviors.
__ You mobilize the community, starting with key leaders (or a more inclusive group) and a community board.
__ You conduct an assessment of community needs and resources.
__ You create a strategic plan for the initiative, choosing from among best practices in the areas of family, school, and community.
__ You implement your plan.
__ You evaluate the process and outcomes of your intervention, and adjust it accordingly.
__ You maintain your gains, and continue your efforts over time.