Kitsap County Commission on Children and Youth

	PURPOSE
	The Kitsap County Commission on Children and Youth was established in 1988 by the Board of Commissioners by Resolution No. 172-1988. The Board acted on the recommendation of the local Youth 2000 Forum, whose participants were concerned about the rising rate of school dropout, a shrinking labor pool, and other youth-related problems.
ABOUT
The Commission on Children and Youth is an appointed body of the Kitsap County Commissioners, with up to 24 representatives from education and schools, health and social service providers, juvenile justice and law enforcement, community leaders and non-profit organizations. The Youth Commission's charge is to: Advise County Commissioners and residents on the needs of children, youth and families based on periodic assessments; Facilitate coordination of information among agencies to maximize resources; and to Advocate for an environment that fosters healthy, self-sufficient, responsible and productive children, youth and families. In 1992, as a step towards improving state services for children, Washington State lawmakers officially established the Family Policy Council: The Family Policy Council is charged with making social programs and policies more responsive to the needs of families. Community Public Policy Health and Safety Networks were established by the Legislature in 1994 - using Family Policy Principles - as a way to give communities a larger role by tackling their own social problems. The Commission on Children and Youth became the local Community Public Health and Safety Network for Kitsap County in August of 2000: The Youth Commission supports activities that increase the capacity for the community to build developmental assets among youth. The four problem areas that the Youth Commission has targeted include: Dropping out of School Youth Substance Abuse Youth Violence Child Abuse and Neglect
Specific activities funded by the Family Policy Council through the Community Network include:
"It's Time for Kitsap Kids" Developmental Initiative - Builds community awareness of developmental assets and educates individuals on how to build developmental assets in young people. Developmental Assets are positive experiences and personal qualities that young people need to grow up healthy, caring, and responsible. Teen Action Groups (TAG) - Increases youth involvement in the community and engages them in the work of the Commission. This model develops strong adult leaders to serve as mentors and role models for youth; builds new youth leaders through leadership training, mentoring and community involvement; increases social development of youth through meaningful service; and provides service and internship opportunities for youth. "Kitsap Cares...About Kids" - Increases private investment in positive youth development programs through a three-year community awareness campaign to involve the public in building developmental assets for children and youth from birth to age 18. The overall strategy of the campaign is to help people see how they can make a difference and that Kitsap County is a community that values and supports youth.
	DO YOU RECOGNIZE THIS FACE?
	The Kitsap County Commission on Children and Youth (CCY) hope you will after completion of their print campaign to support local youth. Sponsored by CCY, the goal of "Kitsap Cares about Kids" is to generate more awareness of the needs of local youth. The first phase of the project is to collect forty stories from across the county, featuring them on their website and in the Kitsap Sun. According to project co-chair Patty Lent "by inviting businesses, organizations and individuals to submit their stories we will be able to show the diverse and wonderful ways we are helping children and youth around the county - and they will inspire us to do even more."
The intention of "Kitsap Cares About Kids" is not just about donating money in to youth programs - but it's about inspiring people to engage with children and youth in hundreds of different ways. It makes a difference to the kids - and to those who show they care. And ultimately it makes a difference to the type of community we live in. To register or submit a story to "Kitsap Cares About Kids" go to http://www.kitsapcaresaboutkids.org or call 360-337-4879

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