Berkshire United Way has been proud to be a recipient of a Drug Free
Communities (DFC) grant for the past ten years.
This grant has supported the Pittsfield Prevention Partnership which has
been actively working to unite the community in creating a healthy environment
for our middle and high school youth by reducing and preventing youth substance
use. Through this collaborative effort with our community partners, we have
reduced 30-day usage of alcohol for 8th graders by 19%; for 10th
graders by 29%, and for 12th graders by 13% (2007 -2016 Prevention
Needs Assessment).
A critical protective factor in reducing and preventing youth substance
use is providing recognition and positive rewards to youth for their engagement
in their schools and community. The
Pittsfield Prevention Partnership recognized the importance of highlighting
youth by starting the S.A.Y It Proud (Supporting and Acknowledging Youth) awards
in 2012. We have a catalog of 100
recipients since its inception.
 |
| Say It Proud Awards at the Gather In on July 22, 2017; Rich Johnson, former coordinator of Pittsfield Prevention Partnership (right in photo). |
Unfortunately, the Drug Free Communities grant has come to an
end, but many of the activities of Pittsfield Prevention Partnership will live
on in our revived Positive Youth Development Impact Council (PYDIC). We will
strive to create healthy, positive opportunities for all our Berkshire County
youth. If you would like to help develop
strategies to support our youth in staying on a path to college and career join
us on October 18th from 3 - 4:30 p.m. at the Family Resource Center,
480 West Street in Pittsfield. I hope
to see you there!
Kat Toomey
Coordinator of Positive Youth Development
