CASE FOR SUPPORT ELIZABETHTOWN AREA COMMUNITIES THAT CARE
A LETTER FROM OUR DIRECTOR Dear Friends, As I reflect on all that Elizabethtown Area Communities That Care and our community has accomplished to support its children, I am humbled and amazed. It has been a great honor to work alongside such excellent community leaders from different sectors to promote the health and safety of our community, families, and children, empowering them to meet the challenges of life events and transitions. Twenty years ago, a group of committed citizens came together to support the well-being of Elizabethtown’s children. What started as a plan to create a community resource guide for families quickly grew into an organization focused on healthy youth development. Since our founding, EACTC has been providing young people with opportunities, skills, and recognition which strengthens bonding with family, school, and community. Strong bonds motivate young people and families to adopt healthy standards for behavior. EACTC promotes the health and safety of our youth and empowers them to meet the challenges of life. The goal has been to create a comprehensive, community-wide approach to support children, teens, and families. EACTC has done this by collaborating with many organizations, partners, and individuals to provide strategies that directly serve youth, programs that support families and parenting, and initiatives reducing substance use. While our accomplishments are significant, there is still more work to be done. I feel blessed and grateful to have worked alongside so many wonderful leaders, partners, and students in our efforts. Whatever role you have played in our mission, I thank you! I cannot wait to see what the next 10 years—and beyond—hold for our small but mighty non-profit. Please continue to join us on the journey!
Gail Viscome Executive Director, EACTC
HOW EACTC WORKS EACTC supports children and families in Elizabethtown by using the Communities That Care model process developed by researchers at the University of Washington. By balancing hope and concern, EACTC takes a comprehensive approach to understanding the causes of issues facing our community and developing effective strategies to address them. EACTC has collaborated for the past twenty years with the Elizabethtown Area School District (EASD) and the Penn State University Evidence Based Intervention and Support (EPIS) Project to administer the PA Youth Survey which helps us understand the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors that our middle school and high school students have towards alcohol, drugs, and other concerning behaviors.
Most Significant Risk Factors in Elizabethtown
Most Significant Protective Factors in Elizabethtown
Low Commitment to School (48%): Students are more likely to have stopped seeing being a student in a positive light
Belief in the Moral Order Students have a belief in what is "right" and "wrong"
Perceived Risk of Drug Use (45%): Students perception of the risks associated with drug and alcohol use is low, especially in binge use of these substances
Family Attachment Students feel that they are a valued part of their family
Family Management (42%): Students experience unclear expectations for behavior Low Neighborhood Attachment (40%): Students do not feel a sense of belonging and attachment in their neighborhoods and report changing homes multiple times in one year
Family Opportunities and Rewards for Prosocial Involvement: Students have opportunities and rewards within their families for positive participation in activities, which helps youth bond to the community and lowers their risk for substance use
There is a clear association between these risk factors and unhealthy, risky behaviors. Similarly, there is an association between the protective factors and healthy youth development. Our programs are delivered directly to youth and families in Elizabethtown to target these risk areas and boost protective factors. Community engagement is essential in addressing these issues to help keep our children healthy and safe. EACTC partners with Elizabethtown Area School District, Elizabethtown College, Civic Clubs, the local faith community, community businesses, Lancaster County Drug and Alcohol, Compass Mark, Commission on Crime and Delinquency, and individuals. We serve local families and the Elizabethtown Area School District by providing additional tools and supports to help our youth lead healthy, purposeful lives. EACTC initiatives and programs focus on community-based prevention, school-based programs and prevention, and community education.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS MIA ROTH MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS AND PREVENTION Mia participated in one of EACTC's QPR trainings, a program designed to reduce suicidal behaviors and save lives through suicide prevention training by empowering participants to make a positive difference in the life of someone they know. "Knowing how to recognize the signs of a person contemplating suicide and learning how to refer that person for help can be life changing for all students. The QPR training gave me the tools to know what to say and do to recognize and help someone in need."
ZOEY GUTIERREZ TURNAROUND RECOGNITION BREAKFAST Zoey is an Elizabethtown Area High School student who was nominated by her teachers and recognized at the annual Turnaround Recognition Breakfast, an event for students that have shown significant, positive improvements during the academic year. Zoey reflected that "the harder you work for something, the greater you'll feel when you achieve it" when describing her accomplishments this year.
MADDIE FANUS & AMIAH EISENHOWER CLUB OPHELIA Amiah is a 5th grade student who participated in EACTC's Club Ophelia, a weekly after school club focused on helping students develop healthy relationship skills and learn successful ways of handling bullying. Amiah participated in Club Ophelia in both the Fall and Spring because she "learned a lot about friendship and avoiding drama" Amiah's mentor Maddie reflected that "Club O is such a great way to give young girl's confidence and problemsolving skills to lead them into an amazing and healthy life. It creates many friendships between the girls in the club."
TRINITY HAMMOND PEP CLUB Trinity has been in PEP Club for two years at Bear Creek School. She loves PEP because she "gets to learn new things and to learn that making new friends isn't so bad. I have made a lot of new friends in PEP". This club has been run since 1999 and has served over 1000 students. PEP students engage with Etown College mentors on fun activities designed to improve friendship skills and teach positive ways to express and understand emotions.
ANTHONY PAGAN ATTOLLO PROGRAM Anthony is an EASD Senior who has participated in the Attollo leadership and college prep program for two years. Anthony shared that "Attollo is important because it really helps people with figuring out who they truly are inside, helps people build up their future, and find out what they want to do with their lives. What I gained from Attollo was a whole new person. To me, Attollo helped me really stretch out of my comfort zone, become a better person, and it helped me be who I want to be no matter where I am!".
MAYA KENLEY PAWS AND THINK CLUB Maya Kenley has been involved in the PAWS and Think Club for three years. PAWS...And Think student leaders work to change school-wide misperceptions about student substance use. "I loved working with the elementary school children in the Plant the Promise program. I have learned a lot through PAWS...And Think about the importance of healthy choices and in developing leadership skills".
EMMI DWORSAK & JENNA SPADE BIGS & LITTLES Emmi and Jenna participated in the Bigs & Littles after-school program together. Emmi says that "Bigs and Littles gave me something to look forward to every Monday. I loved getting to see my Little, Jenna, and bond with her. Jenna helped me realize that I want to become a teacher and continue to work with amazing kiddos like her. Jenna reflected that "Emmi was super nice and funny and I really liked making crafts with her. She also helped me through some tough feelings by helping me stay calm. Mondays were always good for me because of Bigs and Littles and getting to see my Big."
CRISTIAN FRANCISCO AGUILAR DO THE RIGHT THING Cristian was recognized this year as part of the Do The Right Thing program. Cristian has a kind, generous spirit and helps his teachers by assisting ESL students throughout every school day. He has done tremendously well as a student himself this year. Cristian will be recognized several times throughout the year at a School Board meeting, in the local newspaper, and at a Hershey Bears game.
EACTC Prevention Works The PA Youth Survey data for Elizabethtown shows significant reductions in problem youth drinking and drug use in Elizabethtown. The amount of prescription medications returned at Prescription Take Back events and community drop boxes has tripled over the past several years, with last year’s total being 1,188 lbs. In conjunction with these events EACTC has given out hundreds of lock boxes to keep homes safe. EACTC program outcomes have demonstrated that children in our programs are learning positive social emotional skills, friendship skills and conflict resolution.
For every $1 spent on prevention, $18 is saved in future addiction treatment costs
From Elizabethtown's PA Youth Survey data
In CTC communities youth are: 22% less likely to use marijuana 17% less likely to use cigarettes 15% less likely to use alcohol 12% less likely to be arrested
EACTC has programs and initiatives that range from focusing on helping individual students build social emotional skills to initiatives direted towards building a safer, healthier community for over 36,000 residents within the Elizabethtown Area School District
DR. MICHELE BALLIET, EASD SUPERINTENDENT SCHOOL BASED PROGRAMS EACTC supports the Elizabethtown Area School District on a range of initiatives, including the Suite 360 program, Incredible Years, Leader In Me Parent Program, Botvin Life Skills, and the Pre-Natal to Grade 3 Initiative. EASD Superintendent Dr. Michele Balliet shares that "Raising children is hard work. Educating children is hard work. It definitely takes a community to do this work. The partnership with EACTC that we have to come to value, trust, and rely on over these past twenty years has been absolutely invaluable."
PASTOR NELSON BECHTOLD FAITH COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS EACTC partners closely with the Elizabethtown Ministerium and faith leaders. One of our long standing partners, Pastor Nelson Bechtold. says "I see lives being transformed by the work that EACTC does in cooperation with the churches. EACTC's programs for students give them the courage to say no to alcohol and other drugs and the tools to do the right thing."
CHIEF MARK MAYBERRY PRESCRIPTION DRUG TAKE BACK INITIATIVES "Keeping prescription medications safe and secure reduces substance abuse. The Medication Drop-Boxs at local police stations has been an excellent resource for citizens to safely dispose of unwanted prescription medication. EACTC provides medication lock boxs to residents who need to keep their prescription medication safe and secure." Over 1,188 pounds of medication was returned to Elizabethtown law enforcement in 2018-2019.
EACTCÂ Financial Overview Current Funding Breakdown
Grant dollars have funded the majority of EACTC's programs over the past twenty years, however, grant federal funding for prevention has significantly decreased. Beginning in 2020, EACTC's funding will no longer include the Drug Free Communities Grant, which accounts for 60% of the current operating budget.
Future Funding Needs
Even though grant funding is not available, the need is very real. Our Elizabethtown community needs your support.
www.eactc.org/make-a-donation/