I. What is it?

The MAP for Youth is an action oriented plan for youth in Olmsted County for the communities of:

• Byron
• Dover-Eyota
• Rochester
• Stewartville

It builds on past planning (like COMPASS completed in 1994) that has indicated what needs to be done to continuously improve our communities for youth. Data from recent surveys and studies have shown us the following:

Search Institute Survey (Children First campaign)

• Only 18 percent of young people felt our communities valued youth
• Only 19 percent of young people said they spent 3 or more hours per week in creative activities
• Only 24 percent felt the schools provided a caring, encouraging environment
• Only 26 percent of young people felt they were given useful roles in the community
• Only 27 percent said they read 3 or more hours per week for pleasure

Minnesota Student Survey (Completed in school districts every 3 years in grades 6, 9 and 12 - last completed in 1998)

• More effort is needed at home, in schools and in communities to deter adolescents from harmful and risky behaviors
• Prevention of tobacco use among adolescents must receive greater attention
• More effort is needed to reduce marijuana use among adolescents
• More prevention efforts are needed to reduce alcohol use by adolescents
• Efforts to increase safety at school need to be examined

21st Century Partnership (completed in 1998) - Many were involved in the 21st Century Partnership work. The committee on Youth, Families and the Elderly highlighted a number of long-range goals:

• Create and sustain a welcoming environment for all people
• Eliminate abuse and neglect
• Improve service delivery
• Build intergenerational relationships
• Increase developmental assets for youth

Note: Some of these issues have received much attention and others very little. The purpose of the Master Action Plan for Youth is continuous improvement and to spur action on what still needs to be done.

It is a comprehensive plan for youth ages birth to 21 and is divided into 4 groups

II. What is the purpose of the Master Action Plan for Youth?

• To determine which issues or needs had the highest priority
• To provide a basis for funders to determine where resources should be focused
• To determine the baseline of services currently provided for youth (Resource Mapping)
• To encourage community planning and collaboration in meeting needs of youth
• To empower youth serving organizations, community members, and youth to take action
• To identify ways to increase the amount of funding available to address these needs...in the present and in the future

III. What was the process and who was involved?

• Forums were held for each age grouping in each community
• Participation was broad based involving as many of the various stakeholders as we could recruit to attend
• Elementary goals were based upon needs identified in the previous studies mentioned plus input from 645 4th grade students who responded to the following survey questions:
  • What are the best things about your community for kids your age?
  • If you could add two or three new things in your community that would help kids your age, what would it be?
• Early adolescent and late adolescent goals were based upon needs identified in the previous studies and input gathered through forums, which included 80 percent youth and 20 percent adult participants

IV. So what did they come up with that would make a difference?

Byron
Dover-Eyota
Stewartville
Rochester
 

Notes regarding goals:

The goals are the direct work of the forums in each community for each age group. Except for minor editing for clarity, the intent of the goals has been kept in tact.

As much as possible, the goals have been written as SMART goals (specific, measurable, achievable, results based and time bound).

Leadership has been determined in most cases and timelines set, which will help the goals have a better chance for success because leadership and timelines create accountability.

Action plan ideas have been offered to bring better definition to the goal and to give those who will be working on the goal a starting place…of course these strategies and actions may change as work on the goal progresses.

We have never promised that every goal in the plan will be carried out. Like any long-range plan some goals will be implemented, some will be abandoned and some will be further studied after the initial feasibility studies are done. But if even half of these goals are carried to fruition, it will bring tremendous improvements for youth and our communities.

V. What do we need to make this happen?

A minimum of $45,000 to cover salary and expenses for a coordinator for the next year to make sure the plan keeps moving forward and progress is checked. It is desired to make the .5 FTE of this position grant writing. Note: This is where most plans break down!

Funding changes:

• Consider "Field of Interest" Funding (Rochester Area Foundation, United Way, Community Development Block Grants, etc)
• Grant Writing Team to support any youth serving organization that pursues grants as a means of funding the work of the Master Action Plan, develop resource lists of grant opportunities, and help develop grant writing skills
• Determine a method of providing ongoing funding (possibilities include sales tax, a utility tax, a referendum, etc.)
• Develop an Olmsted County Youth Trust Fund to support long-term funding of youth goals

Community support for the plan…the more the plan is used to fund and implement improvements for youth in Olmsted County the more individuals and organizations will see the benefit of community planning and collaboration.

VI. Who was responsible for developing the Master Action Plan for Youth?

The Youth Service Action Team (YSAT) of FACES - Family Action Collaborative, Olmsted County initiated and coordinated the Plan. Contact information:

Earlene Wickre, Consultant, at ewickre@uswest.net or 507-282-9245
Youth Services Action Team (YSAT) Chairs: Linda Haeussinger, 507-285-8370; or Sharon Tuntland, 507-288-0067; or Colleen Landherr, 507-280-3113.

Funding was provided by:

• Rochester Area Foundation
• City of Rochester
• Rochester Public Schools
• Olmsted County (Supervision provided by Olmsted County Public Health)

In-kind donations from:

• Rochester School Bus Service
• Community Learning & Business Partnership
• Byron Public Schools
• Dover-Eyota Public Schools
• Stewartville Public Schools
• Rochester Community and Technical College
• St. Luke's Episcopal Church

Volunteers (over 3,000 volunteer hours):

• Community Leaders
• School staff
• Parents
• Youth Serving Organization staff
• Youth