What is Communities That Care?
Communities that Care is an evidence-based process that focuses on developing community collaboration to improve the lives of youth and families. The goal of the process to address risk factors to prevent six problem behaviors in youth. The six problem behaviors Communities That Care addresses are substance use, delinquency, school dropout, violence, teen pregnancy, and depression and anxiety. Risk factors, or the predictors of these problems, are addressed in four areas: community, family, school, and individual. The Communities That Care process focuses on educating on prevention science. Prevention
science focuses on using evidence-based programs and practices to prevent the predictors of problem behaviors before they start.
Why Communities That Care?
According to the 2022 Florida Youth Substance Abuse Survey in Indian River County, in the past year:
– 20% of students reported alcohol or illicit drug use.
– 50% have felt depressed or sad most days.
– 14% of students have attacked someone with the idea of seriously hurting them.
Longitudinal studies have shown that Communities That Care significantly reduces youth health and behavior problems. Youth from communities using the Communities That Care model were:
– 37% less likely to have health and behavior problems
– 25% less likely to start engaging in crime
– 32% less likely to initiate substance use
– 18% less likely to initiate antisocial behavior
We’re here to Grow Successful Kids. We work together to get them their tools for life early, so they have the best futures possible.
Organizations Unite!
We are existing groups coming together to work for a common goal. We have so many great organizations in our community; Communities That Care pulls all those wonderful people and resources together to attack a chosen issue effecting our youth in Indian River County.
Who Supports Communities That Care in Indian River County?
A Key Leader Orientation was held in Indian River County on August 25th to assess community commitment to the Communities That Care process among Key Leaders.
Communities Connected for Kids
Department of Children and Families
Department of Juvenile Justice
Gifford Youth Achievement Center
Indian River Board of County Commissioners
Indian River Hospital District
Indian River County Sheriff’s Office
School District of Indian River County
Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network
