The Cortland Area Communities That Care Coalition (CACTC) was started in 2001. A group of concerned community leaders representing both the city and the county decided to organize and create a coalition to address local alcohol and drug abuse among youth. The coalition used a long-term process to mobilize the community to promote positive youth development.

This Communities That Care (CTC) process is one used nationwide. It has been proven to be effective because it addresses the unique risk and protective factors that exist in the community. Risk factors are elements in the environment. They increase the likelihood that young people will make unhealthy behavior choices. Protective factors, by contrast, are elements that support young people and encourage them to make healthy behavior choices.

In the beginning, much time and energy was spent training and organizing for effective group action. Information about the communities in the county was collected through surveys, interviews, and focus groups. Next, the Coalition chose five priorities to address. With the survey results in mind, ten validated (or "proven to work if implemented with fidelity") programs were selected that specifically addressed these top priorities. As the Coalition partners continue to implement these programs throughout the County, a continuum of supports will develop for youth of all ages to address the risk factors that have been identified and provide them with the tools and opportunities to grow into healthy adults.

All of this work was built into the CACTC Five-Year Comprehensive Youth Development Plan in March 2003. Since then CACTC has been hard at work. It has found willing community partners and funding to translate the Plan into action. Diligent efforts to implement the entire plan are continuing. To find out more about the Coalition or to find out how you can participate on a workgroup or in one of our activities, call Michele Whalen, Project Coordinator, at: 607-299-4910 ext. 305.