The Community Prevention Grants Program promotes community-wide, collaborative efforts through its requirement for a Prevention Policy Board that includes participation from across community systems, as well as youth and parents. As a result, broad-based community prevention policy boards (PPBs) have brought multidisciplinary perspectives together to collectively address youth problems. Included at the table are not only child and family service organizations and advocates, but also individuals who are familiar with family and youth needs but too frequently not involved in community planning efforts (e.g., the faith community, parents, and youth themselves). Also included are groups experienced in community planning but not typically involved in prevention initiatives (e.g., private businesses, law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and juvenile court judges).
"A diverse board means the members have more respect for each other. There is a lot more dialogue. By having everyone involved, it is not as easy to go out and bash what another group is doing. Now organizations have a better understanding of the rules and regulations that sometimes impact the ability of organizations to provide services. There is more understanding and respect among organizations in the community."
— Nancy Myers-Bosse, Title V Coordinator,
Freemont, Colorado
The impact of bringing together both traditional and non-traditional players has been quite positive. Communities report that the process broadens the collective community perspective and increases the base of support for prevention activities. In addition, broad support results in greater access to resources to help generate or continue innovative, integrated, and sustainable initiatives. The section that follows outlines these changes and provides examples of how they manifest at the community level.