HOPE COALITION

Healthy Options for Prevention and Education Coalition

Through a collaborative effort of youth, service providers, and families, the HOPE Coalition will result in increased access to year round, out of school prevention, recreation, wellness, and development activities for youth ages 12-21, planned in partnership with young people.

When we achieve our mission, we will see:
 

• Reduced rates of youth violence and fewer teens using drugs and alcohol.
• Happier, healthier young people connected to families, schools, services, programs and neighborhoods, and ready to lead in their communities.

Young people and adults will work together in an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding to achieve these goals.

Read the most recent HOPE Coalition Newsletter

HOPE Coalition Programs & Initiatives

• Drug Free Communities Initiative

HOPE has Held two Drug Free Quarterly Meetings planned and facilitated by HOPE Peer Leaders—each attended by 50 individuals.

Conducted Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis of the youth drug, alcohol, and tobacco situation in Worcester
 

We are working on several new projects to educate youth about drugs and alcohol, including a Teen Talk Show, stress reduction programs, and working with local businesses to reduce drug and alcohol advertising and to reduce the number of people who buy alcohol for under
aged drinkers Held a community-wide block party for close to 600 youth and families in the Summer 2005.

• Teen Sexual Awareness Initiative

HOPE staff conducted HOPE Coalition Teen Sexuality Video workshops with youth and adult groups at the YWCA, Worcester Community Action Council, YouthBuild, Henry Lee Willis Outreach Programs, Worcester Youth Guidance Center, Great Brook Valley Health Center, and at the Youth Worker Training Institute Spring Conference

We shared the video with Planned Parenthood of Massachusetts. They are interested in using the video in a statewide campaign to strengthen health education in the schools
 

Evaluations of the video speak to the need for additional showings, particularly with youth.

• Promoting Youth Voice

HOPE Collaborated with the YMCA’s Minority Achiever’s Program to create a video on what Worcester is like for teens. This video was shown at the Worcester Public Library in the Summer 2005.

HOPE displayed the HOPE Coalition Youth Heroes/Youth Victims of Violence Mural at the YWCA, Girls, Inc. and behind City Hall at a Peace Rally. It is now hanging at the Worcester Youth Center

• Youth Worker Training Institute

15 week course to train front-line youth workers. Held every 18 months for up to 25 youth workers free of charge

• HOPE Coalition Mental Health Model

Masters-level clinicians work with youth and staff at the Boys and Girls

Overview

The Healthy Options for Prevention and Education (HOPE) Coalition is a youth-adult partnership consisting of 18 organizations in Worcester, including youth serving organizations, mental health agencies, community based health care centers, the City of Worcester, and the Worcester Public Schools. Fifteen diverse teenagers form the HOPE Coalition Peer Leadership program and are integral members of this Coalition, participating in data collection, program design, and community outreach.

The HOPE Strategic Plan HOPE addresses four key areas of concern: Increasing Youth Leadership in the Community, Integrating Mental Health and Substance Prevention into Youth Settings, Increasing Access to After-School Programs and Services, and Increasing School-Community Partnerships and Coordination around Health Education.