Workgroups

Jefferson County Communities That Care is comprised of multiple workgroups:

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee will build and sustain a healthy and effective community board, including recruiting and orienting new key leaders and community board members.  This group is also tasked with maintaining board bylaws

Thank you to the organizations represented in the Executive Committee: Advancing Dynamic Solutions, District Accountability Committee, Edgewater Collective, Jeffco PTA, Jeffco Public Schools - Student Engagement Office, Jefferson Center, Jefferson County Public Library (JCPL), University of Denver, Butler Institute for Families

Policy & Substance Use Availability Workgroup

Change community policy and norms to reduce risk factors related to substance misuse. This group oversees the NSET Workshop implementation and has recently created a framework for municipalities to join a CAT (Community Action with Teens) program to bring youth voice into city and county policy conversations. 

Thank you to our key partnering organizations: Edgewater Collective, City of Lakewood Police Department, City of Wheat Ridge Parks & Recreation, Denver Family Therapy Center, Jeffco Public Schools - Health Sciences/Student Engagement Office, Jefferson County Public Health - Tobacco Prevention Initiative, 1st Judicial District Attorney's Office

Risk & Protective Factor (Data) Workgroup

This workgroup, also known as the "Data Group" reviewed youth survey and public data to help the community board select priority youth outcomes, and priority risk and protective factors in 2018. Also, they monitor changes in community-level outcomes over time and, recently, created the 2021 Youth Risk and Protective Factor Data Assessment for Jefferson County.

Thank you to our key partnering organizations: Advancing Dynamic Solutions, The Conflict Center, Denver Family Therapy Center, Jeffco Schools - Healthy Schools, Ignites Institute, Jefferson Unitarian Church Community Action Network, Jeffco PTA, JCPH, The Family Tree, Golden Anti-Racism Collective, Jefferson County Public Health - Epidemiology

Social Emotional Learning and Health Education Workgroup

This is our newest workgroup, which, after an initial needs assessment, has been tasked by the coalition with educating and informing policy makers about updates and improvements to Jeffco Schools approach to social emotional learning and health education. In addition to current policy recommendations, we are currently assessing how we can help provide resources to address curriculum needs or educational gaps related to updated Health Education policies. 

Thank you to our key partnering organizations: Jeffco PTA, Advancing Dynamic Solutions,  Jefferson Center, Jeffco Public  Schools - Health Science/SEL/Substance Use Prevention, Robbie's Hope, Colorado Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health, The Family Tree, Jeffco Safe Schools Coalition

Trustable Adults Workgroup

Define key skills needed for trustable adults, coordinate and communicate about training opportunities, and formulate possible ways to designate that adults have taken a base level of classes /trainings. We will also cross-promote training opportunities and collaborate on volunteer recruitment and screening strategies. Currently, we are working on the Out for Safe Spaces project which would offer adults who work with youth the opportunity to participate in a series of trainings and then wear a badge signifying that they have prepared to work with and support LGBTQ+ youth as an ally. 

Thank you to our key partnering organizations: CSU Extension, Jefferson County Public Library (JCPL),  Jefferson County Public Health - Maternal and Child Health, Jeffco PTA, Jeffco Public Schools - Nurses/Student Engagement Office/Substance Abuse Prevention, City of Lakewood Parks and Recreation, Jefferson Center

Twelve Talks To Have With Teens Workgroup

In a non-judgmental style, promote one topic per month that adults are encouraged to discuss with teens in their lives, leveraging pre-existing, evidence-based state or national campaigns, and including best practices for promoting productive dialogue with young people. Please visit www.twelvetalks.com (and @twelve_talks on Instagram) to view the campaign website or sign up to become part of the effort. 

Thank you to our key partnering organizations: Butler Institute for Families, University of Denver, Jefferson Center, Jeffco Public  Schools - Healthy Schools, Jefferson County Public Library (JCPL), Jefferson Unitarian Church Community Action Network, Jefferson County Public Health - Tobacco Prevention Initiative, City of Lakewood Parks & Recreation, Golden Anti-Racism Collective, Jeffco Safe Schools Coalition 

Youth Engagement Workgroup

This workgroup will work with other workgroups to identify meaningful opportunities, skills and training for young people, along with appropriate recognition. They plan and organize our youth involvement program and actively contribute to www.jeffcoteens.org and @jeffco_teens on Instagram. 

Thank you to our key partnering organizations: CSU Extension, Jefferson County Public Library (JCPL), The Conflict Center, Jefferson County Public Health - Tobacco Prevention Initiative, Jeffco PTA, Jeffco Public Schools - Healthy Schools, Colorado Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health

Past workgroups/ workgroups not presently meeting

Interpersonal Violence Prevention Workgroup

This group met to plan a youth research internship project on preventing interpersonal violence. The project resulted in a set of 10 social norming posters created by local youth, for local youth.

Communication, Outreach & Engagement Workgroup

This workgroup is charged with involving stakeholders, promoting the Communities That Care system and educating and updating key leaders and the community about the work of the community board. 

Resource Assessment & Evaluation Workgroup

The purpose of this workgroup is to identify current community services that address priority risk and protective factors, identify service delivery gaps and recommend solutions. In 2017, the group created a comprehensive resource assessment to help guide our work, and for use by other coalitions in the community. Also, they will design and monitor evaluations of the programs and policies implemented under the Community Action Plan.

Funding Workgroup

This workgroup will identify funding needs and manage the acquisition of additional public and private funds to support action plan programs, policies and practices.