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USC Beaufort's James Glasson has been appointed as one of twelve nationwide to serve in the Helping America's Youth initiative. Glasson works in the human service degree program at USC Beaufort.
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| James Glasson |
Initiated by U.S. President George W. Bush and led by First Lady Laura Bush, Helping America's Youth brings together several federal agencies to assist community groups, non-profit organizations, and schools in working together to benefit youth and in turn their families and their communities.
"One truly unique feature of the initiative is its website, helpingamericasyouth.gov," Glasson said. "It's a powerful human services tool. The website has an extensive database designed to serve as a resource for communities to learn how to build partnerships; to assess community resources and needs; and to select evidence based programs--that is programs with proven records of success--for creating their own local programs."
Glasson was appointed to the initiative based on his involvement in the work of the Sheldon Township Community Support Partnership (STCSP). STCSP is a seven-year-old grassroots partnership that includes local community leaders, the Beaufort County School District and the schools that serve the township's children, the United Way of Beaufort County, Beaufort Memorial Hospital, Beaufort County's Parks and Leisure Services (PALS), the Lobeco Branch of the Public Library, the Collaborative Organization of Services for Youth (COSY), local churches, and other organizations.
Using evidence based programs in their work with the community, STCSP has been responsible for a number of successful programs in Sheldon. The most successful, their after school programs, have achieved significant results in their goal areas of enhancing academic performance, promoting positive life skills and decision making, encouraging good health and nutrition; and preventing delinquency and substance abuse.
Responding to a White House request for area groups using evidence-based programs in their work, the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice recommended STCSP for the Helping America's Youth initiative. Members of the board asked Glasson to represent the organization in Washington, DC.
On May 12, Glasson attended an initial planning session in Washington, DC. On June 5 and 6, he will be in Indiana to assist in the first of four regional training sessions. Held in various parts of the country, the sessions will train community leaders in the use of Helping America's Youth website database for establishing their own evidence based programs.
For more information, contact the USC Beaufort Office of Public Information at 843-521-3113.
5/06
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