Imagine a community coming together to help its children, youth and families to avoid problems like violence, drugs and other high risk behaviours.
What if there was a menu of specific programs or ideas that could be implemented to attack the unique combination of problems in your community?
There is, and it is called Communities that Care.
Communities that Care (CtC) is an "operating system" developed at the University of Washington in Seattle by David Hawkins and Richard Catalano about 20 years ago. The main idea is to develop community partnerships to promote the adoption of good evidence-based practices and then support them once they are up and running.
Sounds good, but does it work?
Studies have demonstrated the value of the CtC approach. For example, randomized controlled trials in Pennsylvania used data from 59,000 students in grades 6, 8, 10 and 12 to compare CtC communities to non-CtC ones.
They found that the level of risk factors grew more slowly and protective factors more quickly in the CtC towns. It has also been shown to reduce alcohol abuse, smoking and delinquent behaviour among children aged 10 to 14 in 20 U.S. towns.
The Communities that Care approach empowers communities to improve the well-being of children and youth. It includes methods and toolkits, a list of 56 tested and effective prevention programs and the training to implement CtC.
Some of the tools include school-based curricula, life-skills training, anti-bullying programs and community based programs such as Big Brothers and Big Sisters, along with family-focused interventions to strengthen the family.
The CtC approach has been implemented in more than 400 U.S. communities, in the UK and Europe, Australia and Canada. Close to home, there is a Communities that Care program working in Squamish.
CtC Squamish describes their program as "a mobilization project aimed at preventing six youth health and behaviour problems (teen pregnancy, substance abuse, violence, delinquency, school dropout and depression)." They add: "It exists to create a vibrant, healthy community."
The Squamish CtC examined Youth Survey data from 2002 and 2005 to identify four major risk factors as priorities for action: Poor family management; laws and norms that were favourable to drug use; perceived availability of drugs; and a context of family stressors and economic deprivation.
To address these priorities, the Squamish CtC has partnered, supported or implemented programs like HighScope in preschool, a program that focuses on participatory learning.
They have two Strengthening Families programs, one for families of six to 11-year-olds; the other for ages 10 to 14.
This program work to improve family functioning and to increase youth resistance to drugs and alcohol. Parenting Wisely is directed at parents with children in grades six to nine.
Find out more about the Squamish implementation of CtC on their website at ctcsquamish.com.
If the CtC model sound familiar, it is because its base is in population health. After all, what is the model but one of approaching a community problem from a "global" level to reduce risk factors (determinants) of future community, family and individual problems?
Dr. Paul Martiquet is the Medical Health Officer for the Sea to Sky.
