UNIFIED PREVENTION

The Weber County Center of Excellence brings together community partners to support and serve Weber County. As these agencies work together, local prevention efforts, collaborations, and community engagement will be enhanced and bolstered. Community-based prevention efforts have been proven most effective, and are a major part of the COE's work.

A highlight of the unified prevention engagements is the Weber County Teen Resilience Alliance. The COE brings together public and private agencies to align strategies focused on youth and young adults.

RISK & PROTECTIVE FACTORS

Risk factors are characteristics at the biological, psychological, family, community, or cultural level that precede and are associated with a higher likelihood of negative outcomes.

Protective factors are characteristics associated with a lower likelihood of negative outcomes or that reduce a risk factor’s impact. Protective factors may be seen as positive countering events.

COMMUNITIES THAT CARE

Communities That Care (CTC) is a planning and implementation process that guides communities through a proven five-phase change process. Using prevention science as its base, and being driven by local data, CTC promotes healthy youth development, improves youth outcomes, and reduces problem behaviors. CTC coalitions are owned and operated by local communities and bring together individuals and organizations to address their specific community's needs and affect positive change.

Preventing Suicide in Youth

Suicide is the leading cause of death among school-age youth. In 2019, approximately 19% of high school students had seriously considered suicide.

Source: America's Health Rankings analysis of CDC WONDER, Multiple Cause of Death Files, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2022.

Communities That Care

Research shows that participants in CTC have a relative decrease in substance use and delinquency by up to 55%.

Source: Kuklinski, M. R., Oesterle, S., Briney, J. S., & Hawkins, J. D. (2021). Long-term impacts and benefit-cost analysis of the Communities That Care prevention system at age 23, 12 years after baseline. Prevention Science, 22, 452-463. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105031

After School Programs

School-age children and youth spend 80 percent of their waking hours outside of school, while 1 in 5 young people in the U.S. are alone after the school day ends. High-quality afterschool programs promote positive development and offer a safe space where youth can explore their potential.

Source: Afterschool Program Benefits