Services & Programs

Family & Youth Resources

Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Youth Commission (CWYC)

The Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Youth Commission (CWYC), originally formed in 1987 as the Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee, was organized to address juvenile justice needs in Cowlitz and Wahkiakum Counties. Since then it has provided a forum for all agencies that work with children and youth within our two-county area to focus upon coordination of efforts, cooperation, evaluation and enhancement of local programs, and assessment of local needs.

Within its history, the Youth Commission has addressed on-going juvenile justice needs. The CWYC has provided information and recommendations for the Governor’s Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee, and has worked to improve outcomes for juvenile offenders. Their current focus is to support local juvenile justice programs, identify and prioritize juvenile justice needs and issues, research and support the implementation of proven alternative to incarceration programs, and to build community capacity to prevent delinquency. The CWYC manages an extensive resource library located at the Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments and gathers additional local and state wide resources for use by local agencies and citizens to address youth at risk.

Teen Mentor Program (TMP)

The Teen Mentor Program (TMP) pairs local high school students with elementary students in order to create a positive support system among our youth. TMP offers a structured avenue for teens to develop their mentoring talents and skills through friendships with younger children who may need additional emotional support in order to meet their potential as students and individuals. As role models, the teens build leadership confidence while fostering constructive relationships with the younger students in a school environment.

Students are paired at the beginning of the school year and meet weekly throughout the year when school is in session. Students are picked to be part of the program through an extensive application and personal interview process. This program is currently being offered at the following schools: Toutle Lake Elementary, Castle Rock Elementary, Wallace Elementary in Kelso, Northlake and Olympic Elementary in Longview and Kalama Elementary.

Strengthening Families

Educational programs that bring parents and their children together in learning environments strengthen entire families. Healthy parent-child communication reduces the risks of both substance abuse and teen pregnancy among our young people; factors that are related to youth violence and cycles of poverty.

The Strengthening Families Program (SPF) for parents and youth 10-14 years old is a nationally recognized curriculum that provides parent, youth and family education. In a controlled study, youth who attended SFP with their families were significantly less likely to initiate substance abuse even four years after the program, and were less aggressive than youth in the control group. The families who attended SFP reported significant increases in family cohesion.

CSAC has sponsored, through federal and state funding, Strengthening Families Programs throughout Cowlitz County since 2001. Since it’s beginning, over 130 families have successfully completed the seven session program. Graduates of our local programs have shared positive results.

• “We struggle with a mixed family. This (experience) has meant a lot because I have learned to handle situations. Individually and as a family we have found better things to do. I really appreciate this class.”
• “I appreciate my son more and listen to his point of view.”
• “I learned more about my mom. She goes through a lot and I appreciate that.”
• “I learned about negative peer pressure and how to resolve issues.”

Youth Leadership Academy (YLA)

Youth Leadership Academy was created to teach youth personal goal setting, effective communication, conflict resolution and etiquette in social and workplace settings. It is a unique opportunity for young people to connect with their community and other teens in a relaxed and fun setting while developing leadership skills that can last a life time. YLA is a week long program that provides a unique opportunity for young people to make personal connections and life applications while….

• Discovering their personal leadership style.
• Understanding the principals of integrity and respect.
• Respecting ours and others personal leadership styles.
• Being able to work together as a team.
• Learning and practicing effective communication skills.
• Developing skills and attitudes to make good decisions as an individual or in a group.

Widening the Circle (WTC)

Widening the Circle is a program concept implemented by Parent’s Place as a collaborative effort between Parent’s Place, Youth and Family Link, Cowlitz County Health Department, Cowlitz Substance Abuse Coalition, and the Community Mobilization Department of the Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Council of Governments.

WTC is about building a stronger community one neighborhood at a time using the best natural resource available: families. Funded by a grant from the Cowlitz County Community Network, the program is currently focused on the Country Run Apartment Complex in the Lexington area. This 100 unit complex is for income eligible residents, twenty of which are transitional units for the Community House on Broadway. WTC recognizes that knowledge, experience, energy and dreams live in families no matter what their circumstances. By focusing on the strengths present, WTC can help to overcome obstacles and move families, neighborhoods and ultimately the community forward.

The goals of the program are…

• To provide activities for youth and families that help them individually and as a family unit develop new skills and enhance interaction between one another.
• Help adult residents learn new skills and gain confidence to further their education and employment opportunities.
• Assist residents in the use of their newly acquired skills to create a stronger community within the their neithborhood and ultimately Cowlitz County.

Youth Yellow Pages

The Youth Yellow Pages is an extensive directory of local services and activities specifically for youth in the Cowlitz County area. It includes agency names, locations and contact information, as well as, important resource data regarding use of alcohol and drugs, and related issues significant today in the lives of our local youth.

Networking Café

The mission of the Networking Café is to advance Cowlitz County families by addressing the mind, body and soul of the family unit. By building relationships between our community minded agencies, faith-based organizations, schools and volunteers, information and resources can be shared in order to build a strong networking system specifically for families.

As its name implies, the Networking Café is a casual, café-style event featuring directed table discussions with rotation every 20-30 minutes to increase interaction. The format is simple and designed to build relationships and discuss local concerns, issues, and visions. If you are interested in building relationships among the hard workers of our community, please come join us.

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