Moving Beyond Initial Momentum

Topic area: Partnerships & coalitions

Blaine County Youth Partnership, Hailey, Idaho -- The Blaine County Youth Partnership was formed with great enthusiasm in 1997 to guide the county-wide "Building Assets" initiative. With funding from the Wood River Medical Foundation and in-kind support from the Recreation District and others, the BCYP Advisory Council hired a coordinator and developed their plan. They hosted a Youth Summit, raised awareness of the developmental assets framework, administered the Assets survey, and began assisting community groups in implementing their asset-building strategies.

By the summer of 1999, the effort had lost some of its initial momentum. There was no clear and compelling vision driving the initiative, and staffing changes presented both a danger and an opportunity. Kris Stoffer, chairperson of the Advisory Council, recognized that the leadership group was in need of some refocusing and re-energizing, and asked Community Matters to help move the Partnership into its next stage.

In September of 1999, Community Matters designed and conducted a two day program which addressed the following areas:

• Review of the organizational vision and mission
• Assessment and retooling of current plan
• Recruiting and retaining membership of Advisory Council
• Fund development for the initiative

As a result of their planning efforts the partnership council was successful on several fronts. In the months that followed they:

• Established a renewed enthusiasm and strengthened commitment to their initiative
• Secured funding from the Wood River Medical Foundation to sustain their efforts
• Clarified roles and responsibilities for Council participants which contributed to increased membership and stronger working committees
• Developed a cadre of youth and adults trained in making effective presentations to community and school groups about the developmental assets
• Created a brochure and an "assets resolution" which increased community awareness of, support for, and involvement in the initiative

See: Strengthening and sustaining a partnership

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