Communities That Care

"Have the courage to think big" mural

Communities That Care (CTC) is a community organizing model used in many Colorado communities, including the Milliken-Johnstown community. The main goal of CTC is to empower parents, youth, and community members and help them develop skills needed to address local issues such as youth substance use, delinquency, and violence. CTC encourages positive outcomes for preventing risk behaviors through proven programs and policy development.

Risk & Protective Factors CTC Addresses

Risk Factors

Data shows that students who struggle academically from elementary school on are more likely to engage in substance misuse, and experience depression, anxiety, violence, delinquency, teen pregnancy, and dropping out of school. Research suggests that the experience of facing failure, rather than the lack of intelligence, contributes to these negative behaviors. 

Parenting can also play a negative role in youth outcomes. Some parents or guardians may not have the time or capacity to establish boundaries and monitor their children’s behavior, while others may intentionally be more lenient. This lack of parental supervision, combined with unclear family rules and a belief by youth that there are no consequences, puts young people at a greater risk of substance misuse, depression, anxiety, violence, delinquency, teen pregnancy, and not completing their education. 




Protective Factors

Engaging in extracurricular activities such as sports, band, drama clubs, student government, or community service and having trusted adults involved in their lives can enhance the safety of young individuals and reduce their chances of participating in substance misuse and delinquent behavior. 

Community Action Plan 

The Community Action Plan (CAP) is an evaluation of a community’s priorities, strengths, and resources. Community-level strategies to improve policies, community outreach, and environmental changes are suggested including improvement of existing programs or introduction of new programs that have been proven effective.

Utilizing the CAP, the Milliken-Johnstown CTC Coalition has set goals for their strategies and programs that will improve prevention efforts and benefit the youth of Milliken-Johnstown. It also includes plans for evaluating and carrying out these strategies and programs effectively.

Click the button below to read our Community Action Plan. 

Get Involved

Community engagement is vital for the success of Communities That Care! We are seeking dedicated partners to enhance the well-being of Milliken/Johnstown youth. You can show your support for CTC by:

  • Attending monthly coalition meetings to share ideas.
  • Spreading awareness about CTC with people you know.
  • Volunteering to help with monthly youth events.
  • Encouraging others to get involved.
  • Assisting with funding (research opportunities, grant writing, donations, fundraising events). 

For more information on how to get involved, please contact agalarza@weld.gov. 

Outside Links

Communities That Care

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

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