CTC Facilitator Jamie Rushford, B.S., CPS was recently interviewed by the Center for CTC on how a coalition in a small rural community engages their youth.
Top: Members worked on community mapping during a CTC meeting. From left to right, Linda Burnis, Grace McNeill, Brianna Beaulieu, Kyle Kuehl. Bottom left: Luce County CTC ran an annual Suicide Awareness Ribbon Campaign. Bottom left: Firefighters from Newberry with Jamie Rushford display purple & teal ribbons in fire station & on their trucks. Bottom right image: Members partnered with LMAS District HD, Helen Newberry Joy Hospital & UPHP to host an annual County Resource Fair. The coalition gave out personal hygiene products, laundry detergent & gun locks.
Reflecting on the re-launch of Luce County CTC, what insight would have been helpful to know from the start?
Looking to the re-launch of Luce County CTC, I realize now how badly our community needed this coalition. I feel that we were a little apprehensive on how the coalition would run and what kind of support we would receive. As our confidence grew, we realized how impactful our work is and how supportive our community really is.
Favorite achievements and celebrations?
We are so proud to say that we have been able to celebrate many achievements since Luce County CTC has been re-established.
- We have partnered with multiple sectors to not only provide programming, but to create policy change regarding youth substance use within our school and juvenile court system
- We have also initiated multiple campaigns and events regarding mental health and suicide awareness
- Another favorite accomplishment has been the partnership with our local hospital to ensure that Narcan is stocked and readily available 24/7 to the public
- To hear people’s stories on how the coalition has impacted them on a personal level is by far the most meaningful and memorable to me.
“The Luce County Community That Cares Coalition has been doing amazing work to support the community. I encourage others to join the group and help create even more positive events and connections for our youth.”
– Nick Derusha, Director and Health Officer of LMAS District Health Department and Champion for Luce County CTC
What have been lessons learned throughout your journey with Luce County CTC?
It’s important for coalitions to take the time to understand their community: Ask important questions, get involved, show up to events, and gather data through a variety of techniques (focus groups, interviews, environmental scans, surveys, etc.). Once coalitions understand their community and readiness for change it is important to meet the community where they are at.
Partnering with a variety of sectors that include law enforcement, health systems, social services, parents, youth, school systems, and businesses have been critical in the sustainability of our efforts. We had to spend time understanding that the Luce County CTC isn’t always the”do-ers” and that many times, we are the community organizers.