By Susan Savell,
Executive Coordinator
Only 17% of the greater Portland area’s 12th graders feel that
adults in their community value them. As parents, relatives, neighbors, educators, and
volunteers, we each have a role to play in helping to change this reality by raising the
next generation of caring, competent adults who feel connected to and responsible for
their communities.
An initiative of Governor King’s Children’s Cabinet, the Communities for
Children (C4C) goals are to measurably improve the well being of children in every Maine
community, and to increase educational attainment and achievement levels of all Maine
children. Toward this end, C4C has harnessed the power of the Internet to communicate not
only with its 60 Maine partner communities (representing 220 towns and over 70% of the
State’s population), but also with General Colin Powell’s "America’s
Promise: the Alliance for Youth," which has just named Maine one of three model
states. America’s Promise is giving Maine this honor not only because the
Children’s Cabinet has initiated Communities for Children, the only statewide network
of communities working on positive child and youth development, but also because Maine is
also the only state to publish its "Promise Book" online. The Promise Book is a
catalogue of commitments, or promises, that organizations and businesses are making to
support the work of communities with, and on behalf of, their children and youth.
Of interest to many in Maine and across the country, is the "What’s
Working" section of the Web site (http://www.maine.gov/governor/index.html,
search on the key word "children"). It provides "success stories"
organized by each stage of the development of Communities for Children: forming Children's
Leadership Councils, assessing the realities facing children and youth, implementing
prevention programs, and evaluating their results. C4C also organizes Prevention Training
Institutes and regional cluster conversations aimed at training both youth and adults to
work together, assess youth developmental assets in the community (see www.search-institute.org for more
developmental assets information), and develop community/family/teen centers.
In partnership with 24 of its communities, C4C is also embarking on a joint project
with America’s Promise to provide safe places and structured activities after school
and on weekends. Schools, boys and girls clubs, and family resource centers are envisioned
to provide intergenerational mentoring opportunities intended to help kids develop
marketable skills through exposure to caring adults, technology, and other skill building
opportunities.
Thanks to a grant from the National Corporation for Community Service, much of the work
of C4C is being done by 27 full time Vista volunteers, three of whom are based at the C4C
office in Hallowell; and the power of the Internet greatly facilitates C4C’s ability
to coordinate their many positive efforts, and to share the results of their work
throughout Maine and the country. Their accomplishments are outlined in the What’s
Working Section of the C4C website. Please look at the directory of participating
communities, call the local contact person in your community, and join us in this exciting
work! In the meantime, go out of your way to look a young person in the eye and say hello
when you meet them on the street. They will feel valued and acknowledged by a caring
adult.
Susan Savell came to the Children’s Cabinet from her work as the Executive
Director of the Maine Association of Child Abuse and Neglect Councils. Her previous work
experience includes four years as Director of the Kennebunk Kennebunkport Chamber of
Commerce during the Bush presidency years, and as an ordained minister working on the
national staff of the United Church of Christ for seven years before she moved to Maine in
1983. As a composer, recording and performing artist, she is also familiar with the
expanding role of computer technology in the world of music. She may be reached with
questions by calling 1-800-780-6230 or e-mailing Susan.Savell@state.me.us.
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