Centerstone to Host Youth Community Collaboration Committee Meeting 9/13

Centerstone, a nonprofit health system specializing in mental health and substance use disorder treatments, will host its Youth Community Collaboration (YCC) Committee meeting on September 13 from 9 – 10 a.m. on Zoom.

YCC is a group of adult volunteers who want to prevent youth violence and delinquency by surrounding youth with a strong community support system. Research shows that empowering the community to have this level of engagement with youth decreases traditional behavioral problems.

YCC’s adult volunteers need to be currently living or working in Jackson County. Volunteers are asked to attend monthly meetings on the second Tuesday via Zoom. There is no cost to participate in this committee – only your time as a volunteer.

Centerstone is seeking persons who work in the following sectors to serve on the YCC:

• Business
• Judicial
• Media
• Law enforcement
• Philanthropic

For more information or to join, contact Magdalena Dul at (618) 305-4618 or magdalena.dul@centerstone.org.

Support for this committee is made possible by funding from the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery through a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).

YCC is sponsored by Centerstone’s Illinois Community Youth Services (CYS) program, which serves Jackson County.

“Centerstone’s Community Youth Services aims to increase positive social activities and community engagement through three components: positive youth development, the Youth Action Committee and the YCC,” said Magdalena Dul, Centerstone community youth organizer.

CYS builds a number of skills such as:

• Communication
• Decision making
• Goal setting
• Anger and stress management
• Resistance to peer pressure
• Problem solving
• Values
• Diversity awareness

CYS not only oversees the YCC but also the Youth Action Committee (YAC), which is comprised of 11-24 year-olds living in Carbondale and Murphysboro in Jackson County. YAC works to identify gaps in services and resources for youth within their local communities and how to better market those resources to other youth. With the support of educators, YAC meets semi-monthly during lunch. Aside from making a positive impact in the community, youth who serve on the YAC committee:

• Build or enhance skills including decision-making, communication, goal setting, teamwork, problem-solving, stress management, self-esteem, character building, anger & stress management, resistance to pressure, values, diversity & inclusion, and resiliency.
• Meet new people and make new friends
• Obtain a sense of belonging to a group
• Enjoy socialization and field trips
• Mentorship opportunities
• Employment information and career training
• Receive giveaways, gift cards, prizes, and more

There is no cost to participate in YAC. The committee’s programming is free due to funding from the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery through a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). To get started on the YAC, contact Magdalena Dul at (618) 305-4618 or magdalena.dul@centerstone.org.