New United Way Partnership Focuses on at risk youth in Wichita Falls

Wichita Falls, TX (August , 2009) - Community in Schools of Greater Wichita Falls and Helen Farabee MHMR Centers will engage collaboratively in a pilot program to increase quality services for at risk youth in Wichita Falls. The program, led by United Way funding, will focus on providing holistic, comprehensive substance abuse and mental health services to a select number of CIS students.

Students will attend skills training and process groups facilitated by the case manager that include the following topics:

• drug education

• coping and life skills

• conflict resolution

• anger management

• assertiveness training

• decision making skills

• improving family communication

• healthy living in dysfunctional homes

• setting personal boundaries

Every student in the program will attend these two hour group sessions at WFHS. Groups will be limited to 15 students, will span four weeks and will be presented in an open ended cycle. If the student’s situation indicates the need, individual sessions to process significant personal matters will be made available and will be conducted by the case manager.

The collaborative is one of United Way's strategies to help increase the health and education of youth in the North Texas area.

“This program is just one example of how the United Way is working to increase graduation rates. If we can identify and catch a problem early enough, we can keep a kid on track for graduation, which will better his or her situation later in life.”

Xochitl Pruitt – Executive Director, Community in Schools of Greater Wichita Falls

For more information Please contact Xochitl Pruitt (pronounced so-chill), Director, Community in Schools at 940-782-2076

More information about the United Way and their funded programs can be found online at www.ntauw.org or by contacting April Canetto, Vice President of Community Impact at 940-322-8638.