MSC and PYD
Youth are our most valuable natural resource. Our goal is to create communities that encourage positive, healthy decision making among youth and young adults in our region.
Make a Sound Choice engages a Positive Youth Development strategy in several ways.
- Help youth look into the future to set goals for their lives.
- Equip youth with refusal skills and education about risky behaviors that may impede the achievement of their goals.
- Encourage the development of healthy relationships to provide support and belonging.
- Host annual Youth in Action event, which encourages youth to become leaders of character, as funding allows.
- Invite youth input and involvement into our program in a variety of ways, including: planning content and design for HQ: Your Headquarter for Sexual Integrity and Relationships; providing input on materials and resources to be used by FirstChoice Clinic and Make a Sound Choice; actively using talents and creativity to reach out to other youth/students; and more .
The Administration for Children and Families’ Fact Sheet on Positive Youth Development states: “The nonpartisan National Academy of Sciences conducted a 2-year study to find out how effective community-level programs are at helping youth. The resulting report, Community Programs To Promote Youth Development (2002) concluded that “adolescents who spend time in communities that are rich in developmental opportunities . . . experience less risk and show evidence of higher rates of positive development.” The report also recommended that each community offer a variety of activities to accommodate the different interests and abilities of young people.”
Join us in building communities of support and encouragement for our youth!
