FIRST GOAL
A well-connected network
will provide excellent educational services to Ware residents from infancy
through adulthood. |
|
OBJECTIVE ONE: Coordinated services to at
risk youth will be provided by the public schools and WAEC. |
KNOWN ASSETS: ð
Excellent working
relationship between WAEC, Ware High School, and Quaboag Regional Middle/High
School. ð
Current programs for
both in and out of school youth have proven worthwhile ð
WAEC has a model approach
to working with guidance departments ð
During a key informant
interview with the Ware Probation officer, there was interest expressed in
the discovery that WAEC provides individualized education - increasing the
probability that he might consider referrals of young people without GEDs to
the program. |
IDENTIFIED NEEDS: ð
In Ware in 2001, young people between 16 and 25 who had dropped out of
school was 7% or 24 out of a total enrollment in Ware High School of 342
students WAEC also serves the high
schools in the surrounding towns of Brookfield, Hardwick, and Warren, the
same time and age group lacking a high school diploma is 12.6%, 12.4%, and
14.9% respectively. ð
There is a need to
make public the role that WAEC plays in increasing the possibility that the
students in Ware who are at risk of dropping out, need to be able to make
clear, informed and realistic decisions about their future. ð
Between 50-75% of Ware
probation cases are high school dropouts and between 80-90% of Ware Court
cases, as in the state, are fueled by drugs and alcohol. |
|
OBJECTIVE ONE |
Year 1
|
Year 2 & 3 |
Year 4 & 5 |
|
KEY ACTION STEPS |
* Collaboration between
WAEC and high schools with regard to drop-out prevention. * The community partnership will support in-school options
for at-risk youth. * WAEC will implement effective teen services to meet
the needs of out-of-school youth.
|
* Collaboration between
WAEC and high schools with regard to drop-out prevention. * The community partnership will support in-school
options for at-risk youth. * WAEC will implement effective teen services to meet
the needs of out-of-school youth. |
* Collaboration between
WAEC and high schools with regard to drop-out prevention. * The community partnership will support in-school
options for at-risk youth. * WAEC will implement effective teen services to meet
the needs of out-of-school youth. |
Resources
Needed
|
‘
More research about
Ôbest practiceÕ drop out prevention models and models for effective
programming for out-of-school youth ‘
Additional staffing
and funds for special programs and additional program planning |
‘
Effective programming
for out-of-school youth ‘
Additional staffing
and funds for special programs and additional program planning |
‘
Additional staffing
and funds for special programs and additional program planning |
FIRST GOAL
A
well-connected network will provide excellent educational services to Ware
residents from infancy through adulthood. |
|
OBJECTIVE 2: Pre employment education in
the schools and in WAEC will link students to job opportunities and higher
education. |
KNOWN ASSETS: ‘
Excellent working
relationship between WAEC and Quaboag Valley Community Development
Corporation ‘
Recent pilot projects
have proven successful - With WAEC's help, twelve students in FY2002 did go on
to further their education in community college or technical schools. |
IDENTIFIED NEEDS: ‘
Solutions for high
unemployment and poverty rates- in 2002 the unemployment rate in Ware was
4.6% , a 0.6 increase from 2001 - ‘
8.4% of its residents living below the poverty level, as compared to
the state rate of 6.7%. ‘
According to 2000
census data, in 1999, 32.9% of families with female-headed households with
children under the age of 5 were determined to be living in poverty in Ware. ‘ Employment assistance - there needs to be more attention
put on helping people make "a living wage" in Ware. Businesses are
asking for recruits with good work ethics and attitudes and basic
literacy/numeracy skills. The Ware partnership/coalition suggested getting
involvement from businesses and increasing their tie-in with community
groups. ‘ Geographically the
closest link to a career center is in Palmer where there is a satellite
office of FutureWorks. This office does not offer unemployment insurance
walk-in services. ‘
Only 14% of Ware high school graduates go on to 4-year colleges
compared with 67% nationally |
|
OBJECTIVE 2 |
Year 1
|
Year 2 & 3 |
Year 4 & 5 |
|
KEY ACTION STEPS |
* Field trips and guest speakers will expose students
to employment options and local educational opportunities. |
* Career education classes will be offered. * Field trips and guest speakers will expose students
to employment options and local educational opportunities. |
* Apprenticeship opportunities will be developed. * Field trips and guest speakers will expose students
to employment options and local educational opportunities. *
Career Center
collaboration with Quaboag Regional Middle /High School. |
Resources
Needed
|
‘ Funding
for field trips and guest speakers. ‘ Collaboration
with DET to close gaps to services in this rural area. |
‘ Funding
for field trips and guest speakers. ‘ Collaboration
with DET to close gaps to services in this rural area. ‘ Improved
collaborations between WAEC and the local high schools with regard to
pre-employment curriculum. |
‘ Funding
for field trips and guest speakers. ‘ Collaboration
with DET to close gaps to services in this rural area. |
Service Delivery Coordination and Integration
Goals
FIRST GOAL
A well-connected network
will provide excellent educational services to Ware residents from infancy
through adulthood. |
|
OBJECTIVE 3: Access to educational
opportunities for rural under-educated youth and adults will be increased. |
KNOWN ASSETS: ‘ Pilot
outreach position at WAEC has proven successful - 50% of position funded by
Town of Ware ‘ Willingness
of community to meet regularly for information exchanges |
IDENTIFIED NEEDS: ‘ Transportation-There is no bus line between Ware and employment and other educational opportunities and the 2000 census shows the average work commute time for a Ware resident is 25.8 minutes. In 1990, 10.5% of the households in Ware reported not owning any vehicles. ‘ Twenty
five respondents to the student survey were able to identify 35 people they
knew who would study to get their GED. ‘ Ways
to reduce isolation - need to increase opportunities for care and support
to break old patterns of illiteracy. ‘ Awareness
of child care options ‘ ÔSatelliteÕ
educational sites in needed rural areas ‘ Awareness
of WAEC services |
|
OBJECTIVE 3 |
Year 1
|
Year 2 & 3 |
Year 4 & 5 |
|
KEY ACTION STEPS |
* Providers will share communication about educational
options. * Barriers to participation will be reduced. * Various media will be used to increase community
awareness of educational opportunities. |
* Providers will share communication about
educational options. * Barriers to participation will be reduced. * Various media will be used to increase community
awareness of educational opportunities. |
* Providers will share communication about
educational options. * Barriers to participation will be reduced. * Various media will be used to increase community
awareness of educational opportunities. |
Resources
Needed
|
‘ Continued
support from Town of Ware for increased funding ‘ Time
and commitment by many to meet regularly ‘ Time
and funding for increased program planning |
‘ Continued
support from Town of Ware for increased funding ‘ Time
and commitment by many to meet regularly ‘ Time
and funding for increased program planning |
‘ Continued
support from Town of Ware for increased funding ‘ Time
and commitment by many to meet regularly ‘ Time
and funding for increased program planning |
Service Delivery Coordination and Integration
Goals
FIRST GOAL
A well-connected network
will provide excellent educational services to Ware residents from infancy
through adulthood. |
|
OBJECTIVE 4: Increasingly literate
parents will serve as more effective role models and teachers for their
children. |
KNOWN ASSETS: ‘ Collaborations with child related service providers
(Valley Human Services, Ware Family Center) who see the need for such
services |
IDENTIFIED NEEDS: ‘
Ware has the highest rate of teen births in the county. According to
the partnership/coalition teen parents are juggling school, work and
childcare. The number of teen parents in adult education programs in Ware has
increased without an Even Start program available. ‘ Parenting classes ‘ Increased services for new mothers ‘ Ways to reduce isolation |
|
OBJECTIVE 4 |
Year 1
|
Year 2 & 3 |
Year 4 & 5 |
|
KEY ACTION STEPS |
* Parent education classes will be increasingly
available and local. * Parents will attend classes to address their
parenting needs. |
* Parent education classes will be increasingly
available and local. * Parents will attend classes to address their
parenting needs. |
* Parents will increase
their involvement in their childrenÕs schooling. |
Resources
Needed
|
‘ Funding and planning for such Ôbest practiceÕ
classes |
‘ Funding and planning for such Ôbest practiceÕ
classes |
‘ Increased support for parents to be more involved
with their childrenÕs schooling |
Service Delivery Coordination and Integration
Goals
SECOND GOAL
The Ware Community
Partnership will make appropriate service referrals to meet the needs of Ware
residents in an efficient manner. |
|
OBJECTIVE 1: Inter-agency collaborations
will explore diverse funding possibilities. |
KNOWN ASSETS: ‘ Existing collaborations and grant writers
|
IDENTIFIED NEEDS: ‘ Sustained and improved funding options |
|
|
Year 1
|
Year 2 & 3 |
Year 4 & 5 |
|
KEY ACTION STEPS |
* Agencies will pursue appropriate grants to meet
community needs * Agencies will collaborate
in fundraising activities |
* Agencies will pursue appropriate grants to meet
community needs * Agencies will collaborate in fundraising activities |
* Agencies will pursue appropriate grants to meet
community needs * Agencies will collaborate in fundraising activities |
Resources
Needed
|
‘ Continued participation to collaborate, name needs,
pursue and secure funds |
‘ Continued participation to collaborate, name needs,
pursue and secure funds |
‘ Continued participation to collaborate, name needs,
pursue and secure funds |
Service Delivery Coordination and Integration
Goals
SECOND GOAL
The Ware Community
Partnership will make appropriate service referrals to meet the needs of Ware
residents in an efficient manner. |
|
OBJECTIVE 2: Agencies within the
partnership will establish an articulated network of services. |
KNOWN ASSETS: ‘ Many service
providers see the need for such services ‘ Willingness of service providers to meet to compile
and disseminate information |
IDENTIFIED NEEDS: ‘ Coordinated services ‘ Ways to close gaps in
necessary services |
|
|
Year 1
|
Year 2 & 3 |
Year 4 & 5 |
|
KEY ACTION STEPS |
* Tools will be used and/or created to ensure
accurate referrals |
* Identify local agency with primary referral
information |
* Creation of follow-up reporting system for
referrals |
Resources
Needed
|
‘ Continued
participation of providers to compile and disseminate information |
‘ Centralized point
person and/or agency who has primary information ‘ Creation of printed compiled information ‘ Creation of compiled information on a website
and/or database ‘ Continued participation of providers to compile and
disseminate information |
‘ Continued participation of providers to compile and
disseminate information |
Partnership Goal
GOAL
The Ware Community
Partnership will become a strong voice in community planning and action. |
|
OBJECTIVE 1: The partnership will
maintain an organizational structure that will support its member agencies. |
KNOWN ASSETS: ‘Ware Domestic Violence Task Force, Trinity Food
Pantry, services to young children by Hampshire County Action Commission and
Hampshire Educational Collaborative, Safe Schools/Healthy Students, day care
and nursery school providers, Valley Human Services, Literacy Volunteers in
Palmer, SAFEPLAN and Ware District Court, Ware Community Development, Quaboag
Valley CDC and Quaboag Valley Business Assistance Corp., Ware Public Schools,
Quaboag Regional Middle / High School, Womanshelter/Companeros, Mary Lane
Hospital, Young MenÕs Library, WIC office, Ware Family Center, Ware
Selectmen, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission ‘ The former ÒWare Coalition for a Better CommunityÓ
was successful before folding ‘ Willingness for community partners to revive a
partnership |
IDENTIFIED NEEDS: ‘ Regularly scheduled partnership meetings ‘ Outreach ‘ Coordinated services |
|
|
Year 1
|
Year 2 & 3 |
Year 4 & 5 |
|
KEY ACTION STEPS |
* The partnership will meet to monitor progress
toward its goals * The partnership will recruit new members from the
community as needed * The partnership members will divide into smaller
units to address particular issues as needed |
* The partnership will meet to monitor progress
toward its goals * The partnership will recruit new members from the
community as needed * The partnership members will divide into smaller
units to address particular issues as needed |
* The partnership will meet to monitor progress
toward its goals * The partnership will recruit new members from the
community as needed * The partnership members will divide into smaller
units to address particular issues as needed |
Resources
Needed
|
‘ Place and time to meet ‘ a name for the partnership that will reflect its
rural four-county participation ‘ Facilitator or service coordinator position |