Missoula Forum for Children and Youth Wins National Got Outcomes! Award!  

The Missoula Forum for Children and Youth was recently named a Got Outcomes! Coalition of the Year by CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America) for achieving change around alcohol in our community! For more information, click here.  Missoula won in the single substance problem category for successfully implementing multiple strategies to prevent youth alcohol use in Missoula.  As a result of the work of the Forum and its members, many positive changes have occurred:

• fewer youth report using alcohol in the past 30 days

• more youth perceive underage drinking to be wrong

• more youth are delaying the use of alcohol

• fewer youth report poor family management practices

• more youth report that alcohol is hard to get.

CADCA’s chairman and CEO praised the winning coalitions by saying that they are “are true leaders in the field of substance abuse prevention, exemplifying the excellent work that coalitions are doing around the country to prevent and reduce drug use in their communities."  Congratulations, Missoula!

What can you do to make a difference for young people? 

• Identify the positive things that you care about in Missoula and work to sustain them.

• Join a community group or coalition that is working to improve the lives of young people and families.

• Be the kind of adult you want young people to become.

• Emphasize positive experiences that you have with young people.  Talk about the great contributions young people make to Missoula and to your life.

• Volunteer in youth programs.  Contribute financially when you can.

• Be a STAR (a significant, trusted adult resource).  Say hi and talk with young people whenever you see them—including teenagers! 

• Involve youth in family, group, and community decision-making processes, and really listen to them.

How active are Missoula children and youth?

*** New Resource:  Download the Forum's latest report:  "Measuring Up:  A Report Card on Underage Drinking in Missoula County".

Missoula - 1 of the 100 Best Communities for Young People Three Years Running

In October 2005, February 2007, and February 2008 Missoula was named one of America's 100 Best Communities for Young People in a nationwide competition hosted by America's Promise - Alliance for Youth.  Congratulations! 

Read more here.The award honors communities that strive to be a great place to grow up, and that work to meet five basic promises:

• Caring adults

• Safe places

• A healthy start in life

• Effective education, and

• Opportunities to help others

Missoula was recognized because we come together as a community to address challenges and build opportunities for all young people.  Missoula offers a sense of place, commitment to positive youth development, a proactive business community, a responsive social service system, community celebrations, caring adults, and high levels of collaboration.

As a community, we have the opportunity to celebrate this honor and all the people, programs, resources, and opportunities that make Missoula a great place for children, youth, and families.  We are proud to continue to work together to make Missoula an even better place to grow up.