Whatever it Takes proposes solutions for youth success

A group of community organizers and volunteers debuted a draft on Thursday of multiple solutions that could help more Athens children and teens graduate from  college and succeed in the workforce.

More than 40 people attended the event at Classic City High School to hear the organizers of the local group, called Whatever It Takes, outline a few of the proposed solutions.

“We want you to share with us what you think and feel, suggestions and what have you,” said Terris Thomas, a resident engagement facilitator for Whatever It Takes. “With Whatever It Takes, our mission and our goal is to make sure all children in Athens-Clarke County are healthy, safe, engaged, are involved in their communities, and on course for a high school education and college or a career afterwards.”

Whatever it Takes is a local, federally funded initiative. The group plans each year to document among other things, how the initiative is helping to lower the teenage pregnancy rate, ensure all third-graders are meeting grade-level reading standards, and reduce childhood obesity.

Whatever It Takes workers and volunteers published the solutions for the first time this week. The solutions are the product of hundreds of hours of meetings and focus groups between education and healthcare professionals, local law enforcement and members of the community.

The ideas Whatever It Takes leaders discussed included an expanding existing early childcare services for infants and toddlers, increasing the number of parenting resources for expecting families and new parents, and beefing up after-school programs for children.

In neighborhoods, workers identified a need for increases in vouchers for the Athens Transit bus service, setting up a clinic or satellite healthcare center near the Alps Road Elementary School zone, and launching a free wireless internet service across Athens.

Other solutions focused on health and wellness, calling for more volunteers to help residents navigate the healthcare system, and expand conflict resolution and mindfulness training in schools and neighborhoods. Before college, more parents and children would take financial classes and learn how to save and apply for scholarships to college.

“If we're going to do whatever it takes, well, these solutions are what it's going to take,” said Tim Johnson, executive director for Whatever It Takes.

Johnson and Whatever it Takes workers now are asking for the community for feedback on all of the proposed solutions, which may be done online at WitAthens.org. By late June, Whatever It Takes organizers plan to present the solutions to its Board of Directors, who would eventually recommend and set priorities.

Whatever it Takes workers are operating on a $500,000 grant awarded from the Department of Education Promise Neighborhoods program and thousands of in-kind donations from more than 50 community organizations, including the local school district, the University of Georgia and area hospitals. By the fall, Whatever It Takes plans to use the priorities to apply for other assistance, including an additional federal Promise Neighborhoods Implementation Grant.

Still, Whatever It Takes is not dependent on federal funds for the community to continue to implement the plan, according to Board President Lewis Earnest.

“The federal money is great, important whatever you want to say, but it is not the end all be all,” Earnest said.

The organization would still be able to meet its goals if the network of community agencies continues to work together, communicate and share resources, according to Earnest.

For more information visit: http://www.witathens.org