What is Communities That Care®?

Communities That Care (CTCARE) is a complete prevention planning system for healthy communities. The Communities That Care operating system provides a framework to help communities develop an integrated approach to positive youth development and the prevention of problem behaviors including substance abuse, academic failure, unplanned pregnancy, school dropout, and violence.

The CTCARE model is based on Prevention Science - a theory of social development that aims to identify and reduce risk factors and problem behaviors among young people while simultaneously promoting protective factors that lead to productive, fulfilling lives. Just as we know that certain behaviors affect a person’s physical health, there are also factors that affect the likelihood that a child will grow into a healthy, productive adult.

"Garfield High School is part of a diverse community with a lot of heart - everyone wants to 'do good' for our students! Unless individuals and groups work together, we can end up spinning our wheels. I like the idea of Communities That Care because it provides a system that brings everyone to the table for a focused and coordinated approach."
-Meg Horrigan, former PTSA Co-President, Garfield High School

Seattle Public Schools Communities That Care

In Seattle, 26 secondary schools are implementing Communities That Care. Each school has identified a planning team. CTCARE Teams participated in 4 training sessions over a two year period. As they were trained, CTCARE teams completed the 4 steps below to implement the operating system in their school-community. All CTCARE staff, materials, and trainings are funded by a Safe Schools/Healthy Students grant from the United States Departments of Education, Health & Human Services, and Justice.

STEP 1:  Needs Assessment
Collect and analyze school-specific data from the CTCARE Youth Survey administered to 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th graders in April/May 2002. The CTCARE survey measures the risk and protective factors that impact positive youth development. Analyzing survey data provides an opportunity for each school community to analyze its unique strengths and challenges.

STEP 2:  Determine Priorities/Set Goals & Outcomes
Based on data from their school's students, CTCARE teams determine priorities for reducing risk and enhancing protective factors on which to focus efforts and resources. Each school team identifies current community and school resources that address these priority risk and protective factors for their students. They will also identify any gaps to be filled in existing resources. Goals and outcomes are determined for each of the selected priorities.

STEP 3:  Implement Research Proven Programs
Schools apply for mini-grants and mobilize community resources to implement effective prevention interventions and strategies to reduce prioritized risk factors and enhance prioritized protective factors.

STEP 4:  Evaluation
CTCARE teams develop an evaluation plan to measure whether or not the desired outcomes are being achieved. In 2004, the CTCARE Youth Survey will be readministered to all 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th graders to formally document changes in risk and protective factors as a result of programs that have been implemented.