Several action groups were formed as a result of the combined efforts of the Richland County Health Department and the Richland County Planning Board to form the “State of the Community” county-wide conference – the goal in mind was to “improve quality of life” in Richland County.
Each action group focuses on specific issues to try to improve the county in various areas.
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Action Group
The Lifelong Learning Action Group focuses on education with its mission to support and expand lifelong learning (i.e. early childhood through seniors) opportunities in Richland County beyond the K-12 system.
The committee was formed to identify current learning opportunities, local resources, possible options and collaborative partners. It became one of the six action groups, however.
The group developed a “wiki” – similar to a Web site – as a “one stop” site listing formal and informal learning, distance learning options, trainings, programming and other cultural opportunities such as music and art. It is currently being updated for the county-wide conference and is available from the Sidney-Richland County Public Library, Sidney Job Service and other partner Web sites.
The commitment of the committee has been to encourage collaboration between service providers and local businesses and organizations so they can share resources (who’s doing what, where and when). Sidney-Richland County Public librarian and action group member Renee Goss said the group is important because it actively works to “help provide the best learning system” for the community.
“Learning occurs throughout our entire lifespan, with early learning setting the foundation,” she said. “And just as change is inevitable, learning and education will help us to adapt to those changes.”
Along with a Virtual Learning Opportunities site, the group has been exploring options for building a lifelong learning center with the library. Other efforts this past year have been to establish a Business Expansion and Retention (BEAR) program as a resource for county businesses and to implement a survey to determine what educational classes and trainings are needed (what the community wants and needs). A Learning Needs Survey is currently being conducted which are available at http://wsd.dli.mt.gov/local/ sidney, ww.richland.org/spl or in person at the library and the Sidney Job Service. For more information and meeting times call VISTAs Kate Johnson at 433-1917 or Deborah Jiang at 433-1204. During the county-wide conference Jan. 21 and 22, the action group members will discuss the progress they’ve made since last meeting, plans for the new library, the survey and the BEAR program. “Keeping up with new skills and knowledge for our work, play and families in order to be productive and active citizens as long as we can has a positive effect on the economic, societal, psychological and physical well being of our community,” Goss said. “And thus will ensure our stability and survivability.”
Public Safety Action Group
The Public Safety Action Group focuses on crime with an emphasis on reducing substance abuse and domestic violence rates in Richland County.
During the last county-wide conference, the action group established several strategies that included creating a line of communication between the public and law enforcement on how to report and follow-up on suspicious behavior, implementing age-appropriate education in the school system to address domestic violence issues and creating community awareness of domestic violence services available.
The group is working with law enforcement on Crimestoppers, an online crime reporting form. They’ve also been working with the Local Emergency Preparedness Committee on its Web site (www.richland.org/lepc) to prepare emergency procedures. However, when it came to substance and domestic abuse, many issues arose. “There were several [goals] that were under public safety, and we were realizing there was just too many under this action group,” action group member Judy LaPan said.
That’s why the Public Safety Action Group recently teamed up with the DUI Task Force and Richland County Community Change Project to narrow its focus and move forward with a few goals to present at the conference next month. In that meeting, the groups decided alcohol was the underlying problem.
The two goals to be presented at the conference are 1) community support for consistent enforcement and adjudication and 2) focus on alcohol use as the underlying cause of most of the identified public safety issues. The strategy decided on was to increase the public perception that impaired driving will result in an arrest. The action group will ask for public input to make sure there is support for it.
While there isn’t a set time and place for the action group’s meeting yet, members will decide after the conference when to set a meeting and move forward to pursue goals discussed at the conference.
Partnership for Promise (youth action group)
The Partnership for Promise is really an action group to focus on the the area’s youth. It’s a coalition dedicated to uniting communities to provide a healthy, supportive environment for the youth of Richland County. Members come from all facets of community life including schools, religious organizations, community agencies, public health, media, local businesses and civic clubs.
They pledge to keep five promises to the youth: 1) ensure they have caring adults in their lives, 2) safe places to play and learn, 3) a healthy start in life, 4) marketable skills to carry with them into adulthood and 5) opportunities to serve their community.
The group holds events such as youth dances, Plant the Promise, Red Ribbon Week, Turn Off The TV Month, ice cream socials, community service projects for the youth like planting trees, helping the Boys and Girls Club of Richland County begin, starting Sidney Soccer and founding the Kindess to Youth program.
“This is group is important because it promotes healthy decisions that will help prevent youth substance abuse,” VISTA Becca Todd said. “It also allows parents opportunities to get involved with their children’s lives.”
Current projects include Friday Night Lights in Sidney and Fairview and working with Sidney Middle School for the Mix It Up At Lunch Day.
During the conference, the action group will focus on highlighting what they did in 2009. But discussion will switch to input on new goals. “We really need ideas on how to fulfill the goals, how to fund them, who would like to help and how we can make Richland County a safer, healthier place for our youth,” Todd said.
The action group meets on the second Tuesday of each month from 9-10 a.m. at the Community Services Building conference room. The public is invited to attend.
reporter@sidneyherald.com
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