Community Profile
Buchanan County St. Joseph Youth Alliance Community Profile
February 2002
To FACT Board Co-Chairs:
The St. Joseph Youth Alliance is the only Community Partnership in Buchanan County, and currently serves six sites in the north end of St. Joseph, with expansion into four additional sites underway. Located approximately 50 miles north of Kansas City, St. Joseph reports a population of 72,000. Approximately 14% of the population meet or exceed the state’s description of poverty. St. Joseph is a community rich in potential assets—it has a state-of-the-art medical system, a citywide public transportation system, a successful United Way, and is home to approximately 200 churches with all denominations present. One of the biggest assets in St. Joseph, is the community’s commitment to a five-year strategic planning process entitled, Great Things Happen In Greater St. Joseph. Seven partners funded this community planning effort, the City of St. Joseph, the County of Buchanan, the Chamber of Commerce, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, Heartland Health, the St. Joseph School District, and Missouri Western State College, which resulted in the collection of input from over 3,500 citizens through approximately 10,000 hours of volunteer labor.
The St. Joseph Youth Alliance is an independent nonprofit organization, which houses both Caring Communities and Educare. A 15 member Board of Directors, made up of representatives from the state, city, county, social service agencies, the school district, business partners, clergy, and independent citizens, governs the Partnership. The Board meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month, at 7:30 am. The mission of the Partnership is: Working better together to benefit children, families, and the community. The vision: St. Joseph children are prepared to make the most of their potential.
As a result of a recent restructuring effort, the Board has narrowed the focus of the Youth Alliance to three of the six core results: children ready to enter school, children succeeding in school, and youth ready to enter productive adulthood. This move was done in an effort to reduce administrative costs and focus on outcomes and accountability, while also supporting the work of the Great Things Happen community plan. Through that comprehensive plan, these three areas didn’t have a wide array of support, as did the core results addressing health, safety, and employment.
The Board and the staff of the Partnership understands the importance of leveraging Caring Communities flexible funds with other sources of funding, and strive for that on a continual basis. As a result of this diligence and hard work, we are proud to say that Caring Communities funds are reflective of only 19% of the overall Partnership budget of $3,423,347.
Were it not for the continued support of our state and community partners, we would not be able to make the differences we have made here in St. Joseph. Speaking on behalf of the Partnership, and knowing that all of the partners in this success would be impossible to mention, we would like to extend our sincerest appreciation to members of the Site Councils, members of our Board, the Local Resource Team, the St. Joseph School District, the YWCA, United Way/Success by Six, Family Guidance, Economic Opportunity Corporation, Inter/Serv, the funders and volunteers of the Great Things Happen community strategic plan, our Legislators, and our State Agency partners. Without each of these partners, our success would be difficult and limited.
Though the work of systems reform is challenging and endless, we are renewed with each success. In this community, we have worked to convene groups of individuals from all walks of life, to identify, discuss, and strategize over key issues in St. Joseph. What began as simply communication has evolved into collaboration. Partners in this process are coming to the table with whatever piece of the puzzle they possess, be it time, money, ideas, etc. With this obstacle overcome, the next challenge is figuring out how and if the pieces of the puzzle fit together. Successfully completed puzzles in St. Joseph include such strategies as the School Based Social Workers and the Targeted Case Manager.
This process is both time consuming and timely during this era of economic uncertainty. We appreciate all you have done, and look forward to your continued support.
Sincerely,
Anita Jolly
Caring Communities Director
St. Joseph Youth Alliance
