The Roundtable consists of four (4) Initiatives that concentrate on the following key areas: Academic Success (Kids at Hope and Youth Leadership St. Lucie), Mental Health Collaborative (St. Lucie RISE), and Substance Abuse Prevention (Drug Free St. Lucie). The singular focus of each initiative allows it to develop a strategic plan of action around its specific risk factors through education, system and policy change, and comprehensive environmental strategies.
DRUG FREE ST. LUCIE
Drug Free St. Lucie (DFSL) recognizes that local problems need local solutions, as a Drug Free Communities-funded coalition, Drug Free St. Lucie engages multiple sectors of the community and employs a variety of environmental strategies to address local drug problems. Our Drug Free St. Lucie Coalition is comprised of community leaders, parents, youth, the school district, religious organizations, health care and business professionals, and law enforcement. By involving the community, DFSL also helps those youth at risk for substance use recognize that the majority of our nation’s youth choose not to use drugs.”
ST. LUCIE RISE – Mental Health Collaborative
Substance misuse, mental health challenges, and related problems threaten the success of youth and families in our community. St. Lucie RISE Strategic Prevention Partnership (St. Lucie RISE) provides an opportunity for community stakeholders to work collectively to improve outcomes for high-risk and underserved communities facing behavioral health problems. St. Lucie RISE is comprised of Drug Free St. Lucie and the Roundtable’s newly established Mental Health Collaborative that will serve as the infrastructure to expand our county’s capacity to address the behavioral health needs of youth and families in St. Lucie. While Drug Free St. Lucie will continue to expand its substance misuse prevention efforts through this initiative, the Mental Health Collaborative will be laser-focused on mental health promotion and strategies. Similar to Drug Free St. Lucie, the Mental Health Collaborative will utilize the Strategic Prevention Framework for ongoing assessment, capacity building, planning, implementation, and evaluation of our community’s efforts to address mental health and effectively serve high-risk and underserved communities in a sustainable and culturally competent manner.
KIDS AT HOPE
Kids at Hope is an evidence-based strategic cultural framework designed to engage the entire community in supporting the success of all children without exception. Community members are trained to be intentional about believing in, supporting, and connecting with youth and teens in meaningful and sustainable ways. Through the ongoing introduction and reinforcement of Kids at Hope principles and practices with caring adults, St Lucie County fosters a community culture in which all children can succeed.
YOUTH LEADERSHIP OF ST. LUCIE
Youth Leadership St. Lucie (YLSL) is comprised of a diverse group of high school students representing a broad spectrum of schools throughout St. Lucie County. YLSL members have a genuine interest in personal growth and a desire to be a catalyst for change in their community. Operating under the premise of “youth-led, adult-guided”, YLSL provides teens a forum in which to discuss and creatively address issues they have identified in the community.