The Integrated County Planning (ICP) Initiative is a five-year Demonstration Project underway in 15 New York counties, including Cattaraugus. It is intended to develop
“an integrated planning process to improve outcomes for all children, youth and families…and to demonstrate the benefits of establishing an integrated, county-level planning process to build healthy communities, healthy families and healthy
children” (Office of Children and Family Services Request for Proposals, January 1998).
Locally, the ICP efforts have formed a Consortium of well over 500 members who gather monthly to discuss mutual concerns and for various presentations of youth services in Cattaraugus County. The cornerstone of these efforts surrounds our relationship with the
Search Institute of Minneapolis, Minnesota and our School District’s participation in the
Profiles of Student Life- Attitudes and Behaviors Survey. To date all School Districts have been surveyed, one year ahead of schedule. Because of the information gleaned from the individual and aggregate reports readers are able to understand what our 6-12th graders are thinking, feeling and doing. Each of the Districts is afforded
consultation opportunities and application for “mini-projects” from ICP funding. In 2001 the “lead agency” for the project shifted from the Office of the Deputy Administrator to the Youth Bureau. In addition the Youth Bureau Director, the Director of Services for the Department of Social Services and the Deputy County Administrator authored the
ICP Three Year Plan (2001-2003), which was submitted in December of 2000 and approved in January 2001. Copies of the Three Year Plan, which denote and enumerate the coordinated services of the Departments, are available upon request.
The ICP Consortium also is a partner with Cattaraugus County Community Action in the
ACT (Assets Coming Together) For Youth Grant, which closely ties us to Cornell University’s Upstate Center for Excellence and all of the wonderful trainings available. Through ACT For Youth,
Family Support Centers have been established in Salamanca, Ellicottville, Cattaraugus/Little Valley and Franklinville School Districts. Several have been trained in
Concept Mapping Software, which essentially is a consensus building mechanism whereby areas of agreement/disagreement are graphically portrayed along with recommended course of action. A
WIB Youth Council, an advisory arm to the local Workforce Investment Board has been established. Cattaraugus County and the Olean School District have entered into a collaborative arrangement for the provision of
Even Start services. A major Youth Development Conference (attended by 360 “asset providers”) was sponsored by the Youth Bureau, which featured Dr. Jimmy Calloway from Atlanta. Several other collaborations have been formed such as the
Healthy Families Program and several partners are working on
“The Asset Approach,” a cable access program in partnership with Cattaraugus-Allegany
BOCES. Keep watching as we
GROW!
