VISION
Building a community where no child is hungry, hurt, alone or rejected and where all children and youth believe they are loved, respected, and treated with dignity.

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In the late 1980’s, community groups were focused on economic development.
The Georgetown Project is modeled after the same tradition, focusing on human development, by identifying and closing gaps in services for youth and families.
By 1995, in an exploding community whose population had grown 60% in 5 years, there were growing concerns over drugs, alcohol, and vandalism on the part of
Georgetown youth.

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A task force including representatives from the City,
County, GISD, Southwestern University, UT School of Social Work, law enforcement, the Ministerial
Alliance, Georgetown Hospital, private health care providers, and local businesses met together to find solutions.
Formed in 1997, this community-wide coalition immediately set out to promote active programs and services for all youth in Georgetown.

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TGP continues as a catalyst organization that has, through several concurrent projects, established collaborative networks to build solutions that create a healthier community for our youth and children.
Programs serve over 7,000 children, youth, and families each year, and
TGP provides leadership at the community-wide level through a network of 40 agencies which meets monthly to identify needs and gaps in services and plan collaboratively on how to fill the gaps.

Using the Search Institute Model for
Community and Schools…
”the responsibility for building community is shared by all and requires collective effort”

Definition of a Developmental Asset
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Factors that are critical for young people’s successful growth and development.
Building blocks to help kids grow up healthy, caring, and responsible.
“Much of the work of asset building occurs for free. It is the stuff people do in their everyday lives.” -Peter L. Benson, Ph.D.
Founder and President - The Search Institute

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Young people are important. They are a valuable resource.
Youth today are struggling to find their place in our communities.
We know what kids need to thrive. The 40 assets are essential to success.
YOU MATTER! Each of us can play a role in building assets for and with young people.

[learning to frame positively]
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From...
Problem focused
Youth as problems
Reactive
Blaming
Professionals
Crisis management
Competition
Despair
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To...
Positive Focus
Youth as resources
Proactive
Claim responsibility
Everyone
Vision Building
Cooperation
Hope

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20%
8%
42% 11-20 assets
21-30 assets
31-40 assets
0-10 assets
30%
Our youth should have at least 31 assets, the average is only 18

(by Grade 6-12, Search Data)
25
20
15
10
5
0
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
Older youth have fewer assets than younger.
Boys have fewer assets (16.5) than girls (19.5)
Avg.

45%
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
0 to 10 11 to 20 21 to 30
Avoids doing things that are dangerous
31 to 40

90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
0 to 10 11 to 20 21 to 30 31 to 40
Pays attention to healthy nutrition and exercise

60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
0 to 10 11 to 20 21 to 30
Gets mostly A’s on report cards
31 to 40

Fewer Assets Means More Problems
(High-risk Behaviors)
The Search data suggests high risk includes
 use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs
 early sexual activity
 depression, suicide
 school problems
 violence
 illegal activity

60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
0 to 10 11 TO 20 21 TO 30 31 TO 40
Used three times in last 30 days, or gotten drunk once or more in last week

70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
0 to 10 11 to 20 21 to 30 31 to 40
Has engaged in three or more acts of fighting, hitting, injuring a person, carrying a weapon, or threatening physical harm in past 12 months

45%
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
0 to 10 11 to 20 21 TO 30 31 TO 40
Has skipped school two ore more times in the last four weeks and /or has below a C average

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Relationships are key
Everyone has a role in helping youth develop
All kids are our kids
Youth need to receive consistent messages about values and their potential from many sectors of the community.
Moving beyond prevention and intervention to building strengths
Youth leadership involved.

Our goal is to create community conditions that protect, nurture, and realize the full potential of every child and youth in our community.

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To achieve this, we have formed a groundbreaking partnership bringing together business, government, faith communities, education, young and old.
Together we have identified the strengths and needs of our community.
We’re mobilizing human and financial resources to building upon our collective strengths to fill the gaps.

Angel Food, Inc.
Annunciation Maternity Home
Assistance League
Boy Scouts
Boys' and Girls' Club
Bridges to Growth - TGP
Bright Future For You
Camp Agape
CASA of Williamson Co.
Catholic Charities
Child Advocacy Center
Churches
Communities in Schools
Community Impact News
D & L Printing
DSHS
ECI Pride
ESC13 Homeless Program
Georgetown CRC
Georgetown Housing Authority
Georgetown Parks and Rec
Georgetown Police Dept.
Girl Scouts of America
GISD - Council of PTAs
GISD--ASAP
GISD--At Risk
GISD--ESE
GISD--Homeless
GISD--Migrant
GISD--Nurses--Healthy/Safety
GISD--SAIL
GISD--Service Learning
GISD--Special Ed.
Good Works Consulting
Hope Alliance
Life Steps
Lone Star Circle of Care
Northwind Farm
PIE Mentor Program
Pregnancy Help Center
R.O.C.K.
Salvation Army
Southwestern University
STARRY
Support The Bus
The Caring Place
The Georgetown Project
WBC-Head start
WC4C Child Care
WILCO Health District
Williamson County Museum
Williamson County Sun
WilliamsonCountyUnited Way

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In addition to The Georgetown Project
Collaborative and providing leadership at the community-wide level to identify needs and gaps in service and developing solutions…

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From children’s literacy groups, parent education, training for childcare providers and a free lending library of early childhood books and toys through the Bridges To Growth Resource Center.
(1,000 served each year. 800 adults and 200 children served in 2009.)
To a 4-week summer food and enrichment camp experience for low-income K-5 th children in GISD.
(60-80 kids each summer)

Programming spans
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To after school programming for at-risk Middle
School students providing academic and enrichment activities, that has led to improved grades, better school attendance, fewer discipline referrals, and better TAKS scores.
(200-300 each year)

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To substance abuse prevention through an awareness campaign targeting parents and teens and providing healthy alternative activities at
Georgetown Teen Center. (Information to 3,000 parents & teens / 200 students attend G-TEAM alternative activities held at the teen center.)
To service learning, promoting diversity, and leadership development at the high school level through the Youth Action Council.

Programming spans
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To service learning, promoting diversity, and leadership development at the high school level through the Youth Action Council.
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Youth Service Day
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National & Global Youth Service Day
Youth Summits
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Semester of Service
(200 – 300 teens participate annually)

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To matching Southwestern University students in service learning, gaining job skills and building Developmental
Assets in Georgetown young people through our Community Interactive
Partnership (C.I.P.)
(5-10 students work with 300 local children and youth each year)

Programming spans
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Sites for C.I.P. students have included:
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GISD Schools
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Bridges To Growth
Ride On Center for Kids
Georgetown Library
Georgetown Teen Center
Getsemani & Willie Hall Centers
Boys & Girls Club

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Contracts
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City of Georgetown
Williamson County
Grants
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Governmental
Private Foundations
Annual Giving
Special Events
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Spring – A Taste of Georgetown
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Fall – Program Fundraisers
A Taste of Georgetown
Dinner Parties

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Recognize your part in supporting
Georgetown children and youth.
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Build Developmental Assets in youth.
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Give of your time – Volunteer!
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Give of your talent – In-kind services.
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Give of your till - $$ is always welcome!

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Homelessness in Georgetown
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Approximately 200 GISD students are homeless.
TGP is the lead organization addressing this issue in
Georgetown.
TGP is committed to developing a teen homeless transitional shelter or drop-in center, already named
Eagles Nest, to provide hope and support to stay in school for 50-75 teens.
Funding is needed to make it a reality.

Talks and Talks and Talks and Talks
“Through the years, I have found out something about kids—they all basically have the same needs.
They have a need to be loved.
They have a need to achieve something and get recognition for it.
They have a great need to be accepted however they are…”

Leslie Janca, Executive Director
(512) 943-5198
Jancal @georgetownproject.com