Benton County Youth Coalition (BCYC) is a 501-c3 nonprofit organization that focuses on the betterment of youth in Benton County. Since 2011, BCYC has developed a county wide synergy among youth and adults. In the fall of 2021, BCYC was fortunate to receive a grant from the Missouri Department of Mental Health to work on the prevention and reduction of substance abuse among Benton County teens. Through this grant, BCYC hired a Community Liaison Officer (CLO) in December of 2021 who will facilitate educational opportunities and community activities to increase awareness of the harmful effects of marijuana and nicotine use on teen health, offer substance-free alternatives, and promote the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of Benton County youth.
Loren Whetsell, Director of BCYC at the Smart Start school readiness program.
We Believe in Youth!
The environments youth are a part of have a large impact on their mental health and future lives. BCYC’s goal is to increase community collaboration. Schools, families, and communities are all influential learning environments. Parent-family connectedness and perceived school connectedness are protective factors against drug use and aggressive behavior. BCYC wants to empower youth with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to make healthy choices and avoid using drugs. Effective prevention education depends on the schools, the family, and the community working together.
Research suggests that the longer youth wait to use drugs and/or alcohol, the less likely it is that they will become addicted later in life. Therefore, our goal as a community coalition is to collaborate with our partners to delay, decrease, and prevent substances abuse among youth.
BCYC meets the first Tuesday of the month at 6:30pm at the First United Methodist Church. 154 Washington Street, Warsaw, Mo.
Do you want to make a real difference? Invest in our community by investing in our youth. Join us!
“Each one of us can make a difference. Together we make change.“ Barbara Mikulski
