COWOC’s Post

Last night at Swope Middle School, our CEO, Kim Young, presented one of many initiatives aimed at combatting the growing chronic absenteeism crisis in our Washoe County schools. The Children's Cabinet, along with several other dedicated partners, is committed to addressing this challenge with cooperative solutions to ensure our children receive the best education our district has to offer. Initiative #1 - Dedicate at least one Site Coordinator or Prevention Specialist at every school. Initiative #2 - Expand Family Resource Centers AND provide access to basic needs for families. Initiative #3 - Develop Innovative approaches to transportation. Initiative #4 - Expand before and after school child care. Initiative #5 - Engage families through positive relationships and mutual trust. Build family capacity with attendance. Build awareness of the availability of community resources to support families. Initiative #6 - Launch a community awareness campaign on rising absenteeism and the long-term impacts on the community. Initiative #7 - Ensure that every student has a teacher. "We can't afford to not do something. Let's solve this problem together." - Mike Kazmierski, Executive Director of Strengthen our Community

🚀 Introducing our new Connecting Communities Resource! 🚀 We’re excited to share our new resource - Together for Impact: Connecting Communities Partnership Case Study, developed by MCWH and Safe and Equal. This resource has been developed as part of the Connecting Communities program, which is a partnership between MCWH and Safe and Equal that supports grantees working to deliver primary prevention with and for multicultural and faith communities. Partnerships are a crucial tool for strengthening community-led primary prevention with multicultural communities, and strengthening practice more broadly within organisations seeking to engage multicultural and faith communities. Taking a partnership approach means looking closely at how organisations work together equitably, not just their project outcomes. In this case study, we tell the story of the partnership between MCWH and Safe and Equal – to share what worked and what’s needed for prevention partnerships between specialist and mainstream organisations. This resource highlights key learnings about good partnership practice and demonstrates the benefits and impact of focusing on equitable partnership practice in primary prevention. Download a copy of Together for Impact: Connecting Communities Partnership Case Study here: https://ow.ly/Azpx50TO6Ze #PrimaryPrevention #FamilyViolence #Multicultural #PublicHealth

A post from Community College board member, with my thoughts added about the tangible yet rarely discussed or measured benefits of healthy materials in SCHOOLS. I have more to add with Advocacy + Policy Day for Green Building Materials, Codes & Schools being the topic of discussion in Sacramento next week. But here’s a summary of my thoughts below: “Leaving out the environment they spend the most time— home and school. The materials used when building or used as the fixtures and equipment are equally important— the tangible to the intangible benefits and values listed on your fact sheet” More to share on green code and green schools soon #buildingcode #buildinghealth #buildingscience #healthyschools #greenschools

This week marks Anti-Social Behaviour Week, and at County Rents, we want to take a moment to raise awareness about this important issue. Anti-social behaviour can affect individuals and communities in many ways, and it’s crucial that we all understand its impact. At County Rents, we take a proactive approach to managing ASB by maintaining clear communication with our customers and local authorities. We ensure that any concerns are addressed quickly and appropriately, with a focus on creating a respectful and safe environment for all. By raising awareness and fostering understanding, we can contribute to building stronger, safer communities for everyone. Let’s all work together to make a positive difference. #ASBWeek #CommunitySafety #AntiSocialBehaviour #Respect #CountyRents #BuildingStrongerCommunities #SafeSpaces

On #Day14 of #16DaysOfActivism, it is time to prioritize development plans that incorporate safety measures for all, ensuring no one is left vulnerable. Together, we can advocate for inclusive designs that protect and empower communities, fostering safer environments for everyone. #EndSextortion #SafeSpacesForAll

Very excited to share our newest resource: Together for Impact: Connecting Communities Partnership Case Study. This is the last resource for a while, but what an amazing year we've had, being able to share some of the thoughts that fly around our brains and for people to actually read and use them! Who would have thought! This case study brings together key learnings and good practice from the Connecting Communities partnership between Multicultural Centre for Women's Health and Safe and Equal to strengthen partnership practice between mainstream organisations and specialist organisations working with multicultural and faith-based communities to prevent family violence. The work isn't easy, but it's better when we do it together (obviously because it is way more fun that way, but also... better outcomes for the people we work with and for! It's a win win!). It has been such a pleasure being part of this partnership, and seeing what it actually means to work in a mutually beneficial way where we don't just dance around the tricky bits, but find value and meaning in questioning the hard stuff. Each member of Connecting Communities has made the project their own, but what has stayed throughout the last three years is a commitment to focusing on HOW we do our work, as much as WHAT we do in our work. And if we are to do the ‘how’ well, we need to engage in open conversations where power, privilege and inequality are acknowledged and discussed. Partnerships are the foundation for engaging in equitable and meaningful community-led prevention. The truth is that it takes time and money to start undoing the historical harms, and to rebuild trust with communities. We can't do this work sitting at the top. This partnership has strengthened our respective capacity – organisationally and individually – to enable us to leverage resources and expertise, gain valuable knowledge, and advocate for the ongoing interrogation of systems and structures needed to end violence against women with multicultural communities. If you work in a partnership, or are interested in engaging a partner, I would love to hear how the lessons in this resource resonate with your work! And, a big kudos to my CC partner, Lucy Peckham. Five resources in nine months, that's just a bit crazy of us! Lucky to work with and learn from the best in the business!

During our A to Z of #fostering series we have a selection of blogs to give you a greater understanding of each one, we start with A is for Attachment - possibly the single most crucial understanding within fostering. Click here to learn more - https://lnkd.in/ejH7xKEq #foster

Exciting Announcement: The RESHAPE Restorative Justice Programme to Launch in 2025! The Cornmarket Project is pleased to announce the development of RESHAPE – Recognising Societal Harm and Promoting Empathy – set to roll out in 2025. Inspired by our participation in the EU Erasmus+ ROUTE Programme—a collaborative partnership between Italy, France, Finland, and Ireland that promotes Restorative Justice as a means to address harm and foster accountability—RESHAPE is grounded in the principles of Restorative Justice and Motivational Interviewing. This innovative programme is designed to create lasting change in the lives of participants and the communities they impact. What sets RESHAPE apart is its focus on teenagers and young adults aged 16 to 24, recognising the unique challenges this age group faces. The programme will empower participants to: • Take accountability for their actions. • Develop empathy by understanding the harm caused to victims, families, and communities. • Achieve meaningful and lasting behavioural transformation. Central to the RESHAPE process is the inclusion of victims’ voices, which are vital for fostering genuine empathy and understanding. By incorporating victim participation, anonymised impact statements, and real-life case studies, the programme ensures that those who have caused harm fully appreciate its impact. This approach deepens accountability and supports meaningful pathways to repair harm and rebuild trust. We look forward to sharing more updates as we progress with this transformative initiative in 2025. #RestorativeJustice #YouthEmpowerment #RESHAPEProgramme #MotivationalInterviewing #BehaviourChange #VictimVoice www.cornmarketproject.ie

As parents, nothing is more important than the safety of our children. But do we really know if their school is providing the secure environment they deserve? Every child should feel safe, nurtured, and protected in their learning space. Let’s come together to ensure that our children have the safe spaces they need to grow and thrive. We can start raising awareness by joining the #safespacesforschoolchildren movement online, advocating for better infrastructure, and supporting initiatives that prioritize the safety and well-being of our kids. Together, we can create a future where every child learns without fear. #SafeSpacesForSchoolChildren #SafeSpacesByTIOF #ProtectSchoolChildren #ProtectSchoolChildrenWithTIOF #EmpowerWomenandYouth

🌟 Cheers to 2025: Building Safer, Stronger Communities Together! 🌟 As we welcome the new year, we’re filled with gratitude for the incredible efforts of individuals and organizations working to make safety, equity, and accountability more than just aspirations—they’re becoming our collective reality. 💡 2024 was a year of growth, learning, and action. Whether it was through fostering trauma-informed practices, creating safeguarding frameworks, or championing inclusive spaces, every step has mattered. ✨ In 2025, we’re dreaming big. Let’s keep collaborating to ensure everyone can thrive in workplaces, schools, and communities free from harm. Together, we can create systems that protect, empower, and uplift. To our friends, partners, and changemakers: thank you for your dedication and passion. Here’s to another year of working toward a safer, more equitable world—one action, one policy, and one conversation at a time. 💙 Let’s make this year count. 🎉 Happy New Year from all of us at Safe Organizations! #HappyNewYear #SafeOrganizations #Safeguarding #ChildSafeguarding #Equity #TraumaInformed #AccountabilityInAction #WorkplaceCulture #SOLA