President Jerry Sewell presents a donation from the Exchange Club of Springfield Foundation of $250 to Pat Banaszak, Director of Family and Youth Initiatives of New Carlisle, Ohio.
Family & Youth Initiatives (FYI), originally began as Tri-County Women’s Network in 1978. Co-founded by Pat Banaszak and Carol Tipton, its primary goal was to provide free education and support services to struggling teen mothers. In its first 15 years, the Women’s Network served over 1,200 families via three centers in Southwest Ohio.
In 1993, the Women’s Network experienced a 45% surge in requests for pregnancy tests from girls ages 10 to 11. This shocking trend inspired the organization to change its name to Family & Youth Initiatives and to broaden its mission to represent several services.
FYI now represents several community services, including:
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Education for pregnant women and parents with young children. This includes an “earn-while-you-learn” program, offering families a way to earn daily necessities, such as diapers, formula and baby food for free.
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A free preschool program specializing in developing social and emotional skills.
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A proactive in-school program for middle and high school teens that focuses on: developing healthy relationships, character building, and the realities and consequences of engaging in at-risk behaviors. Topics include: sexual activity, drug and alcohol abuse and teen dating violence.
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A peer-to-peer mentoring program for grades 6-12 that teaches the facts and harmful effects of tobacco, alcohol and other drug use; and encourages students to make healthy, long lasting choices.
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A community garden; nutrition and cooking classes.
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GED and job skills classes and several other adult development courses.