PYP Youth and Family Programs

The following are descriptions of PYP youth and family programs taking place in communities in rural Pima County and beyond.

After School Program

PYP’s After School programs in Ajo and Catalina provided academic, social, and recreational enrichment for youth in elementary and middle school.

In 2003-2004, 113 youth participated in the After School Programs. (Funded by Pima County Outside Agency.)

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Coalition Development

Coalitions are a broad range of people and organizations that share a format, sustained commitment to enhance each other's capacity to reach a common mission by sharing risks, responsibilities and rewards. Coalitions can build consensus; minimize duplication of efforts and services; mobilize diverse talents; resources and approaches; increase the "critical mass" behind a community effort; and improve trust and communication among competitors.

Through the work of community coalitions, PYP facilitated implementation of programs and strategies such as decreasing norms, laws, and policies favorable to substance use and abuse; after school programs with homework and tutoring; life skills development; alcohol, drug and tobacco use and abuse prevention; cross-age mentoring programs; adolescent alcohol and drug prevention education; leadership development; teen pregnancy prevention; and community service projects. These programs promote healthy youth, parents, families, and communities.

Over 90 adults and 48 youth participated in coalitions and resource networks in PYP communities during 2003-2004. (Funded by the Center for Mental Health Services and the Community Partnership of Southern Arizona.)

Testimonials of Coalition members.

To increase school attachment and reduce academic failure, youth complete life skills classes:

Changing Scenes: Teen Outreach Program (TOP) has three parts: community service, weekly small group discussions/meetings, and service learning.

Botvin’s Life Skills Training (LST) addresses substance abuse and violence prevention through three components; drug resistance skills, personal self-management skills, self-image and goal setting, and general social skills, such as overcoming shyness, communicating effectively, and using assertiveness in decision-making.

In 2003-2004, over 370 youth participated in life skills education in Ajo, Catalina, Marana, in San Simon on the Tohono O'odham nation, on the New Pascua Yaqui Reservation, and Old Pasqua Yaqui Reservation, this is an increase of 25% over last year. (Funded through the Community Partnership of Southern Arizona; the State of Arizona’s Governor’s Office for Children, Youth & Families; and Pima County Outside Agencies.)

Family Fun Nights

Family Fun Nights, in Ajo, Catalina, and Marana included movie nights, literacy events, educational forums, and arts and crafts activities. The nights were designed to provide parents the opportunity to get information about raising teenagers, while providing the opportunity for families to spend positive time together.

In 2003-2004, over 200 youth and adults attended Family Fun Night activities throughout rural Pima County. (Funded by the Community Partnership of Southern Arizona.)

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Pima YOUTH Partnership (PYP) was incorporated in 1990 by a group of concerned citizens that wanted to connect rural communities with the same programs, services, and activities available to youth and families living in the metropolitan Tucson area.

As a prevention agency, PYP works with youth and families in rural and Native American communities to reach its mission, "In partnership with communities, develop resources to promote the positive growth of their children." Since 1990, PYP has grown from its original three (3) communities of Ajo, rural Marana, and Sahuarita, to include Catalina, Flowing Wells, New Pascua Yaqui Reservation, and the three (3) western districts of the Tohono O'odham Nation.