Welcome to Aurora Partners for Thriving Youth! We look forward to collaborating with you to create an environment in Aurora that encourages all young people to be healthy and thrive.

Aurora Partners for Thriving Youth (APTY) consists of community members,youth-serving organizations, local business owners, and government agency representatives focused on empowering young people to reach their full potential. Our mission is to partner with young people and the Aurora community to create opportunities that empower our youth to thrive by embracing social, emotional, and physical wellness. We aspire to engage with the Aurora community to reduce risk factors for our young people and increase protective factors in the community that contributes to healthy lifestyles.

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Our coalition began in 2015 as the Aurora Substance Abuse Prevention (ASAP)coalition partnering with the leaders of the Aurora Mental Health Center. In 2019, our group transferred to a new organizational structure. Tri-County HealthDepartment (TCHD) – the local public health agency serving the Adams, Arapahoe, and Douglas Counties, became the manager of our alliance.

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We were excited to be awarded a federal 5-year Drug-Free Communities (DFC)grant in January 2021 from the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), managed through a partnership between ONDCP and CDP. The funding provides support to community coalitions to strengthen the infrastructure among local partners working together to reduce substance use among youth. 

 

The APTY Coalition is guided by the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF), which is a five-step planning process. The process includes assessment, capacity building, planning, implementation, and evaluation, while also integrating sustainability and cultural competence.

Our leadership transition afforded us the opportunity to reassess and develop a fresh approach to understanding and addressing the substance misuse and related behavioral health challenges facing the community of Aurora. In 2021, the coalition will first complete step one of the SPF process which consists of an assessment to identify local needs. Next, we will begin step two which involves building capacity and readiness to address prevention needs. The end goal of step2 is to develop a new strategic plan that addresses the unique needs of the community.

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Meeting on the second Tuesday of each month, members will be presented with data, asked to discuss and identify the needs of the community, collaborate to develop prevention strategies, identify and implement community-level interventions and engage with the community and young people to promote the mission and vision of the coalition. We will also provide opportunities to network, learn about partner organizations and share upcoming community events. Please see the attached information regarding the Strategic Prevention Model, Risk and Protective Factors, and our Member Agreement form that outlines the expectations of the coalition members.

 

The APTY Coalition offers a voice to anyone who would like to assist in our efforts to build a better Aurora for our youth. We are grateful for your interest and we welcome your participation. The Coalition Coordinator can be reached at aurorapartnersforthrivingyouth@gmail.com or hfoster@tchd.org.

Thank you, 

Aurora Partners for Thriving Youth

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