In March 2008, Children's Media Project (CMP) collaborated with Dutchess County's ACT For Youth initiative to implement a digital marketing strategy. During this project, CMP teaching artists worked with students from the ACT for Youth Leadership Committee helping them create public service announcements to promote their initiative throughout the county.

The "Tug of War" public service announcement will be screened at the 8th Annual Reel Teens Film Festival in June.  The three-day festival highlights the creativity of young people by providing a venue for youth and adults to screen films made by teenagers. This year 512 entries were received with over 30 from foreign countries. Only 70 finalists made the final cut to be screened during the festival. The ACT for Youth piece will be shown on Sunday, June 8th at the festival headquarters in Hunter, New York.

ACT for Youth is about creating safe, caring, and supportive communities. It is about connecting young people and adults from all community groups.

In Dutchess County the Youth Assets Subcommittee of the Children’s Services Council provides direct oversight, planning, and evaluation for the ACT for Youth initiative. Youth and adult committee members meet monthly to exchange ideas, share resources, and develop solutions for improving the health outcomes for youth in the county. Committee members seek to engage youth, adults, youth-serving organizations, businesses, faith-based organizations, schools, and others to increase positive opportunities for all youth in Dutchess County.
Our vision is that Dutchess County will embrace organizational and community policy changes that increase opportunities and support for young people, help youth become more involved, and promote “youth voice” throughout the community.

Our Goals

  • To facilitate a common county-wide agenda on family and youth issues.
  • To promote public and private partnerships.
  • To improve and monitor the health, education, and well-being indicators of youth through fostering proven best-practices, including "developmental assets".
  • To increase public awareness of family and youth issues.

The Children’s Services Council Youth Assets Committee meets on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at the Dutchess County YMCA. For more information about this committee contact Karmen Cockerham, ACT for Youth Coordinator (845) 677-8223 x 138 or email at kac228@cornell.edu.

Contact

Karmen A. Cockerham, ACT Coordinator
Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County
2715 Route 44, East
Millbrook, NY 12545
845-677-8223, extension 138
kac228 @cornell.edu