Overall Idaho is winning it's long and persistent battle against the meth epidemic that struck our state over two decades ago. Although it has come to the forefront in recent years as a record number of our youth were falling victim to this terrifying drug there are still many others that continue down the path of addiction through other substances. State wide statistics according to the Idaho state police show that there is a rise in drug related crimes and arrests in recent years. The anti meth commercials have proven effective but we must look at education through a wider lense and educate the youth of our community on all of the threats they face.
Stepping stones recently implemented the L.E.A.D.E.R.S.H.I.P. 1st program which was made possible by Drug Free Idaho and are now beginning stage two with drug awareness and education classes. We believe this to be the most effective way to keep our children safe. Through education they can not only make better decisions but know fully the consequences faced with drug use. Our center director's aim was to familiarize our Wylie center residents with most common drugs and how dealers have begun to market these to younger generations. An example of this include using cool-aid and other flavorings to make ingestible drugs such as meth more palatable for teens and children.
Participants were introduced to the drugs, their effects and most importantly their dangers. Examples were given through video interviews with real addicts and photos of how drugs can ravage the users body. They were also introduced to some of the newer fads such as huffing and over the counter drug abuse that has seen a rise in popularity. They were shown interviews with parents who had lost their own children to these dangerous activity.
Our hope is to not only impact our Wylie center community but also other communities containing Stepping Stones centers. We believe that education will create a ripple effect, children will educate their friends and family and their new knowledge will spread to those who have not benefitted through education.
NWRECC Featured on HUD's National Website for our Best Practices
Resident Initiatives Focus
The Challenge
Many of our residents may be capable of gaining employment (and many are already working), but they commonly have difficulty securing steady employment or advancing in work, despite other government and state employment assistance that might be available.Some residents face substantial personal and situational barriers to employment, including low education and skill levels, health problems, personal or family problems, as well as, limited knowledge about or skill in finding jobs and/or advancing in their current opportunities.
Neighborhood Networks is part of the Solution
We believe that given access to technology, proper assistance and incentives in our project based housing communities, many more assisted residents could enter work, sustain work, and achieve advancement in the work they currently do now. A sense of a community may also be obtained by connecting the social and economic institutions to residents, allowing them the chance to be productive members of the community.
Northwest Real Estate Capital Corp. believes that only with the strong foundation of safe affordable housing and comprehensive strategies that address the multiple barriers many residents face will we truly and effectively assist our Residents in navigating their way to better opportunities.
Our computer-learning center is a very powerful step in creating this foundation.
Our Plan
Our Neighborhood Networks Centers will offer the following training and programs to our residents and community:
Job-skills training/employment
Job-readiness training
Job-retention services
Job posting, search or placement services
Introduction to/familiarization with computers
Structured Internet access and access to local services
Economic development (microenterprises, small business development)
Telecommuting and remote job access training
Children's education programs (0-12 years)
Youth education programs (13-17 years)
Adult basic education/literacy
English as a Second Language (ESL) programs
GED/high school equivalency certificate programs
Adult continuing education programs
Family education programs
Children's activities (0-12 years)
Youth activities (13-17 years)
Adult activities (18-64)
Senior services (65+)
Childcare
Healthcare
Personal financial management counseling
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