Rock County Youth to Youth

 "What We Do - Saves Lives"

Rock County Youth2Youth formerly known as Rock County Tobacco Free Kids took on a new name this summer.  The name change and focus of our organization was necessary to diversify our services to Rock County youth.

Y2Y vision is to create a drug free community, thus improving the health of Rock County youth and residents.

Y2Y mission is to harness the powerful influence of peer pressure-making it a positive force that encourages young people to live free of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs.

We have a firm belief that you must start at the beginning and finish to the end.  This meaning the education has to start before birth to expectant parents and followed through to adults to see change.  The whole social culture must be educated to see change.

That is why our program is set up to begin very young and follow a young person many years after.  This is not a one shot program it is designed to continually send a message about substance abuse and create a behavior and environmental change for the youth involved.

There are many program areas of the Y2Y that Rock County youth can participate in, they are:

Too Good For Drugs - an elementary age, after school model program.  This program begins working with youth about self esteem and goal setting, then moves on into decision making about substance abuse primarily tobacco use, and helps them understand how goal setting and decision making are essential when deciding about using substances.

NIKE (Nicotine Is Kids Enemy) - NIKE is a middle school peer-education program that is currently implemented in seven middle schools throughout Rock County.  The youth are trained about the harmful effects of tobacco and marijuana use and how the tobacco industry is trying to get them hooked through different media outlets.  They then develop a presentation that is presented to elementary youth in the county.

TATU (Teens Against Tobacco Use) -TATU is a high school peer-education program that is currently implemented in five Rock County high schools.  Again the teens are educated to the harmful effects of tobacco use and the manipulative techniques of the tobacco industry.  The teens then share their knowledge with middle and high school youth through organized classroom periods.

FACT (Fighting Against Corporate Tobacco) - FACT is a statewide youth movement, with over 8,000 members.   Of those 8,000 members, 1200 of them are from Rock County.  FACT is a youth led, youth driven movement with the mission of turning the tables on corporate tobacco by exposing their lies.  Youth become involved in advocacy programs and take a stand against an industry that uses youth to make a killer of a profit.  These youth are also the ones that speak at legislative meetings about upcoming bills, help organize and pass smoke-free restaurant ordinances, are involved in the Tobacco Youth Access Project, and do much more.

UP - (Unleashed Potential)  - UP is a newly formed Rock County Youth Advisory Board, made up from teens throughout the County who are interested in becoming civically engaged.  This group became formed in October 2005 and is starting to formalize a focus for Rock County.

BPT (Beloit Positive Teen) - Beloit Positive Teen was designed and implemented by (3) Beloit teens who wanted to change the perspective of teenagers to the community of Beloit.  For the past three years they have contacted teachers in the Beloit School District for nominations of outstanding teens.  They have recognized a "Positive Teen" monthly for the pas 3 years and host an annual Positive Teen banquet in June of each year.

Double Dutch Prevention Awareness Team -a newly formed program for Y2Y is the Double Dutch Prevention Awareness Team.  This is a new way to bring a message about the danger of substance abuse to youth through the fun sport of Double Dutch.

If you would like more information about Rock County Youth2Youth call Debbie at 608-365-1244 or visit our website at http://www.rcy2y.com/wp/.